Barcelo Maya Caribe: Our Best All-Inclusive Ever!

My husband and I recently returned from a one-week stay at the Barcelo Maya Beach Resort, a sister property to the Caribe, and with access to the Colonial and Tropical resorts. We were originally booked at the Caribe, but our flight delay left us arriving at 2AM, when the front desk of the Beach was open but not the Caribe. There was no need for any concern, as the sister resorts are nearly identical, aside from the Beach having a small adults-only pool and bar (El Cielito) near our ground-fl [... read more]oor room in Tulum. The rooms were clean, comfortable and quiet, aside from rowdy guests in the hallways for a couple of nights. The air conditioning worked well, there was a safe and mini-fridge which was stocked daily, including bottles of water and cans of beer and soft drinks. We loved the rainfall shower head, and the option to take a bath as well, with the toilet separated by a wall for privacy (though not complete privacy, if siblings or friends are sharing the room). We loved the buffet restaurants, with plenty of variety and healthy options including soups, salads, sandwich meats and multiple cheeses, as well as pork, chicken, beef, and seafood options. There is a small vegan section as well, and two lower buffets set up for children, including small desserts. We tried 3 specialty restaurants, which for us were a change of atmosphere and more personalized service. We found the food quality to be very good to excellent wherever we went, except during off hours at the beach Rancho Grande, where I found the food can be dry under the warming lights. There was much available shade around the pools as well as from palm trees on the beach. Beach lounger availability varied through our stay: there are more than enough loungers for everyone if people don't hog them/play the "chair game". The sand was not as soft and deep as it was at other resorts we've been to, but for just relaxing and listening to the sound of the waves it was perfect for us. People were snorkeling frequently, and water sports were available on days when the breeze wasn't too strong. We enjoyed Strikers Sports bar for its air conditioning and fun atmosphere, which I believe may be open 24 hours/day. There is free mini-golf during the day. The Maya Mall includes the Italian and Tokyo restaurants. Location is approx. 60 minutes from Cancun airport. We had a very relaxing vacation, and look forward to our next visit here!

Royalton Riviera Cancun Resort and Spa: Great place

This place was truly amazing. The staff was kind and professional. The food was amazing. The ocean wasn’t crystal clear but the beach was beautiful and clean. The rooms were clean and relaxing. I would love to go back!

Iberostar Waves Paraiso del Mar: Not What I Expected

I have been to this resort previously and from guest services, facility and food and beverage it was beyond expectations. Going back this year I was extremely disappointed. The entertainment staff, especially Uriel and Christian made our whole trip. They were absolutely amazing and made it worth our while. However the food quality was significantly worse. Guest services was absolutely awful. The first room we got was half broken. When we arrived the bed was broken, air conditioning not working a [... read more]nd the shower would not get warm. Over three days we made requests for fixes and for a room change. After repeated messaging calling visiting the front desk and sleeping on the floor for two nights we were finally given a new room. We wasted almost a whole day waiting to insure maintenance was actually coming because the lied repeatedly saying maintenance came when we were in the room and were obviously aware no one ever came. While trying to get accommodations the guest service staff were very rude and unhelpful, especially Jesus. Would not return. If I were to return it would be simply for the entertainment staff and wait staff.

Secrets Moxche Playa del Carmen: Secrets Moxche Feb Jan 2025

Amazing resort. We have been to many secrets resorts and this is likely our favourite. Food was excellent, rooms/pools were beautiful. Entertainment team was great (incl. Daniela). The preferred club pool on the roof was our favorite. Overall amazing experience; would love to come back

Bahia Principe Explore Coba: Excellent resort!

Staff is professional, food is top notch at buffet as well as at the a-la-carte restaurants. Grounds are well maintained and rooms are in good condition. Pools are clean and lots of sunchairs available. Beach is a little far away but the trolley service is very good. We knew this ahead of time as there is another resort (Akumal) between Coba and the beach.

Dreams Natura Resort and Spa: Showing its age

Staff is friendly, food is mediocre (especially if you have any dietary restrictions, very limited). The pool is nice but not amazing. Small for the number of rooms but a couple of options. Hotel has a strange sewage smell in certain areas. Rooms are in rough shape with broken appliances, missing appliances and doors. Restrictions on room service and features definitely remove it from 5 star status. Don’t follow the very pushy sales team, it’s not worth the 250$ credit.

Barcelo Maya Tropical: Stay at Barcelo Maya Colonial

Second stay at this resort. Quality on second stay wasn’t as good as first trip. Food and times offered at a La carte restaurants was biggest disappointment. Dinners only available at 9:30 even though we went to book within an hour of checking in.

Breathless Riviera Cancun: Girls trip to Breathless

Breathless Riviera Cancun was a wonderful resort. Was it perfect, no, but we had a great time. The staff is what makes this resort great, they go above and beyond. The restaurants were all great, buffet for breakfast was good, the nightly dinner restaurants were all excellent. If you are coming for the beach this is not a resort for you, as the beach is partially washed up, and lots of seaweed. You need to wake up early to secure your chair at the pool as chairs fill up before 8am. The Xce [... read more]lerate pool was very chilly and music was excessively loud, so we preferred the energy pool. We had booked a swim out room, however the pool water was extremely cold so it was unusable, so save your $$$. The cellular reception is poor to non existent, so if you need to have your phone nearby, don't count on cellular service. Wifi was also pretty spotty. The rooms were clean, shower nice and big. I was impressed with all the age ranges of guests, from those who were barely 19 to over 60.

