Barceló Maya Tropical - All Inclusive

It was a first visit for Cancun and great Experienced. Lot of activities through out Barcelo Resorts.

Great location - midway between Play & Tulum. Beautiful resort with idyllic grounds, great food, gorgeous beach, and lots of things to do (or not!).

Came here for a bachelor/bachelorette party and the ambience, the staff were all very nice and the activities that they had on site and offsite were so worth it

Had an amazing experience! Family of 7 weeks vacation turned into a memorable one. Pool was amazing, my son loved the splash pad, food and entertainment were great and the staff were friendly and fun. The mall area along with strikers were a great way to spend nights before catching a show. Would and will highly recommend to all my friends and family! Thank you for a great trip and we are looking forward to booking our next one!!

I’m going to share my pros and cons in hopes that it helps other families make an informed decision - not to “bash” the hotel. This was our first “family friendly” all inclusive with our 4 and 6 year old boys. Prior to this, we’ve done multiple Mexican all inclusive as a couple w/o kids. It’s a European hotel - lots of guests from Europe and Canada. Smoking is allowed outside in many areas. About 1 hour from the airport. Not too much seaweed when we stayed but this time of year in this area is heavy with seaweed. Lots of Spanish speaking visitors as well if that’s important to your family. Your services will depend on what type of room you pick. Premium VS not premium. Overall, staff efficient and …I guess helpful? But very apathetic and cold. Distant, no smiling, minimal eye contact. And this was across all departments - not one specific interaction. I felt like a bother during most interactions though I was very polite and warm and smiled and tried to speak Spanish. This is the time that we’ve experienced this. All of our other days, the staff was incredibly warm and attentive, joked around and learned our names. It really doesn’t matter if you took the treatment here is the same. Again, not openly hostile but very cold and detached. There was one bar tender by the pool who yelled at my kid which rubbed me the wrong way because he’s 4 and was swimming and he accidentally splashed some water on the bar and before I could correct him the guy yelled at him in Spanish - but I understood what he said so he got a dirty look from we and we switched pools. Didn’t catch his name - wish I did I would put it in here. Drinks weak, watered down, nameless liquor brands. Ice melts instantly in Mexico in August if you are outdoors. So recommend bringing your own insulated/thermal cups if you want your drink to stay cold for longer than five minutes. That’s not supposed to this… That’s anywhere you go in Mexico in August. Only saw a few premium brands. Pretty stingy with pours, gave you a weird look if you asked for a second drink. It was odd. Albeit it’s a family resort so maybe they aren’t as used to guests who want to have a cocktail or 2 by the pool. The hotel is older, pretty run down (but clean) and needs major updates. Not aesthetic if that’s important to you. Lots of iguanas on the property which the kids found cool. The room (not a premium room) was fairly small, not too many amenities …no couch, mini fridge that wasn’t even slightly cold (though they restocked it most days). Room service isn’t included unless you’re in a “premium room.” I’ve never stayed at an all inclusive where room service wasn’t included. Was odd. House keeping came reliably almost everyday and did a nice job and replaced towels. The bathroom is very dated. Tub was clogged with standing water. They plunged it for us day one but it didn’t really help. They have mini golf - included. Bowling is extra fee Arcade games are extra fee. There’s a waterpark on the colonial side with surf simulator and ice skating, a Little Rock climbing wall, a few other things but all for a fee. And it’s not cheap. Was like $45 for 3 of us to bowl one round. Kids have to be 4 ft tall to bowl. So our youngest had to sit out which he didn’t understand and cried about - it’s about the weight of the balls I guess. They have bumpers. Food was not good. And I’m really not too picky - nor is my husband. Breakfast was reliable though and lots of options. Lunch and dinner was a crap shoot especially in the buffet. Speciality restaurants were decent. You can’t go to a restaurant every night though, even if you try to make a reservation. For our six nights stay, we were given three tickets that allowed us to go to three restaurants. So the other nights, you have to depend on the buffet. Pools were ok. Plenty of lounge chairs and decent amount of shade. Minimal pool side service. If you found someone to ask, it took 20-30 min for the drink to come. No menu for food poolside or on the beach. But two buffets on the beach for lunch/snacks (gets yucky later in the day). Kids liked the pools and little splash pad/water slide area. The beach is pretty and shallow but lots of coral/rocks in the water so maybe bring water shoes. On busy days the swim up bar was very slow. You’d be better off getting out and going to the bar on the other side out of the pool. Minimal entertainment at night and it wasn’t very good. If you’re looking for lots of fun engaging shows this isn’t the place for you. Did some kid friendly shows that pulled kids out of the audience which my younger son enjoyed. Can’t think of anything else to add that jumped out at me. Overall, was not impressed and would not stay again. I imagine there are a lot of other family friendly all inclusive a in Cancun and surrounding areas that could do way better than this. Again, not hating. Just giving details I wish I had read before booking. Have a good vacation!

A great family vacation. A wonderful room, just steps from the pool and beach. Great dining options and amenities, including numerous gift shops, an escape room, and sports activities.

It’s a nice location, they have beautiful greenery and parks there. But service is not that great. First issue we had was that they didn’t have a room that we booked for us. They offered for one couple a king bed and for another couple 2 separate beds which we didn’t agree on. Also the rooms have such a bad smell, like a mold or maybe they use some type of chemicals for cleaning that have such a bad smell. It’s really bad. My mom got such a bad stomach infection during our stay that she ended in hospital twice during our stay. When we reported that to them, they said they can give us an upgrade to go to Palace for dinner instead of Tropical which is nice of them, but we couldn’t go there as she was in such a bad condition she couldn’t even eat. We asked if they could give her just boiled rice and plain bread to her room just to eat at least something - they sent rice and a little bread with chilly fakes in it -.-

I had an amazing time at Barcelo Riviera Maya. We stayed at the Tropical, but visited the different areas of the resort. Every meal that I had, even in the buffets, was so good. They offer a variety of options anyone would enjoy, and the quality is there. The highlight, however, has to be the staff members. Every single staff member that I interacted with was so kind and helpful, and I never had a bad interaction. You can tell that everyone works hard to keep the resort looking clean and to give the place a great atmosphere. I am looking forward to visiting again in the future.

I would totally recommend this hotel tropical. It’s a beautiful hotel service is excellent. The staff very friendly and kind. The food is outstanding and all the à la carte restaurants very good. The beach was beautiful and any bit of seaweed there was was always cleaned up. I do wish they had huts on the beach and not palm trees. I would definitely go back.

nice place, excelent service and food great pool for kids and amenities to choose from we didnt leave teh resort, but ir seems to be plenty to do in the surroindings

Unfortunately, had a room that was dirty with cobwebs Some insects and no hot water for two days. We are then moved to a room that would not drain in the shower and the shower flooded when we used it twice.

