Review of Isla Natura Beach Huatulco 3*

We stayed 4 Feb — 11 Feb (inclusive) Upon arrival, check-in was extremely slow — almost one hour standing in a poorly designed "lobby" in the hot sun and humidity after a long day of travel. The front desk staff had less than minimal English skills and deeply lacked a sense of urgency when doing their jobs. No complaints about the room — beautiful views and temperature well regulated! My only suggestion is for the refrigerator to be stocked with more water, beer and juice. Some guests complained of no hot water in the shower, but my wife and I didn't experience this. The food — ah, the food. As you can read in other reviews here, the food was an issue the entire length of the stay! We were smart and made reservations for dinner at 6:30pm each night. This was done so we can actually eat, before they "run out" of food. The waiters tried their very best — they really did. Sadly, the inner kitchen staff were another story. Portion control and timing were two big issues. Language barriers prevented actually getting exactly what we ordered, despite the fact that we pointed to the Spanish translation of the menu selection. I got to the point of expecting whatever the "chef" decided I was allowed to eat. Of the seven nights, I would say two dinners were delicious and timely. Breakfast and lunch were buffets. Very small repetitive selection with the food at inappropriate temperatures. Food that was supposed to be hot was less than room temperature and vice versa. I got tired of the same selection day in day out. They desperately need several ceiling fans in the dining area to allow air flow. I have breathing issues so I relied on the shuttle that runs up/down the steep hill from the hotel to the activity area (ocean/pools/bar/food etc). More umbrellas are necessary on the pool deck and relaxation areas. The BIG thing for me is there were NO handrails along any of the staircases. I needed something to grab to use the stairs. Occasionally, I would slowly walk down the stairs, grasping at the ledge, but this lack of safety most definitely prevented me from fully enjoying the resort at large (getting to the ocean was clearly a impossible challenge). Basic sanitation was non existent at the resort. Glasses were rinsed by the bartenders in water that was sitting in the sink all day. Their dishwasher broke and everything had to be done by hand. The view of this resort is absolutely breathtaking! This view is the sole saving grace. As the resort is in its present form and management, I would most definitely NOT come back. Nor would I suggest it to a friend. In fact, I am rather upset that this resort is rated as a 4.5 star establishment and suggested by Air Canada Vacations. Due to this transgression, I will NEVER use Air Canada Vacations again due to their very poor choice of resort.