Barcelo V Iberostar Lindo

**SunKneeMarie** · 01-10-2007

We're going back this year to an AI. 3 years ago we stayed at the Lindo and liked it. Ryan liked the wave pool, the beach was nice, the food was good, we liked the snack bar on the beach and the water things available for rent. I keep reading about the Barcelo and wondered if anyone had been to both that could offer a comparison. Or whether anyone really LOVED one (or HATED one) and for what reasons.

We'll have a 15 month old and a 15 year old. Neither will leave our side, so stuff available to drop them off for really isn't that important.

Things we are comparing:

**Proximity to town (PDC)

**Food Quality/Selection--includes beach eating options, room service available, buffet versus specialty restaurants

**Beach Conditions

**Property Amenities--grounds, staff, entertainment

**Pools

(I'll be doing some trip report reading and searching as well)

Thanks!

TAPPY · 01-10-2007

We stayed at the Barcelo three years ago (before the new section) and it was lovely ! Beach is beautiful, I thought the food was great to. I know a lot can change in three years, but the service, food, beach and pools always get rave reviews. (Drinks are good to

) I am sure Shammy can add her two cents - I know she is a Mod on this site about the Barcelo: http://www.unofficial-barcelo-maya.com/ -

Babaloo · 01-10-2007

hahahahaha
13,000 posts and you are asking questions
hahahahahaha

(do the barcelo
you've done the lindo)

hahahahhahhaha

**SunKneeMarie** · 01-10-2007

Quote:

Originally Posted by Babaloo

hahahahaha
13,000 posts and you are asking questions
hahahahahaha

(do the barcelo
you've done the lindo)

hahahahhahhaha

I SAID I was using the search function... so your work here was done before you even started guffawing...

.

.

**SunKneeMarie** · 01-10-2007

Quote:

Originally Posted by TAPPY

We stayed at the Barcelo three years ago (before the new section) and it was lovely ! Beach is beautiful, I thought the food was great to. I know a lot can change in three years, but the service, food, beach and pools always get rave reviews. (Drinks are good to

) I am sure Shammy can add her two cents - I know she is a Mod on this site about the Barcelo: http://www.unofficial-barcelo-maya.com/ -

thank you, tappy!

(see how nice people can be, babsy...)

Babaloo · 01-10-2007

Quote:

Originally Posted by SunKneeMarie

I SAID I was using the search function... so your work here was done before you even started guffawing...

.

i'm sorry

hahahhahahahahahahahaha

sorry

**SunKneeMarie** · 01-10-2007

Quote:

Originally Posted by Babaloo

i'm sorry

hahahhahahahahahahahaha

sorry

that's the sorriest sorry i've ever seen

Babaloo · 01-10-2007

Quote:

Originally Posted by SunKneeMarie

that's the sorriest sorry i've ever seen

read my first post
i said go to the Barcelo

I've done the Lindo
You've done the Lindo
Everyone raves about the Barcelo

See?
I'm okay.

I think we can wrap this one up, James.

Tommygurl · 01-10-2007

I agree that other site has great info. I have mixed feelings about Barcelo. It is a good resort for kids. It is huge! The kids loved the waterpark, the pools, the beach is beautiful. Food is okay. I wasn't blown away by it....it was fine. I think that I was too spoiled at RPR so my expectations were high. Emily loved the kids club.

Lots to do there....mini golf, tennis etc. Shows every night. A disco we never got to. Drinks are okay. Kids loved them though...they ordered loads of virgin pina coladas...

I would stay again with the kids. I wouldn't without them.

**SunKneeMarie** · 01-10-2007

Quote:

Originally Posted by Babaloo

read my first post
i said go to the Barcelo

I've done the Lindo
You've done the Lindo
Everyone raves about the Barcelo

See?
I'm okay.

I think we can wrap this one up, James.

I read your recommendation... it was hard to see through my tear filled eyes, though ... oh, the the pain of your raucous laughter...

I'll keep reading... searching... seeing if others share their experiences... ASKING QUESTIONS...

(and I'm planning to visit Susie while I'm down there...)

Slynky · 01-10-2007

You guys are so funny!!! I thought I would chime in here-
Been to so many of the AI's including your two choices more than once. My kids are now 10 and 11 years so here is my run down.
Lindo is closer to town and has the Iberobus shuttle for free. I have used it and it is easy.
Beach conditions: Barcelo wins. Now this said your 15 year old might like the waves at the Lindo. In all of my visits to the Pariaso complex it has always had rougher water and has had a drop off to the water.
I personally prefer the cove like setting at the barcelo. Calmer. My kids loved jumping off the pier, swimming with the fish, and yes feeding the fish.

