Just Returned...Barceló Maya Beach Resort

[Buns]

I just returned (on Monday) from a 5-night stay at the Barceló Maya Beach Resort. This was my 4th trip to this area, and I am still in love with it!

I traveled with a group of 5 adults and 4 kids (2, 7, 9 & 12). We all had a great time.

Please let me know if you have any questions I can help with!

(My trip report will be coming soon...with lots of pictures)

[Mrsfuzzmo]

Looking forward to your report. We arrive there in 13 days!!!!

[Eileencc]

Oh, this is gonna be great! I just booked my family for 9 nights at the Barcelo Maya, and I am interested in hearing all about your trip. this will be our fourth trip to Mexico too, but we've never stayed there. I'm sure I'll have lots of questions.

[mrcool138]

Lets get to it, we are going with kids (11,8 and 4) to the Barcelo Tropical/colonial. All of us are so excited to be going. Looking forward to your report.

[Garlic Addict]

. . . as we're going the end of May. My biggest concern from reading previous reviews is the poor bar service and the buffet food. This will be our first trip to the Barcelo Maya (having gone many times to Mexico). I've brought mugs before but never needed them at the resort. We've never been limited to 4 reservation restaurants & worry that we will get tired of the buffet (after 10 days!) Can't wait to read your report & get my fix!


8/1999 - 7-day Norwegian Cruise to Mexico/Honduras
8/2001 – Gala Resort (now Sandos Playacar), Playacar, Playa Del Carmen, Mexico
8/2002 – Riu Palace Mexico, Playacar, Playa Del Carmen, Mexico
9/2003 – Riu Palace Mexico, Playacar, Playa Del Carmen, Mexico
9/2004 – Aladdin, Las Vegas, Nevada
9/2005 – Iberostar Paraiso Lindo, between Puerto Morales & Playa Del Carmen, Mexico
9/2006 – Riu Palace Mexico, Playacar, Playa Del Carmen, Mexico
11/2006 – Excellence Riviera Cancun, Puerto Morales, Mexico
5/2007 – Riu Playacar, Playacar, Playa Del Carmen, Mexico
11/2007 – The Royal, Playa Del Carmen (in town), Mexico
05/2008 – Barcelo Maya Tropical, Puerto Juarez, Mexico

[Eileencc]

How's that TR coming....(tapping her toes...)

[Buns]

Originally Posted by Garlic Addict

. . . as we're going the end of May. My biggest concern from reading previous reviews is the poor bar service and the buffet food. This will be our first trip to the Barcelo Maya (having gone many times to Mexico). I've brought mugs before but never needed them at the resort. We've never been limited to 4 reservation restaurants & worry that we will get tired of the buffet (after 10 days!) Can't wait to read your report & get my fix!

Well...the bar service was really slow the whole week. But, I did bring two Bubba Kegs (that I purchased at the last minute before I left, from Wally World). They were LIVESAVERS. They will fill them up with whatever you want...cerveza, daiquiris, soda, water, etc. It eliminated quite a few trips back to the bar. At the pool bar, service was always slow. There were a lot of people and only one, sometimes two, bartenders. AND they serve drinks in small, 8-oz plastic cups. So, having my 32 ounce Bubba Keg was great!

As for the food...we were able to have 1 a la carte reservation (we only stayed 5 nights) we booked it for 9PM one evening, but ended up missing it, as we were late in getting back to the resort from PdC. We just ate at the buffet or the Pool Grill for every meal, and it was fine. They have different themes each day at the buffets, so there were different items to choose from. Everyone in my group was able to find something to eat at every meal. Breakfast was by far the best!

[Buns]

Originally Posted by Eileencc

How's that TR coming....(tapping her toes...)

Damn WORK is getting in the way! I keep trying to write my trip report, and my phone keeps ringing, or my boss needs something, or I have to go to a meeting....it is really getting aggravating!

[Eileencc]

Originally Posted by Buns

Damn WORK is getting in the way! I keep trying to write my trip report, and my phone keeps ringing, or my boss needs something, or I have to go to a meeting....it is really getting aggravating!

Damn work! Surprisingly, I'm "working" today too. It's hard to prove since I've spent so much time on this board today. But it's the first really warm day, and I gotta huge case of spring fever today. So come on now...get on that trip report.