After spending a considerable amount on what was supposed to be a relaxing vacation, I expected a much smoother experience. The problems started at check-in. Although check-in was at 3:00 p.m., I wasn't given any estimate of when my room would actually be ready. Instead of receiving clear communication, I had to repeatedly ask for updates. It wasn't until I requested to speak with a manager that I was finally given my room keys. The dining experience was equally disappointing. We were told that all of the specialty restaurants were fully booked, making it impossible to enjoy any of the non-buffet dining options during our five-day stay. We also learned that the resort limits guests to only two specialty restaurant reservations, yet this restriction is not clearly disclosed before booking. If this policy exists, it should be stated in writing so guests know what to expect before committing to their vacation. The drinks were another letdown. Most of the alcoholic cocktails tasted more like overly sweet fruit juice than properly balanced mixed drinks. If you wanted a cocktail with a noticeable amount of alcohol, you had to request a double shot. In my experience, it also seemed that tipping generously resulted in stronger drinks and better service, which is not what I expected from an all-inclusive resort. I'm sharing my experience so others know what to expect before booking. Every traveler values different things, but clear communication, transparency, and consistent service should be part of every guest's experience.

Only 2 out of 7 nights the room was cleaned voluntarily, we needed to keep asking the reception for the cleaning ladies to come. Unbelievable behaviour. Staff doesnt smile at europeans (we dont tip often, maybe), and is not kind to anyone, including children.

I have no real complaints of the resort it was a great Resort from the pool to beaches Etc the only complaint is I wish there was one queen bed and one double bed for a family of three. The pull-out sofas or small cots is terrible when you're spending thousands of dollars to stay at a resort for 7 days should be one queen bed for a couple and a double bed for a single person this isn't a prison but improve your beds. Other than that everything else in the resort is perfect a big bonus is you can swim in the pool at night time in the dark which is a great.

We stayed with the Premium package, and it was definitely worth it. The ocean view from our room was beautiful, and everything was conveniently located within a short walk, including the pool and beach. The buffet became repetitive after a few days, but the à la carte restaurants were excellent. There was always something to do, from the market and shopping area to the spa and nightly entertainment. The shuttle between the hotels was convenient and fun, and each resort had its own unique atmosphere. Our kids had plenty of activities to enjoy, with both free and paid options. Overall, we had a wonderful vacation.

Bed sheets also stained with blood, beaches rocky, buffet food not so good. Some vendors a bit pushy,

5th/6th trip over many years and still just absolutely incredible. Last trip we stayed at Palladium because we have family that object to the dauphins (no longer there) and there is really no comparison. Barcelo is so much nicer imo - the beach is MUCH larger, the pools are much better, the facilities in general are just more beautiful. The food and service were much better. We were a part of 18 (family reunion) and everyone agreed Barcelo was by far the better resort. Room is large and bed is comfortable Beach is insanely vast beautiful with tons of chairs/palm trees Pools are huge and meandering with plenty of space and shade Food for what you pay - the abundance and variety and quality is wonderful. Capri Italian - very good food great service - manager was super professional and helped to arrange our large party to sit together. Seafood Marestrom? Very good in fact much better than I remembered. Santa Fe Steak - Very good great service. French - food is good but no better than the other restaurants The reason we pay extra to go there is the terrace overlooking the ocean is heavenly. Service is excellent Thank you Barcelo for another wonderful vacation!

We traveled as a group of families. It was easy for our larger group to gather, and we appreciated there being various places we could all hang out together. Plenty of family friendly spaces, lots of splash pads, pools, activities, and amenities. There was adequate seating, service was average, food was good, and things were well maintained.

Overall great resort swimming pools very clean and refreshing we were well looked after, drinks from servers came right to your lounge

Our second stay at this huge resort complex, this time housed in the Tropical (last time was in 2019 - pre pandemic). The room was a bit run down, mildew on the lamp shades, grout and caulking in the bathroom icky, patio door had no working latch, etc. The buffet at the colonial and Tropical were dismal. The a la carts were good enough and a welcome escape from the grule at the buffets. There is a lack of shade on the beach. We've stayed at other resorts along this strip and some with shade/lounger shortages enforce the no reserve and dash with the towels, but this one doesn't. There are too many loungers were reserved with towels by 7 am, and then the ppl don't show up till near lunch. Guests don't get the message not to feed the sea turtles. They are quite aggressive now and they do bump and may bite so be careful. And please don't feed them if you're planning to swim or snorkel at the beach. Wild turles don't need bananas or bread.

An amazing relaxing time away! Staff was great and friendly! Breakfast was our favourite meal of the day and the à la cartes were great portion sizes you never left hungry!

Been here multiple times and keep coming back. The good: buffet with many options, massive resort (well 6 resorts ), loads of activities. Liz and Alexjito from the activity staff are amazing, snorkeling from beach, free mini putt. Clean rooms. What could be changed: nightly entertainment starts at 9:30 which is a bit too late. The dinner buffet opens at 6:30 which is also a bit late. The rooms could use more soundproofing. The seaweed (sargassum) wasn’t too bad. Had some bites that we think are from the sargassum. Rashgaurd recommended. At the buffet, acater our appetizer, we went to get our main course, we came back and our table was cleared. We had premium level that included hydro therapy which was nice. We stayed in the yucatan building which is closer to the lobby and buffet compared to the other buildings location. Lively atmosphere.

We spent a wonderful time at your facility 14days of sunshine good food ,made lots of new friends. Staff was excellent in their approach to service an helping us with our needs GRACIAS 😊

We stayed at Tropical and had requested adjoining rooms for our family of five, but unfortunately, this request could not be accommodated. The rooms themselves were very disappointing. They had a strong musty smell, and everything felt damp throughout our stay. Housekeeping was inconsistent—our minibar was rarely restocked, and we had to repeatedly ask for water and coffee. Towels and bath mats were also not replenished regularly. While other guests mentioned receiving snacks like peanuts and chips, we never received any. Maintenance and cleanliness were also lacking. The soap dispenser in the shower broke on the first day and remained unrepaired, sitting on the edge of the tub for the rest of the week. The floors were never mopped and accumulated a significant amount of sand over time. We also requested a late checkout, which was denied, yet our room remained unoccupied until we left at 7 p.m., which was frustrating. Customer service across the resort was underwhelming. Staff often made us feel like we were inconveniencing them when asking questions, and overall, they were not particularly welcoming. Most concerning was a tragic incident we witnessed on the beach, where a man drowned. The response appeared disorganized and lacking urgency. The lifeguard did not seem to perform CPR effectively, and a guest stepped in to assist before medical personnel arrived approximately 15 minutes later. Even after this event, lifeguard presence remained minimal, and when present, they were often distracted on their phones. This was deeply unsettling to witness. Overall, our experience was disappointing due to poor service, and serious concerns about safety. We would not return to this resort.

