Guestbook

All those who have been to the Palace. How is the snorkeling off the beach? I am taking my wife and daughter there in June '10 and we all love snorkeling. The pictures I've seen from web sites and google maps look like there are reefs right off the beach. or maybe they or just rocks which I suspect will still attract fish and other sea life. Has anybody snorkeled from the beach and is there much to see?

There were four of us traveling. We used US Transfers which was great. No stopping at other resorts to drop off people. The cost was $135.00 US round trip (not including tip) We actually saved money using this mode of transportation. The reps were at the airport waiting for us and were on time when they picked us up from our Hotel to take us to the airport. Nice clean van and SUV. It was an hour drive from the airport to the Barcelo resort. Wound definately use this Company again.

Just came back from our first trip to Barcelo Maya Beach. The way this resort is designed I think you will find that there are no rooms that are 'too far' from the beach/pool but we also found the staff extremely accommodating about requests when possible. (When we first arrived asking for specific room criteria was easy...the resort totally filled up while we were there and then they had less flexibility) I think that at the time you are going it will not be full... also...even when full the place never felt crowded!

A lot of people don't know that there is a "sports bar" in the Caribe Lobby. It is really neat. There is a pool table, air hockey table, darts, card table, ping pong table and a foosball table. There are a few flat screens that usually have ESPN or another sports channel on. There is a bar/bartender in there that will make you annnny drink you can imagine :) they also have Corona on tap and it is open until 3 am. It's a lot of fun and never really super crowed, I suggest checkin that out!

Thanks for the info. I was ready to change my mind about booking here because their website has no info. After reading your information I think we will stick with this resort.

Great site! Thanks :-)

We are going to Barcelo Maya Beach for our vacation on June 13th through the 20th. We are looking forward to it, but are a little concerned about where our room will be located. Because of the size of the resort, I am hoping to be as close to the beach and pool as possible.

We're getting VERY excited!

Great site, Looking forward to first visit in 3 weeks.

We just booked May 16-20 at the Maya Beach. Were at the Tropical May 2009 and it was spectacular. This time we're bringing our kids and I can't wait to get there. Hopefully the Beach is just as nice as the Tropical. There wasn't anything we would've changed about our previous trip. It Was Great!!

My husband and I are heading to the Tropical on March 6!! Last year we stayed at the Palace. Just wondering if Bacardi rum will be included in the All Inclusive at the Tropical. It was at the Palace. Just let me know!

We stayed at the Colonial from Jan 18 to Feb 1 2010, we paid for 24hrs of internet(paid cash) when we checked out we were charged for the internet we already paid for. There we another couple in our group who were charged for snorkling stuff they never purchased(we all brought our own). This is a nice hotel, but someone is making some extra money(Juan Carlos we are still waiting for our e-mail to straighten out this mess) This money lost isn't a bg deal, but because of this I would find another chain of hotel's that are more costumer friendly, and would suggest you don't charge anything to your room, and keep all reciepts for check out time.

Sounds like a heat rash!

