A dream family vacation turned into a disaster for Joel Boily and Cheryl Mains, two wedding photographers from Winnipeg, Manitoba.
They had planned a beautiful destination wedding in Mexico, where they could work while creating lasting memories with their two young sons.
The family flew out to Playa del Carmen to capture a wedding at the luxurious Sandos Playacar resort, bringing along Joel’s parents to help care for their kids during the wedding.
What was meant to be a once-in-a-lifetime experience quickly spiraled into a nightmare when multiple guests, including the couple’s young children, fell severely ill.
Illness Strikes the Entire Wedding Party and Guests
Soon after arriving at the resort on February 12, the family began noticing something wasn’t right.
A persistent, unpleasant sewage-like smell filled the air, particularly around the food.
By the next day, stories of sickness began circulating.
Initially, some thought it was just the usual travel upset or hangovers, but the symptoms soon became much more serious—intense vomiting, explosive diarrhea, and debilitating fatigue affected the majority of guests.
Both the bride and groom, as well as other members of the wedding party, were struck by the same mysterious illness.
Within hours, Joel’s two-year-old son began vomiting violently, followed by days of severe diarrhea.
Struggling to Get Help Amidst the Chaos
Joel and Cheryl’s nightmare worsened as they battled sickness while still trying to take part in the wedding.
Joel, who had never experienced digestive issues before, suddenly found himself unable to get out of bed for 16 hours.
Cheryl, despite feeling terrible, powered through to document the wedding on Saturday, as many other guests also tried to put on a brave face.
The wedding reception turned into a somber event, with most people too sick to eat or drink.
For Joel and Cheryl, this was no longer just about capturing memories—it was about survival.
Meanwhile, the resort’s staff seemed unaware of the gravity of the situation, directing guests to overpriced, small bottles of water and giving little support.
Guests Join Forces to Seek Answers and Accountability
As the days wore on, Joel and others began to connect with fellow guests to share their stories.
The online support group grew quickly, with nearly 750 members within a week.
Joel took on the role of administrator for a Facebook group dedicated to raising awareness of the health issues at Sandos Playacar.
They shared tips and experiences and worked together to alert potential vacationers to the risks of staying at the resort.
“This is a clear case of really bad management,” Joel stated, expressing frustration with the lack of accountability.
While the resort claimed to be working with health authorities, many guests felt their concerns were brushed aside.
The Resort’s Response and the Search for a Cause
Sandos Playacar issued a statement to DailyMail.com, saying that the illness had spread quickly across multiple resorts in the area.
The resort insisted they had worked with local health authorities, tightened sanitary measures, and provided personalized support to affected families.
However, many guests, including Joel’s family, were still waiting for test results.
Despite the resort’s claims that no contamination had been found, guests continued to report illness.
Joel’s family’s experience raised questions about the safety of the resort’s water supply, as they had noticed the sewage smell and unusual food conditions during their stay.
Other Families Share Similar Experiences
Sheena Robinson, from British Columbia, had a similar experience when her family arrived at Sandos Playacar for a wedding just days after Joel and his family left.
Her family encountered mold and broken appliances in their rooms and, like Joel’s family, soon began to experience severe nausea and vomiting.
Sheena spent an agonizing 12 hours throwing up in the ocean during a snorkeling trip, while her husband, daughter, and others in their party suffered similarly.
Sheena’s family, like many others, received little help from the resort staff.
They were forced to wait for hours to get clean towels and sheets, while the resort staff continued to insist that their illness was caused by external viruses, not any issue at the resort.
A Call for Accountability and Recompense
After their vacation turned into a health crisis, Joel became determined to hold the resort accountable.
With the help of AI, he learned how to file complaints with local health authorities and began gathering support from other affected guests.
Despite the resort’s attempts to downplay the situation, Joel pushed for an independent investigation.
He also started to speak out online, reminding potential guests to consider other options for their vacations.
Joel has even considered a class action lawsuit, though he remains doubtful that any legal action will make a significant difference.
What bothers him the most is the damage done to families and wedding couples who had been looking forward to these trips for years.
A Hope for Future Travelers
Joel’s mission now is to ensure others don’t fall victim to the same problems at Sandos Playacar.
He’s committed to reminding people through online reviews and social media that their experiences were far from a dream vacation.
“It’s not just wealthy tourists who go on these trips,” he says.
“Real people save money for these vacations and make huge sacrifices to create lasting memories.”
Joel’s goal is to ensure that potential visitors are fully aware of the issues that plagued their stay at the resort so that they can make informed decisions about where to spend their hard-earned money.
For now, Joel remains focused on spreading the word and holding Sandos Playacar accountable.