[Garlic Addict]

I'll definitely bring the mugs! If the buffet food gets tiring (it did at Riu Playacar with only 1 buffet/restaurant open for lunch) I guess we can go into Playa Del Carmen or maybel I'll even lose weight (LOL right, that's so not going to happen even with all the walking)! Theme nights at the Riu Palace Mexico made going to the buffet a great alternative to the restaurants.

Originally Posted by Buns

Well...the bar service was really slow the whole week. But, I did bring two Bubba Kegs (that I purchased at the last minute before I left, from Wally World). They were LIVESAVERS. They will fill them up with whatever you want...cerveza, daiquiris, soda, water, etc. It eliminated quite a few trips back to the bar. At the pool bar, service was always slow. There were a lot of people and only one, sometimes two, bartenders. AND they serve drinks in small, 8-oz plastic cups. So, having my 32 ounce Bubba Keg was great!

As for the food...we were able to have 1 a la carte reservation (we only stayed 5 nights) we booked it for 9PM one evening, but ended up missing it, as we were late in getting back to the resort from PdC. We just ate at the buffet or the Pool Grill for every meal, and it was fine. They have different themes each day at the buffets, so there were different items to choose from. Everyone in my group was able to find something to eat at every meal. Breakfast was by far the best!

[Buns]

Originally Posted by Garlic Addict

I'll definitely bring the mugs! If the buffet food gets tiring (it did at Riu Playacar with only 1 buffet/restaurant open for lunch) I guess we can go into Playa Del Carmen or maybel I'll even lose weight (LOL right, that's so not going to happen even with all the walking)! Theme nights at the Riu Palace Mexico made going to the buffet a great alternative to the restaurants.

And just in case you are really worried about your weight don't worry. There are SCALES in the guest room! You can weigh yourself whenever you feel like it! (I hid mine under a bed for the whole week.)

[morphasia]

Originally Posted by Buns

And just in case you are really worried about your weight don't worry. There are SCALES in the guest room! You can weigh yourself whenever you feel like it! (I hid mine under a bed for the whole week.)

LOL very good! I certainly would do the same. I'm thinking right now I might go to the little gym at the resort every morning for 30 minutes of cardio, but things could change rather quickly once there.
Looking forward to your trip report! Damn bosses.

[Dawn]

Can't wait for the report...

[K and P]

I have been to Barcelo 7 times, I am going back in October for they 8th visit.
I was just at the RIU Yucatan and the RIU Tequila a few years back.
Barcelo is a great resort, I have never needed to reserve a pool chair but I dont usually travel in high season.
So food is good at Barcelo no worries, if you cant find good food at Barcelo there is a big problem. Prime Rib, fresh fish,shrimp,roast turkey,beef pork.
Seasoned potatoes,rices all kinds of good stuff.
Pool bar service is slow at times but not a reason to not like the resort.
Most keep going back to Barcelo because of that beach, and huge pools and the most beautiful grounds. Its a very relaxing resort.
Most of the workers will do anything for you if you are nice to them.
Anyone going should really like it, and if you have done your reading on tripadvisor and the unofficial board you will know that things can go wrong at any resort and some people are just too darn picky. I find at this time of year just around March break most resorts are getting bad reviews.
The RIUs are nice resorts too but Barcelo has the property.

[JuliLynn]

We just returned 4 nights ago . We didn't eat at any ala cartes so I can't comment on those- we wanted no schedule whatso ever! We ate breakfast's at one of the buffets - those were excellent - fried eggs, scrambled eggs, homemade donuts, bacon, sausage, waffles, pancakes, etc (you get the picture), then we'd do an early lunch at one of the beach grilles - had some breakfast food, made to order hamburgers, not dogs, lot of different dishes to choose from - tons of fresh fruit and self serve ice cream (that was my downfall for the week), then we'd lay around, go back and grab a snack around 4:00 (from the Grille) and eat supper around 7:30 - 8:00 at the buffet (they only had 1 side open when we where there - the resort was never busy). Service at the bars, never a problem, we had Bubba Mugs and filled them a couple times a day. The bartendars are very happy to put what ever you want in them. We always ate at the Colonial/Tropical side - never made it to the Beach/Caribe side and didn't have access to the Palace. Don't worry about the food - even the pickests of eaters will be able to fine something to eat - you won't starve!! The buffets at night have so many choices - I never even tried them all!
Juli