Palladium vs. Barcelo

sara61 · 01-23-2007

New to the forum, wish I had found it before I selected my vaction. Anyways, I am planning to go to Palladium Riveria. I was going back and forth on Palladium or Barcelo, but since Palladium was $500 less for our family of four, I selected Palladium. Now, I am reading reviews of food and am getting quite nervous. I appreciate the fact that this board seems to be honest. I was lurking over at the addict board and it makes me uncomfortable! I can't imagine its all that they crack it up to be. So, now I am on the fence about changing resorts. Palladium does look beautiful, but is the Barcelo worth that much more? We previously stayed at Gala Playacar and that food was average to below average. I would not return to Gala for that reason. Any thoughts to help out would be appreciated.

jeffandbridget · 01-23-2007

hi I am also new to this forum and will be staying at the barcelo 3/30-4/06 and was told by these guys to check out unofficial-barcelo-maya.com .... it is a good web site all about that hotel..I don't know anything about the hotel you are booked at but maybe this would help

Mrsfuzzmo · 01-23-2007

I'e had friends stay at the Palladium (we were considering the Grand Palladium White Sands....until the Cabanas sold out). They LOVED it and had no complaints at all.

VacationBount · 01-23-2007

Barcelo Maya is great. I can't give you info about Palladium. But you should keep in mind that the food judgement is an individual opinion and will vary.
Things that I love about Barcelo Maya: Beach, Snorkeling Right Off Beach, Plenty of Chairs, Layout of Resort, and Natural Beauty of the landscaping. Going for my third trip there tomorrow.

Mrsfuzzmo · 01-23-2007

VB have a great trip! Wish I was going tomorrow, but since I just found these forums, I am going to spend mucho time on here getting to know everything I can before I go. I agree about the food. Some people will love a place for it's food, some people will hate it. Food is VERY subjective, and can apparently make or break for some folks (poor things). Look at it this way, if you save the extra $$$$ by going to the Palladium adn you don't like th food, you have extra $$$ to eat a little more local and try some of the great restaurants in town.

K and P · 01-23-2007

Hey I have been to both.
They both have some great points but I over all prefer Barcelo, better layout beach and Pools and food quality.
Palladium has a bit more to do at night which was nice, and did have great drinks and great staff.. too but.....the food is not as good as Barcelo. A large group of us all felt the same way.
I will say it again lots of reviews of tummy issues would also keep me from going back, I did get the food poisioning as well as others. I just keep reading more and more on issues since we have been home, thats too much.
Palladium Addicts is covering up most negative topics so you wont find all the information you need on that board. Only the positive. Trip Advisor has had a lot of bad reviews on food lately. I believe most of them.
Palladium is also a great resort and yes cheaper but pay the extra and go to Barcelo untill you no longer keep reading of tummy issues..coming in at the rate they are. The resort needs to get this undercontrole. Since I have come home from the Palladium in November I have read over 13 if not more reviews of some kinda of food poisioning or other tummy issue(God knows how many more) are not posted.
Barcelo is a fantastic resort been 5 times and will be back again and again.
Saving a bit of money as we did but lost over a full day in bed was not worth the savings.
PM me if you have any more questions or just ask on this thread.
Palladium Addicts is in my opinion a horrible website for its coverups. They have deleted so much important stuff, and so much on sickness. You have no idea.

Mrsfuzzmo · 01-23-2007

Scary...thanks for the information. It's good to hear from someone who has gone to both and done some reading lately. Glad we did not book the Palladium now, though our trip isn't until May. Who knows what will happen by then.

K and P · 01-23-2007

No probs, Its too bad the PG has this problem, because its so beautiful and has so much to offer.
unofficial barcelo board is the best place for information on Barcelo. Many pictures,reviews and honesty.

