Barcelo Puerto Vallarta: Ok resort

The food at the buffet wasn’t great the restaurants were very good all in all a good trip but nothing spectacular the entertainment is really lacking if you go try and share whatever you can with the beach locals they really appreciate it 💕

Barcelo Maya Colonial: Loved it!!!

The hotel was beautiful the people friendly and the food delicious the beach also wonderful. I'm so so so impressed. There is always food available and of course drinks made to order. Our favorite eating area was actually the Mariachi Grill.. The staff there were the nicest at the whole resort! Look for Onisome, he is the manager and an amazing person. I extremely recommend this fantastic place!!!

Barcelo Maya Colonial: Barcelo Colonial reseort

We were at the Colonial the week before Christmass 2017. The Barcelo is a superb resort. It is excelent except for the rooms that were allocated to us. We are grandparent accompanying a family. We were given two connected rooms on the ground floor. These rooms were so humid that they were smelling mold. Not acceptable, especially for a baby and young children. We made several requests to be reallocated to the second or third floor and we were told that no other two connected rooms were avail [... read more]able.

Barcelo Maya Colonial: Very nice resort

From the flight with Air Transat to and from was on time and we had the Option Plus , so we had something to eat , wine and chocolate bar and blanket ,neck rest and special line to check in and extra baggage allowed. Quick friendly check in The Barceló Colonial Jalisco Bldg. Are room was close to the beach. Great maid service and fridge replacement service 5 * Cleanliness on Resort 5* Buffet at Colonial 4* Buffet in evening at Caribe and Maya Beach are new and enclosed now with  [... read more]A/C 5* appearance( but food 3.5 * ) food cold on 2 occasions and overcrowded because they shut down half of the area. We stayed 2 weeks had Distinctive Group and had 10 A La Carts. Atmosphere compared to anyplace where we live is a 5*. Maybe we were lucky but I enjoyed every A La Carte. We had to cancel dessert on 2 occasions because I was so full. Very nice updates We went to Barceló Palace Supper Buffet . Food was better than the other buffets. Beach is one of the best in the area on Maya beach side. They are trying to cater to people. They had pool side service and sometimes beach service for drinks. Entertainment on Colonial section is hit and miss Great, M. Jackson Show and Circus , Fantasia Show.Maybe they could have some daytime entertainment . They have extra things to do at an extra charge, bowling, surf rider,casino, premium alcohol. But its there if you want it , we did not this time , Maybe next time. I think the Barceló continues to keep up with the consumers demands., you get what you pay for . Overall a 5* experience . We came home a little spoilt and heavier. A Great Vacation!

Occidental Papagayo: Adequate Only

Very hilly and beautiful BUT no hand railing. Poor at replenishing water, coffee and towels. Requested supplies several times to no avail. Terrific breakfast and large enough buffet to find something to eat. Fabulous fruit! We got a good deal and paid little so it was good value.

Barcelo Maya Caribe: Very Disappointing!

