Barceló Maya Tropical

Stayed for 14 nights late September early October. We were in the Yucatan building,first floor. The room was a little tired ,but exceptionally clean , and everything worked. The staff were uniformly friendly and helpful(and smiling). The food was fantastic,with a great spread of different cuisines. We had 8 a la cartes during our stay ,we didn't have any difficulty booking up for any of them. We found the buffet restaurant at the Caribe to have the biggest range of tasty food ( our thanks to Maria and Alfredo). We breakfasted at the Tropical buffet ( beautiful omelettes Adriana) The swim up bar at Tropical was great( thanks Leonardo and Jose) We lunched at the El Palmira beach restaurant ( special thanks to Isias ,great service) It was a pleasure to wander around the series of hotels and to relax in the different bars and restaurants. The hotel grounds were immaculate,and the gardeners were doing a fine job. We intend to visit this hotel again next year,we wholeheartedly recommend it.

We stayed in the Maya Tropical hotel from 3 Oct - 14 October. We stayed in room 7251 on the second floor in the Yucatan. The room was massive with everything you needed and had a lovely view of the garden and 5 minute walk to the pool and the beach. Food in the restaurants is really good with something for everyone. Out of the special restaurants the Kyoto is was my favourite. Plenty pools and you can always get a sun bed whatever time of the day it was.You can play volley ball, do aqua aerobics, Zumba , yoga classes round the pool or just sit back and relax. WiFi is available between 10.00 -13.00 in the Maya mall daily. The Maya Mall has a good selection of shops and purchase can be charged to your room and just settle up on your last day. Strikers Bar is open 24/7 and you can get snacks., drinks etc. You can also play tenpin bowling, it’s has big screen Tv’s with all major sports channels and a small selection of gaming machines. If you are not good on your feet you can catch the bus round the resort. Best waiter was my mate Marco Dzul Hau, if you go in the lobby bar say hi, he makes the best cocktails. Weather was good, we did have some rain but don’t let that spoil your holiday just get in the pool it only last 5 mins and it’s still really hot.

Second time to this resort & it is my favorite place I’ve been on vacation. The staff is great and very accommodating. Excursions to ruins and jungle adventures booked through the hotel were safe and very nice.

Too expensive for the poor good and service. Most of the food is bland so you just find the couple things that taste okay and end up eating those the whole time. We were not given colonial as we booked, they put us in tropical. Fridge was not restocked, and out was like pulling teeth to get bottled water from anyone. Most drinks are mixed poorly. Beach and pool were great. If you want to eat bacon all week and drink maitais (one of the only drinks they seem to mix properly) then you'll be ok. Our 3 year old loved the kids pool/play area. With so many other options I would about Barcelo got anything other than hanging out in the pool and beach and drinking. Not a well rounded experience for family trips.

This review is for the Barceló Maya Tropical. This was my 6th time at the Barceló Maya Grand Resort; it was my Husband's 4th time. We return annually when we can, first and foremost because of the outstanding service and friendliness of the Staff, plus the amazingly private and long beach (spans 5 hotels wide!) lined with mature palm trees with tons of lounge seating, and endless ocean views of blue waters over white sand that doesn't get hot under your feet (coral sand!); for the resort's comprehensive accommodations which, with 5 hotels in one complex and the variety of rooms to choose from, there is something for everyone's wishes and budget, and the amount and quality of the amenities offered are beyond what we've seen elsewhere; for their affordability (it is the best deal we have found so far on our travels to this area!); central location to attractions/parks/historical sites. The Barceló Maya Tropical is one of the hotels we usually pick to stay at in this resort, for its Mexican flare, expansive beach and its views, central location within the resort to access amenities and we even know a lot of the Staff there by name!! We feel the Barceló Maya Tropical offers a great bargain for the price, within the resort. We usually stay 9 nights at an Oceanfront Junior Suite, and pick 2 different tours. Other than the tours (which we secure through the resort as we get the best price and they oversee the tour coordination: pick-up and drop-off and we have thoroughly enjoyed every one of them! We thank Ricardo and Andrés Becerra for their Tour set-up assistance every year), we prefer to stay at the resort and enjoy everything it has to offer, as the Junior Suite offers the Premium status which activates additional benefits and conveniences (including pillow menu and daily access to the U Spa's luxurious hydro circuit!). The Staff there set the bar high when it comes to customer service: the Managers and Employees take great pride in reaching out to guests and assisting them with their needs, and pampering them whenever possible. I have seen them All go Above and Beyond to make our Family feel like a Royal Family, seriously!!! To this regard, I must mention that in one of my two 2016 trips there (yes, I was extremely blessed to have gone there twice that year: once with my Husband and once with my Mom as he couldn't come), where my Mother and I traveled as a surprise