Last December, my wife and I went to Riviera Maya, Mexico to attend the grand opening of the 5-star all-inclusive adults-only Barcelo resort. We had the honor to witness the raising of the Mexican flag while the military pridefully sang the national anthem and the local priest blessed the new venue. We were an awe by the spectacular welcome, particularly to be greeted and attended by the friendly warm staff. We were ready to get our vacation started!
Our room was meant to transport us to a modern paradise of calming beige and pristine white hues. This luxury resort, perfect for couples, has 850 fully equipped junior suites rooms with hot tubs in the balcony, offering views of the turquoise Caribbean ocean or serene emerald gardens. Our premium-level room, which you can book for, was uniquely positioned in the first floor with a swim-up pool. Tranquility at its best. On our first day, before heading out of our rooms to grab a bite to eat, I opened a chilled Dos Equis from the free minibar while my wife sipped from the sparkling house wine. The sunsets from our room was a spectacular site. Salud to that!
For food, the resort has a myriad of options. From decadent buffets with local and international cuisines to a gastronomic variety of a-la-carte restaurants, including La Comedie (French), Dolce Vita (Italian), Sapporo (Japanese), and of course, La Hacienda (Mexican). We personally liked La Comedie. Make sure to try the crème brulee!
When my wife and I weren’t soaking up sun on the white sand beach or I wasn’t sipping a Chivas on the rocks by one of the 4 pools, we were enjoying the resort facilities and entertainment options. We were fascinated by the joyous dolphins at the 10-minute Dolphinarium show (presented every day at noon). There is also the option of swimming with the dolphins, at an additional cost. After dinner, we would attend the show-of-the-evening. We particularly enjoyed the international show, presenting folklore dances in colorful costumes from all over Latin America. Although we ran out of time to enjoy the U-Spa facilities, we took a peak and saw an image of heaven. Definitely worth checking out.
As part of this resort, we also had access to 6 other hotels in the Barcelo Maya Grand Resort complex, where we ventured out to check out the scene of other restaurants, bars, pools, and entertainment shows. We were able to move around the hotel by walking or taking the free shuttle bus which runs every 3 minutes within the hotel. I wanted to get my steps in, but when my wife was tired, we opted for the easy breezy shuttle option.
In 3 days, we recharged, connected with nature, and enjoyed each other’s company amid the fabulous amenities. We definitely recommend this resort to our clients. We are already dreaming about going back! If you would like to take your children with you, you still have the option to enjoy this incredible complex by staying at the 5-star Barcelo Maya Palace or the 4-star Barcelo Maya Complex. We hope you'll find time after quarantine to detach yourself from being indoors and your everyday routine. We all need a much needed break from covid-19.
You deserve it! Book your next dream vacation with us!
