HELP!!! - Which do you think is best?

[snooky]

Hi all.. I'm a newbie ( ) and need your help!
I'm having an awful, awful time making a decision about which AI resort to stay in (which I promise is not a normal state of affairs)..I'm going with my husband and 11 year old daughter, and even he, normally quite decisive can't make up his mind

Firstly the list I've narrowed it down to (I think..... )

• Barcelo Maya Colonial,
• Iberostar Paraiso Lindo,
• Xpu-ha Palace

Having drowned myself in reviews on every property I still cannot decide in my heart. We don't want to base our decision on cost, though we want reasonable value for money... not to be ripped off in other words! (Atlantis Bahamas was rejected on this basis)

The Lindo seems very upmarket with all the facilities, but from some of the reviews I've read this has had a tendency to make the resort impersonal and even unfriendly, plus it hardly makes you feel that you're in Mexico at all from what I can see.....towels hogging the best loungers all day, and NO snorkelling

The Barcelo Maya Colonial seems nice on first glance, and I was nearly about to book (particularly with the good prices) but then I read some reviews about the deadbolts not working, and things going missing from rooms (not to mention the couples murder last year...possibly by a mad security guard?) Plus issues about towels again (this also seems to be a big issue at the Lindo).. then some were moaning about sharp rocks, service and watered down drinks - but at least they DO have snorkelling

I def don't think I want to spend my time 'watching' my towel incase it goes missing on its own private $20 vacation....and I don't want to feel if I leave my room that my items are unsafe.

So, Finally the Xpu-ha. This was actually my first choice initially, and had the hurricane not done its worst, I would have already booked - but then I fretted about the size of the beach, did I really want to get on the provided shuttle bus to the old Maeve to get to a decent beach - short though the journey may be? Then the apparent lack of proper evening entertainment ("simple but fun" in hotel speak....??), and apparently fewer onsite restaurants than the rest (without going off site to another Palace resort). I'm really not too sure about the kids entertainment on site either. Still, there seems to be little negative comments about the place, unlike the other two!. And great snorkelling reviews

So anyone want to throw in their pennyworth?
I really really want something my 11 year old will enjoy and have other kids to play with without her having to hang around her boring old mom and dad!, but I'm not too sure I want Las Vegas either (which she has been to already and loved!)

Thx for any help, IT really and truly is appreciated.
Snooky

[theterms]

Hey Snooky - I'm asking myself the same questions. We're a family of four and the Xpu-ha was our first pick - but then found out we'd need 2 rooms and then I don't feel comfortable putting the kids in a separate room. So that's out.
I'm looking at any of the Barcelo resorts (Puerto Aventuras), but I really want to be closer to PDC. So, perhaps the Iberostars? I've never been and I don't want to make a mistake!
I figured I would keep reading here and see what resort seems to best suit our wants.

Traci





http://www.smileycentral.com/sig.jsp?pc=ZSzeb095&pp=ZS

[snooky]

Hi Traci - seems to be quite a few of us in the same boat around the forums...just a thought... the Xpu-Ha have a lower and upper rooms in each bungalow - you could think about getting the lower and upper together, then it'd be like your own little house!


Snooky

[Shammy]

Please don't believe everything you read, especially if it's been put on Trip Advisor!! - some of what you said above simply isn't correct or was perhaps one individuals point of view.

This is how I would go.......

#1 Barcelo Maya Tropical/Colonial
(your 11 year old will love the water park!)

#2 Iberostar Lindo

#3 Xpa Ha Palace
(although because of the post hurricane situation at this resort - I wouldn't even keep it on the list as the Barcelo & IB* are far better choices).

[snooky]

Thanks Shammy - I knew you're a fan of the Barcelo from reading all the other posts... have you any links showing the 'organised' kids activities there? Particularly for my 11 year olds age group? I don't want her to be stuck with a 4-6 year old entertainment group!.

I got a quote from Barcelo colonial for a junior suite - do you think is this worth paying extra over the standard room or not?

And yes, I know, tripadvisor gets allsorts, but I've really tried to read as many bits of info from as many different sites/forums to get an overall (average) moan factor!.