trip for her upcoming 85th birthday (which we were going to celebrate as if it were her "Quinceañera" as she never had one growing up - in the Hispanic culture, a Quinceañera is the 15th birthday party for a young lady, equivalent to Sweet 16). She thought we were traveling to Georgia (or so we told her), until we landed in the Cancún airport!! The Managers, Chefs and Staff at Tropical Buffet Restaurant as well as the Palmeras and Mariachi Grills and the Waiting Staff treated my Mother to a Daily Birthday Celebration at a breakfast table they reserved for her every morning with fresh garden flowers!!! They sang her Happy Birthday (Mexican version) and treated us to a birthday gourmet cake and even showcased their napkin-folding art, in the shape of a rose!!! They surprised her in her room with fresh local flowers and treats various nights. This amazing surprise treatment was orchestrated by Managers Giovanni Olivo, Jesus Rosales, Carlos Arguello, Genaro Gonzalez, Denisse Briones, Alejandro Valderrama, Susy Yamín Hernández, Onésimo Mayorga, Laura Guillen, Pedro Cortez, Damaris - Executive Secretary, Chef Gilberto Navarro, Chef Alfredo Medina, Carlos Tah (culinary sculptor), Héctor Angeles; Buffet Stations Staff: Julio Rivera, Jorge Chan, Adriana Martínez and I'm sure there were other wonderful Managers and Employees who also collaborated on this through our stay, and we are Most grateful to everyone for this; and among the amazing Waiting Staff who spoiled us back then singing to my Mom, and every time we go to these restaurants are: Alfredo Tinah Quetzal, Noé López, María Díaz (Tequila Bar), David Guerrero, Luis Tuk, Loida, Alejandro Calvo, Guadalupe García, Flora Delgado Mercedes (Palmeras Grill), Javier Espinoza González, Vanesa Jiménez López, etc. all very generous with smiles. That trip was during Mexican Independence Day week (September 2016) and there were a myriad of festivities celebrating the Mexican holiday all week long (tons of yummy guacamole and Mariachi presentations, as well as Mayan dances, parties, etc.), which luckily my Mom and I got to enjoy to the fullest. Chef Xavier Pérez Stone spoiled her during his Culinary show and gourmet meal at the México Lindo Restaurant within the resort. Everywhere we went, it's like the Staff knew we were there for a special celebration for her and treated her with such love as that of a child to their Mother. After that excellent meal at México Lindo, we headed back to watch the traditional speech by the Mexican President, which was to be televised at the Theatre; it was a long way for me to push my Mom's wheelchair (which the Resort kindly lent us so she wouldn't have to walk long distances, as the resort is quite large), and as I was about to go up one ramp, Alejandro Sánchez from the Entertainment Team from one of the other hotels in the resort (Beach or Caribe), who was on his way out after his shift, spotted us and didn't hesitate for a second: he took over my Mom's wheelchair, directing us through a shortcut until he delivered us at the Theatre. It is treatment like this, where people literally go out of their way after a long day of work (and they All work Very hard...), to help their guests or make their stay spectacular, that brings us back each year. Suffice to say that my Mother was So happy with every aspect of this trip, her health immediately bloomed to the point where, other than that occasion, she never really used the wheelchair again, nor did she need any arthritis medication (and that's saying a Lot)!!! During that trip my Mom symbolically adopted all the Barceló Staff who tended to her. She lovingly calls them her Barceló Children. When my Husband and I return, Staff ask about her all the time! If I could have made it possible for her to stay there forever (and us with her), we would have. In fact, I love this resort so much I have seriously thought I wish I could work with them and move down there!!! :) On our latest trip in June, I wish to also add a new name to our list of wonderful Managers, Roberto Vázquez (Food and Beverage Manager). He had only been on the job some months, but he took great care of my Husband and I anytime we visited the Tropical Buffet Restaurant, and enjoyed hearing about all the great stories from past visits. Here's wishing he has a long and successful career with the Barceló Family! A Big shout out goes to Mexico Lindo Restaurant and their Staff, as this specialty restaurant is our favorite. My Husband and I Love it so much, we Always make it our first stop the day we arrive...it's a family tradition now. Over the years we have had wonderful servers, beginning (and continuing every year, believe it or not) with Alberto Pech Nah; his detailed knowledge of the menu and elegant professionalism really impressed us the first year and we've been lucky to have him every year since then. This year Lety Cruz was his partner, and their attention to detail is incredible. As Alberto and us recognized each other, I was so overwhelmed with joy, I went to hug him and knocked over my water glass (bathing my Husband in the process!); Lety hurried to clean everything and replace all for us on the table that had been affected, all with a warm smile; I was So embarrassed and yet both Lety and Alberto were so welcoming and kind about it!! They left the table looking like new again! Alberto was so happy to see us again and introduced us to Lety; we felt like we were seeing Family again. The dinner was nothing short of spectacular, especially for my Husband, who is American and loves discovering more of his favorite cuisine: Mexican. He is always