HOTEL BARCELO MAYA CARIBE

Very dissapointed ! I have never left a review for a resort that I have not yet left. We have traveled to all-inclusive resorts for years; this is our 4th time at a tropical resort together as a couple and 7th time for me. Typically, we go to Punta Cana, because the service, beaches, people and (usually) the food are phenomenal!!! But because of the hurricane, we took a chance and switched our plans to Barcelo Maya Caribe in Riviera Maya. I'll preface by saying this happened to a very frequent traveler who is fluent in English and Spanish. This is our first time coming to this resort and Mexico. We booked with Barcelo directly. Along with our reservation, we booked round trip airport transfers for both of us. We received confirmation that we were being charged $146 USD. The resort sends an email which has a link you can follow to set up transport and this is what we used (see screenshot). Upon arrival we were told that there was no shuttle; when we called the resort, we were told by Ricardo that the shuttle had left without us. He said we had 2 options- wait for the next shuttle which would take over 1.5hrs or use another shuttle and be reimbursed for that one. Mind you, we landed and got thru immigration/customs & baggage claim, and got outside in less than an hour. Pretty good timing. At first, I said I'd wait for the next one, then we changed our minds. A shuttle driver for the other Barcelo resorts (or at least contracted to work for them) said he could possibly take us. We called and spoke to Ricardo again who assured us that we would be reimbursed for the amount paid out-of-pocket for this trip. We paid $145 for a one way trip (one hour drive), which is twice the amount that we prepaid for the voucher. Once arriving to the resort, amazingly no Ricardo Hernandez seemed to be found at the resort and we we're out $291 in transportation fees!! Barcelo then claims they never received our flight information so they never sent anyone out. So first they say they left the airport without us, and then they say they never went at all'' The resort refunded $73 of that amount (the original cost of the first part of our transport but not the full amount of what we actually paid). However, they claims no responsibility or attachment to even their own transport service, even though they set it up and provided a link to their website!!! If you collect the fare, you should own the service. Nowhere on their website, emails or confirmation letters does it state that the transport company isn't part of Barcelo or that it's a separate entity. In addition, the manager that promised to meet with us (Enrique Reyes) never did. This is some kind of scam and we called them out on it. Conveniently, the resort claims no affiliation to the transport company and responsibility for the matter, even though the booking is done entirely through Barcelo themselves. We just confirmed our return transport, and we also had trouble. Luckily, we were there in person and got it fixed. I can hear the agent on the phone admitting in Spanish that the information on our transfer says that there's no flight for us, but it was contained in the notes. I will fight this with our credit card company and travel insurance once we're back. Besides this, the service is mediocre. The food is poor to less than average. Drinks are bad. The upside- The beaches and the resort are beautiful. The grounds are very well kept, and everything is pretty clean. I will never return to this resort, any Barcelo resorts, or Mexico again. My money is better spent at consistently good service in Punta Cana through a different resort or chain. I hope the extra $73 was worth it to Barcelo, because our friends are always asking for our recommendations. When we return to a tropical resort next time with friends, it will most definitely not be here or with Barcelo Resorts. Do not come to this resort, as there are some deceptive practices going on. This happened even to someone to speaks fluent English and Spanish and can navigate a foreign airport. I would never want my friends who can't speak Spanish to even attempt coming through the Cancun airport to this resort. Also, if you're such a big chain, you should have super clear signs for the shuttle to Barcelo resorts. Very disappointing!

Had a blast! Planning on going back! Room cleaners where amazing. And had the best time dancing and playing games with Diego Higareda with the entertainment team! He's was so much fun when I went on the kitchen Tour with Diego and his other staffs!

I went with two girlfriends and we had an amazing stay! The staff was all friendly and helpful, we especially want to give a shout out to Miguel, Javier and Arturo at the fitness center, Martin at water sports, Gilberto Perez and Luis Dias at the dinner Buffet Caribe, and Alex at the breakfast Buffet Caribe, and Maria at the spa! They helped to make our stay memorable and enjoyable. Also, all of the pool/water activities staff were fun and got us to do water aerobics and zumba by the pool each day :) We enjoyed all of our meals at the buffets and the restaurants, our favorite was the Italian restaurant, La Trattoria. Overall we had a wonderful week at Barceló Caribe and we will definitely be heading back soon! Highly would recommend staying here :)

