Occidental Costa Cancun: terrible resort=HAS MUCH TO BE DESIRED

The rooms in the hotel were fine, however we had to ask for cleaning in the afternoon until someone showed up. We thought the food was terrible. Everyday in the buffets it was the same thing-chicken-either the leg or the wings or pieces of the other parts. The fruits were hard and cold. Vegetables were also hard and cold. In other words it is not at all up to par with any other resort we have been to. The beach was full of stones and sand. It is not what we had expected. The area w [... read more]here one can sit and go into the pool was fine unless when someone stole your spots. Also there were many teenagers there and other young people off on March Break. It was very noisy at all times. We were more than disappointed in The OccidentLAL

Barcelo Maya Riviera: Great getaway

This is a top quartile resort. From the amazing rooms, pools, restaurants, and facilities all are the best. We loved the nightly entertainment and social time. Walk the beach to 4 other sister resorts and enjoy them all. Nothing to want…you get it all here!

Barcelo Maya Caribe: Pretty good for a dated resort

I likely wouldn't return, but it's probably good value if you're looking for a cheaper option. It felt safe and had everything we needed, but definitely felt dated, and wasn't as nice as other resorts we've been to. There is no doubt that there are *much* worse options out there, but I personally wouldn't choose to return, as I've stayed at nicer options. To start with the "good": Beach: The beach was great at this resort. Really well maintained (they deal with the seaweed frequently bu [... read more]t discretely), beautiful sand and scenery, and lots of chairs. Worth noting that there are no umbrellas, the only shade comes from the (many) palm trees, but they can sometimes be less predictable, and the shade moves throughout the day, so it might be worth bringing an umbrella if you prefer to chase the shade (there is more shade available at the pool area, likely more challenging to find the sun there, but we didn't spend much time at the pool). Pool Options: While we spent most of our time at the beach, we did visit the pools occasionally. What I liked about this resort is that there are a few different pool options. While one of the main pools was very busy and rowdy (good if you are looking to drink / party / play "crazy game" and other events), the other pool was much quieter. There was no loud music, no organized events, and was overall a very different vibe. It's nice that there is something for everyone, so if you like a quieter, more relaxing experience, that exists! We also learned quickly that you can hear the pool noises from the beach, so be aware of which pool you are closer to on the beach. If you don't want to hear the music etc. from the "party pool", you will probably want to go to the other end of the beach. Staff: The staff were friendly and responsive, and seemed generally happy to be there! It was great meeting with some of them, and they were generally very happy to help with any requests. I will say that they appeared under-staffed at certain areas, specifically the pool bars, but I didn't have any negative interactions with any of the staff. The Grounds: Admittedly not super important, but the grounds were really beautiful and well-kept. Tons of large fountains and interesting architecture, staff was cleaning the paths every morning, and the walk from the beach to our room was stunning - some resorts pack those walkways full of different vendors / playgrounds etc., but I really appreciated all of the landscaping. Tons of trees, flowers, and natural scenery, which I thought was a nice touch. Things that could be improved: The Room / Maintenance: Our room was fine, but certainly felt dated. While nothing was exactly wrong, It didn't feel super clean and could definitely use an upgrade and there. It seemed like a standard, older hotel room (on the cheaper end). Unfortunately, we had two incidences that left us not thrilled. Most importantly, there was an error with the locking mechanism on our door, to the effect that at times, it was completely unlocked to everyone, unbeknownst to us. We learned this because on our second day, we were completely locked out of the room and had to go to the lobby to get help. (We had informed them twice at that point that the light on the electrical lock turned red when we were attempting to unlock it, but that after a couple attempts, we were able to usually just mess with the doorknob enough for it to open for us. Both times they "reset" our bracelets and told us it should be fine (we didn't actually know that it wasn't meant to turn red until we got locked out compeltely)). Once we got help, one of the resort employees informed us that there was an issue with the lock, and that it wasn't responsive to any of our key cards. We were told