Barcelo Maya Colonial: Will Return

A relaxing and enjoyable experience. We rode the bus around the resort a few times to dine, shop or just take in the sights. We saw deer, coati and iguanas from the bus and a few times while walking. Quality of the food and service was great. We dined at 4 A la carte restaurants. Mexico Lindo was my favourite, but I enjoyed them all. I was impressed by the knowledge of the Wait Staff at each of the a la Carte's regarding Food Allergies. Our only negative experience was the bus company th [... read more]at picked us up at the airport. The trip from Cancun to the Resort was very slow. They never stopped at our hotel to pick us up for our flight home, so the Concierge found another tour bus to pick up those of us at the Colonial. He was excellent!

Occidental Punta Cana: Good value

It was a nice hotel with excellent service though sometimes staff was too busy. It would've been useful to have more staff in the buffet restaurants. The alcoholic drinks were EXTREMELY watered down. Would've liked more live music. There were vendors everywhere, constantly, on the resort and on the beach!! Guest services was particularly helpful.Housekeeping was good and rooms were ok. The food was quite good as well especially the Steak restaurant and the Italian. The biggest issue we had  [... read more]was lack of shade. Everyone was scrambling for the few places that offered shade. The beach was beautiful and made for excellent morning walks!

Occidental Caribe: Don't go Here!

We stayed here as a couple in January , it a Beautiful location, with clean pools & grounds, everything else contributed to a horribly disappointing 2 Star all inclusive vacation experience Buffet- Overall Dirty & completely unorganized, all guests at this large resort are herded into the one buffet, food is inconsistent, labelling of foods are incorrect & some days had no fruit or butter, cereal or yoghurt or fresh vegetables ,bread& pastries was always full, food was of very poor quality A [... read more]s a result of a total lack of leadership, Servers were all overworked & unable to provide service couldn't even get a coffee or cutlery on some days the crowds were overwhelming A la carte restaurants have lovely servers but still, food was really awful Not enough beach chairs, most are broken & dirty we had to find 2 chairs at 6am every morning to secure a beach chair there is no pool or beach beverage service, unless you go to the entertainment pool & sit in the pool at bar. & we had no pool towels for first 3 days despite multiple attempts Luckily we brought our own towels AC in room would not work, tried numerous attempts with resort to bring below 24.5. Degrees, we were pocked out of our room 3 times, no explanation or apologies we had mould in our entire shower stall, our housekeeper tried to remove it with bleach but to no avail

Occidental Punta Cana: Lovely resort

This resort is beautiful, clean, family friendly and fun. The beach and pools were welcoming and well maintained. We enjoyed the restaurants and bars and were entertained by the nightly activities. The servers and staff work very hard to ensure you are well fed and the drinks are plentiful.

Barcelo Huatulco: Great time

This is the second time we have stayed at this hotel. The beach is great to walk around on but you want to do it before noon as it gets very HOT 🥵. And go for a walk you will want to do as there are fish to feed at the end by the Dreams hotel where the rocks are. Bring fruit 🍌 as it is healthy for them lol. This time we spent the extra couple of hundred and stayed at the Premier part. Having room service and being able to go to a restaurants every evening is nice. They still use the ol [... read more]d system of having to make reservations. When will hotels realize that NO ONE likes this. There are other hotels where a person doesn’t need to make reservations. You go to the restaurant you would like to eat at … if it’s full you are then given a vibrating disk. You go to the lounge have a pre dinner drink 🍹 and wait for your disk to vibrate. It takes care of people feeling like they can never go to a restaurant that you’d really like to try or where the customers feel that there is some favouritism going on. The hotel definitely makes a person feel that they want you to have a great time and if there is anything they can do to help with that they will. The only other issue besides the restaurant reservations is the lack of rooms with king size beds. It happened to at least to 10 other couples that we talked to while we were there for the first week. When questioned the front desk stated it was because it’s a family resort. Well evidently there is a need for “adult” rooms! It starts a person’s holiday off to a bad start when you have to go down and BEG to get moved to a room that you can sleep with your spouse. All in all I would go back to this hotel. For the price and what you receive I feel the price is reasonable. The staff are friendly and work hard for your enjoyment. Oh I also recommend going to their evening shows!! They are amazing and you will be glad you went. Plus from last year to this one they redid their whole program. Not one evening was a repeat from last year.

Occidental Punta Cana: We didn't go here!!!

This was recommended by Robyn but after careful review we decided that due to the horrible reviews we would choose something else. Not sure why we are being asked to rate it. I can tell you when we had issues she couldn't help us and we were told we had to refer to the hotel and airline.