Barcelo Maya Riviera: Worth booking

This is our 4th trip to this resort and it doesn't disappoint. The service is incredible. The grounds are maintained daily. The food is great and always available. The entire resort is modern and clean. You have use of 5 other resorts but they cannot use this adult only location. There is absolutely everything on the chain including a shopping mall and even a double decker bus that can drive you from each location.

Barcelo Maya Palace: Amazing resort

Everything is good, clean, good food, good environment, no flies, no mosquitoes, no bugs. The service is very good, nice people, good transportation to the aeroport, good beer, good wine, the resort is very close to the beach.

Royalton Splash Riviera Cancun: Great Swimout Room, Hit-or-Miss Service, and Room for Improvement

We recently stayed at Royalton Splash Cancun and had a mix of enjoyable moments and frustrating experiences that are worth sharing. While we had a good time overall, several areas could benefit from better management to create a smoother, more relaxing vacation for guests. Arrival and Check-In Our vacation got off to a rocky start with a long, drawn-out check-in process. We arrived early (just before 11:00 a.m.), knowing rooms wouldn’t be ready until 3:00 p.m. However, we spent nearly an h [... read more]our waiting in line before being handed a pager and told it would be about 20 minutes. Instead of going for a swim, we decided to relax with a drink. By the time we checked on our room status after an hour, we were informed it could be several more hours. At 3:00 p.m., pre-check-in guests were still waiting, but staff served new arrivals instead of directing them to the proper line. This created chaos, confusion, and unnecessary delays. Adding to the frustration, we were approached by a third-party representative selling timeshares, posing as resort staff. We spoke with many other guests who shared similar frustrations, particularly with the disorganized check-in process. This appears to be a common pain point that needs serious attention. Room, Swimout Convenience, and Housekeeping Our swimout room was a definite highlight. Being able to take a quick dip before heading to the main pools or enjoy a peaceful swim before bed was fantastic. The private, easy water access gave our stay a luxurious feel. We even received bar service at the swimout, although it was infrequent and a bit inconvenient—but a nice bonus nonetheless. When it came to maid service, we noticed some inconsistencies: Housekeeping showed up at different times each day, making it hard to plan around. Sheets were never changed during our stay. While we could have requested this, we were curious to see if it would happen without prompting—it didn’t. No towel art was provided, a small touch we’ve enjoyed at other resorts. This simple addition could have earned higher tips and added charm to the experience. Pool and Chair Situation If you plan to spend your days by the pool, be prepared to get up early. Pool chairs were nearly impossible to find unless you claimed them by 6:00 or 7:00 a.m.—and even that didn’t guarantee your spot. We witnessed several instances of chair stealing, where guests moved or took chairs already reserved, leading to tense exchanges. A towel card system would make this experience far more enjoyable by reducing hoarding. We were guilty of the current system’s flaws, often using six towels for our family of three, including those in our swimout room. Dining and Food Quality Dining was a mixed bag. The Rio Brazilian Restaurant stood out as the best experience, with great food, attentive service, and a delightful atmosphere. Unfortunately, the buffet and other à la cartes didn’t measure up. Temperature Issues: Hot food was often lukewarm, and cold dishes weren’t chilled properly. Basic Flavors: The seasoning and variety felt underwhelming compared to other resorts. While we didn’t experience any foodborne illness, we spoke with several guests who had gotten sick. It’s clear that food handling and temperature control are areas that need serious improvement. Bar Service While friendly and efficient in terms of speed, bar service was inconsistent with drink accuracy. On multiple occasions, drinks came out completely different than what was ordered—a Bahama Mama could be something mango-flavored, or a strawberry daiquiri would appear instead. More attention to order-taking would go a long way in improving the bar experience. Overall Impression The resort offers beautiful amenities and fun opportunities, but management could do more to address operational inefficiencies. From a more structured pool chair system to improved food, drink quality control, and housekeeping routines, there are clear ways to elevate the guest experience. Despite the hiccups, we enjoyed the time spent relaxing in our swimout room and by the pool—just be prepared for some patience-testing moments. Would we return? Possibly, if some of these improvements are made. For now, we recommend going in with tempered expectations, a strategy for navigating the resort’s quirks, and a bit of luck avoiding any food-related issues.

Bahia Principe Escape Sian Ka'an: 4 to 5 star resort. Not luxury.

The hotel staff and grounds are very nice. Food was good. Entertainment was okay during the day and night. But i would rather stay at Tulum or Akumal across the highway where they had very nice buffets and ala carte meals. Rooms were clean, and stocked daily. Beach is at the other hotels. Adults only was the only benefit compared to the other hotels across the highway. I brought my table tennis racquet to play like any resort and the table had been broken. They had across the highway 2 at each h [... read more]otel and would not bring 1 over until replaced with there service trucks. Excuses where many, but not common sense was used.