We could have just as easily gone to Las Vegas. The buildings were all shiny and glitzy. Definitely nice but just not Mexican. Positves: The food was plentiful. The drinks were good and at some bars they had premium brands. The beach was very nice. The room was comfortable and quiet. We were immediately checked into our room and they put my son and his wife across the hall. Staff was pleasant but not friendly. Negatives: At check in we were not provided with any information about the r [... read more]esort except a map of the resort. When we entered our room there was an overwhelming odour of must and mold. I called the front desk and asked if they could put a deodorizer in and they sent someone right away. I would have asked for another room but my son had already unpacked and I wanted to be near them. It was better for one day and then the smell was back the next day. I asked for a refresh again and once again they responded immediately however once again it only lasted one day. We decided that since we were not in the room much and it was not hot we would live with it and open windows when we could. WIFI was only available at very limited 2 times during the day and only in a small area of the shopping mall. Not even enough places to sit. We were given coupons to be used to reserve our meals at some of the special restaurants. We went to the guest services right away the next morning and we were not able to get our meals at any suitable dining times (either 5 pm or 9 pm) too early or too late. Went back a few times to see if there were a cancellation but we were only able to get one at the Mexican one and the Japanese one. At the Mexican one there were many empty chairs (more than 10 and no one came in to fill them. At the Japanese one there are supposed to be 12 chairs around the chef and he puts on a show. The fun in that was to be interacting with the other 8 people in the group but the 4 of us were alone. Once again a disappointing expereince. There was also an unpleasant altercation with our server and my daughter-in-law over the sake she bought for us. Really ruined the evening. So we had to eat all the rest of our meals in the buffet. There was lots of selections but all the food was either luke warm or downright cold. We started to just eat the food that was supposed to be cold. There was only 2 places to eat - the main buffet or the lunch only beach buffet. Very limited selection and once again COLD. I started to live on soup. There was another place called the Sports bar. It was mainly appetizers and snacks. It was a sports bar (surprise) and very noisy. There was no place to get a late night snack or drink because everything closed early (11 pm.) The beach chairs were plentiful and the sand was lovely however I was not expecting so many stones and rocks to get into the water. Water was clear and lots of fish swimming around. The water sports were too far away up the beach and mainly snorkeling. If there were any activities during the day we were not aware of them because we were not informed of anything. There was a main stage in the lobby of the outdoor shopping mall. They lasted about an hour and it was a surprise every day. They just set up folding chairs in the open hall. However the weather was very cold for 3 days and I had no winter clothes so sitting outside stopped many folks. We were thinking it would be fun to have so many activities available but everything cost extra. All in all a very disappointing week. Even if we had paid less it still would have been a failure but for the price we paid even a worse experience. We will continue to go to Mexico but certainly not this one!

Occidental Arenas Blancas: Don’t stay here

Room was never properly cleaned. Bathtub was dirty. Towels were never changed. Buffet was lukewarm or cold all the time. Was never offered a la carte restaurants. Hamburgers were bloody awful. No snacks or anything to munch on between meals. No show in the evening except kids show. I wouldn’t consider this hotel again. Hotel lobby was flooding when it rained. I would rate this a 1 star I like Cuba and I know what to expect I have been to Cuba before. I know Cuban hotels, I would ra [... read more]te. It maybe1 1/2 compared to other Cuban Hotels

Occidental Arenas Blancas: Upgraded!

when we first arrived at the resort, we were told we would have to check in at the sister resort. We thought we would have to walk to ours, however, we were happy to find out that we were upgraded to that resort. We loved the ability to enjoy the amenities at both resorts, while getting a room in the better one. Staff were friendly, and food pretty good considering it was Cuba. The town was a short walk down the street, where we are out at restaurants and bought souvenirs. Overall, loved it!

Occidental at Xcaret Destination: Beautiful resort in the jungle

We just returned from a week away at this resort. Overall we had a fantastic holiday. We opted for the package which allows for unlimited access to the Xcaret park which we took full advantage of visiting many times both day and night. We are a family of 4 with two children ages 5 and 8. Pros: Resort is very clean and grounds are beautiful. It is secluded and there are no other resorts in site. It feels very safe and you can walk it easily. Lots of animal to be seen around including monkeys, [... read more] coatis etc. Ample pools and chairs available. Pools are a little cold but ok. Food was decent and there is a good choice of restaurants. No booking required. The beach buffet is in a beautiful setting. Some more variation in the food would be good but overall we found lots to eat. No illness. We heard complaints about booze being watered down but this is pretty standard in Mexico. Service was friendly and attentive. Staff at kids club were very kind to children. Beach- it's a man made beach and quite small. It's a cove which worked well for us and there were no waves so children could swim safely. Other beaches in the area are much more beautiful but the undercurrent can be strong. Xcaret park is incredible. Tons to do. There are lots of optimal extras but we didn't do any and still loved the park. Cons- Some hassle to attend time share demos. We did attend and weren't given any hassle when we said a firm no. Beach loungers get snatched up quickly. Need to reserve early morning. Rooms are quite small. Typical hotel rooms rather than suites. No bath. Overall a lovely resort. More suited to families who want to attend Xcaret.

Barcelo Bavaro Beach: It is really amazing Resort!!

