Essence at the Fives Beach

The food was quite simply awful….. the service even worse. We had to wait 2hrs and 30 minutes in the heat to wait for a table to become available. The beach was full of seaweed and impossible to swim in the sea. Pool was not cooled and too hot to stay in. The rooms were lovely but you don’t pay £11k for just a room for 10 days. Absolutely devastating that we paid this amount of money. Read less

This resort is on a very nice property, has beautiful pools, and plentiful choices of bars. However it also has a serious restaurant reservation issue. We went to the Fives after reading reviews and seeing YouTube videos of the facility. It is very pretty with large suites, several pool options, and many restaurant choices. As a family of 4 we visited for a week during May 2025. However, this hotel has serious issues with accessing its restaurants. On any average night, we had to wait from 30 minutes to 2 hours to get seated. It was a nightmare. We came here to relax and all we ended up with was stress, arguing with the restaurant staff every night as to when would we be seated. This resort only allows owners of units to book dinner reservations that are honored. If you are not an owner, you are out of luck. Every time we saw an empty table and asked about it, they told us that the table was reserved for other guests. We have stayed at other comparable Mexico all - inclusives, and always were able to make a reservation ahead of time and have our reservation time be honored. NOT HERE. Be prepared to wait on a long line until the restaurant empties out at 8:30 or 9:00pm when your buzzer will eventually go off. Once you get in, the restaurant staff cannot wait to rush you to order and bring you your food fast, so they can leave as their shift is up, and the restaurant will be closing soon. It's a disgrace that an all -inclusive that gets high marks in other areas has a problem like this. And if you think you will go to the dinner buffet to eat if you don't want a long wait, forget it. They are closed at night. In addition, all ala carte restaurants are not open every night either. Our favorite restaurant was Koh Thai which took 1 hour 40 minutes to get into. We spoke to other guests we met, and all had the same unfortunate experience. They said they are never coming back. Recommendation-unless the Fives does something soon to put a viable Restaurant Reservation System in place where guests can get seated timely, and reservations honored, this property will eventually lose many bookings. Unfortunately until they fix this problem we recommend you stay away. Find another all inclusive where you can actually make a reservation, sit at the time of your choice and have a stress free meal. Read less

I travelled with my partner and 9 year old son. We had deluxe double room via TUI. The resort is really well maintained in terms of cleanliness and the beautiful grounds full of beautiful plants and flowers. The wildlife on the resort is a great addition. We saw squirrel monkeys, coati, deer, agouti and lots of birds, lizards, including pelicans whilst on the beach. Staff were all friendly and welcoming. Our room was clean and met our needs in terms of size and layout. Lots of pools to choose from. We did have some issues with our room, most responded and sorted but not promptly. Such as shower room flooding the room as drainage not working with shower being floor lever with what seemed cheap Lino. A hazard when soap, shampoo and conditioner used creating increasing slip risk. The hand rail in shower came off the wall. There was no water one day and power cuts. Lack of anywhere to hang wet towels. We had a coffee filter machine that we couldn’t use and the plug socket was too high so unable to plug it in to use. I asked for a kettle but it never came. The restaurant and buffet situation was disappointing and led to us feeling restricted in how we spent our time/day. In order to eat at a time that suited our family needs due to not being able to make reservations we had to arrive at the a la carte’s before they opened. The buffet is not open every evening and the food is the always the same and I would say a very limited range of food available when comparing to similarly rated resorts we’ve been to. The a la carte are not all open every day. You may have Buffett and a couple of a la cartes for example. They had bbq on beach a couple of nights during our stay and this was nice, not my son’s taste but again very much same food each time and not that different from buffet options. We loved the Thai restaurant, great food and range on the menu. We went a second time arriving 15 mins before it opened and was 3rd in the queue. We were advised due to a large booking we had to wait. We waited over 1.5 hours as did the family who were 1st in the line. At sea olive restaurant, we attended twice as second occasion there other option was sushi which my son doesn’t like and buffet, which I didn’t enjoy. Both times we asked for starters for them to be brought out at same as the main. Our table couldn’t facilitate number of plates/dishes. We felt really rushed here. Lizzzards restaurant for lunch was really great with lots of delicious salads. The restaurants seem to have many empty tables yet many people waiting hours to eat. I think they should look to resolve this. Perhaps offering reservations for however many a la carte restaurants meaning buffet or the expectation to wait for a table the other nights. Also opening more restaurants. I appreciate maybe August isn’t the peak time for the resort however we’ve paid a lot and got something very different to what is suggested online. The staff make a real effort to reduce amount of seaweed on the beach and it’s clear this involves a lot of hard work. We did have some difficulties getting sun beds at pool. There were plenty on beach, yet these are behind the large wooden framed Bali beds, blocking the view and scenery. The Bali beds are lovely and come with a sparking wine, cheese plate and service to bring drink and lunch from the burger and pizza bar near the beach. The Bali beds are comfy. These cost 3000 peso which is a huge cost and just out of reach for some. There is an option to haggle this didn’t come easy. The lack of umbrellas alongside the loungers was an issue for us, as trying to get some shade was near impossible done days. The nature of the resort which has epic members of varying levels, meant as typically paying tourists, we felt we were treated different. The members had option to book at restaurants as well as a separate pool with much higher quality sun loungers. I will be minded on this setup when booking an all inclusive again. We found out and the end of our trip that you are supposed to be allocated and ambassador to help you with things during your stay. We were not notified of this or provided any information or contact details to access this. Evening entertainment was not great for families. Live music was good, and a dj too some nights. We saw a fire show which was really incredible but nothing else in way of performers / shows Mexico is a great holiday destination. We did have a great time. The options for excursions were incredible! We swam with turtles, whale sharks! Visited Tulum ancient city and swam in an underground cenote. We were however a little disappointed with the resort for the above reasons. I think this is better suited to couples/groups of adults more than family. Read less