Catalonia Royal Tulum: Dream Vacation!

As the title says, this was a dream vacation for my partner and I. Everything about this hotel was amazing. The atmosphere while walking from the rooms to the beach was incredible, especially getting to see all the wildlife! The staff was also awesome! From the restaurants, the bar staff, and the ladies taking drink orders on the beach! The food was fantastic, there was never a shortage of anything to eat. The breakfast/lunch buffet was delicious and service was great. We tried the steak, Asia [... read more]n, and Mexican restaurants. They were all great but the Asian restaurants service could greatly improve as we waited over an hour for even the appetizers. The best thing about this hotel for both my partner and I was the beach! White sand, clear blue water, so many fish in the water, it was absolutely beautiful!

Catalonia Royal Tulum: Fantastic Resort!!

The grounds at the hotel were beautiful and the food was amazing! Very good customer service ? The only complaint I have is there was a strong sewer smell coming from the bathroom which we eventually got used to..

Allegro Playacar: Our go-to resort!

This was our 4th visit and we love the intimate feel of it as it's a smaller resort. The villas are close together and the rooms are small but have all the amenities. The food at the buffets is great, with a different theme each night so we never bother with the a la cartes. Beach is fabulous, and the pools are clean. Usual loud music around one pool but the other one is quieter. Plenty of loungers and beach towels available. We love seeing the animals that live on the lush grounds. We went [... read more] with Air Transat Vacations and our only complaint was how long we had to wait at the airport for the transfer to the hotel (90 minutes). We took a taxi back for $75 USD and slept in a couple more hours.

Barcelo Maya Tropical: Last time

This was our second time at Barcelo tropical. We again did not get the rooms we hoped for we were travelling as a family and we didn’t even get in the same building let alone the room we want we were on the third floor, which gives you a lovely view from your balcony of a concrete wall. We were located right near the theatre where the entertainment takes place meaning you couldn’t go to sleep till 1112 or 1 o’clock in the morning, depending on when they stop the entertainment, we had to call dow [... read more]n to get coffee delivered to the room because for some reason the maid didn’t leave it. The ground of the hotel are beautiful. The pool is perfect. The beach is lovely. It was December that we went in extremely hard to get a seat near the pool or anywhere else for that matter the buffet is always great. The restaurants are mediocre to terrible except for the Japanese restaurant. It’s a good 45 minute bus ride to the hotel from the airport if you check in late in the evening you definitely will not get the room you want.

Iberostar Waves Paraiso del Mar: Okay resort but not great!

It is a very big resort and the golf carts that come around can be a bit hit and miss. The food was really great but the pool was cold and although the sand on the beach was really soft and nice the water was always really rough. The biggest turn off for me was how overpriced everything was. I expect resort prices to be high but this was ridiculous. We needed Tylenol for our daughter and they wanted $20 US for 10 pills and when we ran out of sunscreen they had really cheap, poor sunscreen fo [... read more]r $45 US. The lobby staff just wanted to upsell you to their time share scheme. I will say the entire resort was really clean and the staff were all super friendly. The cost of the items didn't take away from our vacation but I won't ever go back to an Iberostar just on principle alone (see more below). Also, don't waste your time on the snorkeling trip from the resort. It was super expensive and incredibly disorganized. You have to cross over a very rough rocky beach area where several people got hurt on the rocks to get to the boat at the resort. That took at least half an hour and from there they take you out to the ocean and literally drop you in the ocean at a very small and very dead coral reef. There was a large family on the boat with several small children and a baby and the sailboat was a catamaran with a flat deck and no rails. They carried the baby over their heads out to the boat across the rocks without a life jacket. Had the worker fallen that baby would not have survived and many people fell trying to get out across the rocks in the rough water. I know that a young girl died at the resort a few years ago from drinking homemade booze the resort gave her and I don't think they learned their lesson as I saw them filling up alcohol bottles from plain white jugs.

Barcelo Maya Beach Resort: Swimming with sea turtles and reef fish

We just returned from a family vacation at the Barcelo Maya Beach. We stayed in a premium king suite it included two single daybeds, which were perfect for my two girls ages eight and 10. Staff were attentive. The resort was spotless, and the food was amazing. I highly recommend this resort or any of the other Barcelo resorts on this property.

Barcelo Maya Beach Resort: Barcelo Maya Beach

We've been to this hotel many times and it never fails to make us happy. The staff are always happy and accommodating. Pools are huge and clean. The food like pretty much all AIs, is fine. There is so much variety that you'll always find something you like. Had steak at the Japanese restaurant and it was really good! This was our first time there over the Christmas holidays, and for the first time in all of our visits, we had to play pool/ beach chair game. If you weren't up and getting a  [... read more]chair by 7:45, it was really hard to find a chair. We had a great time and will be back again.

Margaritaville Island Reserve Riviera Maya: Amazing Resort

Margaritaville Island Reserve Cancun is a fantastic resort. The grounds are meticulously kept and the gorgeous beach is just steps from your accommodations. The staff here is phenomenal especially José and Hector.