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As part of a recent press trip with TUI, Tom and I spent seven nights at El Dorado Seaside Suites Spa Resort by Karisma on Kantenah Bay near Tulum in Mexico.
I wanted to share my review of El Dorado Seaside Suites, although this piece of content is not part of my agreement with TUI and all views are my own.
We stayed at the sister hotel, El Dorado Royale, back in January of this year on our annual holiday, so I’m able to compare the two resorts.
If you’re trying to decide which resort to book, read until the end of this review where I’ll share an in-detail comparison and weigh up the pros and cons of the two resorts.
Like El Dorado Royale, El Dorado Seaside Suites is an adults-only spa resort with gourmet all-inclusive dining. It’s a TUI BLUE hotel, meaning it’s ideal for couples.
My review of TUI BLUE El Dorado Seaside Suites Hotel
The most important thing to be aware of when booking a stay at this hotel is that there are two sides to the resort: Seaside Suites and Palms. Seaside Suites is the newer section, with a more modern room design and contemporary feel.
On the other hand, the Palms section has a more traditional, Mexican vibe which I really liked. It’s a matter of personal preference.
If you’re weighing up the pros and cons of each side, I’d encourage you to ask yourself whether you prefer to stay in authentic, rustic rooms or a more up-to-date aesthetic.
The other thing to think about is how important having access to the beach is to you.
The Seaside Suites side doesn’t have much of a beach to speak of and no direct access to the sea, whereas the Palms side has a proper sandy beach which is painstakingly cleared of seaweed every morning by a team of workers.
The Seaside Suites side feels more compact in my opinion, so it would perhaps be better for travellers with mobility issues.
No matter which side of the resort you choose, you can access each side’s various facilities, including the different pools and restaurants. So realistically, it doesn’t matter that much which side you book!
We found that Palms was where British TUI holiday customers stayed, while the Seaside Suites was the ‘American side’.
Getting to El Dorado Seaside Suites
The car journey between the airport and El Dorado Seaside Suites takes around 60 minutes, depending on traffic.
I’d definitely recommend booking a private transfer from the airport to the resort. We had one and it was a welcome relief to not have to wait for everyone else on our flight to get through immigration and fill up a coach after such a long journey.
Premium block suites at El Dorado Seaside Suites
We stayed in room 607 in the premium block. The room consisted of a HUGE bed (this was one of the things we loved about our room at EDR too), a comfortable sitting area, plus a more formal table and chairs.
Our bathroom had two sinks and a separate shower and toilet. There was also a vast whirlpool bath. At EDR, we had the same bath but it was next to the balcony rather than in the bathroom.
Our balcony was furnished with comfortable lounge chairs and a large day bed. We had a sea view overlooking the premium pool, lush palm trees and beyond, the glorious Caribbean sea.
Looking directly down, some of the rooftops of the various hotel buildings below us looked a bit grubby but it wasn’t something that upset us.
Our mini-fridge was fully stocked with beers, soft drinks, bottled water, crisps and a local chocolate bar. It was refilled on a daily basis.
We were also surprised with incredibly intricate edible creations made with local chocolate waiting for us in our room after dinner most days.
As part of the turn-down service, ambient music would be playing when we entered our room in the evening, which we thought was a lovely touch.
Because of the high heat and humidity, I did find our suitcases and belongings had a strong musty smell when we came home, but this is common when you visit humid climates and it just means airing out your suitcase before you store it away.
You can definitely order dehumidifier bags to take with you if you’re visiting at a humid time of year! I’ve used the ones I’ve linked before and you wouldn’t believe how full they get.
All rooms in the Premium block have a sea view and the corridors overlook miles of green forest at the back of the hotel.
The pools at El Dorado Seaside Suites
There are four swimming pools at this resort.
On the Palms side of El Dorado Seaside Suites, there’s a gorgeous quiet pool lined with bali beds. I loved to read there in the mornings, and it’s deep enough to do laps.
The main pool on the Palms side is a little on the small side and it could be tricky to get beds around it if you don’t get there early.
The main pool is where the water-based activities take place so it can get loud there. My tip is not to nab a bed near the speakers if you’re planning to sleep or read!
The swim-up bar at the main pool is a hole-in-the-wall attached to a restaurant and there isn’t a lot of room for guests to sit at the bar itself.
As premium guests, we had access to the exclusive pool attached to that block. We didn’t really bother with it as we didn’t feel there was anything special about it.
It does have a swim-up bar and I think lounge-chair service is more common at this pool, but we preferred the vibe at the main pool.
There is a large shaded area with bali beds etc near the Premium pool which would definitely be a relief if you suffer in the sun.
There are also smaller blocks on the Palms side of the resort which I believe are for members, and the ground floor suites have swim-up pools.
In the Palms side, there are also suites spread around the beautiful garden areas which have more intimate swim-up pools. They vary in their level of privacy.
We sauntered over to the Seaside Suites, ‘American’ side of the resort a handful of times.