We stayed mid August for 11 nights as a family of 6 (2x adults and 4 teens). We booked with the hotel directly and the booking process was great, and worked out cheaper. They even threw in a couple of extras free of charge. We had an airport pick up / drop off included as part of the booking and they arrived within 5 minutes of us leaving the airport (the text us first with instructions etc). Check in was pretty speedy and we were greeted with a choice of soft/alcoholic drinks upon arrival and taken to our room on one of the buggies and luggage delivered for us. We stayed in a 3 bedroom penthouse in block 14. The rooms themselves have everything that you require including a free minibar in all rooms that is restocked daily with branded drinks. The rooms are also cleaned and tidied daily (we left a small tip each morning for their services). The rest of the hotel was great and there was constant cleaning and maintenance happening to the grounds and pools each day. The grounds really are immaculate. Some of the pool areas do need a little TLC as some tiles are missing and also the pool water wasn't filled up during our stay and was starting to get a little low. The pools are not heated but they are really warm. The swim up bars and staff were great with top label drinks on offer and they were always polite and willing to provide whatever drink you can think of. We did have to pay extra for coffee and ice creams / milkshakes but they don't cost much and they stick this on the room bill. One thing that wasn't great was the Mosquito's. I'd highly recommend covering yourself in the evenings and use bug repellent. I was bitten quite a lot as were other guests, but this is the nature of staying in a natural green area with its own little jungle withing the grounds. It didn't ruin the holiday and its just nature. Speaking of which, there is lots of nature on site, we saw deers, raccoons, snakes (some venomous), lizards etc etc. The kids loved that. Rumor has it there could be Jaguar cats too (but nobody has seen these for years). The beach was nice, and the seaweed problem looks to be getting much better and were were able to access the water and swim. The water was calm and turquoise blue. There are some water sports close by (jet ski and parasailing) which are chargeable. We didn't bother with paying extra of the Bali beds and we were happy slumming it around the pools on normal sun beds. There are plenty of sun beds and no issues getting one. Some people get up about 7am to reserve their favorite beds but that was never a real issue for us. Breakfast - we used the buffet each morning and this was all freshly cooked and lots of choice. Lunch - has a few options, but we mainly opted to grab a burger/pizza or eat at the Lizzards restaurant next to the pool. Dinner - This is where it gets a little sketchy, and we agree with many other reviews that getting a table can be a pain! On the first night, we arrived at a restaurant about 6pm only to be told that there were 9 other families before us in the queue and we could be waiting 1.30-2 hours. We didn't wait and went back to the room and ordered room service. We ate at the Thai, Sushi, Brasserie, Arezzo, and beach BBQ's etc and the food was fine. It was good that the hotel took various guests feedback and decided to open the buffet restaurant (Flavours) for the last few evenings of our stay as it helped the guests who couldn't secure dinner in the other restaurants or didn't want to wait to be fed. The room service is great and costs $4 each time, BUT you can order as much as you want for this price. We used the service a few times, and tipped the delivery guys each time. Wifi is excellent throughout the resort and connections were good which pleased our kids. Gym was reasonably good and had most kit you need to have a decent workout. Pool entertainment was good, and not too much. They did fitness classes, games and other fun stuff. They didn't pester you to get involved if you didn't want to either. The evening entertainment was fine, but we didn't always watch it because we got bitten by the mosquitoes. We went to the 'white party' on the beach and the kids enjoyed this. A number of evenings involved traditional Mexican food and BBQ's on the beach or plaza and was really nice - a welcome alternative to sitting in the restaurants. Overall, the hotel is excellent, and we would return. The biggest niggle is better management and availability of evening meals. Although, as others have commented, this isn't strictly a 5 star resort, more like 4 stars, but were weren't expecting a true 5 star experience so this wasn't a problem at all. Don't be put off by the negative views! Read less