Place is well kept, staff overall nice, food was decent but beware of the beach…not the staffs fault but there were mountains of seaweed…perhaps investment in seaweed rake machine would help with this problem

The staff was very accommodating and made us feel very comfortable. We enjoyed the resort and the staff was amazing. When we asked questions they were answered by the staff in a very professional manner and we felt valued.

We visited in April with a party of 24 with mostly adults and 2 toddlers. Front desk: early afternoon check-in -no welcome drinks or drinks at all -2nd in line, still took an hour -room not ready, was advised our luggage would be brought to the room when it was ready. It was not. We dragged our luggage ourselves at 6pm. -luggage was severely damaged at airport. I needed duct tape to secure it. Lobby staff would not help at all. Thankfully a nice bellhop assisted. Food: -beach restaurant, very long line everyday (too long), 5/10 food. Same bland food everyday. Minimal fruit and veggies. Food was often empty and not replaced. -buffet was good for all meals. Breakfast was the best with smoothies, juice and omelettes. -long, slow lines at buffets for make your own pasta. -lots of variety for picky eaters: fries, pizza, potatoes, fries, pasta. -colonial buffet was way better than tropical but a walk to get to. -tons of delicious slushy drinks made perfectly! -they arranged a private area at the buffet one night outside for a birthday party one evening which was GORGEOUS. The allowed us to bring in a cake and put candles on it. Staff sang happy birthday with us! A la cartes: -limit of 4 per room -must book with guest services in person -do NOT get to choose which ones or what time -VERY full with minimal availability -we got ZERO. They only had one time slot available the week we were there for 9:30 PM which does not work with a child -huge disappointment. Beach: -chairs available -clean -water was clean, clear and blue -fish and turtles in the water -sun and shade -no service for drinks -no beach bar Pools: -great, clean -chairs available even at 8:30 am -good entertainment -different pools for different vibes -shade and sun available Rooms: ground floor -smelled damp and musty -nothing dries inside. MUST hang all wet items outside -everything in our luggage smelled of mildew once home -hung a wet shirt in the bathroom, it had mold on it after 3 days. -shampoo and conditioner provided: most horrific smelling things. Bring your own. -new water bottles everyday -gorgeous view from the patio Resort in general: -beautiful -gardens, grass, grounds and plants well maintained and all over -lots of wildlife (monkeys too) Shows: -no audience interaction -same dancing and music every night but different themed -not the best compared to most resorts - DISNEY show is a MUST SEE I would not return to the tropical (maybe to the colonial or palace though). I've had better food in Mexico before and the fact that we could not get an a la carte was disappointing.

This is our second visit at this hotel. Beside the fact that it hard get a chair at the beach or the pool, the service is perfect for us. Food is ok, restaurent a la carte are very good. Rooms are clean and staff is very kind.

This was my second time coming to the Barcelo Maya resorts. Our first time we stayed at the Palace. It was booked for the specific dates we needed. One family from our group got into the Palace and I had to go to the Tropical. They were allowed to come to my resort but I couldn't go to their resort. A little upsetting because everything seems the same if you are sitting at the pool or beach having a couple of drinks why can't go to the Palace with my family They preferred the food (more options and choices) at the Palace even their buffet was 5* I would rate the Tropical a 4* due to the issue in the room and not allowing access to the Palace.

Went to this resort planning to have a great week and was met with a very rude manager at the cash and then th beach was very very disappointing and the pool entertainment and games were less than satisfactory I was very disappointed in the staff and all around food and whole experience. Would not recommend!!

This was a great property to stay at with our family group of 13 people. We had children ranging in ages from 10-17 and adults up to age 65. There was something for everyone to do and enjoy. The food was good and the Al a carte restaurants were all excellent. The pools and entire property was well maintained and clean. The size and layout of the property was massive so it dispersed people well so there were no lines up or waiting for anything. The only note I have about the property size is that because it is large and spread out, there is a lot of walking involved between going from the room, buffet and beach/pools. If you’re someone who struggles with mobility I would suggest bringing like a walker or scooter or something to help navigate the property.

The hotel is massive due to there are other hotels barcelo and you can use the facilites of most of the hotels. Service excellent, always clean, facilities with good quality.

Stayed at the Barceló Maya Tropical hotel. I lost my phone in the theater, then went to look for it at the lobby, and they returned it to me. Everything was great! Really good people, well done. I recommend it!

Black mold in rooms, tiny uncomfortable beds, unable to secure chairs by pool unless you set your alarm to 5:30 am on vacation, poorly staffed bars, birds eating from buffet food line (like literally flying up and eating from food everyone eats), rude staff, cards for beach towels, unorganized check in and out, four meal tickets for 7 night stay but can only use 3 bc it’s “booked” only to find buffet appetizers at your “restaurants,” pool bathrooms were filthy, beach is gorgeous so are grounds but for the price other resorts do so much better!

Great place to spend a vacation! Very clean and safe resort that is absolutely beautiful. We spent 10 days here with our group of around 100 family and friends traveling from Michigan for our daughter’s high school senior trip. Highly recommend

I am writing to express my deep dissatisfaction with my experience at your hotel. From the moment I arrived, I did not feel welcomed. While there were occasional moments of decent service, they were inconsistent and did not make up for the overall experience. My most concerning experience occurred at the poolside restaurant, particularly during an interaction with Senior Moises Soberanis. A member of our party was not feeling well, and instead of demonstrating understanding or flexibility, he insisted that one person would have to sit alone rather than simply accommodating us by adding an additional chair to the table. What was even more troubling was his demeanor during this interaction. At one point, he began removing his gloves in a manner that felt confrontational, as if he was preparing for an altercation. This behavior was inappropriate, unprofessional, and lacked basic hospitality and situational awareness. Additionally, the individual who identified themselves as a supervisor was not helpful and did not appear to have the authority or willingness to address the situation appropriately. Overall, this experience fell far below expectations. Based on this visit, I would not recommend your establishment to others. I hope you take this feedback seriously and address these concerns to improve future guest experiences.

We just got back from a 7 day stay at Barcelo Maya Tropical. 2 adults and two kids 13 and 10. We don’t have one bad thing to say. Everything was wonderful from the food, to the beach, to the pool, the service, the staff, the drinks and the activities on and off site. This was our first stay and I will not hesitate to go back. Mexico is a beautiful country! No regrets!

Fantastic family friendly vacation. They make everything very convenient while away. So much to do or if you want to just relax you can do that too! The staff cannot do enough to accommodate you. This is the reason we return. They are AWESOME! My only suggestion- go off season. We went our second time during spring break and boy was it BUSY (to be expected) but we had to get up super early every morning just to reserve lounges by the beach or pool. Otherwise you're sitting on a towel. But the place itself- cleanliness, staff, grounds, food, drinks, atmosphere - VERY PLEASED. I would definitely recommend.