We had an awesome time at Barcelo Tropical! My husband's company took his entire division to this resort for their annual meeting. I started reading reviews months before we left and I’m glad I did. I found some very helpful (and some puzzling) reviews and tips. Here are mine… Overall, the resort was fabulous! Everyone was very friendly and helpful. The whole property is spotless and beautiful…I have very few complaints other than the sheer size of the resort. It is HUGE! You will do plenty of walking and if you don’t have a good sense of direction, you will probably get lost a few times. (But, who really minds getting lost in paradise?) It would be helpful if they added more directional signs, and offered a more detailed map of the resort at Check-in. TIP #1 – DO NOT LOSE YOUR RESORT MAP! ROOMS- It seems the Beach and Caribe (comparable to a Holiday Inn) caters more to the “Spring Break/budget crowd. The Tropical and Colonial (comparable to an Embassy Suites) cater to couples and families. (Colonial more for families because of the huge kid’s pool with slides etc.) The Palace (comparable to a Hilton) seems to cater more to the older adult crowd and is significantly fancier with the spa and tennis courts. Again, the resort is HUGE. I’d suggest picking a resort close to the amenities you want. For example, if you stay at the Palace, you will have about a 20 minute walk to the soft, rock-free sand on the beach in front of the Beach and Caribe. It’s about a 15 minute walk from the Palace to the snorkeling pier, jet skis, kayaks, and water bikes. We were in the Tropical. The rooms were well appointed and very clean. Some people along on our trip had problems with their AC. We did not. (And, we also did not need a key card to keep the AC running during the day, as mentioned in previous reviews. We stayed at the Tropical/Colonial. Maybe this applies to the cheaper Beach/Caribe rooms?) There really is a HUGE difference between the Palace, Tropical/Colonial and Beach/Caribe. TIP: I HIGHLY RECOMMEND asking for a room on the 2nd or 3rd floor. Some people had issues with their 1st floor rooms smelling very musty (like terrariums) and irritating their allergies. There are fast, clean elevators, so don’t worry about having to trek up the stairs to a higher, better smelling room…. TIP: If you choose a room facing the Amphitheater, be prepared to experience loud music until 11PM every night. (If you go to bed early, ask for a room on the other side.) We were still awake and not bothered by it at all, but it is VERY loud. Requesting or waiting for a room with a view is kind of pointless. You won’t spend much time inside and the dense vegetation blocks most of the views anyway. TIP: I HIGHLY RECOMMEND requesting a mattress pad upon Check-In. As mentioned in several other reviews, the beds are very, very hard! Also, if you are the type that gets chilly at night, request an extra blanket at Check-in. The beds are made with one flat sheet and one bedspread (the polyester kind that rarely gets washed.) We were fine sleeping with just the sheet, and adjusting the AC before bedtime. TIP: I HIGHLY RECOMMEND bringing along a short extension cord with a multi-plug on the end. The rooms have only 2 or 3 single outlets with lamps plugged into them. So, if you want to charge your cell phone, camera battery etc. all at the same time, you will have a problem. The plugs are standard American outlets so there is no need to bring any adapters. The rooms come with a hair dryer, clothes iron and lots of hangers, and there is a roomy safe to put your valuables in. (We never felt the need to use it.) They also supply bathrobes and slippers (you can take the slippers home), and lots of very large bath towels. (I think this was the first hotel that I’ve stayed in and didn’t have to call for more towels to be delivered!) Surprisingly, the water pressure in the shower was awesome any time of day. (Although, the shower faucets seem to be installed backwards, hot on the wrong side.)…All of the toilets on the resort have two flush buttons on the wall above that were confusing at first. (We found out the small button is for #1 and the big button is for #2. LOL ) I assume this is part of their devotion to being a “green” resort….The mini-bar is stocked with beer, large bottles of water, orange soda and orange juice. A beverage person refills them every day, (not the maid.) If you want something different, just leave a note. Overall, we were very pleased with our room. It felt cleaner and safer than many American hotel rooms we’ve stayed in. FOOD- I freely admit that I do not have sophisticated taste buds. I’m a Midwestern soccer mom. So I didn’t starve at the buffets, but I didn’t find much to rave about either (other than the self-served ice cream and desserts.)…For breakfast, they have typical pancakes, bacon, made-to-order-eggs, and a large selection of fruit. For lunch and dinner they have mostly meaty stew-like dishes and unidentifiable seafood. I saw very few fresh or cooked vegetables at any meal, (the “salad bar” consisted of lettuce and cucumber.) Also, surprisingly, there was very little dairy (cheese, sour cream etc.). Everything just seemed sort of bland or undercooked, even at the restaurants. Having said that, there is always food available at the buffet by the lobby and/or at the beach grill by the pool. The best meal of our entire trip was off-resort at a little restaurant in Playa Del Carmen called Los Comales- excellent, reasonably priced steaks! (2 meals, plus drinks was only $40US) It’s located two blocks north of the white chapel on the same side of the street. Even though I was unimpressed with the food at the resort, I had ZERO stomach problems eating anything OR drinking any of the water/ice (even brushing my teeth.) I’m usually very paranoid about getting sick, so I took along a whole pharmacy of remedies, but never needed them! TIP: Make your restaurant reservations when you Check-in. Most other reviews suggest this too. If you can’t get a table before 9PM, just eat at the buffet and try to get reservations for a different night. Also, most of the restaurants are barely air conditioned. Be prepared to