Being a travel agent, I travel on at least 4-6 trips per year to visit all-inclusive properties, where we do much of our business. My recent trip to the El Dorado Seaside Resort with 3 other couples was for 5 nights ending May 4th.
My thoughts as follows:
Location - Resort is a little far from the airport - about 65 minutes in each direction with no traffic. You are about 20 minutes north of Xel-Ha and 25 minutes south of Playa del Carmen. I highly recommend private transfers to this resort, for one of our parties didn't have them and the ride took over 2 hours with multiple stops.
Rooms - I believe that the rooms are appropriate for the price and status of the resort. We had the swim-up suite which I wouldn't book again due to it's location furthest from the beach and near a bar that got loud during the day. I would probably stick with the oceanview suites, which although not great oceanviews, are in a better location. Also, definitely have your travel agent recommend a renovated room....the new rooms (which we had) are much nicer than the older ones - jacuzzi tub, marble shower, upgraded bathroom vanity, etc. The beds and bedding were a little below expectation, but overall the rooms were of similar quality to other comparable resorts that we've stayed at.
Food - Although "Gourmet Inclusive", nobody should confuse their food with a 5-star restaurant in the US...but it is much better than the average all-inclusive in Mexico. We went to dinner in each of the 5 restaurants, really enjoying them all....we actually believed our meal at the Italian restaurant was actually the best of the 5, which is really unusual for Mexico. Waiter service was really mixed, and I'm sure that being a party of 8 had a lot to do with it.....In comparison to Secrets Capri, Iberostar Paraiso Maya, Riu Palace, etc.....the food at this resort, especially dinners in the ala carte restaurants, is generally better than similar properties....but the buffet is worse. That said, after 5 days, we were much less "bored" of the food than stays at similar properties...this is because we ate much more frequently from their large menus, rather than always hitting the same thing on a buffett. All in all, the food was actually better than I expected having been to all of the competition....
Grounds - Top notch...not elegant like a Riu Palace but very functional. Actually had a more "relaxed" vibe than any other property I've been to in Riviera Maya. Having been at the "monster" resorts, it was very nice to go to a smaller property that was much more lush with vegetation with the arctitecture much less visable. Although 95% occupied, the resort felt rather empty which was really nice also.
Beach - I know this resort gets a bad rap for the rocks in the water and the crushed coral sand....but I have to say I like this beach more than most I've been to in the area and much nicer than it's sister property at El Dorado Royale. The sand isn't great but after a day or 2 you get used to it. The water is wonderful though, since the reef offshore allowed for no surf during our entire stay....when most other resorts including Royale were unswimable due to the rough current. The fish are great....with large pompano and other reef fish swimming by you all day long. Also, we found more than enough lounges and beach beds at the property - many more than expected and we never had to reserve them in advance for usage. I think this is because we saw many people who spent the day in various other areas on property (around the pools are beach beds also). I was most worried about this from feedback, but in the end, actually prefer this beach to Secrets Capri's and definitely El Dorado Royale's.
Entertainment - We didn't really take part in much and none of the evening activities, but we did take part in some of the daytime activities such as beach volleyball, kayaking, etc.
Overall - If I wanted to go away and relax with a loved one or a small group of friends, El Dorado Seaside is definitely a resort to consider. It's the perfect size with enough restaurants that you don't get bored, large enough that you don't get bored, yet still feels homey, personalized, and rather empty. Very, very peaceful feel to the resort due to the layout and plants/trees.
I've got dozens of photos and will post here after I have a chance to review them.
If I can answer any specific questions about the resort, please email me at mitch@tripguy.com.