Overall, it was an okay resort. My kids did enjoy it. But as adults, I would definetely not stay stay if it was for a couple vacation. When we travelled there the first time, the hotel was not full and it was a very nice experience. This here though, the hotel was sold out. We had 1 king bed for 4 people the entire week and was barely given any towels at the end of our stay. Staff was not friendly and I did not enjoy it as much as last year. Shows where exactly the same as last year. Breakfast and lunch buffets did not offer any variety (same every day). Payed for the premium package but was absolutely not worth the price we paid.

Very poor customer service. Room had mold and everything was damp for our entire stay. Many employees can't understand English and are rude. May be better during regular seasons but definitely don't go during spring break.

Couldn't get dinner reservations at the restaurants for dinner. Had to eat at the buffet which was not good!

Two years ago our family stayed at the Colonial and throughly enjoyed the vacation but this time my husband and I were not as impressed with the Tropical although overall it was a great family vacation.

Very clean and amazing service! The food options were plentiful and the spa was totally worth it for the message!

Nice property but staff and food were overall disappointing. Rooms were good size but our room flooded from clogged drain (not uncommon) and the room had a sulphur smell all week. Staff were rude, talking about guests in Spanish not realizing they could be heard and understood.

We went with our family in a group of 10 including three children aged 5 and under. Pros: - it is a spectacular resort that is well maintained; - visitors have access to other sister resorts (however, for some you need to pay extra to access); - food was consistently good at the buffets (especially the traditional mexican dishes) and à la cartes (the seafood one was our favourite à la carte); - lots of activities to do from shopping in the mall, to mini golf, kids activities at the pools, etc.; - the beaches are beautiful (because of the rocks bring water shoes!!) - we loved the Tropical and Colonial pools and spent much of our time there. Cons: -the service is best described as inconsistent even with tipping (staff at check-in was legitimately rude and incompetent); - signage isn't great and can be confusing when you first get there; - rooms are small and the double beds are pretty uncomfortable (our room was also quite stuffy and musty smelling); - there are some broken things that should be addressed (i.e. broken door handles in the men's washroom); - à la carte meals would take anywhere from 1:30 - 2:30. I can do 1:30 but with little ones, anything more is too long and I would skip. Pro tip: The resort does not officially allow people to reserve chairs at the pools yet everybody does it anyways. To deal with this, either get up extremely early and do as the others do or just take people's stuff off chairs and move the chair elsewhere. We appreciated the resort's efforts in curbing this (staff would remove towles from chairs early morning).

It didn't start well. After travelling 20hours we arrived to no welcome drink and POLICY. We no longer had the credit card we had paid the £1600 deposit some 6months earlier so the reception & subsequently the mgr (Adam Adame) quoted policy whilst grinning and insisted we pay the deposit again as well as our balance. But no need to worry (still grinning) we would receive our balance back to the credit card we no longer have in just 4-12 weeks. We were pleased with our room which was large & clean and close to one of the numerous pools and the beach (more sand needed to cover the foot offending rocks) The sun-bed wars were a joke. If you were not up by 5-6 am and securing your sun-beds then forget it ! We were out at 8am and were often seen carrying odd sun-beds around to create the 4 we needed. And of course many of those who had secured their sun-beds early hours didn't start using them until noon !! The resort really needs to address this issue. Said to be a family resort there were too many large groups of 18 year olds (spring breakers) shouting and screaming until 3 in the morning. But by far the biggest disappointment was the food. Whether the buffet or one of the à la carte restaurants it was bland, tasteless, volume over quality and never hot. The drinks generally were not enjoyable either. We defaulted to the cava often. Yes we made the best of it. Enjoyed our 60th birthday celebrations in the lovely sunshine and did love and appreciate the majority of staff. Overall a disappointing 1st visit to Mexico. We won't be recommending Barcelo to family or friends. -

Copy of the feedback sent to the hotel : I am writing to share feedback following my recent stays at your Barceló Maya resort complex. This year marked my sixth visit (two stays at Colonial, one at Beach, and three at Tropical), and overall, I remain very satisfied with the quality of the resort. However, I would like to raise a recurring concern that has significantly affected our experience: the availability of beach and pool chairs. Over the past two years, we have consistently had to wake up before 6:00 a.m. and rush to secure chairs. This situation is frustrating and, frankly, not in line with the standards expected from a resort of your category. For many guests, including myself, the primary reason for choosing your resort is the beach and experience. When access to seating becomes a daily competition, it detracts from the relaxation and enjoyment that guests seek. I strongly encourage you to review and improve this aspect of your operations, as it impacts both guest satisfaction and the overall image of your resort. We are planning to return for a seventh visit, as we truly enjoy many aspects of your property. However, I also feel it is important to communicate this issue more broadly if it remains unresolved. Thank you for your attention to this matter. I hope to see improvements in the near future. Sincerely, ..........from Quebec Canada

This is a VERY big Barcelo resort surrounded by five other VERY big Barcelo resorts. Because it has the nicest beach and pool be prepared to “reserve” your deck/beach chair before 6:30 AM. We tried booking two or three a la carte restaurants first thing on the first day but everything was completely booked for our week except ine night at the Italian restaurant. The buffet restaurant offered very good food and, with the exception of the first lady we met at the reservation desk when we arrived, all staff were friendly and very helpful. For our family of six the big plus were the waterslides … our grandchildren loved them. The evening shows were also well done.

Extremely disappointing check-in experience at Barcelo Maya Tropical. I arrived expecting my room to be ready at the promised 3 PM check-in time, but it wasn’t. A supervisor got involved and told me it would take another 50 minutes—bringing the wait to around 4 PM. After waiting, I was finally given my room keys at 4 PM. The room itself is about a 10-minute walk from the lobby, and when I finally got there, I found it was STILL being cleaned. The housekeeper told me it would take another 20 minutes. Frustrated, I had to walk all the way back to the lobby again. Only after further back-and-forth and supervisor approval was I finally given a room that was actually ready. This level of disorganization and lack of coordination is unacceptable, especially for a resort of this standard. Not the kind of start you expect on vacation.

Overall everything was beautiful. The weather was amazing. Would not book again during this time because of Spring Break in the US. Too many rowdy teenagers. Could use more chairs on the beach and pool area, Other than that it was a beautiful trip.

Overall very pleased, especially the impressive layout of such a large complex. Very clean, making maximum usage of the natural foliage. The buffets provided a decent variety of hot, cold and delicious desserts. The many pools with the slides occupied my 5 year old grandsons with hours of fun. The support staff were welcoming working very hard to make out stay very pleasant.

I loved all of the things, it’s fell like to a paradise. You can find a thing for everyone, the service is perfect and everything is good to eat.

It was a great time. The views were great. The service was great, th food was okay, but honestly set your expectations; it’s buffet resort food, nothing crazy. The restaurants were a step above for sure, so make sure to book reso’s. Overall great trip. Would go back for the beach view.

