Barcelo Maya Beach Hotel

Barcelo Maya Colonial All Inclusive Resort – Family Vacation Review We recently spent a 6-night family vacation at the Barceló Maya Colonial All Inclusive Resort, traveling as a group of 15 people (7 adults and 8 kids). We stayed in the Premium Ocean Front Junior Suite, which included Premium Level benefits, and overall we had a fantastic experience. Resort Grounds – 10/10 The property is absolutely massive, beautifully maintained, and exceptionally clean. One of the biggest advantages is that guests staying at the Colonial also have access to the Colonial, Tropical, Caribe, and Beach resorts. Since all four resorts are connected and very similar in layout and amenities, there was always something to explore without ever feeling crowded. The landscaping, pools, walkways, and common areas are all immaculate. Premium Level Benefits – 10/10 Upgrading to the Premium Level was well worth it. Our stay included: * Ocean Front Junior Suite accommodations * Premium wristbands * Pre-booked specialty restaurant reservations throughout our stay * Premium name-brand alcoholic beverages * Complimentary airport lounge access at Cancun International Airport These added perks made our vacation much more enjoyable and stress-free. Dining & Customer Service – 6/10 Overall The quality of the food was good, but the biggest disappointment was the restaurant seating arrangements. Since we were a large group of 15, we expected some flexibility with seating. Unfortunately, the restaurants only used fixed tables for 2, 4, or 6 guests, and staff generally would not allow tables to be rearranged or even move an extra chair from one table to another. As a result, our family had to split up during nearly every meal, which took away from the experience of dining together on vacation. The one shining exception was Carlos Cardenas, the manager at the Colonial Buffet. Carlos went above and beyond every single day to accommodate our family and make our vacation memorable. His professionalism, kindness, and genuine desire to help truly stood out. He represents exactly what excellent customer service should look like. Carlos Cardenas: 10/10 Everyone else we dealt with regarding seating was unfortunately much less accommodating. General restaurant service: 4/10 Beach – 9/10 The beach is beautiful with clear turquoise water, but where you enter the water makes a big difference. If you want a sandy, rock-free entrance, head to the section directly in front of the Tropical Resort. It was by far the nicest area for swimming. Seaweed depends entirely on weather conditions. During calm days, the water was clean with little to no seaweed. On days with stronger waves, more seaweed washed ashore. During our six-day stay, only one day had noticeable seaweed, so it really wasn’t a major issue. Final Rating – 9.2/10 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ The Barceló Maya Colonial exceeded our expectations. The beautiful grounds, Premium Level benefits, spacious resort complex, and excellent beach made for an unforgettable family vacation. The only area that needs significant improvement is restaurant seating flexibility for larger families and groups. Allowing tables or chairs to be rearranged would greatly improve the dining experience. A special thank you to Carlos Cardenas at the Colonial Buffet for making our stay exceptional. Employees like Carlos are the reason guests return year after year. His outstanding customer service deserves recognition. We would absolutely return to the Barceló Maya Colonial and would highly recommend it to families looking for a beautiful all-inclusive resort in the Riviera Maya.

We just arrived at the hotel; we booked it because it is supposed to be all-inclusive. But really, most of the attractions and activities have an additional cost, when they are generally included in hotel stays. Initially, they tell us that we do not have the right to specialty dinners a la carte; it is only after the third night of stay (we booked it for 2 nights). So it is not all-inclusive, and it is also conditioned on how many nights you stay, which determines your rights. The slides are not included, room service is not included, etc. In addition, they did not send us to a room further away because there were no more available. To top it off, upon arriving at the room (everything is very old), I find that the toilet is disgustingly dirty. Terrible attention from all the staff, starting from when you are received at the entrance by the police officers. As if they were doing us a favor by receiving us. Everything was super horrible. What an unfortunate experience. Horrible since one arrives at this hotel. I do not recommend it at all. Do not come!

Before our arrival, they sent us a welcome email asking about our needs and anticipating the reservation of a dinner at the specialty restaurant. This set good expectations for the hotel and service. Upon arriving at the hotel, the treatment was always friendly, and they gave us the room before the scheduled time, around 12 PM. They gave us an upgrade to a junior suite. The rooms were clean, and the jacuzzis were impeccable. In the room, we had all the amenities we could need and more. We were celebrating our 13th wedding anniversary, and they sent us chocolate-covered strawberries and a delicious sparkling white wine. At the pool bar, the bartenders were always friendly, following our drink requests, and at the Italian restaurant (Capri), the food was delicious, especially the summer reds. If you truly want to have a good time, do not hesitate to go to this hotel; they make you feel pampered and special. We will return in September with more family and more nights. Thank you for this wonderful experience, Barceló.