Have you any view about the non-working deadbolt issue in a number of rooms and clothes dissapearing (supposedly being taken by housekeeping?)

By the by, It seems such a shame about the Xpu-ha - guess they'll get their act together at some point (or sell up) - with the land dispute it seems they got a double whammy.

Snooky

[Shammy]

Originally Posted by snooky

Thanks Shammy - I knew you're a fan of the Barcelo from reading all the other posts... have you any links showing the 'organised' kids activities there? Particularly for my 11 year olds age group? I don't want her to be stuck with a 4-6 year old entertainment group!.

I am a fan of this hotel but that's because I honestly think it's a great hotel. I don't "push" clients there but it is on my "suggested list" when people ask for family friendly resort choices. For the price, it just offers so much - nice rooms, beautiful grounds, THE best beach, on site snorkeling, decent food, lots of ala carte choices, good evening entertainment, the water park, kids club..and so on and so forth.

As far as your 11 year old - sorry to say but in my opinion, an 11 year old *might* be too old to really enjoy the kids club. If she did want to check it out, they wouldn't put her with the 4 year olds, but this is a tough age to occupy. I have an 11 year old myself and I can tell you he has no interest in kids clubs any more, nor has he for a few years. He will usually meet other kids his age playing volleyball, water polo, in the water park, playing ping pong - or doing ANY of the activities they offer at whatever hotel we'd be at. Kids clubs are great for little ones but an 11 year old girl (who is prolly way more mature than my 11 year old boy!) probably wouldn't be dependant on the club for her entertainment. My guess is she'd find another little girl(s) to pal around with and that would be that!

Originally Posted by snooky

I got a quote from Barcelo colonial for a junior suite - do you think is this worth paying extra over the standard room or not?

The ONLY reason why it would be worth it is if you must have a pool view room. All the jr. suites on the Tropical/Colonial side are pool view and past the pool is the beach so that is what makes them so attractive. But the cost for a jr. suite over a standard is A LOT - you are paying for a little more space AND a guaranteed better view. Personally - I would never pay the upgrade charge as the only time we are in the room is to shower and sleep. If it was just a $100-$200 more, maybe. But it's much more than that for a jr. over a standard.

Originally Posted by snooky

Have you any view about the non-working deadbolt issue in a number of rooms and clothes dissapearing (supposedly being taken by housekeeping?)

EVERY room has a lock, the doors lock - not like you close the door and it can be opened from the outside. The dead bolt issue has come up in the past but if there are some that don't work, why would they not make a point to fix them once brought to their attention? And how many rooms could be affected by this? If for some reason the lock couldn't BE fixed and it was important to you to have a working dead bolt, have them move your room. I just don't get the big drama over this, sorry. I just feel that out of 1,000+ rooms, how many could be really be broken?
Re: things taken out of the room - too much drama again. Who knows IF it happened, if it was a maid, if the person didn't actually lose something? I didn't read the review so I can't comment. But if something WAS taken, do you think this is the only hotel where this has happened? I am sure something has gone missing at the Lindo, and at every other resort too. Just something that happens, and it happens here in the US as well. I have been to the Barcelo 5 times and nothing in my room has disappeared, even things mistakenly left out like money and a camera. But my locked up cell phone DID "walk away" from the Sunscape Puerto Aventuras!

Originally Posted by snooky

By the by, It seems such a shame about the Xpu-ha - guess they'll get their act together at some point (or sell up) - with the land dispute it seems they got a double whammy.

Nothing is going to change here me thinks, the property lines are set and the existing beach is now miniscule. That is a big negative for this once great eco resort and makes it almost impossible to sell - especially at such a high price!

If you want more specific info about the Barcelo - try the Unofficial Web Site.

[cmsitaly]

Nice Shammy!

[snooky]

Originally Posted by Shammy

.....Kids clubs are great for little ones but an 11 year old girl (who is prolly way more mature than my 11 year old boy!) probably wouldn't be dependant on the club for her entertainment. My guess is she'd find another little girl(s) to pal around with and that would be that!