We have travelled here before and loved the resort. This time however we were disappointed by the à la carte reservations as we were unable to secure any. Also there needs lack of beach chairs and the loud spring break kids from the USA made the pools and theatres less enjoyable. We will return for the beautiful beach and resort but will avoid spring break.

Great overall with little improvements needed. Housekeeping services needed improvement with frequency and what things were actually cleaned.

Very nice resort I would definitely recommend . Kids loved it lots for them to do and to be Engaged and felt all inclusive

We were lucky enough to meet the rest of the family in cancun at the Barcelo maya tropical for a family trip that exceeded all expectations. There isn’t something they don’t think of to make your stay perfect! We have been to this resort before and will surely come again! I had no complaints all week only compliments to the wonderful staff who are the reason the resort and our stay there was so wonderful!!

Went for a family vacation. Excellent amenities for kids. The food was very good and a good variety of selection. Would definitely return.

Took the family on a vocation and good times were had by all. Rooms were nice staff were very help full and food was very tasty

Excellent 10 day Holiday for our family, Use of multi resorts within one complex was amazing, Best beach frontage south of Playa Del Carmen. Every thing in one place, you dont have to go anywhere else.

Been to many hotels in the past years. This place is top notch. Great service in buffet and restos, clean beach (not enough chairs), very clean impeccable hotel and rooms. Staff is polite and attentive except for the receptionnist, go figure! She's the first one you meet and has an attitude. The night shows are very entertaining, great dancers ; environment at 105 decibels, WAY TOO loud! Don't expect an email from Nexus Tours for transfer departure time. They just don't send one. Go see the West Jet Nexus tour agent sitting at the hotel for time. He may greet you with ''What do you want?'' as a tourist question seems to annoy him to no end (quite ironic). All in all, hotel was quite after 11pm, beds are rather soft and comfortable, room service is perfect. Pool entertainment gets very loud in the afternoon. Beach towels- help yourself - no cards asked - no employee present to check. Nice. Staff is amazing, attentive, want to please. Food variety and quality is excellent! Will be going back for sure!!

Excellent choice for a short week vacation, we visited many caribbean islands through the years, and have already been to Mexico Riviera Maya of course, but it would seem that Barcelo have kept up with maintenance, service, food and everything else one needs for a memorable getaway.

Feb 26 til March 5th. Tropical > Air transat Check in > smooth, got all requests accepted that were asked prior to arrival by travel agent as well as i personally emailed resort a month prior. We did utilized private transfer (canada transfers) so we would beat a rush if by chance there would have been one. We arrived around 230pm and our room was available. Reservations to a la cartes > we went immediately after checking in as a lot of people in the group had stated to do this. We got 2 out of 4 which was good for us. They did state to check back in to see if more available however we never bothered. Room > Very clean and kept clean. Only issue was we didn't find the room overly cold. Blinds shut tried restarting ac, patio closed tight and requested them to come check and they did and played around with it and still not much changed. I did ask if they could lower the pre set and they stated no. Pop, water and beer fully stocked daily including peanuts and those were delicious. We were in the Veracruz section closest to the pools. Room was always very quiet at night and mornings. Food>we didnt venture to far in regards to trying all the buffets etc. Stuck with the breakfast and supper buffet on tropical/colonial side. Lunch was spent at the beach buffet. Always left beyond full. Yes food could be hotter, otherwise no issues. Staff very quick to sit you and serve you drinks and by the time your back at ur seat your drinks are there. I do find they were very tentative. A la cartes> did Italian and steak house both fantastic and very filling. Drinks> cold and delicious no issues with getting a good buzz on. Bartenders were awesome and the ladies go around the pool continously all day to take orders. Pools>spacious and fun and clean. We did put towels out by 830 and always spaces available. For prime realstate by 7am I would go out. Ocean>best experience of my life swimming with sea turtles. I am not an ocean lover so cannot comment any further in regards to sitting down there etc. But Swim with the turtles! Entertainment>we did not take part in any of the evening shows, and very limited at the pool which is good for us. They all definitely work hard to get all involved. Strikers and Maya mall was great as well as the little market. We didnt bowl but did mini putt and it was awesome My husband went diving with the diving on site. He went to playa del Carmen to swim with the bull sharks and had a wonderful day away. However the snorkeling at the beach was fantastic if your not a diver. Spotted sting rays, many different fish, turtles and reefs! Would we return? ABSOLUTELY

Barcelo Tropical is a great place to stay. We choose to stay in a junior suite premium level, which I highly recommend. We had a wonderful week at the resort. There are so many wonderful restaurants to choose from. The mall is a great shopping option. There are many activities throughout the resort.

Us and they 30 others that were with us for a wedding had a terrible experience, since the time we checked in. They weren't helpful at all, they had literally the worst beach I've ever seen, the food was garbage, I had the runs along with multiple others. Would't upgrade our bracelets so we can go on the side that our whole wedding party was on (not the adult side)

Everything was amazing. The only thing I would say is that the food could be better. I’m all about Mexican food and the experience. However I think maybe it would be better to cater to the people that are visiting. The food choices on the buffet are the only negative I can speak of

What an excellent experience for those who have young families to anyone of the generational groups requesting the relaxation and comfort. never needing to worry about what to be done

We went with relatives and kids in their 20's. Everyone had a great time regardless of age, food was great, beach and pool were great, always something to do. Staff was very friendly and helpful. Double decker bus is a first must-do to orient yourself with the property. Very clean and tidy resort.

the beach and pools are the best part. large in size and numerous. very clean but the great amount of seaweed needs to be cleaned on a daily basis, not weekly. the staff are very nice except the occasional one who is frowning regularly. the food quality is good but the variety for vegetarians is lacking. the layout of the whole resort is brilliant. lots of activities for all ages

We were at the hotel exactly one year ago and would like to note the great progress made by the management, including improvements to the situation on the beach with sun loungers and an improvement in the quality of work of all staff.

Impressed and loved this entire complex. Immediately welcomed by the smiling face of Fernando (a great ambassador for the barcelo group ) a very nice way to start our trip. Awe struck by the beautiful grounds and the amazing wildlife. Only down fall to the whole trip was the availability of chairs at the pool / beach. Missed out on 2 days beach side due to no available chairs. Other than that we had an amazing time in Mexico and will 100% be back again. Can't go wrong for the price point

Overall, this was a very fun resort. TONS to do. Pros: -You can visit the other Barcelo resorts on the property and they have a shuttle that will take you around. -The restaurant food was all amazing. We personally had the Mexican, hibachi and steakhouse -Free entertainment on the property (night club, performance shows, ping pong table, basketball, etc.) -Paid entertainment within walking distance on the property (spas, mall, casino, etc) -Pools were nice, plenty of seating Cons: -Rooms were very basic (we had an oceanfront junior suite) -Had some issues with the hot water (they did come fix it right away, but it went lukewarm again later that evening and we just didn’t bother to call again lol) -The included buffet food was simply average. *We did get the Premium Level package which I think was worth it. We got access to eat at the restaurants for free, which the property will book for you! You get to choose the top shelf liquor, and they have bars/lounges throughout the property that you can easily access. My best friend and I had the best time and we would definitely visit again, BUT we would probably get an upgraded room.