We just returned from a wonderful 10-day vacation and will definitely return. We’ve been going to the Moon Palace (Riviera Maya) the past 15 years and while that’s truly a 5-star property (golf, big name entertainers), the price difference makes the 4-star Barcelo Maya Grand a MUCH better value and the best choice. There are 2 main reasons for that, the BEACH and the FOOD! 1) The BEACH: You may already know that beaches on the Cancun strip are beautiful and clear, but the current is ferocious. It takes only 30-40 minutes to thoroughly kick your butt. Conversely, the beaches of Playa del Carmen (Moon Palace) are calm but really not that great; they can be mirky, with natural debris and seaweed everywhere despite noisy tractors constantly cleaning up the beach. Whereas the beach at Barcelo’s Beach section combines both calm swimmable, crystal clear waters with a powdery, white sand beach = it’s absolute perfection. 2) The FOOD: Brasserie, a French restaurant located in the Palace section, is a MUST. You may question whether or not it’s worth paying an extra charge at an all-inclusive, it definitely is! Do this early in your stay, because it’s likely you’ll want to dine there again. No dining ticket is required, you just pay a $20 fee. An impressive menu (escargot, oysters, chateaubriand, wellington, filet mignon, lamb chops, sea bass, lobster), I was delighted with the food quality, presentation, and ambience. The foie gras was as exquisite as any I’ve had in Paris or Nice, and the surprise chocolate box was a work of art. The synchronized service was impeccable. If you can reserve a table on the veranda to coincide with sunset, it will be a highlight of your stay. There are 2 more pay-restaurants but the Brasserie is the best by far, we dined there twice. Of the “included” restaurants, I highly recommend Mare Nostrum, the seafood restaurant at the Colonial. It features lobster 3 ways, flaming Mayan coffee (on request), and superb service. We dined here 3 times, it was consistently fabulous! Mexico Lindo was also a favorite. Grilled lobster Tepenyaki at either of 2 Asian restaurants was another good choice. Try to fill every night with a dining reservation if you can. If not, arrange your open nights for when the buffet “theme” is seafood/unlimited lobster, it’s the best one for sure. Champagne breakfast buffet + omelette station was very good each morning. Buffet lunch & dinner selections are vast; salads, appetizers, seafood/chicken/pork/beef entrees, pasta chef, carving chef, taco station, soups, sides, desserts galore, coffee bar with assorted tequilas, there’s something for everyone. You’ll be pleasantly surprised. The resort is massive and there is plenty to do. Multiple theaters feature a variety of nightly entertainment. You’ll find miniature golf, ping pong, courts for tennis, racquetball, basketball, soccer. There’s a dolphin show/experience, and a professional dive center. The “Maya Mall” connecting the Caribe and Colonial lobbies offers shops, live music, casino, bowling, pool tables, a carousel, haunted house, bars and restaurants, and a Mexican crafts marketplace at Colonial end. Despite the huge size of this resort, everything is very walkable! I had recent knee surgery and walking the beautifully landscaped grounds was NO ISSUE whatsoever, just a leisurely 2-6 minute walk to anything. Additionally, there are air conditioned, double-decker buses servicing all 5 properties, until 2am. POOLS/BEACHES: There are 5 sections, 5 pools, 5 beaches. Every section has a kiddie pool with slides and fun apparatus, as well as a semi-Olympic pool with separate swimming lanes, and you can sign up for a free scuba lesson at the pools. Kayaks, windsurfing, and snorkel equipment are also free to use. In all sections, you’ll walk from the rooms toward the pool area… and directly beyond the chaise lounges is easy access to the beach, along with outdoor showers. There is no service on the beach so bring a large thermos you can fill at the pool bar, because you’ll have to walk back to the pool area for food or drinks. No stray animals or birds at the open-air buffets, if you’ve been to the Carib before you know that’s huge! There are towel huts between the pools, and no room card was required for unlimited towels. Getting a lounger at the pool or the beach was no problem whatsoever (September). BEACH Section: WOW! Swim to your heart’s content, it’s fabulous. Calm, crystal clear blue waters… powdery soft white sand, no rocks or shells underfoot, it’s a dream. If you’re a beach person, stay at the BEACH lobby for this reason, it’s their BEST beach by far. At the far end of the beach, beyond the palm trees and loungers, is a totally unspoiled area of natural vegetation and rock formations; an amazing photo op if you want to climb them and pose. Largest pool. This pool bar is without music. The buffet has the cleanest environment for open air dining, the food selection here was adequate. Also in this section but far from the beach, is the El Cielito, a smaller adults-only pool with cabanas, bar