surprised with a new dish there and this time it was "Cochinita pibil" and the Three tacos specialty plate which was a huge hit with him, so Alberto and Lety brought us a second helping! We cannot say enough about all the food we enjoyed that night. The meats, the sauces, the tortillas, and the desserts, were exquisite. We even took pictures of our plates and of course, we took a few pictures with our Star Waiting Staff, Alberto and Lety. The ambiance is that of an elegant Hacienda and it is such a romantic place as well. However, the most important factor for us in going back every time is the warm feeling of being home away from home, which the Staff excels at in this restaurant. We also want to mention Sergio Hernández and Salvador, who have also been great at taking care of us on a subsequent visit. We highly recommend this restaurant to anyone going to the resort and hopefully it's everyone's first stop as well. Our next favorite restaurant is Capri - Chef Matteo Ruggeri delighted us with his creation and we got to chat with him for a bit; he along with the Waiters who kindly served us that day, Manuel Reyes and Ek López, were so personable and we felt transported to Italy for a while. We have enjoyed visiting other specialty restaurants as well, including Tokyo restaurant in the Maya Mall of the resort, which we greatly enjoyed for the fantastic show the Chef's put on as well as the decor and definitely the tasty food. There are so many great features about this hotel: it has something for the whole family (all ages, including my Mom!). The hydro circuit in the U Spa is amazing! It is luxurious in the amenities it offers and having a Staff guiding your experience through the circuit makes it so much more enjoyable as they tell you how to get the most out of it. We made it a point to try to go every day when we could, with our premium level free daily access. One of my favorite places (aside from the beach and extensive pools) is the Gym. It is fantastic, equipped with an area for group classes/stretching, as well as machines of all kinds and dumb bells. The Staff there is very knowledgeable about all the equipment and the class instructors are highly trained. Big shout out to Javier, our Zumba Instructor (he also teaches a variety of classes), whose class I attended every single day. He makes it a lot of fun as he's very enthusiastic (he really shows he loves what he does) and is an excellent teacher. He got me back on track and when I got home I continued going to the gym. Thanks, Javier! Too bad we couldn't take a picture with him; next time we hope to do so. It was so cool to find out he and I come from the same city, Torreón. I felt right at home. I highly recommend the gym and the Zumba classes for men and women; you'll have a blast (and won't feel guilty about enjoying the wonderful food in the buffets and restaurants!). We also send a Big Hug to the Entertainment Team that works all day around the swimming pools offering daily activities; I've tried most of them and I'm addicted to the Zumba class by the pool (this was in place before the Gym had a Zumba class too...now there are 2 great dance options to enjoy each day!); I also greatly enjoy the stretching class in the morning and the water aerobics. The Entertainment Team works extra hard; every year we visit, they get better and better. Big shout out to Esteban, who was previously a Star of this Team, an excellent dance instructor, and now is assisting the resort in the Registration administrative duties. Best wishes on his new position!!! Also starring are Nash, Emy, Tomás, Alexander, Angel, Fernando, Tony, Bryan, Oscar, David, Cinthia and Zuly and Simona, among others. It's a very friendly, active and fun team that keep everyone involved in good cheer and great exercise throughout the day. I always look forward to seeing them on every trip. My Husband and I made it also a tradition to do a walk around the entire outer perimeter of the resort every morning; it's a couple miles long and you safely walk on the sidewalk. Along the way, you have garden scenery, get to see portions of the other hotels within the resort and their pools, as well as walk a long way along the beach side. It's great to have music accompanying us along the beach side with the built-in speakers on the sidewalks. The hotel looks pristine all the time with the continuous work of many Staff all over the facilities, who clean it and it really shows nicely!!! Kudos for that awesome job!! The rooms are very well-appointed, comfortable and the balconies are great for enjoying nice views (whether garden or pool/oceanfront), and it's a nice treat to have the drinks and snacks in the junior suite resupplied every day (Side note: the spicy peanuts are awesome!! Keep them on the inventory, please!). Also, huge thanks to our Lifeguards, including Jorge Arreola, who was super nice when I approached him with some questions on this last trip. I've seen them training before (it's an exhausting training), so thank you for your efforts to keep everyone safe!! I've also been assisted by another lifeguard on a prior trip, when I caused myself a painful blister (dancing barefoot on concrete) and he guided me so I could heal faster. I'm afraid I don't have his name unfortunately. My Husband, my Mom and I have so many people to thank here, the list is endless. I do want to mention our gratitude to all the following at least: Maria Diaz (Tequila Bar)- María is a person my Husband and I always look to find as she has been a Real delight on every trip since we met her. She definitely spoils us and is great