Occidental Tamarindo: Wonderful people!

We did enjoy our stay, the staff were incredible. We could tell there is new management and slowly changes are happening to the resort. The kitchen exhaust fan was repaired so it was not so unbearably hot while eating at the buffet. The teppanyaki restaurant cooked a meal and that was my salt intake for the month. We did not try the Italian restaurant. We are hoping on their list of what to do is trim the trees. There were a few windy days which knocked down some large dead branches. Lucky n [... read more]o one was hit by them, but it was close. The staff was very kind and gracious. The Valentine’s Day meal was okay. The rating of 3.0 stars is what this place should be rated at.

Barcelo Maya Palace: Beautiful property!!

We had a fantastic stay at the Palace. Some of the best food we've ever had in Mexico, and the staff were supper friendly and accommodating. Jesus in the Caribe a la carte went above and beyond both nights we ate there. Our friend has severe food allergies and Jesus made sure he vetted the menu and made the kitchen aware. Nice pools and beach area, the kid's zone was amazing! Kinda jealous of their play area at the pool. :D The rooms are a little dated as far as decor but didn't spend much tim [... read more]e in it anyway, and the young lady who checked us in was a little rude, but other than that we'd totally stay there again. They do need to do something about the pool/beach chair issue though! Some chairs were reserved for hours with no one using them! We personally watched 4 chairs with no one in them for 7 hours!.

Barcelo Maya Tropical: Amazing Resort

It was our first time to Mexico, the resort was amazing. The foods was good and we really enjoyed our sit down meals, our chef Sandra made our experience at the Japanese restaurant in Colonial a memorable evening. The service at Sante Fae at the Tropical was great, our server Jorge always had a smile and made our evening. Charo our pool server at the Tropical always had a smile and there to take our drink orders when we needed something. Idahlia on the customer service desk in our area was s [... read more]o sweet and helped us with our reservations at the sit down meals. There was so lots to do at the resorts, snorkeling off the beach by the Maya Palace with the sea turtles, catamaran rides, dolphin shows and swimming with the dolphins. Mini market, Maya Mall and Disco.

Barcelo Tambor: Bad Service, no room smoke alarms, and people smoke in rooms

The resort and view is breathtaking. The rooms are just okay. We actually had no firm alarm or working safe. Despite asking for both! No water in fridge either. The service and food is horrible. The steakhouse served steak that didn’t taste like steak. So much so that my son asked if it was a “dog”. Yikes! No gluten free alternatives. No dairy alternatives. No pool side waiters. Someone threw up in the pool on Saturday- they just roped off that section of the pool! The grounds are very well main [... read more]tained, but that’s about it! Oh forgot to Mention our sheets had dirt on them! We arrived to dirty sheets and pillow covers! What’s more the travel agent,’Jenn, told us it was a 90 minute bus ride. It’s not 90. Try 5 hours. We lost the entire day and no dinner. Called ahead to the resort to get some sandwiches and salad in our room. While on that call the hotel informed us we only had 3 days booked and not 5! We absolutely panicked and emailed Jenn. Data and roaming charges incurred on both our phones. Get to the resort and “so sorry for the miscommunication but yea you have 5 nights”. got there after 10pm and no food. Finally at midnight we got sandwiches with bread, ham and processed cheese. Gross. I actually couldn’t eat any of it. The kids just wanted to sleep. This hotel needs to step up their game big time. Costa Rica is not Cuba but you wouldn’t know it from the food. What a waste of such a gem of a view. The package should come with a small charter flight from Liberia. Because 5 hours is NOT okay! You can go to Italy full flight in less time than it took us.

Occidental Arenas Blancas: Amazing beach

Dining did not have variety and had poor selection of food. Some was leftover and was not even reheated to serve because it was cold. Service was super slow for coffee and drinks because they were served at table and staff would forget to come by and ask. No coffee for 2 days. Beach was 5 star and room was reasonably good and clean.

Occidental Caribe: not What we expected

The Room was small, smelled Musty, Had to get the safe fixed twice. the bed was comfortable but it was too small, we wanted to sleep together so the two double beds didn't work for us. The coffee pot did not work, I reported it but it was not resolved. I got food poisoning from the Japanese Resturant the Pool was great. The buffet was good most of the time. The staff were polite and very helpful. The drinks were very good. My Husband got eaten alive with Bug bites.

Barcelo Maya Caribe: Fantastic Family Vacation!

This was our first time to Mexico as well as one of the Barcelo Resorts. We are a family of 5 and always book 2 rooms. We've travelled a lot throughout the Caribbean and have stayed at many all-inclusives. This resort has something for everyone to enjoy. It's huge and you can use the services at the other sections too. Very easy to get around and the grounds are beautiful. The ROOMS we had were not brand new but they were well maintained and very clean. Beds were comfortable and fridges were re [... read more]stocked daily. We like to switch it up between the pool and the beach, we always found chairs but it's probably a good idea to get there early. The FOOD was very good. The buffets had lots of variety and the service there was pleasant and quick. The a la cartes were really good too, the Japanese was our favorite. We didn't have any trouble booking these but I recommend being flexible with your times, there are a lot of people to accommodate. We did one EXURSION, to see some of the Ruins followed by swimming in a cenote. We booked this through our West Jet Rep and it was well worth the price, including meals, transfers, gear and even though it said a half day, it was closer to a full day. Lots of fun and very interesting. SNORKELLING from the beach is awesome. Our favorite part was finding the turtles! It's such a cool experience to swim with them. You can do this every day if you like. They are beautiful. There's so much to do at this resort, all day and into the night. We had lots of fun and a fantastic week!