that it was either locked to everyone (including management's master key", and our own bracelets), or completely UNLOCKED, which meant that any time we were able to enter our room it was completely unlocked to anyone that would try to enter. This is obviously a safety concern, and did make us feel a bit uneasy. For what it is worth, they did send a maintenance person and dealt with it quickly, but we obviously wished it didn't happen to begin with. The second issue with the room was less alarming, but a few days in, the toilet broke and the handle to flush got disconnected from the rest of the plumbing. We called someone in and they were able to replace the part / repair the toilet quickly, but again speaks to the fact that some upgrades might go a long way in some of the rooms. Food / Reservations: The food was okay. The buffet actually had many promising options and was large enough that everyone should be able to find something they want to eat, but for dinner, I prefer restaurant options over a buffet, and you MUST reserve your table in advance. Unfortunately, booking those reservations were really challenging. For starters, they had us book our reservations through the service-center, rather than at the front desk or on the phone, which took some time. They only had one employee working, and for some reason it took a LONG time for them to find the reservations, so be prepared for a wait if there are a couple of groups ahead of you. We went on the morning after we arrived, before 9am, and there were VERY few options they could offer us, and almost all of them were for 8pm or later. If you enjoy / don't mind a late dinner, then you might not have an issue, but we preferred to eat closer to 6 or 7, and there would be maybe one restaurant a night that could accommodate that. This might be because they were unseasonably busy, or perhaps this is their usual, but we weren't able to get any reservations (even late ones) at the majority of the restaurants, meaning we spent 3 nights at the same spot (Mexican, and on the third night we ended up cancelling our reservation and opted for the buffet because it was only okay), and then they were able to get us in one night to an Italian restaurant (it was okay, not great) and one night to the Japanese restaurant (this was by far the best meal we ate the entire time - would highly recommend trying to get a reservation here!). I wish we could either reserve ourselves through the Barcelo app (cutting out the time spent at the service desk), or that there were more options in general so that we could try out different spots and not have to book late reservations. If you prefer to eat at the buffet for every meal, this is actually a great spot for that - I'm sure the food could be MUCH worse elsewhere, but I really prefer restaurant dining at dinner, so I was feeling a bit let down. Other general notes: This resort is HUGE. It's technically a combination of 5 or 6 resorts (each with their own lobby, buffet, and restaurants), but you have the options of visiting the other resorts as well. There is a mall (???) that joins some of the resorts. The mall is a weird vibe, unlike any other resort I've been at, but if you want to shop while you're away, I guess it's a good option. It was also really busy when we went. I think some of it is due to discrete circumstances (many people switching to Mexico from Cuba), but it was really busy pretty much everywhere. Just meant that while there are TONS of seating options on the beach, they filled up surprisingly fast. Like almost all resorts, the "seat saving" strategy is very much in play - if you didn't go to the beach (and I assume the pool as well) by 7:30 am or so to put your things on a beach chair, you likely won't have any luck, or will be left with the poorer options. To be fair, I know this isn't exclusive to this resort, but just note-worthy to be up early, even though it looks like there are so many seats to pick from! All in all, this wasn't a bad stay - it was a beautiful vacation and had the nicest beach I've seen, which is really all I needed, but I think next time I might opt for a smaller, newer resort.

Barcelo Puerto Vallarta: Very nice resort, spoiled by poor maintenance, uncomfortable beach lougers, and very loud music

The hotel building and grounds are beautiful. The rooms are spacious, but not well-maintained. We had one of the best rooms available, but it had a long list of things that did not work. Staff fixed most items, but why would management leave it to guests to do the inspections? The Italian and Spanish restaurants are very good. Los Arcos is poor, and the main buffet is quite good. Our major complaints were the endless loud music (11 am to 6 pm every day), which follows you everywhere, even  [... read more]into your room, and the very uncomfortable pool loungers. If you like a quiet and comfortable holiday, avoid this resort.