service, and in-pool water loungers. Free access, except for the cabanas which are $20 per day. This area is tranquil, relaxing. CARIBE Section: Swimming is only pleasant if you go far from the shoreline. While the beach appears to have no rocks, they ARE there, beneath the water where you cannot see them. This can be especially dangerous when exiting the water; your feet get caught in the rocks, you can cut yourself and you may need a hand to be pulled up. This pool is the smallest, but definitely the liveliest. Music, dancing, DJ, pool trivia, prizes, water games, it all happens here. The open-air buffet environment was not my favorite, but the food selection here is extensive and made up for it. (Recommendation: Stay here for prime location and walk 2 mins. to the adjacent beach) COLONIAL & TROPICAL Sections: These beaches are NOT swimmable. Rocks along the shore, you’ll be stepping over them just to make your way into the water. You can certainly take the sun on the loungers but if you want to swim, go to the BEACH (last section) for sure. This pool does appear massive because it’s 2 large pools separated by just a 5’ walkway. There’s a pool bar at each end, but again no music, no DJ. I can’t speak to the open-air buffets here because I ate only at the huge indoor, air-conditioned buffets (attached to each other) — and they were spectacular, SO many selections! The main lobby of the Colonial is traditional and beautiful. PALACE Section: Access is not included with your stay unless you book this section specifically, and it’s double the price. The beach isn’t swimmable, rocks everywhere, and the pool is far removed. The best way to enjoy this property is to stroll the grounds and have a drink before/after your dinner reservation at the Brasserie. The fountains, terraces, and overall ambience is stunning and upscale (on par with Moon Palace). MORE INFO: Any issue was addressed immediately. Extra towels, delivered in 5 minutes. When our TV reception became spotty, we were moved to another room across the hall within 20 minutes. I heard they usually require you to move at 3pm the following day when a room-swap is requested, perhaps we got lucky. Bathrooms are not as pictured on the website (vessel sinks, glass shower) unless you reserve a “Premium Level” room. In standard rooms, the bathrooms (tub/shower combo) are perfectly fine, just not as modern. You’ll have a sofa unless you get an “adjoining” room; in which case you get a door and you’ll hear your neighbors every movement so remember that at check-in. The A/C is superb, your room is cooled even while you’re not in it. I requested a blanket! Balconies on the 3rd floor have acrylic panels allowing more sunlight to come through. Balconies on the 2nd floor are concrete and offer more privacy. First floor rooms open to a small patio and include loungers, though nobody utilizes them. You’ll receive a 40% discount on spa services if your appointment takes place within 24 hours of your arrival. Get a massage, you deserve it. A $20 day-pass gets you showers, sauna, steam, lap pool, hydrotherapy pools, plunge pool, etc. The Fitness center next door is state-of-the-art and completely free to use. Full salon services (hair, makeup, wax, nails, etc.) are available as well. Very Important: Make your dining reservations immediately upon arrival (same-day reservations must be made by 3pm). You can ask to see menus. Note that your luggage will be left in a wide open area of the lobby until you receive your keys — so if you have cash, jewelry, valuables keep them close while you kill time at the buffet, pool or shops until 3pm. No safe is offered until you get into your room. Wi-Fi is $9-$12 daily, but it’s free from 10am-1pm each day in the Maya Mall, though connectivity was intermittent. Your in-room mini bar is restocked daily with soda and beer; let them know your preferences. Or empty it to allow space for desserts you bring back from dinner. While room service is offered, the delivery fee is not included. You’ll pay $8.50 for EACH item you request, whether it’s a full entree or a slice of cake. THAT was my only real complaint. I enjoyed this resort. The staff was friendly and worked very hard to please guests. We experienced no issues with scams, crime, tainted alcohol, or any of the stuff you sometimes hear about. Security was never an issue, we always felt safe and relaxed. I hope to visit Barcelo Maya again in just a couple of months, it’s really that good. Sorry Moon Palace, you have officially been replaced. All American Brat (NYC) PS: We booked our roundtrip transfers with USA Transfers (rated #1 on TripAdvisor) — ask your driver to stop at the convenience store along the way. You can pick up sunscreen for half the price here, and there’s also a Starbucks there if you get a craving!

Thanks to Daniela, Andrei, Ernesto, and josue my son and I had the best time at surf ride at barcelo, they had a lot of patience and good teaching skills, and all had positive attitudes. We will be back! Thanks again to everyone at surf ride at barcelo maya caribe.