This review is written by someone whose business and personal life took him to 46 countries and 360 cities, hence not easily impressed. But I was at Haven!
My wife and I spent an entire day researching 5-star resorts suitable for a family of 6 (3 couples). We went assiduously through reviews online and on YouTube, aided by experience in filtering comments by recognizable countries taste and other criteria we learned through experience. In all cases we found excellent reviews but still with one characteristic or another that may not suit us: until we landed on Haven. It had all the attributes we were looking for, particularly the availability of 3 swim-out rooms, and we immediately booked through Air Canada Vacations. We held our breath till check-in expecting some of the surprises travelers get at some resorts: but none at Haven.
Overall: Magical and truly 5-star, from checking in to departure you have the cleanest and most modern rooms, excellent service, friendliest staff, best restaurants, snack bars and nightly shows.
Rooms: All exactly as shown on YouTube videos, wide, modern, allowing privacy, two sinks, great shower, lots of space for cosmetics. Our rooms were swim-out behind the quiet pool and I highly recommend those. Residents wear an electronic bracelet to open rooms: meaning no fear of losing or wetting the key, or have it de-activated by iPhone. The room cleaning and turndown service was outstanding. Room service consistently arrived within 15 minutes, delivered with a smile. The hotel, interestingly, has an external cabinet for each room where orders are delivered when no disturb sign is on and used plates are redeposited, leaving all corridors free of clutter. The TV channels selection is outstanding. When you need FUBO or DAZN, just stroll to the LIMES bar and they will set it up for you: I watched the Manchester United game all alone.
Restaurants: The breakfast buffet is truly exceptional with a variety too vast to describe, service with a smile, omelets station, etc. During our one-week stay we were able to book ALL the specialty restaurants: Agua Bendita (Mexican), Satsu (Asian) Olios (Mediterranean, twice), Vora Mar (Italian). Not to take anything away from any of these great restaurants, I would just for the sake of ranking select Olios (exceptional-1, seating wise, entrees and mains, soft music, view of sea), Vora Mar (superb-2), Satsu (superb, ranked 3, even though ranked #1 by many but not what sushi afficionados would expect: they serve maki rolls, brochettes and rice but no tempura, nigiri, sashimi or any rolls with seaweed. Perhaps these choices may have been available at the Hibachi station, but we selected to be seated at tables), Agua Bendita (very good-4).
At lunch time we landed at Mistral and would like to give a special shout out to Santos and Francisco for their exceptionally attentive service and their amazing Ceviche that were always fresh, quick and delicious!
Coffee shop: Exceptional! Always bustling, with excellent service and an impressive selection of coffees, cookies, brownies, ice creams and sorbets.
Pools: Superb, heated when needed, mix of quiet pool or all-day great music pool (DJ + invited duos).
Beach: No one goes to Mexico expecting the best beaches and no seaweed: that was the case there too. Yet, there were days when the beach was very enjoyable lounging wise, walking on great sand, and even swimming.
Fauna and flora: It is impressive how Haven is respectful in preserving nature around the resort It takes a 6-minute drive through a forest to get there, and magnificent, lush fauna and trees on site.
Conclusion: Haven? Been there, loved it, will be back many times for sure.