Barcelo Maya Palace: As always great

Not disappointed our second stay at Palace. Food, service, rooms, beach is great. My only complaint is beer quality, XX beer is not the best choice. Hotel helped me to find my phone. We are going to be back.

Occidental Papagayo: Okay resort

This hotel is not one that if you or anyone in your party has physical issues with their legs is for you It has too many stairs and the buildings are really spread out. Beer and drinks are good and the staff are friendly Food is okay , great steakhouse Just would not recommend for anyone with lower body issues

Barcelo Bavaro Palace: Lovely resort

We spent 10 days at this great resort and enjoyed the activities, nightly entertainment, beach and pool. We had reservations at many of the a la carte restaurants and enjoyed each one. Looking forward to returning here next year!

Barcelo Maya Beach Resort: Perfect Getaway at Barceló Maya!

We had the best stay at the Barcelo Maya Beach Resort. The beaches were beautiful..there are some rocks near the shore, but once past them the water is crystal clear. Best snorkeling is off the pier. Our stay allowed access to 4 resorts, we mostly visited Barcelo Beach and Barcelo Caribe since everything we needed was there, including a shopping mall, casino, and a 24-hour sports bar. The staff were friendly and never pushy. The pools were large with swim-up bars and daily entertainment, and  [... read more]the adult pool was a great place to relax! Chairs fill up early (around 8am), so putting a towel out in the morning helps. The bracelet room key was so convenient! The buffet food was decent, but à la cartes were the best. A great resort - we will definitely return!

Barcelo Maya Colonial: Heads-up

Our visit 2 years ago was great. However this year they had a college/university booking of several hundred late January. They were very loud with room parties to 2AM. Our last day, the quiet Colonial pool became a pool party with DJ that could be heard at the lobby end of resort. A facebook posting said they also had a "girls weekend" mid January with 1000's of guests. Big bookings now displace family vacations? Good bye Barcelo.

Barcelo Bavaro Beach: Resort was good

The resort was good. The breakfast was the best meal of the day. Made you eggs to order. The food could be better. I would recommend this resort and would return for a future vacation. Good atmosphere and staff would amazing.

Occidental Nuevo Vallarta: Wow, this was really good.

This place was amazing. The rooms were nice and clean. Only thing that was kind of disappointing was not all rooms have a balcony or terrace. Although it turned out to not be a big issue. Pools and bars were really good. The beach was great to walk every day, with clean white sand that goes on for miles. The staff was wonderful, always smiling and very friendly. The buffet and alacarts were very good with lots of different foods to choose from. There was multiple dishes to choose from on the ala [... read more]carts menu's. We enjoyed our stay and we will go back again.

Barcelo Maya Colonial: Amazing resort

This was our first visit to the resort and we thought it was beautiful. The grounds are very well maintained. Although it’s a large resort, it never felt crowded. The beach is lovely, but we spent most of our time by the pool. We played pickleball, and the kids especially loved the mini golf and escape room. The buffet food was delicious, and we enjoyed having ice cream every day. We would definitely love to visit this resort again.

Occidental Tucancun: Worst resort I've ever been to!

This was by far the worst resort I have ever been to. The only positives, are beautiful views, nice weather and luckily walking distance to good restaurants. The staff were unpleasant and dismissive, the food was awful - minimal buffet options, questionable looking salads and meat, nothing was warm (luckily there were some amazing restaurants walking distance that we could eat at most nights), extremely difficult to get A la carte reservation - an hour wait in the morning and most were a [... read more]lready booked up, you had to get up at 6:30am to get chairs by the pool, rooms are extremely dated - cracked tiles, showers go from freezing cold to scalding hot, leaking AC, dark bathroom lighting, our deadbolt broke on our door and nobody ever came to fix it even after asking multiple times, door also kept getting stuck and we had use body weight to get it to open. The last night we decided to eat at the buffet for dinner and we finished the the trip with food poisoning and got incredibly ill all night and are still recovering from that a week later. I do not recommend this resort and it has deterred me from ever booking Occidental again.