The Seaside Suites pool runs the length of the Seaside Suites building. It has a large swim-up bar and the pool party gets quite lairy. I wouldn’t have liked to have been staying in a swim-up room on that side, because there isn’t much privacy!
There are also hot tubs on the Seaside Suites side.
The beach at El Dorado Seaside Suites
The Palms side of the resort is the place to be for beach-goers. There are plenty of sunloungers and you can wade out into knee-deep, warm water for what feels like miles.
Seaweed is a problem in this part of Mexico but a huge team of men works tirelessly each morning to clear a large section of the beach on the Palms side so hotel guests can swim in the shallows.
We made sure we popped the cold soft drinks from the fridge in our room into a bag and gave them to the workers, which they appreciated.
They’re usually finished working by midday and then the beach is clear. However, there are some parts I would avoid!
On the newer side of the resort, there is a strip of sand with loungers which is separated from the water with a low wall.
Hotel bars at El Dorado Seaside Suites
There are 11 bars at El Dorado Seaside Suites, and despite our best efforts we didn’t quite manage to visit all of them during our seven-day stay!
Our favourite bar for sundowners was Cotorros. It’s the bar nearest the beach, next to La Carreta. It has a relaxed vibe and is one of the more romantic spots at this hotel.
The Guacamayas bar had just reopened after a facelift when we visited. It tends to be the late-night bar where the parties happen, and where everyone on the beach takes cover if the rain starts.
I struggled to find a good espresso martini until our final night, when I spied the barista machine at the Gourmet Pub and ordered one before our meal. It was delicious.
Dining at El Dorado Seaside Suites
There are 10 restaurants at El Dorado Seaside Suites. Many are open for more than one meal each day, but I’ve broken them down as best I can below.
Breakfast
For the first meal of the day you can choose from the buffet restaurant which is Aricifes, the outdoor buffet at the Beach BBQ where you eat at picnic benches with your toes in the sand, or the Culinarium, which is a la carte.
We also walked over to the Seaside Suites side for breakfast one morning and ate at Seaside Market, where there was an impressive selection. They even have their own peanut butter machine, which I’d never seen before!
Lunch
We were surprised to find that we enjoyed the buffet restaurant immensely at lunchtime. We typically book all-inclusive hotels that offer a variety of a a la carte dining options because we prefer a sit-down meal, but the cooked-to-order steaks, fish and array of other fresh food at the buffet won us over.
Most of the lunch options are informal. There’s the Beach BBQ, which is buffet-style, and a burger and pizza joint outside the buffet where our standout dish was the deep-fried burrito.
Dinner
The Culinarium is a Latin American fusion restaurant, though we didn’t think that was immediately obvious from the menu. We did enjoy our meals there though. My sea bass with mole sauce was excellent.
The Asian restaurant, Klay Talay, was one of our favourites. The octopus sushi was fantastic and they even serve Asian beers and sake.
La Carreta is the Mexican restaurant, where we opted for multiple small plates instead of a main dish each. The waiter did try to encourage us to order more though! We thoroughly enjoyed our tacos there.
The Gourmet Pub is ideal for fussy eaters or those who like an international menu where they can rely on finding something they’ll like. The french onion soup and burger sliders there are particularly good.
We found the food in this restaurant very rich, but absolutely scrumptious!
There are two Italian restaurants at this resort, serving similar menus. I order seafood pasta from every menu I can find it on, and it didn’t disappoint.
If you’re celebrating a special occasion or planning to propose at El Dorado Seaside Suites, you can book a private candlelit dinner experience on the beach.
I believe the candlelit dinners previously took place on a wooden pier, but it was unfortunately destroyed during a storm. The pier was being rebuilt during our trip and it should be ready soon.
There is also a restaurant called Driftwood on the American side of the hotel, but we didn’t eat there during our stay.
Entertainment and activities at El Dorado Seaside Suites
There’s plenty to do besides lounging by the pool at El Dorado Seaside Suites. Every day, we’d check the TUI app to select our activities.
You don’t have to book anything, and if you don’t want to download the app you’ll find paper signs hanging in the resort which show the activity timetable.
From arts and crafts like coconut painting and clay mug painting to gastronomical delights such as a cacao experience (seriously, the chocolate there is incredible!), there’s something for everyone.
Sporty activities include beach and pool volleyball, aquarobics, circuits, dance classes and Kubb. These sessions are all overseen by an energetic entertainment team, who do a stellar job.
You can join yoga classes on the beach some mornings, and there’s even a ‘partner yoga’ session on Wednesdays in the studio, which we really enjoyed!
As well as planned tournaments, you can also make use of the various sport facilities whenever you like.
If none of that takes your fancy, you might be more taken in by theblackjack tournaments, bingo, Spanish lessons and ‘Question of the day’, which takes place around the pool.
During our week-long visit there were two pool parties, one on each side of the resort. The Palms ‘colour pool party’ was all about inflatables and dancing. They had a little Aperol pop-up bar, which I thought was cool.
