So we've been staying there for almost 25 years. 1st visit was 1997 when it was still the Sol Caribe and just the tower was open. After Wilma it got a 100% facelift top to bottom and was GREAT!
We noticed over the last several years (pre-covid) that as the parent company sells/sold more and more time shares in central and south america that 1) food quality and drink quality went WAY down and 2) the guests form central and south america on average are complete and total a55holes, ESPECIALLY to the local mayan workers. Like literally the rudest people I have ever seen, that dont tip, look down and talk down to them and treat them like trash.
I credit this to the new middle class that mexico, central and south america are creating and they generally tend to be the more wealthy spanish decent vs local decent people.
Now this isnt 100% across the board, we have met MANY lovely people from those parts, but on avg they tend to be as I described above.
We went last in 2019 and havent been back since due to the above and the decline in food and drink (I think it was due to the larger number of visitors NOT from America who may not know or be able to tell the difference in food and drinks.
Baring those 2 things, it is one of the best AIs on the island due to how close to town it is, it is a small compact property (you arent walking a mile to get to the amenities etc), cheap taxi rides to town, AMAZING STAFF, lots of shopping and places to eat within walking distance, a pier to be picked up on by some ops (due to high fuel prices, not many ops - even high end ones wont drive north from the marina anymore), decent shore diving, one of the best kids clubs on the island and many other bonuses.
The time share guys have literally never bothered me. It must be my personality lol - which at 6' 285lbs of go F yourself look when they ask lol!
Some people complain about the cruise ships blocking views but i persoanlly love watching them leave at sunset and watching all the people run for their lives trying to make the ship before it leaves from the left ocean side pool!
So simply put - its a great hotel if you can get past the food/drink quality and some guests who treat the workers like trash. Hopefully thats changed but I doubt it as the Grand Park chain lovesssssssssss selling time shares lol. I will never forget sitting in the pool in 1997 talking to some lady from Texas who just spent $75g on time shares for the whole family and trying to tell me its a great investment.........then in 1998 Tuti Mundi went belly up lol and alllllll those people lost everything lol.
Good luck and report back if you stay. If its changed I will be back in a heartbeat. We stayed at the Palace in 2021 - and the PR doesnt even come close to the quality of everything at the Palace.