Don't know about that Shammy, she's a real tomboy - and wouldn't search out little girls to play with , but little boys (watch out your little boy haha!)

Ok, I take all your points on board, I think it likely it was a tripadvisor review going on about deadbolts and clothes going missing from rooms (referenced other peeps as well - so got me a bit worried, as I'm over focusing at this stage )

I've already visited the unoffical site, and they are positive about the place - so I'm off to book - I'm sure that I'll enjoy myself once the hubby and daughter can help themselves to food/icecream etc

Thanks so much for your help .

Snooky

[catjammies]

We like the Barcelo. Been there twice. No complaints.

Trip advisor reports are sort of like test scores. Take the top and bottom 10% and throw them out and only then will you get a good idea of what things are like.

We went to the Barcelo over Thanksgiving with 4 other couples and ALL had a grand time. We also took our son with us on a previous visit when he was about 11 and he had a ball.

[snooky]

Thanks catjammies - your cat looks like ours, except ours is black and fat

snooky

[catjammies]

Originally Posted by snooky

Thanks catjammies - your cat looks like ours, except ours is black and fat

snooky

Does yours drink Bud Lite and hog the remote too??

[snooky]

No, but he does hog a 4 seater couch, try to hypnotise us to give him cooked turkey (3..2...1, you're back in the room)....... and thinks he's a bit of a fancypants... 'it's all muscle' so he tells me....

[queencityfan]

Hi Snooky,
Looks like I may be too late but I have been to the Iberostar Maya and the Barcelo this year and the Barcelo wins in every catagory. Plus Shammy "pushed "me into it!
Rooms are not fancy but they are clean and the buffets have a good variety to please everyone.
Great beach and snorkeling, great pools at the beach, good food at the beach bars and be sure to check out the burgers at the little grill out by the pier.
Maybe I have just been fortunate but I have never had a towel taken or been missing anything out of my room in Mexico.
Have a great trip!

[Silver Starfish]

This year will be our third trip to Mexico and an all inclusive. We chose Sandos Playacar for a family vacation for 2005 & enjoyed it so much we returned in 2006. My son was 9 the first year and he said it was more fun than Disney on our second day.
For this year's vacation I wanted to go somewhere new because I love the research and anticipation of exploring a new destination and I struggled a bit to make up my mind between the IB Lindo and the Barcelo. I really loved the onsite snorkeling and beach at the Barcelo and our top priorities were a great beach and a family oriented resort. I chose the IB Lindo but I truly think both are great resorts. I chose the Lindo because it has amazing pools for my son, a/c ala carte restaurants for each night of your stay and because it is closer to the airport, i.e. you start your vacation earlier (Lindo is approximately 25 minutes from the Cancun airport, Barcelo is over an hour.) Another deciding factor was I am fair skinned and need shade for the majority of the day and during my research I discovered that the Barcelo does not have shade cabanas on the beach. I understand they have them at the pool but not the beach so since I love the ocean, that was important to me.
As for the kid's clubs, I agree that 11 is too old to be involved in the kids club, my son wasn't at all interested at age 9 but since it is a family vacation we were happy to enjoy his company and he found a few boys to play with in the pool and at the beach.
I can't wait to visit the Lindo, it looks totally awesome. I enjoyed reading reviews and viewing candid photos but I don't base my decisions on reviews. I think some people just like to complain or they blame the resort for things like weather or security (i.e. the safe is there for a purpose, don't leave digital cameras or ipods out!)
I really think you'll enjoy either resort, goodluck!

[snooky]

thanks to all for your thoughts - I still have not booked yet - I realise that Barcelo seems to get the majority of votes though!... (I still have a sneaky want to go to XPU Shammy!)..... I WAS about to book last night, when I discovered I couldn't use expedia for my billing address as for some strange reason they did't list Ireland (they list every other country in the world though Zimbabwe - Timbuktu )

Have a great holiday in the Lindo Silver Starfish - let us all know how you get on

I'm guessing whichever resort, Lindo/Barcelo we'll be fine, we're quite easy going tbh - so I'm not going to worry anymore .....except to say... are you SURE the Xpu is out of the question

Thnx
Snooky