I was here five years ago and I could not wait to come here again.(I did not go anywhere between). We love here so much we decided to extend our week staying for five more days(wish we could afford more). I feel like home here. Everything is sooo good (I am crying when I am writing ). People here are so nice so friendly. They really make this vacation special. I am so happy to be send here by my dear friend who is not with us anymore. I am sure He knows how happy and healthy I feel when I am he [... read more]re. I talked to many people who come here year after year and we all agree this is the best!!!!! Thank You, Alice and Milan Blahut

Barcelo Maya Palace: Best location

Resort is good, very clean everywhere but with evarage service Prices in resort stores just out of mind. Service stuff is not really welcoming. Always looking for tips without doing a good jobs. Show level is really low and it is kind of boring atmosphere

Occidental Punta Cana: Decent

We most recently spent 10 days at this resort. The resort is very well maintained and modernized. Rooms are beautiful and grounds immaculate. Food was excellent, service was good right from the maids to the bars. For the 24 hour food there was just the pizza available upstairs that they cooked in a wood burning oven. It was delicious but a little more choices would be better. The beach is beautiful, white sand however the time we where there the water was very rough due to the winds. Lots [... read more] of vendors on the beach but if you say "no" they will move on. I enjoyed the markets we went to, we visited 2. 1 way down the beach and the other right outside the front of the resort. The markets have better deals than the vendors on the beach. The resort is large so we did get our share of exercise for the 10 days. Switching rooms isn't always an option. The shows where not good. Only 1 night they had a circus show which was nice. The rest of the nights not good at all. If your looking to hear Dominican music either day or night, you won't. Which I thought was strange since we where in Dominican. Would we go back, that would depend on the deal. It's good for R&R. The weather was excellent the whole 10 days. We did 1 excursion which was a nightmare. The Soana Island one. I would not recommend it as we spent the better of 10 hours of the day in transit between buses and boats and only on the island for 1 1/2 hours. Not a good day at all.

Barcelo Bavaro Beach: Well-designed resort on a gorgeous beach

The Barcelo is a great design. Connected to a larger resort where there were many dining choices, a big theatre, casino and disco - the adult-only portion was more compact. All the grounds were very well maintained. The beach was amazing; clean, turquoise water and white sand studded with thousands of palm trees on an endless beach for walking. Lots of chaise lounges. The pool was superb although their activity leader should have had her mike taken away as she is quite shrill. Fortunately [... read more] activities were afternoon only. The rooms were large and we had an excellent view of the ocean from our unit. I loved the retractable clothes dryer on the balcony for bathing suits. Great idea. The restaurants were lovely. Mostly open-air. Service was quite poor. Very slow and forgetful. Staff needs a bit of training. The food was plentiful and varied. Unfortunately I got a severe case of food-poisoning while there which has tainted my overall impression of the food. Overall, this was a beautiful resort. Just be careful what you eat.

Barcelo Maya Caribe: Amazing resort!!

The resort and hotel is amazing!! Very well kept and clean! The beach is amazing! The food was great! I love how you can go eat anywhere, use any pool, etc. It's great for adults or families. We totally loved it and would definitely return.