Absolutely awesome time!!! We will definitely be coming back soon!! Everything from the redort to the off resort excursions we're easy to navigate and the staff were all fantastic!!

Found the staff to be rude and not wanting to be there. Good luck trying to get a spot on the beach or near the pool, people come down at 7am and put their towels on the chairs. This should be staffed and a time limit on the vacant chairs, like other resorts do. We did not see any staff on the beach, or around the pools.

Very nice and clean hotels. They really keep it together for you to enjoy yourself on vacation. Amazing walks on the beach and thorough out all of the hotels. You stay at one and play in rest of of the hotels.

We travelled here with 7 adults and 3 children, aged 1, 4 & 5. Great family resort with lots to do for the kids. Also area for adults to relax . Staff was accompdating and friendly, and the food was great with lots of options

Bartenders and servers are rude, took forever to get waited on or even ecolodge we were waiting to be served

This was my 4th time staying at the Barcelo Properties in the Mayan Riviera, my first at the Tropical resort complex. If you are looking for a good time, look no further than this resort or it's sister resorts. This complex is a bit more outdated than the Maya Grand for example, but it still is a great complex for families and couples. It has so many activities for everyone. I highly recommend upgrading to the "Premium Level" as it gets you reservations pre-selected for every night of your stay, top shelf liquor if that is up your alley, but best of all??? The HYDROTHERAPY circuit. One per day for each day of your stay. HIGHLY RECOMMEND.

This resort is beautiful. Family oriented. Something for everyone. I highly recommend. Will be booking again in the future.

The whole overall experience was very good. I would probably come back to this resort. It is big and a lot of fun with lots to do. Everything is also kept nice and neat and clean. It was all very professional

Overall the resort is big but needs much improvement to be comfortable especially in the rooms . The pools were good but really cold. The bars were busy and the quality of drinks were poor. The snacks could be improved . The prices in the hotel lobby souvenirs were expensive. Not impressive with the outings with free shuttle as it was very Long time and we were constantly pressured to buy.

If you've yet to plan a trip to Barcelo's do yourself a favor and book. You will not be disappointed

Access to various hotel. Overall nice facilities but too much to navigate. Family hotel mostly so pick the adult only if you don’t want to be around children. Good value overall.

We had good times except few little things like room fridge wasn't fill up daily , and room wasn't cleaned up daily the floors and poor service at the pool to bring drinks , and we got booked in advance us a group and we were all over the place separately which I didn't like it but other than that is a good place .

Here now 31 Jan 2026. Overall impression is good. We prefer smaller resorts but decided on this one because of proximity to excursions we wanted to do. Our main issue, and this goes for many resorts, is the placement of seafood. Many people have seafood allergies which can be severe. Seafood should be kept seperate from other foods. Here at the beach grill it is placed behind pasta and other foods. Making the pasta unavailable since the drippings fall into the pasta. Also same tongs are used creating cross contamination. At the main buffet it is placed with the cheese slices with no seperation and same tongs. Again cross contaminating. It would be a simple change to make.

When you pay $21 thousand Canadian dollars for 3 ocean front rooms, you expect what you paid for. Beautiful resort, good food, beautiful beach the water warmer water than the pools, BUT very expensive stores and they will not barter, they will not take cash, will only charge to your room or mc, ( for example roll of tums $7.00 USA $1.50 in town, key chains $15.00 USA) NO beach venders, no spa services on the beach and spa was very expensive, I asked why everything was so expensive and they said “your on a Barcelo.” We took the public transport out by the gates for 30 pasos ($1.75 USA) each to Playa del Carmen, the public transportation runs back and forth on that main road and they are about 10 minutes apart to take you and bring you back. To take a taxi from hotel was $70.00 USA.one way, If you take a taxi only take it one way cheaper in Playa for return and taxis are lined up for you. They will barter a price. ROOMS- we didn’t have the rooms we paid for, ocean front yes but not double beds as we wanted. 2 people landed up sleeping on the couch for 7 days in two of the rooms. Same with people beside us and below us when they talked to us. Couldn’t move us for two days and still wasn’t what we wanted so stayed where we were. You pay that much you expect what you paid for. Party of 6 and one room was in a different building. Requested to be together as we had a young child with his mother and didn’t want them alone so we all switched up so they were next to us and the two men went to the other building. OCEAN front room, screen door won’t shut, when the lights were on NO tv , lights off tv, PHONE didn’t work. Repair man come up and shook his head and left. No English. Basically 3 days to get electrical issues fixed after going to the front desk. Ordered room service and were told no room service to tropical. What? We are premier status. FOOD- they make all your reservations for you in the specialty restaurants before you get there. AGAIN booked our group at different restaurants.manager worked that all out so we were all booked at the same restaurant. NICE hotel but the staff are all confused about booking and pass you onto someone else just to get rid of the problems, so just get the manager he knows his stuff and will straighten things out. Premier lounge is where you book in and out and it is always full of people complaining. BARCELO you claim to be a top of the line facility, you need the staff to be more efficient, we are coming from a different country and we are depending on our travel agents and you to give us what we paid for not having to be stressed out when we get there with wrong rooms, wrong reservations, electrical issues in the rooms, plugged shower drains, doors un usable, sleeping on couches.

Was a fabulous stay at a fabulous resort. We’ll definitely be back. We enjoyed every aspect of our stay.

We had an amazing time at this resort. The service was amazing, the food was fabulous and the grounds were immaculate. I highly recommend staying here. We will definitely be returning!!!!!

Great pools and grounds, clean and well-maintained. À la cart restaurants great but lunch buffets not good. Room comfortable but some maintenance issues. Generally the public bathrooms here are terrible. Maintenance and smell deterred use. The chair situation is horrendous and would make me think twice for future reservation. The resort did cater to older children with multiple options for activities. We appreciated the options. The beach was amazing here in certain spots. Not enough staff at bars but drink quality good. Spa and massages were fabulous.

We were a group of 16 and all of us loved the resort. Even though we were there at peak time the resort never felt crowded. There was always room in the pool and on the beach and space in the common areas. The rooms were large and comfortable. The buffet food was average but the al a carte restaurants were very good, especially the Italian restaurant. The biggest complaint from our group was the difficulty in getting lounge chairs by the pool or on the beach. Someone from our group would have to get up early to "reserve" chairs which you aren't supposed to do but if you don't you will be out of luck. Other than than it was a great vacation for everyone and we would definitely book this resort again.