The ‘other’ / American side’s party was a bit wilder, with some women choosing to go topless in the pool.
Nighttime entertainment at El Dorado Seaside Suites includes live singers, DJs, a silent disco, saxophonist and more.
There are also regular theme nights, like a Mexican Fiesta and Beach BBQ. On those nights, some of the restaurants close and you can instead get into the party spirit with gala-style dinners.
We thought the beach BBQ was brilliant, and the fire show entertainment was exciting.
Unfortunately during the Mexican Fiesta it rained pretty heavily and we were left eating our soggy dinner while the Mariachi band packed up in the downpour because there was no shelter over the set-up. This put a bit of a dampener on the night, excuse the pun!
We also found the buffet set-up for the Mexican Fiesta meant long queues. We much preferred the a la carte restaurants, but it was fun to do something different for dinner that night.
I noticed an indoor theatre too, but it didn’t seem to be in use. Perhaps it’s reserved for rainier months.
The Náay Spa at El Dorado Seaside Suites
We were lucky enough to have a spa experience arranged for us by the hotel manager, who had heard from TUI that I was visiting and that I would be sharing my trip on my social media channels.
My husband and I had a journey through the spa’s thermal suite, followed by a couples’ massage.
The spa itself is a total oasis, with a serene courtyard and softly-spoken staff ready to cater to your every whim.
The thermal suite journey consists of a series of hot and cold rooms, a dip in the large jacuzzi pool and timed sessions in the cold plunge pool and jacuzzis.
There were just a handful of other guests in the suites during our visit so although we had plenty of space, I obviously couldn’t photograph the public spa areas.
After the thermal journey, I showered in a gorgeous shower with a view to a little garden area, then were were shown to our massage suite.
The couples massage was fantastic. My massage therapist even braided my hair for me!
Afterwards, we were urged to slip into the huge bubble bath they’d drawn for us and left to enjoy some sparkling wine and chocolate-covered strawberries. It felt so indulgent and was something we’ll remember forever.
On the beach on the Palms side of the resort, sheltered from the noise of the main pool in a quiet zone, there’s an open structure where you can have a massage overlooking the sea.
Things to do near El Dorado Seaside Suites
Some of the must-sees in Riviera Maya include Chichen Itza, Xochimilco and the Xaret parks.
We did the TUI excursion to Holbox which was just heaven on earth.
You can book tours and activities in the area below.
El Dorado Royale versus El Dorado Seaside Suites: which one should you book?
Aesthetically, the Palms side of the El Dorado Seaside Suites resort is almost indistinguishable from El Dorado Royale. Well-tended gardens with swaying palm trees, luxurious lounge areas and hammocks abound.
The majority of the structures on the beach and gardens respect the local architectural style, as does the interior decor.
The Seaside Suites side of EDSS is, as I mentioned above, more modern.
Overall, the El Dorado Seaside Suites resort is much smaller than El Dorado Royale. There are golf buggies to help you get around if you need them, but we found these were much less necessary (and subsequently less common) at EDSS than EDR.
Customer service
We are not members and we felt the customer service was to a high standard at both resorts. However, we did notice more ‘special touches’ at EDSS.
I was celebrating my 30th birthday at El Dorado Royale in January and they didn’t do anything to help us have a memorable day, whereas at EDSS the manager seemed a lot more on the ball and communication was better. Based on conversations with other guests, I don’t think this was simply down to the fact I was there as a guest of TUI.
Beach and pools
The beach at El Dorado Royale is unfortunately heavily impacted by the seaweed issue and the large concrete bolders have washed up on the beach, spoiling the view. There are no boulders on the beach at EDSS.
When it comes to swimming pools, the EDR pools are much larger than the pools at EDSS. We struggled with the cold water at EDR in January but happily, the pools at EDSS were a pleasant temperature in August.
Food
The one thing I would change about dining at El Dorado Seaside Suites is the lunch offering. At EDR, you can visit the Asian restaurant for sushi and noodle dishes at lunchtime, but unfortunately the Asian restaurant at EDSS isn’t open during the day.
I also loved the health bar for grab-and-go smoothies, salads and sandwiches during the day at EDR. There was a health bar at EDSS, but it seemed to be combined with the beach BBQ and it wasn’t clear if there was a separate menu, or how to order from it.
I can’t compare the two spas unfortunately, as I only had a treatment at EDSS and not EDR.
Overall, had we not already visited EDR, we probably would have been much more impressed with EDSS. El Dorado Royale had more of the wow factor for us, and I think if you’re planning a longer vacation it’s worth choosing this resort simply because it’s larger and the beach is better.
That’s not to say I wouldn’t recommend El Dorado Seaside Suites. It’s a better option if your budget is lower and there’s no compromise on overall quality. We had a brilliant week there!
That was a mammoth hotel review, so well done if you got this far! If you’d like to see more of my trip, take a look at my ‘TUI Blue’ highlight on Instagram – my username is @danniellelily.
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