Occidental Caribe: Don't go Here!

We stayed here as a couple in January , it a Beautiful location, with clean pools & grounds, everything else contributed to a horrible vacation Overall Dirty & completely unorganized Buffet Restaurant, all guests at this large resort are herded into the one buffet, food is inconsistent & of poor quality There is a total lack of leadership, Servers were all overworked & unable to provide service couldn't even get a coffee or cutlery on some days the crowds were overwhelming A la carte restau [... read more]rants have lovely servers but still, food was really awful No beach chairs, most are broken & dirty we had to find 2 chairs at 6am every morning to secure a beach chair there is no pool or beach beverage service, we had no pool towels for first 3 days despite multiple attempts Luckily we brought our own towels AC in room would not work, & mould in our entire shower stall, our housecleaner tried to remove it with bleach but to no avail Room had a great view overlooking SEA & pool, our room was cleaned daily. The bed was awful, pillows old & lumpy Entertainment team were decent as were a few of the shows that start at 10 Everyone here smokes cant get away Overall a 2 at best

Occidental Cozumel: Worst hotel ever

Should be shut down had no water guests were extremely sick Staff was rude and not helpful we left after one night and booked with another hotel. At our own cost it is very dated and we had to get water from the pool to flush the toilet

Occidental Caribe: This resort is lacking in a lot of areas

Long waits for check ins and no beverage offered while waiting. Rooms were bad broken tile trim left on floor.Glass shower never cleaned with soap scum and water spots on it. T.V. didn't work at all. Safe never worked. Called down to get someone to fix it but they never showed up. Toilet didn't flush. Had to find maid to pour stuff down it everything. We went two days without towels and was never any face cloths. Had to use our beach towel. The blow dryer didn't work. Room card kept deactiv [... read more]ated had to go to front desk and wait every time. The buffet food was cold and hard to find a table. The waiters wouldn't ask you for drinks and there was never any spoons on table and if you asked you might get a plastic one. On the good side the grounds are well maintained and the beach is nice.i don't usually make reviews cause I am not fussy but had to make an exception for this resort. Everyone we talked to said the same. Really would not recommend this resort 😕

Barcelo Maya Palace: Great Resort in a wonderful Country, I have been 6+ times

The resort is one of the best I have ever visited, and I am comparing this to over 10 or so. The beach is good, managed to get some snorkelling in a find the right amount of shade. The rooms are top notch and the contents of the mini fridge are replaced daily. The entertainment was good to great (Circus, Michael Jackson, and the Magic Show), in that order. I thought the Kareoke show would be pointless, so I stayed away. The food in the main buffet was average to good, some dishes were next level [... read more] like the chipotle beef. The bus between buildings comes regularily and is useful if you are tired, but walking is also doable. As a total score out of 5, I would give it a 4 and would return some time. I also think the resort is very well run.

Occidental Cozumel: SICKNESS AND MISERY FOR ALL

I will not spend a moment on the quality of food or service and go right to the illness that spread through the entire resort. Hardly anybody was spared the misery of violent vomiting and diarrhea almost from day 1. The first day the AC did not work. When it was finally fixed it only went to 25 degrees Celsius and rattled. The room was damp and smelled like mold all the time. The next day the vomiting started for everybody in our group. We spent 36 hours straight in bed trying to beat th [... read more]is illness. After 36 hours we left our room but the diarrhea kicked in. I could not find anybody at the resort that wasn’t either currently sick or had just started feeling better. Almost EVERYBODY at the resort got sick. We lived on toast and bananas for 4 days. Nobody wears gloves to handle food but they do wear hairnets. Pretty sure nobody gets sick for a week or two when they find a hair in their food. Very poor hygiene and food safety standards. During the height of the sickness the WATER TO THE ENTIRE RESORT WAS TURNED OFF!!! We were told that it was for maintenance and it would be back on in 20 or 30 minutes. It was off for over 24 hours! We could not flush the toilets. This included the public washrooms. Its bad enough to be sick, now imagine not flushing the toilets OR washing your hands. Dozens of people including myself filled trash cans with pool water to flush toilets all night. Contestants on Survivor had more sanitary living conditions than we did. In the morning there was an angry mob yelling at the assistant manager. The manager was never to be seen. People talked about "Walter" but nobody saw the man. He hid like a coward while his staff got yelled at. Shame on you Walter! The assistant manager told everybody that if we didn't like it at the Occidental we could pack our bags and leave. He said "nobody in making you stay". There are dozens of reviews just like mine on several sites describing the same situation. The management responded to those reviews by saying that this time of year there is "a little gastroenteritis on the island". These guys lie so often it has become effortless. Some of the reps that sold excursions told us this happens all the time and Occidental covers it up so nobody knows. This place needs to stop making excuses, shut down for a few weeks and find the root cause of this illness. As of this evening my wife feels better but my symptoms persist. I have lost 11 pounds since the trip began. I went to the doctor today and he sent my samples away to determine if I got a virus, bacteria, or a parasite. Perhaps a combination of all three. We will know in about 3 days.