We've visited this resort 3 years in a row and it does not disappoint. excellent facilities and a wonderful vacation spot

Mid-level resort. Went with a family with two kids. Pools and beach were nice and service was typically very good. Restaurants were Ok at best. Santa Fe was really good but it is was difficult to get other reservations (or non-existent if not Premium level). We have had better dining experiences at other resorts. Buffets were Ok with food often cool and not a lot of fresh, crispy options. Room was clean and nice though the walls were thin and we could hear a lot of hallway / room above noise. Suggest a noise machine to reduce if bringing kids.

The 2km of beach and boardwalk are the highlights of this resort. The grounds and facilities are impeccable. The food and drinks are good.

Do you really get what you pay for at this resort? I'm not convinced. If you are looking to spend several hundred dollars for average food, a small room, right on the beach where you can swim with sea turtles and walk up to self serve yourself to free, but bland food and drinks all day - this resort (and other like it) may be it for you. Despite being based in a country with significantly lower prices, everything is priced at a high US rate. We happened to travel on what turned out to be a very busy season, which unfortunately meant some (not all) of the allure of an all-inclusive went away. Out of 7 nights, we were able to be seated in a restaurant once, and no, 1 out of 7 in the 4 restaurants we were actually offered is not a good ratio - nor what was marketed to us. Sure there is food abound, yet self-serve buffet line food with a 30 people line to get the sole food that is cooked by a cook (not chef) is not an experience extraordinaire worth the price. Even the one bottle of wine we bought - to get out of the 1 red and 1 white house win - was upcharged over 300% compared to US fine dining. Ridiculous. The good parts: the beach is nice, although the lack of beach chairs is frustrating as people apparently get up at 4 am to throw their towel on the few chairs that are open. We did not opt for this, and then set on the beach instead, which was fine. There is also no drink service on the beach, which again is fine, yet not what you expect for the price paid. We were also told we could not be served at one beach bar, although there are no evident lines in the sand (or on signage) telling us we couldn't get a beer poured exactly there. It's more self-serve than service, frankly. Another positive is that the pools are very nice, our youngest enjoyed the slightly larger (free) water slide, and that snorkeling is more fun than you may think given the abundance of fish and even sea turtles in the water. The lack of local flavorful variety of foods was surprising and so was the lack of made to order options, be it foodwise, drinkwise, or juice wise. Would we go back? Probably not. Not because it's not good, but because the price to greatness ration is not there. If I'm paying these prices, I'd rather rent my own villa on the beach, and I'm confident I would still end up paying half the price for a family of five, if even. Extra bonus for the people working here genuinely seeming to be happy.

Staff provide service within guidelines. Doesn't seem to try and help when asked (i.e. was denied use of a utensil even though it is right next to him/her simply because it's closing time). And, I gather, common resort problem of finding pool/beach chairs after 8am.

I’ll try to be quick. Stayed at Colonial four years ago. It was great. Stayed at Tropical last week. It was great. Nothing was noticeably better or worse. And that’s fine. Beach is the ideal mix of sand (for wading in) and rocks (better for snorkeling). You have to play the chair towel game; go out and put your towel on chairs no later than 7am to claim a good one. Then go back to bed. Bring your own snorkel gear to avoid having to borrow a set. Between 7-10am, swim out in front of the jaguar statue with a snorkel and you will find loggerhead sea turtles. Bring a banana and they will eat out of your hand (not the peel). Super fun. Santa Fe restaurant is great. Kyoto is like a mediocre Benihana’s. Buffet is solid every meal. Nightly performances are not super. December weather is fantastic. Nothing dries out ever, so bring at least two swimsuits. Xplor up the road is expensive but great; arrive early to avoid lines. Tipping bar workers is optional; we did it when getting 3+ drinks; just don’t act like it’s a big deal and you’re sending their kids to college with your $1USD. Lots of people from Canada this year, ??, so that was weird and we don’t speak French. Dolphin encounter was closed; no big deal. We blew out a few cheap phone charging cubes/cords, probably due to outlet instability, so have a plan for that.

This was our first time staying here. We had a great experience in all aspects. It’s started with a simple check in and then we lucked out and got 6 a la cartes all around 6:30 as soon as we got there. There is so much to do - beach, pool, day time entertainment, evening entertainment, gym- weights, yoga, spin, Strikers, mall, pickle ball, snorkeling - turtles & fish, close to cenotes, and then we had a great room with a comfy bed. We enjoyed the food and were always able to find something. We ate at all four buffets in the middle, and the Sante Fe, Capri, Mare Nostrum, Tokyo, Mexico Lindo, and Caribe a la cartes. We also ate at the Captain Morgan’s and Palmeras lunch areas. For the most part, we were able to find a chair by the pool. Maybe not always where we wanted but something. If we couldn’t, we found grass. On the beach, we didn’t find a chair until later in the day but found space for our towels so we could lay on the beach. Yes “the chair game” was real but we didn’t let it bother us. It’s important to keep the mindset of gratitude or it will ruin your holiday. Busy times will create issues keeping everyone. “Happy”.

Loved the size of this large resort. Could always find a loud or quiet spot depending what you were looking for. Beach is very rocky at entrance which is not great if you are a person who loves spending time in the ocean.