sweat! BARS- They have self-served Corona on tap in several locations, and the bartenders are very friendly and can make just about anything you want. We fell in love with the Mango Margaritas! …Lots of reviews complained about the service being slow. We had no problems. Maybe it had to do with the time of year? TIP: I HIGHLY RECOMMEND going to the Automotive Dept at TARGET before you leave and purchasing a “Bubba Keg”. I read about them in previous reviews and am glad I took them along. The indoor bars serve mostly in glasses, but the beach/pool bars use small paper punch cups or small plastic cups. There were several other people there with the “Bubba Kegs” (or similar insulated mugs), and the bartenders had no problem filling them up. Get them, not just to save yourself trips to the bar, but to keep your water/margaritas/beer cold in the hot Mexican sun! When you check-in, they attach a plastic/fabric bracelet to your wrist. These are color coded to the hotel you are staying in. (Different colors equal different access and freebies around the resort.) They give different color wrist bands to minors, to prevent the staff from serving alcohol to them. The only place they checked our wrist bands was at the disco. Even with the wristbands, determined underage kids can get their hands on alcohol without much effort. BEACH/POOL- Both the beach and the pools were very, very clean with plenty of lounge chairs and hammocks. I had read that the beach south of the Tropical on the other side of the pier had softer sand, but we had no problem and didn’t need water shoes to protect our feet on the beach near the Tropical or Colonial. As with anywhere, if you are barefoot, you just watch where you walk….. We walked (barefoot) down to the pier and watched a few people snorkeling and feeding tons of enormous fish! The water was too cold to join them, but it was fun to watch. The giant water bikes, kayaks, jet skis and sailboats also looked like a blast and easy to maneuver, but the sea water was just too chilly. The pool water was also chilly. (We were there in January, so we weren’t surprised.) We did take a few dips in the pool to cool off after lying in the sun for a while. TIP: If you plan to lay by the pool all day, I suggest finding a chair AWAY from the Activities Hut. The staff set up speakers there to announce their way through water aerobics and bingo. It can get very loud! They also play a hysterical selection of American music sung by Mexican singers during the day. TIP: DO NOT lose your towel card! I had read that getting towels was a hassle. I had no hassle, but forgot to bring it with me once and had to trek all the way back to the room to get it. They pass out the towels in the Activities Hut. You give them your card and get a towel to use. When you return the towel you get your card back. No problem. The Activities Hut also has a fun area to paint your own ceramics. You purchase your unpainted piece, paint it at the paint table, and give it back to them. They touch-up, glaze and bake it overnight. It’s ready to pick up the next morning at 9am. Fun on a rainy day!...You can also check out volleyballs, basketballs, board games and ping pong equipment at the Activities Hut. SHOPPING- Near the front of the resort there are two places to shop. In the Tropical lobby there are a few stores that have souvenirs, snacks and pharmacy items. They do NOT take cash. You must pay at the front desk then go back to retrieve your purchases. (I have no idea why.)… On the other side of the Convention Center next to the Discothèque, there is a larger shopping area that has everything from typical souvenirs, to T-shirts, to high-end jewelry. Some of the stores will negotiate pricing, others will not. (The shopkeepers will tell you they’re offering a limited time 25% off everything in the store. They say that to everyone! So don’t feel special!) They take US, Pesos, Visa, MC and AmEx. TIP: If you just plan to buy a few things, the prices are reasonable on the resort, but if you like to shop, I’d suggest taking a 20-minute, $15US (very safe) cab-ride up to Playa Del Carmen. They have the exact same things as the resort shops, but with a bigger selection and significantly lower prices. Everyone in Playa negotiates! Ask for the price in US, then offer 50%. Negotiate from there. In Playa, if you pay full price at the first store you shop in, you will feel like a complete fool the entire cab-ride home. (Just ask my husband! LOL) MONEY- We did not need to take much money at all on this trip, (other than small bills for tipping.) Don’t waste time exchanging US for Pesos before you leave. Every place we went took US and credit cards. I don’t think we saw a single Peso while we shopped. TIP: If you are paying with credit cards, make sure you ask the exchange rate BEFORE they run the transaction! …As of Jan 2010, the exchange is 13 Pesos to $1US. Sometimes, if the shopkeeper seems unhappy with the price you negotiated, they will try to earn some back by upping the exchange rate. PAY ATTENTION! Don’t be afraid to say NO, and walk out. 9 times out of 10, they will come running after you. Don’t feel embarrassed or cheap. This is the way things are done in Mexico! CLOTHING- We saw people dressed in everything imaginable! There were lots of thongs and Speedos on the beach. Keep in mind; it can get very hot and humid. I took a few bathing suits, a few sundresses, shorts and light t-shirts and was fine. Like I mentioned earlier, the resort is VERY large, so plan to do quite a bit of walking, even if it’s just from your room to the food or the beach. So bring comfortable shoes and leave your new fancy sandals and heels at home! One last TIP…Other than in the rooms, there are very few doors or windows. All of the hallways and the lobby are open-air, which is great for the breezes, but not-so-great for rain. Be careful (especially if you’ve been drinking) walking on the polished marble and ceramic tiled hallways because they can get very slick. Also, the pool areas are not very well lit at night and there are no handrails on the stairs. Have a great time on your trip! I can't wait to go back without all of my husband's co-workers!