The beach bar at the lindo is very limited in food items. The beach bar at the Barcelo Tropical/Colonial in front of the new pier has the same kind of offerings (pizza burgers hot dogs nachos) but the two restaurants by the pool are close enough to the sand and have more food. By the way the little beach bar by the pier is very very cool! Not a lot of guests venture up to it and it really feels like you are not at an AI.
Also I love seeing the ocean from the pool-cant do that at the lindo.
Room service is the same...limited choices and not so good, but good for hungry kids!
In my opinion the food was the same. AI food always seems the same to me. Both places seemed to have the same type of offerings. I am also speaking of the Tropical/Colonial side. The Lindo specialty restaurants and the Barcelo are also equal in my mind. Steak, japanese etc. But I do like that Ice cream bar at the Lindo!!!

The service at the Lindo was consistently better but this can change with the workers.
The Starfriends win hands down!!! There is no comparison when it comes to the star friends. They always have something going on and include the young and old. The shows at the Lindo were better in my opinion. The Barcelo-new side has a beautiful theatre.
The pools......I would say both are great beacuse they are so huge! But again for me I love seeing that ocean as much as possible (from the Barcelo).
I would like to go back to the Barcelo again one day. Maybe when they open yet another new one next to the Trop/Colon. Personally, I would go back to the Tucan over the Lindo because of the smaller resort, the beach and the proximity to town. Oh yea, and the MONKEYS

Tommygurl · 01-10-2007

Quote:

Originally Posted by SunKneeMarie

**Food Quality/Selection--includes beach eating options, room service available, buffet versus specialty restaurants

**Beach Conditions

**Property Amenities--grounds, staff, entertainment

**Pools

(I'll be doing some trip report reading and searching as well)

Thanks!

Foodwise: You can order room service...They charge a flat rate of $3.60/plate. The buffets have lots of different choices....We were there at Christmas so I think that could be why we had a wait for food..It was smokin busy! The Grills are good...they have a great selection of food & never had a lineup. You get 4 A la cartes for the week. They were okay. The Japanese was the best as thecook the food right in front of you. The Barcelo buffet also have a small kids buffet too. You can't take food out of the restaurants. We bought chips from a store in the shopping plaza to eat by the pool or in the room. Mini bar has OJ, Pop, Water, Nuts & chocolate wafer bars.
The staff was very friendly...(with the exception of some of the bar staff i didn't really find friendly!....which is wierd cause I am so easygoing).......Anyway all the wait staff...especially in the A la cartes were very good....especially with the kids.

So like I said I would take the kids again!

**Shammy** · 01-10-2007

Char...listen to Shammy - I wouldn't steer ya wrong............

Take the Barcelo!

NorthMinnesota · 01-11-2007

'nuff said! We really liked the Barcelo when we were there 3 yrs. ago. The girls loved it! The beach is phenomenal. The food was good...kids are picky but found what they liked, especially on the kid's buffet. The room was comfortable...we weren't in it very much. We had a ground floor room looking out to main ave. It was great for the girls...easy access..sat out on the little patio in the evenings and listened to shows in the theater. Would like to go back and stay on the new side. Did you see that they are running a special right now?????

btodd · 01-11-2007

I have been to the Barcelo twice, once before expansion and once after. Both times without kids....................enjoyed it even more the second time................would LOVE to take the kids one day...........always a little pricy ( ie no kids stay for free deal!!!)
End of the day.....................LISTEN TO SHAMMY!!!

01-10-2007	#1 (permalink)
SunKneeMarie character encapsulator Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Texas Posts: 32,808	Barcelo V Iberostar Lindo We're going back this year to an AI. 3 years ago we stayed at the Lindo and liked it. Ryan liked the wave pool, the beach was nice, the food was good, we liked the snack bar on the beach and the water things available for rent. I keep reading about the Barcelo and wondered if anyone had been to both that could offer a comparison. Or whether anyone really LOVED one (or HATED one) and for what reasons. We'll have a 15 month old and a 15 year old. Neither will leave our side, so stuff available to drop them off for really isn't that important. Things we are comparing: Proximity to town (PDC) Food Quality/Selection--includes beach eating options, room service available, buffet versus specialty restaurants Beach Conditions Property Amenities--grounds, staff, entertainment **Pools (I'll be doing some trip report reading and searching as well) Thanks!