Travelled with family in the beginning of December. First time in Mexico. 1 hour drive from Cancun airport. Had transportation via Barcelo Vacaciones (booked directly with the hotel), was quite challenging to find the representative outside the airport (the meeting spot was in front of the Welcome Bar, but there were a lot of transportation people gathered, so take your time). It's about an hour drive from the Cancun airport to the resort. First impressions/days: Managed to check in and rush to get some dinner before the restaurant was closed. Unfortunate for us, the room we were placed in, was way too humid - when entering the room you could sense that something was really off. At first we thought that it might be because the room was on the shade side of the Yucatan building and didn't get much sunlight throughout the day. The bedsheets were wet and we had to ask them to be changed before we could sleep the night) and the temperature in the room didn't heat up over 21C. Next day we headed off to the reception to ask for a replacement (on the other, sunny side) as it was not something we'd feel comfortable in - they asked to come back after 3PM when there would be more rooms available and we could switch then. We were offered a room which had a better feel, but we discovered mold spots on one mattress. Asked for a new mattress, but we were said they didn't have any - declined the room and asked for a new one. Couple of hours later they found us another one, couple rooms over - the situation seemed better there so we moved in.. only to discover that the room temp didn't increase higher than 18C at all! Called reception once again, they sent us a repairman to fix the AC - took about 20minutes to fix and the result was somewhat unexpected, the temperature went up to 20C now, but the room was more humid than before - all surfaces were basically wet (wasn't that bad even in the 1st room at that time). We had dinner reservations catching up, so we left the AC on, hoping when we return, the situation would've changed for the better. Coming back from dinner, the humidity did resolve a bit, but the temperature was still stuck on 20C, had not increased a bit while we were at dinner (~2h) - called reception again to ask for look for the AC once again.. To our surprise, opening the door we saw a bellboy announcing us another room change - this time they allegedly found us a better room, but it was in the next building (Veracruz) - packed our stuff again and headed out to our 4th room. Upon arrival, we entered into a warm (23.6C) and dry room which finally felt good. Later discovered that in that room, turning off the AC was not an option, they did quickly replace it on the 3rd day with no further issues. Throughout the first two days of managing the issue, the on ground manager of Yucatan/Veracruz buildings (if I remember correctly, he was named Juan Carlos) did deal with this/these issue(s) with urgency and dedication, upon finally finding us a room that we finally felt comfortable in and personally checking in if we were satisfied with the end result. I totally understand that scenarios like this can happen from time to time, but I'd like to emphasize here that the way they handled and solved the situation was extremely professional and positive in the end. Suggestion would be to deal with the issues beforehand and not to let the guests discover/report those to and potentially avoid guests from forming impressions which are not always the most positive. I understand that the climate is very humid there, but please do invest effort and resources into keeping the rooms functional and enjoyable to stay in - the hotel itself is very beautiful and pleasant to stay in. For catching such terrible unluck with 3 of first rooms, we were upgraded to Premium level which was a nice touch and could make up for the first 2 days of running through different rooms. Most useful perks of the Premium level were unlimited A la Carte reservations (which was really helpful) and premium brand liquor. Also free room service, but didn't have the need to use it. PS. We did find some weird small excrements on our 4th room balcony the following days (room was on the 3rd floor) - reported it and asked if they could do something about it to prevent it from happening - they did spray something there, worked for a day or 2 but after that it kept coming back. Asked the cleaning lady what it might've been, she figured it was a bird of some sort. Later figured ourselves that it was a bat (or several) that was visiting our balcony, but figured it's something we cannot change so accepted it as is (basically couldn't actually use the balcony throughout our stay). --- The vacation: The Barcelo Maya Tropical is a beautiful and huge resort.. and you can use the amenities of 4 different middle located hotels while you're staying there (Colonial - right next to Tropical, Beach/Caribe - about 10-15m walking distance). Be prepared to walk a bit more than usual. As we stayed in one side of the 4 hotels, we did mostly use Tropical and somewhat Colonial parts of the hotel more than the Beach/Caribe ones. Breakfast/lunch/dinner buffet restaurants are right next to each other & connected (basically the same offering). There were 2 omelet stations at each breakfast buffet which was a nice touch - didn't have to wait for over 5 minutes ever. A very good variety of foods to choose from. Service was rather quick usually (apart from some days when there were a lot of people in the buffet the same time - there was even a small queue around 9:20 in the morning, for breakfast!) For lunch we usually visited the beach restaurant for Tropical - was really close to beach/pool and didn't waste any precious day time for us during the day - service was fast and there was great variety to choose from (the selection didn't alternate much, but didn't feel like an issue). For dinner, most of the nights we did manage to book different A la Carte's - really enjoyed the Asian restaurant - Kyoto (Tropical/Colonial) and Italian - La Trattoria (in mall). Had the chance to sit in 3 different Teppanyaki tables/all different chefs so completely 3 different experiences. Somehow, the drinks served in Kyoto were far better than elsewhere in any other restaurants. We did go to main buffets couple of times for dinner and did not encounter any issues either. There are many bars throughout the hotel and they are always very attentive and quick with your orders. Most pleasant and positive experience would probably be the Tequila lobby bar in Tropical which did suit us the best. There are different activities throughout the day taking place - by the pool, by the beach etc. Accurate timetables of activities are posted in several places + they announce them as well, hard to miss. For kids, the Barcy Club also hosts different activities starting from 10 AM, just show up to register slightly before the scheduled start (a predefined timetable also available so you'd know in advance what's happening and when). The evening activities in were hosted in large theaters, there were 2 of them, 1 dedicated for 2 hotels - different shows to choose from (and the shows were well-prepared and enjoyable)! The gym in the hotel was something else - never ever had I encountered such a large and well-equipped gym in a resort hotel. It did serve 4-5 hotels at once, but it was huge! Located in the Spa near the beach (right in the middle of the 4 hotels for easy access from all hotels). There was a huge mall on site (mostly near and/or attached to the Caribe hotel) - a lot of different restaurants, bars, shops and activities to choose from. You could not get bored in this hotel! There were several busses running through the hotel for easier access to all hotels throughout the day. The pool/beach areas are beautiful and kept clean at all times (there's a whole cleaning/raking squad that goes over the whole beach around 7 AM). In the beginning of December when we were there, there wasn't many people in the hotel so we didn't have any issues getting chairs either by the pool or by the beach. If you made it to the pool/beach around 10AM, then you probably had some issues or limited availability of the chairs. There was a pier (right in the center of the beach area in terms of the hotels) where you could go and see several fish while snorkeling if you didn't feel like going from the shore. The beach shore was rather rocky so it'd be safe to wear beach shoes when going in not to hurt yourself. Before going there we read reviews about stingrays in the shallow water - we did watch out and were precautious, but didn't encounter any ourselves. You could also do different kinds of water sports at the beach. Non-motorized (e.g. Catamaran ride) and renting life vests was free of charge. -- Outside the hotel: We did go out of the hotel once, to Puerto Aventuras (about 3km away from the hotel) with local transport (Collectivo) which cost 2$ each person per drive. There was a big convenient store called Chedraui which had a large selection of everything (incl. souvenirs) and was reasonably priced. Getting back was also quite easy, they had a stop nearby (near BBVA bank close to the store) on the side of the road facing the hotel direction. These Collectivos run both ways, from Tulum to Playa Del Carmen and cost a couple of $USD per person per direction, didn't have to wait longer than 10min for another one (good substitute for taxi, just let them know where you're headed). Personal insights: We like this hotel a lot. We've had quite different experience travelling (in Europe, Egypt, Turkey and Dominican Republic) and can say that the experience we had in Mexico and Barcelo Maya was extraordinary. The hotel is big (well, hotels even), but the level of service and the variety of foods and activities etc are kept up to a certain standard which makes the vacation enjoyable. When compared to Dominican Republic (Occidental Punta Cana), the aspects we did miss were: * a dedicated beach area for higher level guests * an A la Carte breakfast restaurant * a separate beach bar (in Barcelo Maya there were only pool bars) and * smooth and fine beach (with no rocks at all) But hey, that's something what's peculiar to each destination so you have to make choices based on your vacation preference what you're looking for because Barcelo Maya did offer different pros instead: * a direct opportunity to snorkel and explore the wildlife right off the beach (and many animals like iguanas living within hotel premises) * many different bars and restaurants to choose from (with excellent quality and service) * another level of hospitality - not a single negative encounter with any of the hotel employees throughout out stay * the vast variety of options available in terms of activities within the hotel Would I visit again? I would, as it was an enjoyable vacation in Barcelo Maya Tropical.

I stayed with 10 family members and the Barcelo catered to everyone - ages 6-80! We were all able to find activities that suited us!