OkieB · 01-23-2007

I have also been to both and I would pick the Barcelo. I did not get sick, but one of our friends did and lost 2 days in bed. This was actually in 2005, so not recently...We have been to the Barcelo, Palladium and CMT - looks like we are heading back to Barcelo in June.... But, having said all that, you might go to the Palladium and love the food and become a Palladium addict. It is a beautiful place and I didn't have a bad time, I just wouldn't go back - but I thought I wouldn't go back to any resort twice and looks like I am....

skimom · 01-23-2007

Hi, just a quick note to let you know that we were at Pall Col May 2005, and that we just came back from Barcelo Trop Dec 24, 06 and we also were at the Grand Bahai Principe CobaDec 01,06
I would return to GBP, then Barcelo and then Palladium last,
Enjoyed everything, Pall had more walking and the food was much better at the other two resorts. We try to not go back to the same resort, but we enjoy the large resorts so that is we tire of one pool, or beach area, we move around as we only go for two weeks at a time. Small is too boring for us.
Hope all this helps.

K and P · 01-24-2007

I would go back to the Palladium even though the food was not as good as Barcelo if they got the sickness thing undercontrole and I got a really good deal.
We did have a good time there too and found the jungle atmosphere very beautiful.
Barcelo is very beautiful also the grounds are very well taken care of, and now that the trees and stuff are all grown back they too have jungle walkways between the buildings. Very NICE.

sara61 · 01-24-2007

Thanks for the info so far. I am still sooo confused. But as one poster said, I can use the extra $500 for excursions. Does anyone remember the grilling stations at Palladium? Do they season fish and grill it - or is it just plain, bland grilling? Thanks

btodd · 01-24-2007

Yikes!! Bad food and food poisoing do not make for a great vacation. We have been to the Barcelo twice.................enjoyed it the first time...............LOVED it the second!! I am a very frugal gal but $500.00 is not that big of a deal if you are going to worry and potentially not enjoy your holiday..............Don't know that you would go into town much from either resort, especially if you are travelling with kids..................

01-23-2007	#1 (permalink)
sara61 sandflea Join Date: Jan 2007 Posts: 5	Palladium vs. Barcelo New to the forum, wish I had found it before I selected my vaction. Anyways, I am planning to go to Palladium Riveria. I was going back and forth on Palladium or Barcelo, but since Palladium was $500 less for our family of four, I selected Palladium. Now, I am reading reviews of food and am getting quite nervous. I appreciate the fact that this board seems to be honest. I was lurking over at the addict board and it makes me uncomfortable! I can't imagine its all that they crack it up to be. So, now I am on the fence about changing resorts. Palladium does look beautiful, but is the Barcelo worth that much more? We previously stayed at Gala Playacar and that food was average to below average. I would not return to Gala for that reason. Any thoughts to help out would be appreciated.

01-23-2007	#6 (permalink)
K and P beachaholic Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Ont, Canada Posts: 343	Hey I have been to both. They both have some great points but I over all prefer Barcelo, better layout beach and Pools and food quality. Palladium has a bit more to do at night which was nice, and did have great drinks and great staff.. too but.....the food is not as good as Barcelo. A large group of us all felt the same way. I will say it again lots of reviews of tummy issues would also keep me from going back, I did get the food poisioning as well as others. I just keep reading more and more on issues since we have been home, thats too much. Palladium Addicts is covering up most negative topics so you wont find all the information you need on that board. Only the positive. Trip Advisor has had a lot of bad reviews on food lately. I believe most of them. Palladium is also a great resort and yes cheaper but pay the extra and go to Barcelo untill you no longer keep reading of tummy issues..coming in at the rate they are. The resort needs to get this undercontrole. Since I have come home from the Palladium in November I have read over 13 if not more reviews of some kinda of food poisioning or other tummy issue(God knows how many more) are not posted. Barcelo is a fantastic resort been 5 times and will be back again and again. Saving a bit of money as we did but lost over a full day in bed was not worth the savings. PM me if you have any more questions or just ask on this thread. Palladium Addicts is in my opinion a horrible website for its coverups. They have deleted so much important stuff, and so much on sickness. You have no idea. Last edited by K and P; 01-23-2007 at 02:46 PM.

01-23-2007	#9 (permalink)
OkieB toe in water Join Date: Nov 2004 Posts: 40	I have also been to both and I would pick the Barcelo. I did not get sick, but one of our friends did and lost 2 days in bed. This was actually in 2005, so not recently...We have been to the Barcelo, Palladium and CMT - looks like we are heading back to Barcelo in June.... But, having said all that, you might go to the Palladium and love the food and become a Palladium addict. It is a beautiful place and I didn't have a bad time, I just wouldn't go back - but I thought I wouldn't go back to any resort twice and looks like I am.... Last edited by OkieB; 01-23-2007 at 08:47 PM.