Occidental Nuevo Vallarta: OK if you don't expect too much

A small hotel with a big ego. Having been coming here for more than 20 years, I have seen multiple changes for what started out as a smaller, neighborly family resort. It is now a 3 level (as in class distinction) hotel, with a good feel, but not like it once was. It's my pet beef that is appearing more often as time and the financial scene changes. I suppose everyone likes the almighty dollar and this place is no exception. For another USD 44/day each, one can upgrade to the 7th floor and exper [... read more]ience a supposedly better stay than the ordinary Joe boy on the bottom 6. That is unless you wish to be a First club member and opt for a membership (Used to be time share, but now that's a taboo word) which will get you a bigger room with sea view and balcony and access to the previously available to all "Adult Pool." All that aside, the "traveller class" (That's you and me, booking through our friendly travel agent such as Trip Central) can experience comfortable rooms and a nice pool with amenities available to all. A better beach than most on this stretch of NV, and food to die for. Go see Carlos in the Lobby bar, he remembers me well, he started here 20 years ago and has learned how to make a proper Marguerita. The Beach bar is gone now and replaced by a sterile Pool Bar, "Las Olas" which means the waves bar. I guess you can now wave goodbye to the camaraderie that used to exist in the old bar that is still pictured in the literature, and that lures many to at least investigate the new Occidental. Never mind, the bar staff know their business, Moises and Sebastian and Felix are pleasant enough, but there's no atmosphere for conversation like there used to be. There's a new partially covered terrace attached to the pool. The loungers there face the beach and you can watch the ocean through the newly planted Palm tree forest. Don't expect chairs, there's only 3 that I could count and they are a disputed item. So if you have difficulty getting up and down off the loungers, then better bring your own wheelchair or canvas camping chair. (Hmm now that's a thought that didn't occur to me then.) The Adult pool is no longer an item. They have barred access to the plebs and seeing as privileged children are using it, I see no advantage anyway. (The washrooms are too far for children) I loved the food at all the restaurants. I may be a pleb, but I knows my grub. The Buffet isn't just a trough where you can load your plate to the brim multiple times. You can choose a very well prepared meal, if you know how to plate it. I'm sure everyone has watched those shows. However, the wine is a little wanting. Go A la Carte if you wish. My favorite was the brand new Tokyo Restaurant, which, if you are privileged, and know your 3 R's, is a Japanese food restaurant. A good menu, well prepared food and well worth 2 visits. Or the Italian restaurant with it's brand of Steak and Pasta, Calamari (one legged Octopus) Shrimp. O, the Tiramisu, yes the TIRAMISU. We didn't try the Mexican restaurant, but were regulars at the lunch time snack bar/restaurant which served up a different soup every day. If you wished you could go gourmet fries there too. I couldn't say much about the entertainment, as I made my own, but Sunday is Karaoki night and lots of fun. The room we stayed in was adequate, the iron mattress was fine but sleep was sparse. There is a fridge for beer and soft drinks and room for your insulin. I had them replace the soft drinks with more water. The safe is easy to operate and I suppose difficult to break into. The bathroom /shower didn't come with a fan, so bring some matches. O, yes, If we craned our necks, we could see the ocean behind the Hard rock Hotel next door, otherwise the fine view of the Mexican Restaurant kitchen back door was enticing. Would I go back again? The whole population of Nuevo Vallarta would miss me if I didn't. I HAVE to go back.

Occidental Papagayo: Occidental Papagayo

Resort is stunning, has quiet ambient atmosphere. Beautiful beach and lovely pool.... Would love to come back! Staff is very helpful and kind. We had few out of resort adventures which we loved. We were very well taken care of! Thank you Occidental :) Pura Vida!

Barcelo Maya Caribe: Barcelo Maya Caribe

The hotels grounds are beautiful. The 4 resorts, Beach, Caribe, Colonial and Tropical are all within easy walking distance of each other. Fifty percent of the staff are friendly in that you were greeted with a hello as you walked by. The pools are great. The kids play structures are second to none. Awesome! The food is good, but often repetitive. Guest services are very helpful. The free WiFi is terrible. It is available for 3 hours per day and you have to go to the mall area to access it. If yo [... read more]u want WiFi access, I suggest buying the package for the week, about $40. Otherwise, it's $9/day. Our check in was a disaster. It was further complicated by the fact that the desk clerk did not speak English very well. We have been to other similar resorts in the area, and our overall experience was much more satisfying.

Allegro Cozumel: Very enjoyable stay !!

Visited the resort last week of November - Beautifully kept small resort. Grounds are lush,pools clean and room small but the maids keep them spotless, lots of hot water and AC worked great. Food good, always something to eat. The beach was outstanding

Barcelo Maya Beach Resort: Amazing Resort

This resort had everything you would want. Beautiful long white sand beaches. Lots of chairs on the beach and around the pools. Great variety of food and plenty of it. Resort kept very clean, we where very please with the services.

Occidental Arenas Blancas: Excellent Resort

The cleaning and serving staff were great and very helpful. The resort was kept very clean. The washrooms were kept very clean and the common areas were kept in great condition. The cappuccino was was great and the service at the bar was prompt. The food was good and had a good variety. The location close to town was excellent and the beach is the best in the world. Had a great seven weeks.