Honest Family Review July Stay (Family of 6, with Teens and Young Kids) taking into account that the beach was not at it best: lots of algae in July As a family that regularly vacations in Cancun and always researches hotels thoroughly before booking, we chose this resort based on generally positive reviews. Unfortunately, our experience didn’t meet expectations and we won’t be returning for many reasons that i will be shortly sharing. Here’s a breakdown to help you decide for yourself: The pros: • The hotel grounds are beautiful and exactly like the pictures online. • We stayed in a 2-bedroom suite spacious and nicely laid out. One room had a sofa bed in the living area, but the kitchen area with no stencils at all, so unusable. • The burger bar by the pool was excellent and so is the pizza place. The sushi and Thai restaurants were quite good (though with long wait times most nights, sometimes over an hour ). • A few staff members made an effort to be kind and helpful, especially to help at the beach when we needed umbrellas to stay in the shade, and we appreciated those moments, shout out to Sonia for a great effort. The Downsides: • Distance: It’s a full hour from Cancun airport. • Dining: Breakfast is the only buffet-style, but lunch and dinner are à la carte at 4 other restaurants no reservations allowed, which meant we waited over 2 hours most nights, especially since we enjoyed late afternoons at the beach. I fond it quiet annoying that everyday at 4pm the staff start packing up the beach chairs as though to tell us to leave, very unpleasant and still not sure why they do that, weird . -The French restaurant was our worst experience: undercooked steaks, cold soups, watery gravy, tiny portions, entrees are ridiculous and poor service, salad without any dressing. -Food shortages: No spoons at breakfast, guacamole never restocked, no chips and salsa at all throughout the week. Portions were very small. You cannot take food outside the breakfast area, even when needed (my wife was teaching online) so she preferred we bring her something to eat rather than order room service ( which is available as part of the all inclusive with a delivery charge ) -Entertainment: Shows run from 8:30 to 10:30 p.m., but since we were always in line for dinner, we missed most of it, they never kept the music playing after 10:30 to enjoy dancing! -Service: Most waiters seemed unhappy or unwilling to go the extra mile especially at the a la carte restaurants , Several times, we were told they couldn’t serve dessert or drinks after 4 p.m. because their shift was over, although we were seated and served way before 4 pm, it happened at 2 different restaurants during our stay. -Beach seating: Umbrellas are reserved for the front row pool only lounge chairs and fill up early . We were told we’d need to pay $150/day for shaded beach beds, the regular beach lounge chairs didn’t have umbrellas , which is unacceptable for an all inclusive resort , After making a complaint, we were given a complimentary umbrella and beach bed for 2 days during our stay. -No beach or poolside entertainment: No Zumba, no music, no afternoon activities. Yoga is only at 8 a.m. no classes during the day or by the pool. -Ice cream shop: Staff were rude—no tasting allowed, only one scoop per person in a cone , no cups, and the ice cream was usually melted, no spoons either. -Sales pressure: Expect repeated attempts to upsell you on “memberships” (basically timeshares with their locations). You’ll need to be very firm with staff. They never stop pushing. -Excursions: Be cautious when speaking with hotel reps. We said “maybe tomorrow” to one to be kind so as not to be rude, and they booked a tour for $850 without our signed consent. After much frustration, the charge was dropped to $150 at checkout, but it left a bad taste and ruined the end of our trip. While the setting is beautiful and the sushi and burger bar stood out, the long restaurant wait times, lack of basic amenities, pushy sales tactics, and overall poor service took away from what could’ve been a relaxing family vacation. If you’re looking for an all-inclusive with smooth service, flexible dining, and enjoyable entertainment—this may not be the right choice. Read less