01-10-2007	#2 (permalink)
TAPPY añejo Join Date: Jan 2004 Posts: 21,148	We stayed at the Barcelo three years ago (before the new section) and it was lovely ! Beach is beautiful, I thought the food was great to. I know a lot can change in three years, but the service, food, beach and pools always get rave reviews. (Drinks are good to ) I am sure Shammy can add her two cents - I know she is a Mod on this site about the Barcelo: http://www.unofficial-barcelo-maya.com/ - Last edited by TAPPY; 01-10-2007 at 06:08 PM..

01-10-2007	#11 (permalink)
Slynky beachaholic Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Los Angeles, CA Posts: 275	You guys are so funny!!! I thought I would chime in here- Been to so many of the AI's including your two choices more than once. My kids are now 10 and 11 years so here is my run down. Lindo is closer to town and has the Iberobus shuttle for free. I have used it and it is easy. Beach conditions: Barcelo wins. Now this said your 15 year old might like the waves at the Lindo. In all of my visits to the Pariaso complex it has always had rougher water and has had a drop off to the water. I personally prefer the cove like setting at the barcelo. Calmer. My kids loved jumping off the pier, swimming with the fish, and yes feeding the fish. The beach bar at the lindo is very limited in food items. The beach bar at the Barcelo Tropical/Colonial in front of the new pier has the same kind of offerings (pizza burgers hot dogs nachos) but the two restaurants by the pool are close enough to the sand and have more food. By the way the little beach bar by the pier is very very cool! Not a lot of guests venture up to it and it really feels like you are not at an AI. Also I love seeing the ocean from the pool-cant do that at the lindo. Room service is the same...limited choices and not so good, but good for hungry kids! In my opinion the food was the same. AI food always seems the same to me. Both places seemed to have the same type of offerings. I am also speaking of the Tropical/Colonial side. The Lindo specialty restaurants and the Barcelo are also equal in my mind. Steak, japanese etc. But I do like that Ice cream bar at the Lindo!!! The service at the Lindo was consistently better but this can change with the workers. The Starfriends win hands down!!! There is no comparison when it comes to the star friends. They always have something going on and include the young and old. The shows at the Lindo were better in my opinion. The Barcelo-new side has a beautiful theatre. The pools......I would say both are great beacuse they are so huge! But again for me I love seeing that ocean as much as possible (from the Barcelo). I would like to go back to the Barcelo again one day. Maybe when they open yet another new one next to the Trop/Colon. Personally, I would go back to the Tucan over the Lindo because of the smaller resort, the beach and the proximity to town. Oh yea, and the MONKEYS __________________ Playa aka Philip Morris Paradise. Constant smoke in my face is not a good thing.

01-10-2007	#3 (permalink)
Babaloo añejo Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Playa del Carmen Posts: 22,440	hahahahaha 13,000 posts and you are asking questions hahahahahaha (do the barcelo you've done the lindo) hahahahhahhaha

01-10-2007	#9 (permalink)
Tommygurl crab killer Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: I am Canadian!! Posts: 15,165	I agree that other site has great info. I have mixed feelings about Barcelo. It is a good resort for kids. It is huge! The kids loved the waterpark, the pools, the beach is beautiful. Food is okay. I wasn't blown away by it....it was fine. I think that I was too spoiled at RPR so my expectations were high. Emily loved the kids club. Lots to do there....mini golf, tennis etc. Shows every night. A disco we never got to. Drinks are okay. Kids loved them though...they ordered loads of virgin pina coladas... I would stay again with the kids. I wouldn't without them.

01-10-2007	#13 (permalink)
Shammy Travel Insurance Tester Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: The Joisey Shore Posts: 17,467	Char...listen to Shammy - I wouldn't steer ya wrong............ Take the Barcelo!

01-11-2007	#14 (permalink)
NorthMinnesota añejo Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Minnesota Posts: 5,606	'nuff said! We really liked the Barcelo when we were there 3 yrs. ago. The girls loved it! The beach is phenomenal. The food was good...kids are picky but found what they liked, especially on the kid's buffet. The room was comfortable...we weren't in it very much. We had a ground floor room looking out to main ave. It was great for the girls...easy access..sat out on the little patio in the evenings and listened to shows in the theater. Would like to go back and stay on the new side. Did you see that they are running a special right now?????

01-11-2007	#15 (permalink)
btodd añejo Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Winnipeg, Manitoba Canada Posts: 2,358	I have been to the Barcelo twice, once before expansion and once after. Both times without kids....................enjoyed it even more the second time................would LOVE to take the kids one day...........always a little pricy ( ie no kids stay for free deal!!!) End of the day.....................LISTEN TO SHAMMY!!!

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