Our subjective observations for our trip 4/15 - 4/24:
Pros
Great, friendly service
All rooms face ocean
Rooms have dual zone cooling
Reasonably priced drinks
Good food food onsite
Beautiful pool and grounds
Great body surfing and boogie boarding
Beautiful beach
Friendly locals
Close to shopping
Owners update was pleasant and not pushy
FREE BEACH CHAIRS AND UMBRELLAS
Cons
No bathroom fan (not very discreet when going #2 when others are in the bedroom or bathroom)
No snorkeling
Ocean not suitable for young children
Security (see below)
Nearby shopping is high-dollar commercialized shopping
USA transfers was outstanding. They were on time, friendly and professional. I would use them again when we go back. I had also planned on using them for Xcaret, but found a better deal (see below). They have drive trips with a highly rated partner dive outfit that I was also looking at but didnt get around to booking
Xcaret was a lot of fun for us and the kids. I would describe it as a zoo and ecopark spread accross large jungle grounds bisected by an underground river and bordered by ocean. The exhibits and activities are separated by a 5-10 minute walk on twisting, undulating paths that go under, over and around the exhibits. I thought the layout and path system had a Disneyland feel to it - just with a Mexican/Mayan theme. As stated above, I had planned on going with USA transfers that offered Xcaret Plus tickets and private van for about $480 for the 4 of us (average price would decrease with additional passengers). After going through the owners update however, we were able to get a discount on the same tickets with bus transfer for $310 total. The bus transfer was lengthy and sort of a pain - on the way there, we had to change busses at a transfer station and on the way back we stopped at about 9 hotels before Lagunamar making the return almost a 2hr trip. For some it could've been worth spending the extra $170…
Isla Mujeres was an awesome day trip. Rent the golf cart, BRING A COOLER and see the island. The little town at the far north of the island is fun to tool around in with lots of little shops. Mia Reef hotel up there has $45/day all inclusive (drink/food) access to their beach and facilities.
Security. The resort entrance is regulated by a guard shack, there are personnel wandering the grounds and the place has a very comfortable, secure feel to it. We had adjacent, but not adjoining 1bd units with friends that came with us. One morning when the kids were going back and forth between rooms, they propped open the doors with the security latch. Later in the day, we came back from the pool to discover that while closed, our door never locked. Someone had come by earlier when the doors were propped open and covered the strike plate with metal tape preventing the bolt from latching. We reported it and maintenance came up and checked it out concluding that someone in their dept had done it to fix something in the room. I was not convinced, but nothing was ever resolved. We recognize its our fault for leaving the doors open, but be careful.