Occidental Caribe: Happy times

I felt this place was great. We upgraded to premium. It was nice. The place was beautiful and the people were great. Had an amazing time. We spoke with the reception and they helped us in ever way we needed. Juan was perfect. So was all the reception staff. When we booked our excursion we didn’t the the hotel sending us to the island as it was boring after the catamaran. I think the language barrier was a problem. I went back to speak with them because there was no snorkelling which is what we [... read more] wanted with it. Because of the issues they gave us some souvenirs to take home. We booked our other two excursions (pirate adventure and shark swimming) with Randy at the water sport shack. He was AMAZING. As was the excursions. WOW. I SWAM WITH SHARKS AND STINGRAYS. GO DO IT. Thank you to everyone

Allegro Cozumel: Above expectations

My wife and I booked a two week dream vacation. The reviews do not do the Allegro justice. There were some minor issues but stuff happens, that's life. get over it. The resort was amazing, saw some wildlife and the snorkeling right off the beach was beautiful. Unfortunately, I experienced a medical emergency four days "in" and had to leave on the next available flight, thanx to Francisco (Air Canada Rep), that was achieved. My left eye had to be eviscerated, and when I heal we hope to go back AS [... read more]AP.

Barcelo Bavaro Palace: We love this resort

The best thing about the resort is the number of elements that are included The resort has everything - fantastic beach, great pools, fun poolside activities, sports and games, water park, nice excursions, tennis courts including pickle ball, spa, gym, soccer field, casino, disco, 5 nice restaurants plus the bonus wine cellars, excellent bars including the sports bar, great buffet and balcony overlooking pool and beach, hot tubs on room balconies, lobby shops, great guest services, high quality [... read more] rooms, attentive maid service, helpful transportation and shuttles on site and the crowning touch - Pete Dye golf course, clubhouse and practice area with pro shop and reatuarant Add to this the friendly and efficient staff and you are guaranteed a great holiday At the price it is almost impossible to beat in my opinion

Barcelo Bavaro Palace: Beautiful Resort

The grounds are lovely. Pools are clean. Restaurants are delicious. Staff is exceptional!!! The beach was beautiful. The sand Was raked every morning The ocean water was turquoise. Fun trip with my son and I.

Barcelo Solymar: Barcelona solymar

From the moment we drove up I was slightly optimistic with the bright exterior colors. My party vacationed from feb 17-24,2020 We arrived late due to flight delay. Once we checked in staff was not that friendly but tired... which we later found out the entire staff is older and exhausted. Entertainment was minimal and I’d rate it a 1 star for rooms in hotel 2 star for Bungalow rooms 5 Pool 2 fountain broke, lights not working, no music and pool bar below service level was the pits . Re [... read more]sort had no wine for sangria drinks. During the week the hotel Was repainted as it went under new management!!! If your looking for a 2 star hotel close to downtown then it’s your place. If you really want service and resort feel you will have to go up the strip towards the marina if you really want a good experience. Previous trips to varadero was to the hotels up the strip and were always happy happy times. This resort was a huge let down and recommended if you like young kids wanting to drink n party with no concern for looks and friendliness. Food was like being at a camp :( again so sad to see everything exhausted including staff.

Barcelo Bavaro Palace: Best resort I’ve ever been to

What a fantastic hotel and resort.staff could not of been anymore accommodating.Fantastic food and rooms are amazing and so clean. Golf course is great, best vacation ever This place was first class from start to finish.very short ride to resort, which is great after a 4.5 hour flight

Occidental Tucancun: Better than the pictures and reviews make it seem

This was my first time to Mexico, but have visited Cuba and Dominican Republic in the past and based off those as comparison I can say this is an amazing bang for your buck resort. I travelled with 10 guys on a bachelor's party and the staff loved us and were very welcoming and definitely aided in our daily amusement. Bartenders Max and Ismael provided plenty of entertainment along with great new drinks for us to try based on things we liked. Armando, one of the hosts was seemingly always aro [... read more]und and was a hoot! He was always trying to get us to laugh even in times when we weren't feeling too hot from the night before. The food was incredible at each and every buffet or restaurant! Plenty of options for the pickiest of eaters although more a la carte options would have been great since the two they had filled up quickly. The rooms were definitely not up to modern standards in the form of style and fashion but the beds were comfortable and plenty of pillows and blankets. Our AC was not the greatest but it was sufficient to keep the room ambient. One of the elevators were not working while we were there as it was under renovation but we didn't mind taking the stairs. The beaches would be perfect with more shaded areas outside of the palm trees. Finally I would love to see a better maintained beach volleyball court with lines and a net that wasn't sagging significantly. Being situated directly behind kukulkan mall was incredible incase we needed something that the gift shop didn't have. Overall it was a great spot and I would definitely return in the future as I know this is a resort that I can trust is solid with great service and a very entertaining staff!