company. Her smile is unsurpassed and contagious! Arriba María!!! :) Araceli Romero and Keyla - Room cleaning Perla and Edna - Registration María de la Cruz, Jessica, Gladys, Victoria and Anai, Andrea Arias, Janette Amador- Premium Registration Lupita Sosa - Tropical Victor Montiel - super sweet every time we see him! Bellboy team Henry and Abraham - Bellboys Diego Chaparro and Salvador Pinto - Tropical Wet Bar Recommendations for Guests visiting the Resort: - You may wish to bring your body washcloth as it's our understanding the one provided by the hotel is intended as a facial washcloth and once used, it might not be replaced by the cleaning crew. I don't know what the policy is nowadays in this regard. - It may be helpful to bring a small fan if you like to cancel any potential outside noise (night-time shows are professionally done and lively in the Theaters, so depending on room location, you may hear more of it from 9-11 pm). We've never been bothered by this, however, you may also want to bring an extension cord, as the only outlet in the oceanfront junior suites we've tried is behind the sofa, a bit far from the bed. -Pick the top floor to avoid noise from above floors. To be kind to the floors below, please don’t drag the desk chair. -Ensure your balcony door is very well shut so A/C can function properly. -Bring water shoes (or you can buy some nice ones at the resort, as I did on the first year and still have them), as there is a lot of coral in the ocean floor (not on the beach, though, so you can walk comfortably) and it can be sharp. However, you will love the water temperature and once you're in you can stay for hours, like we do. -If you plan to wear sunglasses in the sea, remember it can be calm one day and a bit rough the next, so make sure they're secure (I lost a pair on a surprise tumble once). -Be prepared to see "Sargasso" (marine algae) appear any given day and know that the resort does an excellent job at working all night (quietly) to clean the beach of any algae that may accumulate. This is a natural phenomenon that is affecting different beaches around the world, so if you see it, just push it to the side; it's harmless. -Look for Coatis (cute shy critters that sometimes roam the hotel at night and climb the palm trees). They are harmless, very cool and will add to the trip enjoyment. The Iguanas like to sunbathe and they gather peacefully throughout the gardens, are great to watch, but don’t put your fingers near them. -If possible, tip the staff wherever you can; although this is an all-inclusive resort and tipping is not expected, kindly remember they work very hard to make your stay very enjoyable and a little kindness goes a long way, especially in US dollars. :) -Practice your Spanish at the resort. The employees and locals really appreciate when guests try to speak Spanish and will even offer to teach you more vocabulary if you'd like. -If you’re a repeat guest, they will keep track of your visits, and you can get greater discounts and be notified of deals. The staff will likely also know you by name. -Explore the attractions/tours offered by the resort Staff (there are some agencies that also offer their services/packages within the resort), but we feel we get the best deal directly from Barceló tour sales Staff. There are a Lot of attractions in the area and thousands of cenotes (swimming holes, usually in caves) to explore. Each one is unique. You will never be bored. Just across the street outside the resort, there's a few cenotes you can swim in (separate fee). - We try to do our shopping within the resort at their Plaza Mexicana (Mexican Plaza) which is a compilation of stores and stands from different vendors offering all types of arts, crafts, clothing, souvenirs, jewelry, etc. That way, we get all our shopping done quickly, walk our purchases back to the room, and are ready to enjoy the resort! Over the years we have bought all kinds of items for Family and ourselves (from a multi-person hammock to embroidered purses, silver jewelry, hand-blown wine glasses, knit dresses, embroidered table runners, stone sculptures, paintings, alebrije wooden carvings, ceramic wall décor, Cigars -after buying them at different venues, we found the best price for Cigars at "Mayan Paradise" store within the Mexican Plaza!-, etc.). A resort can be located in a gorgeous setting with the perfect beach, have the best amenities to offer and exquisite food and drink, but it's the Employees who really make it what it is. I hope the Management continues to offer this wonderful welcoming service to tourists, but most of all, I hope they will take Great care of their Staff and develop their individual talents...they're their most valuable treasure!!! Over the years we have become unofficial spokesmen for the Barceló Maya Grand Resort (and for the Tropical hotel within it), telling Family, Friends, Neighbors and Colleagues (even strangers!) about our wonderful experiences at the resort, and already our Neighbors across the street went this year on their first trip ever to México to this Barceló resort!! Needless to say, they were so very impressed at their return, that within a few days they told us they had already booked their trip for next year! Thank you for the opportunity to thank the Barceló Staff again for the once a year dream trip you have helped make a reality; it is the highlight of our year. We pray that we can continue to visit the resort in the coming years, as it is now a Family Tradition. Keep up the Outstanding work and may God bless you All!!! P.S. Mamá sends her love to All her Barceló Children!