Barcelo Maya Caribe: Average Resort

Returned a week ago from the Barcelo Maya Caribe. It is a no frills resort with the beach and pool being the best factors. We went to 2 al a cartes and wouldn't bother if we'd had known it was just mediocre. Didn't even go to the other 2 that we had reservations for. The buffet is really good, something for everyone. I think most of the resorts in the Mayan Riviera all use the same company to source their desserts from. They are all the little cakes cut in different shapes and differe [... read more]nt colours, but mostly all the same. I didn't even bother with them, stuck to the fruit and fruit cups. I really love dessert but can pass those little cakes up easily. Dessert was disappointing. The rooms - very blah. No frills whatever. They do supply shampoo conditioner and lotion. The hall outside the rooms are VERY DARK and unappealing. Definately need some nice lighting and some sort of decor as there is ZERO decor, inside the halls and outside the actual buildings. When we arrived at the resort in the bus, it was so blah and disappointing, just a big building, no decor or flowers whatsoever. No excitement to finally get there. We were apprehensive about the place. The checkin was fine, the lobby, again blah, no flowers, nothing even on the checkin counter, NOTHING. Only 4 of us checking in and the young man checking us in talked so fast and rushed like he was really busy. We couldn't understand him, didn't know if he was talking english or spanish! Again, no decor other than some metal spanish metal statues in the lobby. They didn't appeal to me at all . The room didn't have any towel art, no candies on the pillows, nothing, no frills. I only seen 1 miriachi singing group during the whole week, at the mexican a la carte. Why not have them around the whole resort each day?! They really add to the Mexican feel of a place. Should always be at the buffets. I didn't see any drink servers at the beach or the pool. Had to get your own. No frills. No little snack stands right at the pool, like I ALWAYS see at other resorts. Seen lots of fish at the pier. That was really nice. The theater - was good on 3 nights -- Michael Jackson, Il Divo and the Magic Show were good. But the kareoke, the men vs. ladies were bad. Don't recommend. But they really should turn ON the lights after the shows. I actually tripped on the side of some stairs (there are stairs all over), and I fell right down. (Not a drinker). Lighting is very poor. They should also have little golf carts to drive customers around as there's lots of walking. One of the 4 of our group rented an electric scooter for about $100/day to get around. The bartenders all seemed unhappy. This really sounds negative, but the beach and the pools made it worthwhile for us, that's what we went for. It was average but at a higher cost. I would recommend if you are happy being at the beach and pools and fine with buffets, but the resort is very MEDIOCRE, again NO FRILLS THERE!!! Just my opinion.

Occidental Arenas Blancas: Ok

Need maintenance, everything falling apart entertainers are great. Food is terrible beach is the best of all. Going outside is not much better than staying inside. Show at the hotel are great. You can have fun at the beach. There is no much to shopp around , everything seen to be empty

Barcelo Maya Tropical: Fabulous week away

We loved everything about the barcelo maya tropical. The beach was beautiful, pools were great, friendly staff (front desk, housekeeping, bars, buffets, restaurants). The food was very good and there was no issue getting restaurant reservations at decent eating times. There was never an issue getting beach chairs either at the pool or beach. Lots to do if you wanted - overall, a great week away

Barcelo Maya Colonial: Forgot how amazing Mexico is...

We had an amazing week. The food was good and plentiful. The staff are so energetic and ready to get you anything you could possibly want. The beds were comfortable. Only complaint is that the Theater went a little late...my room faced the theater. If you wanted to turn in early there was no way you could sleep until it was done. Unfortunately, our flight there was delayed making a long day almost unbearable and then our flight home was also delayed. Be prepared for quite a long trip from the [... read more] airport to the resort.

Barcelo Maya Colonial: Love this Resort!

Everything about this resort is wonderful! The pools, the beaches, the food, the rooms....it's all great. There are plenty of attractions nearby and right on site as well. The spa is awesome, there is surfing, snorkling, and deep sea fishing. The staff are super helpful and very nice. We really enjoyed ourselves and definately going back!