Barcelo Maya Riviera: Nice and New

Overall, this is a lovely resort. It is new and therefore, clean, sleek, modern, and large. There is a convention centre attached to this resort and while we were there - there was a pharmaceutical conference that came in for a few days. They were not disruptive, but they were noticeable in the dining room as they were a large group. The resort has a more corporate feeling to it rather than your more traditional Mexican resorts. Our constructive criticisms would be to explore some improvem [... read more]ents on the wines that are available. The all inclusive wine options were not that good and therefore, you have a take away of almost having had a wonderful meal, but it is marred by the poor wines that are included. You do have the option of purchasing better wines - but our expectation is that there would be some nice all included wines. We stayed in an ocean front premium level room and if we wanted a bottle of wine in our room there would be an extra charge even though they advertise 24 room service is included. The room service is included for food or a glass of wine, not a bottle. We are not big drinkers but premium all inclusive with a private hot tub just seems like a bottle of wine should not be a challenge. You are limited to one towel each. The temperature in the rooms are limited to the lowest setting of 21.5C. It felt much hotter than that in our room but there was nothing we could do about. I understand the concept of cost controls and appreciate that there are no loud drunks at the pool so that is a good thing, however I couldn’t shake the idea that while it is advertised as an exclusive resort with a premium level, it felt like it was run by accountants trying to provide the minimum they could get away with. I believe their cost controls have crossed the border from frugal to cheap and they have lost the concept of focusing on the customer. They have saved money by closing the main place to get lunch (only one buffet in the resort) until 12:30 every day. They saved money by having no food or drink service at the beach. So to the accountants, please give each other a high five for saving a $100.00 and losing a customer. Your books can only show you the profit made from the price the guest paid vs the costs they incurred. You will have no idea about the losses you will incur due to the customers you loose.

Occidental Punta Cana: Take interest in this resort!

We vacationed at the Occidental Punta Cana resort the week of February 7, 2020 to February 15, 2020. We were blown away with our experience at this resort, and would highly recommend anyone looking, to take interest in this one. The resort was clean, well maintained, and the staff provided exceptional service! We didn’t have a single issue during our entire stay. The food was amazing! It didn’t matter if you were attending one of the restaurants, or going to the buffet, or stopping for a [... read more] late-night pizza or taco! The options were endless, and everywhere was a hit. If you plan on visiting the main buffet restaurant, keep an eye out for Alejandro Lopez. He’s an amazing waiter! He was very attentive, always pleasant, and was an instant favorite of ours. He was always on top of replenishing drinks, checking in on us and provided exceptional service. The main buffet will not disappoint. There is a great selection of fresh dishes, for the brave and the non-adventurous. The staff were always replenishing the food, and with the amount of traffic in there, it was very clean and tidy. Make sure to try the fresh omelets, they were mouth-watering delicious – and made to your liking, by another awesome employee who was always pleasant and friendly. I must also commend the decorations displayed on Valentine’s Day. There were statues carved out of fruit on display. Everything was elegant, topped with valentine themed desserts. We had an amazing woman cleaning our room for us. Joselyn Z. provided exceptional services. She learnt our routine and worked around us by cleaning later in the day, without us even asking. She always left fresh towels, and lots of water. We were never without amenities. She did extra little things which brought her services beyond our expectations. We couldn’t have asked for better! The best part was being able to kick back and relax. Pool time was a favorite, as Santos Castillo was a delight. He is a bartender at the main pool and would get everyone laughing all the time. He remembers his customers well, and most times had your drinks ready before you even asked. He made you feel memorable by seeing you around the resort and stopping for a chat and bringing you a drink. He made the experience so much fun with his bottle balancing acts, and sending your drinks gliding down the counter into your hand. I was also blown away with the amount of languages the staff could speak. Many introduced themselves using 4 different languages. We are fluent English and French. Some reviews had mentioned language being an issue, but this was not our experience at all. We were able to communicate with minimal difficulties, if any, and we learnt some Spanish as well. If you are looking to kick your feet back, with some fun entertainment, this is the resort for you. They have different live entertainment each night, as well as different activities throughout the resort. There was never a dull moment, and we left feeling refreshed. It was the stress free holiday we were longing for!