Barcelo Bavaro Beach: Nice resort

Great resort lots to do we are golfers the golf course in nice but pricy we bought the 4 day package for $72 each a round but it went up to $92 for the 4 day package March 1st US funds which is expensive when your golf is included the resort itself is huge lots to do. The rooms are nice the bathrooms could do with some updating other than that everything was fine

Barcelo Puerto Vallarta: Nice resort

Clean, good service. Only downside was I had to pay for zero beer. Other than that the food was great and room service was great. Front desk was super helpful. Enjoyed my stay at the this resort and would stay again.

Barcelo Maya Palace: Excellent Resort

A very large beautiful resort. Lots of pools and beautiful grounds. Very nice staff. Excellent food, lots of options. It's a nice touch to have access to the other 4 resorts. Beach was nice but rather rocky. The evening theater shows could use some work. Just like most resorts lounge chair reserving by the pool was an issue, you had to work around. Overall I would return.

Barcelo Maya Beach Resort: Great resort!!

The Resort was beautiful! Lots of pools and beach space. We never had to worry about finding chairs. Buffet food was good. Al a cart restaurants were fantastic! My only suggestions would be to upgrade rooms, they are out dated and provide more service at the pools for drinks and snacks.

Barcelo Maya Colonial: 2 words...horrible service

Our stay had a few good moments, but overall the experience was defined by ongoing service frustrations that became impossible to ignore. Across most of the resort, proactive service simply doesn’t exist. Getting a drink, finding help, or having someone check in on guests usually meant going on a bit of a scavenger hunt. After a few days of this routine we started jokingly referring to the place as “Bar-celo” instead of Barcelo, because actually getting a drink often felt like a small achieveme [... read more]nt worth celebrating. To be fair, when you did manage to find a staff member, they were generally friendly and helpful. The issue wasn’t attitude. The issue was that there rarely seemed to be enough people around to actually provide service. Guests were left doing a lot of the work themselves. One bright spot was the service team at the Maya Beach buffet. The servers there were attentive, present, and genuinely seemed to care about the guest experience. It was noticeable, and honestly a bit surprising, because that level of service wasn’t something we saw consistently in other parts of the resort. Breakfast highlighted another operational challenge. Having one cook managing the entire morning buffet creates a predictable bottleneck. During busy periods the line grows quickly and the wait becomes frustrating. It feels like a very fixable problem that simply hasn’t been addressed. A couple tips for first-time visitors. The resort layout is confusing and not particularly intuitive. Download a map ahead of time or you’ll likely spend the first day wandering around wondering where things actually are. Luggage assistance is technically available at check-in, but don’t be shocked if you end up hauling it yourself while trying to decode the property layout. The beaches themselves are beautiful and well maintained, which is a credit to the grounds crew. Unfortunately, the overall experience is dragged down by inconsistent service and noticeable staffing gaps. When guests spend more time tracking down drinks, chairs, or help than relaxing, something clearly isn’t working. This resort has the bones of a great experience. Right now it just feels like the operations haven’t caught up with the expectations.

Occidental at Xcaret Destination: Amazing place

We found the resort grounds beautiful, the jungle feel is wonderful, with lots of animals around to watch the Iguanas,monkeys coati deer were so fun to watch. The staff were amazing, always had waiters at the pools and beach. The food was good and always lots to choose from. The xcaret park attached is well worth the extra cost. All and all a great vacation.

Barcelo Maya Beach Resort: Experience at barcelo maya beach resort

The only thing I liked about this resort is the cleanliness of the room . The people who are working at the resort are friendly and helpful. But it is a mixed of , adult and family with children little bit too crowded at the swimming pool and and at beach area. Also I am not much impressed about food. The alcohol drinks are the cheapest grade so I couldn’t drink at all.