Barcelo Maya Colonial: Wonderful Vacation

The location of the hotel is very beautiful. We enjoyed all the services and facilities surrounding the hotel. The beach is very clean and well-maintained. The staff at the reception were friendly and accommodated all our wishes. The resort offers many restaurants for dining. We would suggest that the food could be improved by offering more international and healthy options, as it was the same every day. The room service was amazing; the cleaning staff were nice and family-oriented. The resort a [... read more]lso offered many activities for families, which were all very well-organized, and we felt very relaxed.

Barcelo Maya Riviera: Amazing 2 weeks at Barcelo Palace

I thought two weeks would be too long but we were sad to leave and could have stayed another 2 weeks. Resort amenities the beach the food the service was outstanding and the staff are so professional and eager to make your stay memorable. The staff at the Water Sports and dive shop are so helpful and knowledgeable. We went out on the Hobie Cats daily. I recommend upgrade to premium level for additional services.

Occidental Caribe: Resort review

Rooms are a bit out dated and not super clean in the bathroom but not horrible.the rest of the resort is very clean Buffet isn’t amazing but found stuff to eat. Good entertainment, pool is very nice and big. Waves were very large at the beach and lots of people selling stuff on the beach. We did the tour with dune buggies to the cave/chocolate/ coffee and it was fun for $50. Also the boat tour that takes you to snorkel/ sea walk and that was fun

Occidental Caribe: Horrible

This is the worst resort we have ever stayed at. Our room was old and dirty looking, our ceiling leaked, every time we tried to use the bathroom tap it came off. There were someone’s clothes left in the dresser, my 13 year old son found a disgusting used tampon in the end table drawer. Our safe didn’t work, we had no ac so our sheets were always damp! When we brought all of this to the attention of the front desk they shrugged their shoulders and said all other rooms are occupied. No compensatio [... read more]n was given, they didn’t care. Our sheets weren’t washed once the week we stayed and my sons sheets looked like they weren’t washed before we got there. The food at the buffet was terrible, the trays were filled with the exact same thing every single day. 17 out of 23 people in our group got food poisoning including myself and I spent 24 hours sick in bed. The pool is nice and the entertainment is good, the beach is beautiful but I would never go back even if it was free

Occidental Caribe: Good Times

We went with a large group and no complaints here. Room was decent food was good and there was no shortage of fun and entertainment. We had a blast and would definitely go back. Great price and next time would bring the kids as well.

Barcelo Solymar: One of my most unsatisfied stays

Hotel is old. Food is below average. But best of all is the bed bugs that's leaving the itching that topped it off. Please take it off the trip central destination list. Some of the staff are great. Front desk upgraded our first disgusting room for an extra 180 dollars and we ended with a nicer bungalow that had the bed bugs. Thanks a lot

Occidental Caribe: Not the best experience

Unfortunately, the hotel was old and the food was not of high quality. The rooms are very old and everything is broken. Cockroaches are running around the room and in the restaurant. The food in the restaurant is of rather low quality, unsanitary. On the penultimate day of vacation, I got poisoned and was very sick all day and could not even move. Then I found out that I was not the only one who got poisoned. I really liked the beach, it is very nice and clean and the hotel grounds are qu [... read more]ite clean and well-kept.

Barcelo Maya Caribe: Not a 5 star

Poor food, no themes at buffet despite lunar new year and Valentine's. No flexibility for unusual circumstances. Rooms are worn out. Buffet staff not allowed to join tables to accommodate family groups I'd these larger settings are occupied

Occidental Caribe: Absolutely horrible place

Food poisoning 16/23 people Terrible food Terrible rooms not what as described No towels Never changed our sheets in a WEEK Horrible customer service Toilets didn’t flush No seats at buffet Would NEVER recommend this place to my worst enemy

Occidental Caribe: Okay for the price

Big resort kid friendly Beach was okay room were hit and miss some leaking water toilet not flashing Food ok For what we paid compared to other places service was very slow. Lots of lineup. Pizza was good but had to wait over an hour. Drinks were OK. I need to get up early to get Chairs.