My husband and I stayed at the Barcelo Maya Palace last March. (We plan on booking a return trip to the Tropical tonight for a March return.) My strange question is..... Last time we were there, I got a raised red rash on my skin on the third day we got there. I was using a different sunscreen(Banana Boat) that I had never used before, but I tan really well. I usually get dark quickly--I am from Minnesota though, so I do know the rays are much stronger in the Riviera Maya. Does anyone have any idea what happened to me? It did itch, but mostly it just looked horrible! I also had never been in the ocean before, so maybe the saltwater caused a reaction?The strange thing is, I got really tan after I returned to Minnesota. It is like my tanning did not kick in right away. Any thoughts?

We are going back for our snd visit the summer of 2010, and want to know the best way to get to the hotel from the airport?

wonderful resort will be back soon turtles are fantastic

Beyond our expectations! Paradise all the way! We couldn't have had a better time! The place was absolutely gorgeous! The food buffets and restaurants were fantastic. The people were happy and friendly...who wouldn't love their job in paradise. The beaches were prestine and raked every morning. The grounds were groomed constantly. We saw wildlife on the grounds, beautiful birds, swam with sea turtles, vibrant colored fish and stingrays. The shows were enjoyable. The place was so wonderful I felt as if I were in a dream the entire time. We will be back and I can't wait!!

AnySpecialsForReturnGuest?

well..nice sharing.I read your comments and totally agree with you.3 kids in a room.is so nice ......me busy in my mcts exams and now visit the site and read your comments and like it so much,,its nice sharing keep it up!!!!!!!!!!

Hi, We will be traveling to Barcelo maya beach in Feb. I was wondering if you payed extra for the club premium and if so was it worth the extra money? Thank you, Lori

My wife and I had a wonderful stay. The food was awesome and endless. We couldn't eat all that was presented at the specialty restaurants. The beach and the pools satisfied our every need. There were activities for all age groups with activity directors who evidently loved their work. The staff is excellent and the rooms a class act.

We just finished with our 18th trip to the Riviera Maya in the last 8 years. But 8 of those trips have been to Barcelo. Every single stay at Barcelo has been wonderful. But this last one was perfect. That's the easiest way to describe it. Hoping to get down there at least two more times in 2K10.

Hello we don't have long and we will be there!

Spending New Years Eve at the Palace. What to do?

Hi All, A group of 14 will be staying at the Beach Resort the first week of April. Looking forward to a wonderful time. Can anyone offer any helpful hints or advice for a week long stay? We are traveling with 5 boys from age 12-16.

My husband and I just returned from our second Barcelo Maya vacation and it was wonderful again!! We look forward to booking a third! Thank you to all the Staff!

I registered 7 yrs. ago when we went to the Barcelo, but I don't remember my username and password, however the site remembers my email address and won't let me register. Help!!

Hello, i saw your review and since it was the most recent one posted I was hoping you can answer some questions. We booked a room in the Tropical section for October 26-31st. I noticed you stated that section was closed. One of the reasons i booked this hotel was the ability to use the facilities of the other hotels. Did you feel that you were still able to enjoy your vacation with 3 of the hotels being closed? was there enough to do? Thank you in advance. Legna

Beings you have been there 5 times could you tell me if you have to pay for the pool tables or are they included in the all inclusive?

We have been to hotels where they say there is a charge for internet and then once we get there, there is not. Can anyone tell me if they had internet service in there rooms or only in certain areas. Thanks

My wife and 2 friends have been at this great resort FOUR TIMES. We may make it a FIFTH TIME this year! After going to Cancun for 28 years in a row, the Riviera Maya was nice change and we still get to enjoy the Mexican Carribean waters. Love that Mexico. Viva Mexico!

The Palace is cheep right now, I paid 179/night through easyclick travel, I called and got a lower rate then the web site. The only difference w/ premium is you get into 1 extra bar, which no one goes to. All liquer is premium at Palace. We went to the spa which is over by the Colonial, and took a dip in the pool. The crowd was much younger 20 somethings. The only 2 of the 5 hotels open when I was there (9-8-09) were Palace and Colonial. So the folks that paid $116/night for Beach and Caribe got to stay at Colonial. Palace was near empty, we about had the place to ourselves. Barcelo Maya PALACE was the best Hotel, better then RIU Palace. I will go back. great food and Service.