Barcelo Maya Beach Resort: Fantastic Vacation @ Barcelo Maya Beach

Beautiful and well kept grounds with fantastic pools and a prime beach location. Great for family/friends getaways! All a La carte restaurants we booked were fantastic. The buffet was a bit lacking for dinner but was fine for breakfast and lunch. The room was slightly dated but functional and any issues were immediately resolved.

Barcelo Maya Caribe: wouldn't book again

This resort is very big. It is 619 acres. Be prepared to do lots of walking. If you do choose to stay here, be sure to book 'Premium.' Even though this is a 5 star resort, the 'superior run of the house' rooms are extremely dated and need a thorough renovation. Our room was on the second floor and air conditioning worked well. Bathroom had peeling paint in the tub. The food is excellent. We had read reviews about bland food and did not find that. The a la cartes are hard to book and we could [... read more] only get dinner times between 5 - 6 pm. I don't know if they did that as well as we had an 8 year old. Seems like all the kids were with parents at this dinner time. The resort's entertainment around the pools and activities are lacking. There are 4 main pools and most of the action seemed to be happening at Tropical. That was 2 resorts away from us. The shows are too late. All started at 9:30 pm. With a 8 year old we just couldn't make it to them. We have enjoyed other resorts where the entertainment is more geared towards children (having some children's shows). The Barcy club is too hard to access. They are too strict with drop off times and they only allow you to book in 50 minute increments. The pools and beaches were great. Alcohol was very watered down. The staff work very hard, especially the grounds crew. The resort exterior is immaculate. Very commercial resort, too many stores. Miss quainter resorts with less shopping options. No one is selling you anything on the beach which is nice but you almost miss it too. We used collectivo to explore, but be prepared to be in the middle of nowhere.

Occidental at Xcaret Destination: Naturally Beautiful Resort!

We loved the natural jungle setting. Seeing monkeys everyday was a highlight! Bambi the deer, Coatis and Agoutis, Iguanas and Flamingos! Everyday had animal excitement. I would have liked to have seen the Flamingos in a better spot with more stimulation but they looked very healthy. There were also beautiful macaws by the lobby area. I felt bad that their wings were clipped, but then found out that they come over from Xcaret everyday. Xcaret has a successful Macaw breeding program where they are [... read more] helping to repopulate Macaws back into the wild. I was very happy to hear that! We absolutely loved the natural pool. Another highlight! The beach is small but it’s beautiful and very clean. It’s perfect for kids because it’s an inlet that’s sectioned off from the rest of the ocean. It’s also great if you are new to snorkelling. You can also snorkel by the natural pool but only on a calm day - check the warning flags. I went when the flag was yellow, and don’t go by yourself. It’s technically off the resort. We brought our own snorkel gear, I never figured out if they offered it. Best to bring your own. My daughter and her friend had a lot of fun at the pools playing trivia and cornhole. They are 18, and also really enjoyed the nightlife. Our room was nice, loved the balcony! That’s where we saw the most monkey action. AMAZING!! We were in building 18, 2nd floor. Our information hosts Ashley and Camilla were so kind and helpful. The cleaning staff was lovely. Checkin was quite a slow process, but not a big deal. The lobby was beautiful to look at while we waited. All of the staff were friendly, fun and there to help. We had such a great experience! We bought the unlimited Xcaret passes, which I think was a good idea. We walked over to the park almost every day. The Aviary is outstanding. And the underground /cave river was really fun and relaxing. The food was a mix of ok and good. You found what you liked and stuck with it. My daughter and I are vegetarian so we were limited to begin with. Fresh fruit was great. We liked the pasta bar. And again, the staff was lovely. It was an expensive vacation but when you get there and see your surroundings you understand why. A lot of work goes into this place. We had a really great trip!

Barcelo Maya Beach Resort: The resort was beautiful but the beach was not! Lots of sea weed and rocks. Very hard to walk any distance on the beach.

The room was satisfactory as far as sleeping but the maid service was iffy. We had an incident where the maid broke the coffee pot glass in the bath tub/shower and never even cleaned up the glass only got rid of the pot handle and ring. When I phoned the front desk to report this, they said sorry but that was it They never even sent anyone one to pick the glass out of the tub or off the floor and if I had not noticed the glass before getting into the shower, they could have had a problem wit [... read more]h someone could have had a very bad cut. We cleaned the glass up ourselves.The cleanliness was not up to my standards but realize we were in Mexico. Some of the restaurants in the resorts were very nice and we really enjoyed them.