Occidental Punta Cana: Felt unsafe

This was our first trip out of the country and I can’t say I’d recommend this resort to anyone but I have no experience with others. You are constantly haggled to buy things and made to feel horrible when you dont comply, there was a ring of sex traffickers on our resort. The drinks were very watered down. The food was very bland and undercooked. The bathrooms were dirty. Beautiful beach other the being hounded the whole time. I wish I could say better things but it just wasn’t what I  [... read more]expected at all.

Occidental Tucancun: Great week!

I go down south every year but I usually spend more money than I did this year. I got to this resort without having very high expectations but I was amazed! The food quality was the biggest surprise and the staff were incredible. The resort itself was also super clean, I would definitely come back again!

Barcelo Bavaro Beach: Amazing Beach

We've traveled here twice now and we can honestly say they it was even better than the first time. Food and drinks were great but you can't beat that gentle warm breeze the runs day and night. All the restaurants were unique in their own way. La Brisa on the water front was probably the favorite for lunch and diner. Best burgers ever!!!! Best view ever!!!

Barcelo Solymar: Amazing resort-NOT ANY MORE!

Went to this hotel 5years ago, and was great. Decided to go again this year in February and I made BIG mistake. Hotel is worn out, rooms need to be upgraded,old beds, old mattresses, tiles failing from walls in washrooms, rusted buth tabs. Hallways in the hotel had bad odor stinks like washrooms. Food for breakfast no complain, but to get omelet or scrambled egs wait is 15 min. in line. Lunch and diner they served the same food or what ever is left over from lunch they put back for dinner.They w [... read more]ore doing surveys every week from the guest in the hotel and I thin they got very negative feedback. The only good thing for this is hotel is the beach and the location, center of Varadero close to all the bars, restaurants, clubs, stores and fleamrket, all waking distance.The hotel definitely is not 4 stars as advertised on some web sites.

Barcelo Maya Riviera: Adults Only Resort!

The facility is gorgeous and very modern, not typical Mexico at all. Everything about this place is impressive and very large. Service levels are excellent and staff aim to please. Food is outstanding both at restaurants and buffets. There is always a choice between eating outside or inside. The rooms are spacious with good sized balconies. King bed is huge; spans 8 feet! Love the ceiling fan so one can turn off the air and sleep with open door. There are plenty of toiletries offered and a n [... read more]on-stop supply of shower gel, shampoo and conditioner.

Barcelo Maya Colonial: Terrific Resort!

We have been to the Mayan Riviera several times, each time the resorts were fantastic (which is why we continue to return). We chose the Barcelo Maya Colonial to try as the resort grounds looked great, the reviews were good and the beaches looked especially nice. We were not disappointed! A very well run, secure, clean and organized resort. The food was outstanding, the staff professional (and patient with some ridiculously demanding guests), and the grounds were superbly kept. If I had a criti [... read more]cism, I'd say our bed was less than great, one side was kind of broken, we propped it with a pillow and towels. But if I'm honest, that was really the only issue. I had asked the front desk to solve it, but a day later it wasn't fixed, so we just dealt with it. Overall, there were many, many things that were very good about this resort. We especially liked the way it is connected to several other resorts so you could go to the beaches and restaurants of the others freely. And a note: one of our group was really snake phobic and we chose this resort because the grounds were a good mix of beautifully manicured but not overly jungle (snake environment). We saw nothing remotely snake like or spider like during our whole stay. We have at other resorts. Eeesh!

Royal Hideaway Playacar: Exceptional resort!!

This resort is absolutely gorgeous. The rooms are very spacious and beautifully appointed. The grounds are well - kept and there is so much greenery. The big pools offer amazing views of the ocean, and the small pools are so private you are often the only ones there. The beach is spectacular, the food at the restaurants is exceptional, and the staff go out of their way to be friendly and helpful. I have only 2 small criticisms. It is unfortunate that smoking is allowed in the one outdoor bar w [... read more]ith evening entertainment. Most nights we couldn't sit there because of all the smoke. The second is the culture of snagging pool chairs in the wee hours of the morning (by laying towels or books on them). Many days we saw chairs with towels on them with no one sitting in them for hours on end. Something needs to be done to make the pool chairs more equitably available to all guests.

Occidental Nuevo Vallarta: Such Beauty!