Barcelo Bavaro Palace: Super all-inclusive resort experience

This was our first repeat visit to an all-inclusive after going to several and the Barcelo Bavaro Palace did not disappoint. The first time we stayed at the Barcelo Beach Adults Only and found the Palace better in many ways. There was a lot more going on and is a bit of a walk from the Adults Only. More lively, closer to the large theater (although there is a small one at the Beach), shops, a la carte restaurants, gym, spa, sign out for water toys, etc. Unless you just don't like kids around, t [... read more]he Palace is the much better choice. Guests of both sections of the Barcelo can use some amenities interchangeably but just be aware that there are some quirky restaurant exceptions. No need for any sort of Premium upgrade. Room- Our room location was superb, 4218. Closest block to all the amenities. Literally a two minute walk to everything. Ocean view. The room itself was a junior suite but the design was a bit quirky and may not be everyone's cup of tea with it's linear layout and lack of privacy when using the shower and toilet. The shower stall leaked and the toilet did not flush efficiently but those were manageable inconveniences. The staff did an excellent job cleaning and the room was fairly well sound proofed. The hot tub on the balcony was effectively a square bath tub but came in handy one night when it was a bit cooler and we had a bit of rain, otherwise it probably wouldn't get used. The room was a bit musty but improved slightly with the proper fan and AC usage. The beds were very average and the pillows were not comfortable at all. Lots of storage space and a working safe. Beach and Pools-The ocean was excellent for swimming with a gradual slope, powdery sand and no rocks or seaweed. It went on for as far as the eye could see in either direction. The entire bay was protected by a reef about a km out which made it perfect for swimming, kayaking, and sailing. The colour and clarity of the water reminded us of what you would see in Tahiti or the Maldives. There were several large pools scattered throughout the resort, all crystal clear and a good temperature for the entire 10 days we were there. Service- good but varied of course as to who was doing the serving, how busy it was, and how upscale the restaurant was. We tended to leave behind tips in appreciation but never once got the feeling that the staff were expecting it. The Japanese restaurant was a bit of a disappointment. The chicken was a little on the tough side, bar service was poor, and the chef who makes or breaks the experience with their enthusiasm, was not what we were hoping for and expecting. The service everywhere else was generally adequate to excellent. Bars and Restaurants-The Seafood restaurant was a disappointment with food quality, but other than there and the Koyoto, the food was quite good. There was always lots to choose from. If there was something we didn't like we just left it and moved onto the next. No problem. Same with the drinks. A great place to try new drinks because if you don't like them, no harm no foul. We were able to sign up for all the a la cartes no problem so we only ate dinner once at the buffet. There was lots to choose from at the buffets for breakfast and lunch. Dinner at the golf course was a nice change and the only spot in the hotel to experience breakfast off the menu. Most restaurants also had a huge salad bar to compliment the bevy of choices off the menu. We found the Spanish restaurant the best and ate there twice. It was the closest you are going to get on the resort to 5 star dining and service. The sangria there is to die for. Bars are scattered all over the resort. Carey's was a favourite hang out but they could have done a lot more for music other than the lame white piano on autopilot occupying centre stage. The casino had a live piano player which just seemed to make a lot more sense. We soon caught on that if you asked for the higher end spirits the bar tenders would happily accommodate (at no extra charge except for the Grey Goose), otherwise they just dumped in the cheap stuff which definitely affected the quality of the drink. Entertainment-The team worked hard to put on a show that's for sure. There was different entertainment every night of the week (and started to repeat of course week 2). There was everything from the typical Micheal Jackson ( one of the best we've seen) to a circus act (always one of my favourite but this one just seemed to lack the luster). The rest of the nights there was a lot of dancing and really not a whole lot else going on, except for the terrific effort they made all day for Valentine's Day and Super Bowl Sunday. There was always entertainment by the pool in the afternoon and of course lots of water and land sports for you to engage in on your own. Recreational activities- Two paddle tennis courts (a novel and cool idea), a few tennis courts, 3 pickleball courts, a mini golf course (with a concrete surface...not good...what's up with that!), bocci ball, shuffleboard, kayaking, catamarans, table tennis, pool tables and bowling (for a fee), golf course, very cool water parks for the kids, a beach to walk for miles, great swimming in the pools and ocean, etc, etc. Summary- Pros...Great beach, a la carte restaurants access and quality, on site golf course, pools, standard of service and cleanliness, recreational activities, 20 minutes to Punta Cana airport. Cons- some isolated food quality and service. Some quirky room designs. The fact they allow smoking in too many places. At the buffet they should only allow smoking on the bottom level of the patio and not the main level. Smoking should not be allowed in the main common areas and should be kept to their designated rooms/areas. Not necessarily a con but be aware that a lot of the resort staff speak very limited English. Communication can at times require a bit of patience.

Barcelo Maya Palace: Wonderful resort

We had an amazing vacation at the Barcelo Maya Palace with our group of 6 (ages 7-75). The resort had lots to do, the beach was lovely (but bring water shoes for the coral!), the food was always delicious. Our only complaint was the shows didn't start until 9:30 pm so it was too late for our children to stay up after a fun day in the sun. The staff were always very friendly and addressed any of our questions or concerns quickly. Overall, we had an excellent vacation and made many beautiful memor [... read more]ies

Barcelo Tambor: Barcelo Tambor

It was beautiful,I had a great view from my balcony facing the ocean. The food was good. Really liked the Steak house and the Italian restaurant. The only thing I didn't like it was a four drive from the airport. And where you check in they couldn't really understand English. So it made it hard to talk to them.