01-23-2007	#2 (permalink)
jeffandbridget lost on fifth Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Minnesota Posts: 23	hi I am also new to this forum and will be staying at the barcelo 3/30-4/06 and was told by these guys to check out unofficial-barcelo-maya.com .... it is a good web site all about that hotel..I don't know anything about the hotel you are booked at but maybe this would help

01-23-2007	#3 (permalink)
Mrsfuzzmo life=playa Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Fredonia, WI Posts: 652	I'e had friends stay at the Palladium (we were considering the Grand Palladium White Sands....until the Cabanas sold out). They LOVED it and had no complaints at all.

01-23-2007	#4 (permalink)
VacationBount very sparkly Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Indianapolis, IN Posts: 35	Barcelo Maya is great. I can't give you info about Palladium. But you should keep in mind that the food judgement is an individual opinion and will vary. Things that I love about Barcelo Maya: Beach, Snorkeling Right Off Beach, Plenty of Chairs, Layout of Resort, and Natural Beauty of the landscaping. Going for my third trip there tomorrow.

01-23-2007	#5 (permalink)
Mrsfuzzmo life=playa Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Fredonia, WI Posts: 652	VB have a great trip! Wish I was going tomorrow, but since I just found these forums, I am going to spend mucho time on here getting to know everything I can before I go. I agree about the food. Some people will love a place for it's food, some people will hate it. Food is VERY subjective, and can apparently make or break for some folks (poor things). Look at it this way, if you save the extra $$$$ by going to the Palladium adn you don't like th food, you have extra $$$ to eat a little more local and try some of the great restaurants in town.

01-23-2007	#7 (permalink)
Mrsfuzzmo life=playa Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Fredonia, WI Posts: 652	Scary...thanks for the information. It's good to hear from someone who has gone to both and done some reading lately. Glad we did not book the Palladium now, though our trip isn't until May. Who knows what will happen by then.

01-23-2007	#8 (permalink)
K and P beachaholic Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Ont, Canada Posts: 343	No probs, Its too bad the PG has this problem, because its so beautiful and has so much to offer. unofficial barcelo board is the best place for information on Barcelo. Many pictures,reviews and honesty.

01-23-2007	#10 (permalink)
skimom lost on fifth Join Date: Jan 2007 Posts: 11	Hi, just a quick note to let you know that we were at Pall Col May 2005, and that we just came back from Barcelo Trop Dec 24, 06 and we also were at the Grand Bahai Principe CobaDec 01,06 I would return to GBP, then Barcelo and then Palladium last, Enjoyed everything, Pall had more walking and the food was much better at the other two resorts. We try to not go back to the same resort, but we enjoy the large resorts so that is we tire of one pool, or beach area, we move around as we only go for two weeks at a time. Small is too boring for us. Hope all this helps.

01-24-2007	#11 (permalink)
K and P beachaholic Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Ont, Canada Posts: 343	I would go back to the Palladium even though the food was not as good as Barcelo if they got the sickness thing undercontrole and I got a really good deal. We did have a good time there too and found the jungle atmosphere very beautiful. Barcelo is very beautiful also the grounds are very well taken care of, and now that the trees and stuff are all grown back they too have jungle walkways between the buildings. Very NICE.

01-24-2007	#12 (permalink)
sara61 sandflea Join Date: Jan 2007 Posts: 5	Thanks for the info so far. I am still sooo confused. But as one poster said, I can use the extra $500 for excursions. Does anyone remember the grilling stations at Palladium? Do they season fish and grill it - or is it just plain, bland grilling? Thanks

01-24-2007	#13 (permalink)
btodd reposado Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Winnipeg, Manitoba Canada Posts: 1,327	Yikes!! Bad food and food poisoing do not make for a great vacation. We have been to the Barcelo twice.................enjoyed it the first time...............LOVED it the second!! I am a very frugal gal but $500.00 is not that big of a deal if you are going to worry and potentially not enjoy your holiday..............Don't know that you would go into town much from either resort, especially if you are travelling with kids..................

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