A fantastic resort! Extremely clean room and pool area. Very pleased with the beautiful views from the restaurants. Able to see the ocean from 2 of them. Food was very good with lots of choices. Drinks were constantly served by the pool. Great service! The entertainment staff were super friendly and full of energy. Nightly shows were very good with trained dancers. No fighting for pool chairs, always some available. Cons: No free wifi spots. This made checkiing in for our return flights very di [... read more]fficult. Had to cross the street to use Starbucks free wifi.

Occidental Cozumel: Occidental Cozumel Dind Not Dissapoint

The grounds wear beautifully landscaped and well cared for. The service and food was excellent, we really enjoyed the lunch buffet at the beach. This resort offers so much for such a very small size.

Barcelo Maya Riviera: Amazing Resort or Conference Centre

All ratings are 5 star with the exception of the resort decor. The complex has absolutely maximized the view of the ocean, pools and beach from the rooms and buffet (5*). Room The rooms are crisp, clean, with lots of toiletries refreshed daily with an amazing view (room 4753 - 5*). Late afternoon and evening the island of Cozumel is visable. Food: Food at the buffet is excellent with amazing varieties including specific sections for vegan, diabetic, gluten free (5*). Food at the La  [... read more]Comedie French and La Dolce Vita were outstanding, except we got ill from the La Dolce Vita twice. Beach: The was kept very clean and a nice long length to walk (5*). The best area to swim was in front of the Maya Beach resort where there are no rocks. Snorkeling is best at the Maya Palace Beach, but limited and busy. There was never a problem getting lounge chairs at the Maya Riviera beach. Pool: The pool is awesome (5*+)! The water is a perfect temperature (February) and never crowded. The pool bars need a drink menu posted and perhaps highlight a drink of the day! Washrooms were kept very clean. Towels are readily available and don't require checking them out. Resort: The resort is also a conference centre and it looks like (4*). It severely lacks decor and the tropical ambiance. Perhaps it is not complete given it just opened in December 2019. The lobby bar is insanely loud and clearly need some sound absorbing material. There were no problems with check in or check out, in fact Carlos was amazing changing rooms from one near the loud music pool bar and elevator to a room in the middle of the resort with a stunning view. The wrist bands unlock the hotel room, so don't loose it or there will be a fee! Excursions: We booked 2 excursions. The 3 in 1 (Tulum, snorkeling and swimming in cenotes caves), we booked prior to the vacation and was the highlight of our trip. It was outstanding! The second trip we booked at the hotel through Sunwing and enjoyed a trip to Cozumel that included the Arrecifes National Park where we snorkeled, enjoyed a beautiful beach, visited the crocodiles and flamingos, and climbed the 130 steps at the lighthouse for scenic views before heading back to Cozumel for tequila tasting and shopping in the port. Lots of travel time on that excursion; didn't get back to the hotel until 9 p.m., but an enjoyable day. Overall: The Barcelo complex of 6 hotels has a great location (about 1 hour from Cancun airport) and ha something for everyone. The shuttle from the airport is one van that only goes to the Barcelo, so no stopping at multiple resorts. The food is excellent at all the ala cartes, the beach is awesome, the staff is very friendly, the views from the Maya Riviera resort are stunning and the pool is perfect. The resort itself just needs some personality!

Barcelo Maya Caribe: amazing resort

This resort was excellent, I always felt safe, security cameras in place, the restaurants were delicious, anything that you would like to eat, the grounds were beautiful, with maintenance upgrades, painting, lawn and garden care going on all time. The staff were vey friendly and helpful. Lots of activities, mini golf, bowling, sports bar, casino, shopping mall, Mexican market, go carts, zip line, kids pools, lots of swimming pools to choose from, beautiful beach area, and you could walk from one [... read more] section of the resort to another under covered walkways, you never had to leave the resort. The things I was disappointed in was the extra costs for some of these activities, I wouldn't mind paying a reasonable price, but some of the prices were extremely high, and therefore most people didn't use them, if they had cut the prices they would have been used instead of being left empty. We had purchased the Elite Plus, which gave us Priority Boarding, but when boarding the plane, even though we were waiting to board, they allowed other passengers (20 -30) to board ahead of us, these passengers were not travelling with children or had no sort of disability, we even asked some of them if they were priority and they said no. When we pay extra for this service, it should be given to us (as they had the same chance as us to pay the extra) and the others should be told to wait until their sections are called. Overall I would recommend this resort.