I will be going to the Barcelo resort this winter with my wife and 2 teenage daughters, and I need help deciding which hotel within the resort I should stay at. Is it worth the premium to stay at the palace?

Thank you

I'm so exstatic that my future mother-in-law pointed this website out to me. It is FABULOUS!! Thanks for all of the brides who have posted info and pics on here. My fiancee and I are getting hitched on the beach at the Barcelo in February 2010!!! Words cannot describe how exciting this is and how amazing it will be! woot woot!! Bride - To - Be, Jackie!

october will be my fifth time staying

Very excited to be coming to Barcelo Palace (I switched from another hotel). Hopefully everyone will help me celebrate my birthday. ('ll have my birthday t-shirt on)

I had a blast meeting your boys they were to funny! Had fun at the Jaguar the last night with Jennifer and Eric too!! Next time you all go again the Vermeire Fam will definately need to plan a vaca there again! Your MidWest friend Brittany V Quincy Il

Our third family vacation to Barcelo was fabulous. We usually stay at the Caribe but it was closed due to renovations. We were upgraded to the Tropicale! Beautiful hotel. Great staff. Special thanks to the bartenders at the pool bar who took great care of us. Food was great. We love the buffets and Bali Hai restaurant. Our extended family is planning another trip in May 2010.

This will be our 5th time at Barcelo. This year we are bringing 8 --- 18 year olds --- happy graduation :) We would not consider another resort. The countdown has begun...

great resort love our time there

I can't wait to go to Barcelo Palace for our honeymoon! Mexico, here we come!

Can't wait!!

The Barr sisters in Mexico again..have fun and can't wait to see photos!!!

Friends have been there last year and they loved it so much they are returning this year. So I booked for my wife and I for our 25th wedding aniversary and I cant wait to get there.

We went for our honeymoon October 2008. We stayed at the palace. BE PREPARED TO WALK! The place is amazingly gorgeous! The buffets were delicious. The workers there will wait on you hand and foot. The weather down there was perfect. It was about 85 and sunny. The water temp was perfect too. Just cool enough to cool you down. The only complaint that I have is all the walking you have to do to get somewhere else in the hotel. Everything is so big there. We arrived on Sunday morning and did not find the shopping Plaza til Thursday. The place is huge! The landscaping is absolutely beautiful and pictures do no justice until you see it with your own eyes. We definitely can't wait to come back!

We have been home 4 weeks and wish we were back. This was our 2nd stay at Barcello Maya Beach. We feel this is the best resort in the complex. We always ask to stay in Tulum building. Since it is one the end, it is usually quiet and far enough away from the theatre. We enjoy watching the sunrise and by 9:00 are ready to have a last drink on our balcony and watch the stars. As far as we could tell, the only reason to stay at the Palace is if you really enjoy sitting by the pool. That part looked very nice. But the Palace has no beach to speak of. The Beach has by far the best!! My husband and I love to spend the days walking and our end is deffinitely superior. There is almost no coral or seaweed to walk through to get out to the water. It must be 30-50 yards out and you are only in water to waist or chest. Also the free non motorized water area is right there. Too bad they could not have put the Palace to the south of the Beach. Our Apple rep. advised us NOT to take the small white vans to get to Playa. Not reliable or safe! We are chickens, so we took a cab. $18 to Playa. Cabs are very easy to get for the ride back, but be sure to tell the driver you are only going to pay $18. If they can, they will first ask for more. We went to the lagoon past the north end of the Palace. It was fun to go on a little adventure. Bring along your snorkel gear, the water is great! Tried to find the cenote on site, but turned back at the bridge. My husband was worried that is was not safe--maybe next time. You have to get Marcos to make you a drink!! Most of the bartenders say they know how to make everything--not true. Marcos makes the best BlueSky ever. A greast drink that is refreshing and will not taste like it has alcohol in it. Believe me , it does!! We did not go to the reservation restaurants. We find that there is always something great at the buffet. Whatever meat is for dinner, they will do with a fahitta? (LIKE A STIR FRY) for breakfast the next day. Always tender and flavorful. They also did put new mattresses on the beds--no more sleeping on rocks! We love Barcello!!

Hi, we just read your comment about the dinning at the Theme Dining Room and reservations. We have been to the maya beach last year and we are coming again this year. We also had a problem booking the reservations, how do we go about booking ahaead of time? Any ideas? Please let us know. Thanks soo much for any information.