Barcelo Bavaro Palace Deluxe (DR) vs. Barcelo Maya (Mayan Riviera)...opinions please.
- Thread starter busy mom
- Start date
We stayed at the barcelo maya palace in the Mayan riviera a few years ago and absolutely loved it. Beautiful clean resort. Very nice for families. The entire complex is composed of rice resorts of different values and amenities. The palace is the top resort and if you stay there you can used any facility at any resort. Are there specifics you would like to know?
shoney
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- Apr 4, 2005
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I've only stayed in the one in Mexico.....
we stayed at the Barcelo Maya Palace almost 5 years ago.
the complex consists of 5 properties, with the palace being the most upscale. You get top shelf liquor and it is served in the appropriate plasticware
and not little plastic dixie cups. It is beautiful and the beach is awesome.
You have access to the other properties. there is lots to do and a little water park playground for those under 12.
Cons of the Barcelo compared to other AI's:
you need reservations for dinner. they weren't easy to come by.
very large...con to us!
no palapas on the beach...but I understand the palm trees have grown!
no beach grill...you can only eat inside a restaurant...no nachos on the beach
Personally, I didn't care for the other properties. I liked the look of the palace. If it is in the budget I would look into the Palace.
If you have any ???, I'll try to answer what my memory allows!
we stayed at the Barcelo Maya Palace almost 5 years ago.
the complex consists of 5 properties, with the palace being the most upscale. You get top shelf liquor and it is served in the appropriate plasticware
and not little plastic dixie cups. It is beautiful and the beach is awesome.You have access to the other properties. there is lots to do and a little water park playground for those under 12.
Cons of the Barcelo compared to other AI's:
you need reservations for dinner. they weren't easy to come by.
very large...con to us!
no palapas on the beach...but I understand the palm trees have grown!
no beach grill...you can only eat inside a restaurant...no nachos on the beach
Personally, I didn't care for the other properties. I liked the look of the palace. If it is in the budget I would look into the Palace.
If you have any ???, I'll try to answer what my memory allows!
An_Island_Girl
DIS Veteran
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- May 29, 2008
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- 908
Do you remember any of the Kids activities? We stay at the Iberostar Maya, and love the kids club and the childrens theater at night. Is there anything comperable for kids at the Barcelo?
Did you feel like Club Premium guests were treated better, or is a reg room at the Palace OK?
Thank you, we always end up at the same place, but are looking to maybe venture out.
Did you feel like Club Premium guests were treated better, or is a reg room at the Palace OK?
Thank you, we always end up at the same place, but are looking to maybe venture out.
shoney
DIS Veteran
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- Apr 4, 2005
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- 3,912
We did book Club Premium. The rooms are exactly the same....large and pretty!
The location is different. CP room are the ones facing the ocean. Much more convenient than some that are located in the back. When we went, CP guest were entitled to an alacarte meal each night. (that may have changed though)
My kids were almost 7 and almost 9 when we went. They loved the kids club. It was airconditioned and they like a break from the heat. It was a bit more casual than the one at Dreams. Kids could really play what they wanted and not have to stick to the schedule. They are no beepers to contact parents. You can use a house phone to call the center. For meals, they take them to the buffet. They also take them to the pool for swimming/games and the pool bar for drinks.
They had a talent show one night where the kids performed in the theatre.
As a palace guest, you have access to the entire complex so there is lots to do.
The pools didn't close until 10pm ,so we would go for an after dinner swim.
The beach is really the stand out here. We had fun swimming with the turtles right there!
It has been almost 5 years, so some of my info may be outdated.
I hope that helps!
The location is different. CP room are the ones facing the ocean. Much more convenient than some that are located in the back. When we went, CP guest were entitled to an alacarte meal each night. (that may have changed though)
My kids were almost 7 and almost 9 when we went. They loved the kids club. It was airconditioned and they like a break from the heat. It was a bit more casual than the one at Dreams. Kids could really play what they wanted and not have to stick to the schedule. They are no beepers to contact parents. You can use a house phone to call the center. For meals, they take them to the buffet. They also take them to the pool for swimming/games and the pool bar for drinks.
They had a talent show one night where the kids performed in the theatre.
As a palace guest, you have access to the entire complex so there is lots to do.
The pools didn't close until 10pm ,so we would go for an after dinner swim.
The beach is really the stand out here. We had fun swimming with the turtles right there!
It has been almost 5 years, so some of my info may be outdated.
I hope that helps!
Just went to Barcelo Maya Colonial this past July. LOVED IT! Checked out the Palace but didn't seem worth the extra $1,000 upgrade to stay there for the week. The Tropical/Colonial are a step down from Palace but just as beautiful. There were plenty of things for kids to do including a huge water park with slides the kids loved. All properties have a theater with nightly shows that were great! Any other question let me know.
platamama
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We stayed at the Barcelo Maya Beach (part of the whole complex, but in the more affordable part) in 2011, and had a wonderful time there with our then DD6.
Kid's Club was very casual and you didn't have to reserve a spot or anything, just come and go as you like. DD6 loved the bungee jumping (which was more like slingshotting), marble diving at the pool, and did some crafts. The pool is enormous and great for kids. It's not deep (~4 ft) so there's no diving but fine for playing around in. If you have kids who don't swim, you might want to bring some floaties.
Over by the Palace is some good snorkeling. I saw a French Angel, sea turtles, stingrays, guitarfish, and lots of ones I couldn't name. The coral is pretty beat up and colorless but there were lots of fish.
Over by the Palace one day was a photographer who had a couple squirrel monkeys with him, and he took photos of DD6 with the monkeys on her shoulders, with the ocean in the background. A couple of my most favorite pictures ever!! So we ponied up the money (can't recall if it was $15 or $30) for the CD (not an instant thing - we had to catch the shuttle from the Beach to the Palace and find the Kodak kiosk someplace inside the Palace in the evening). I heard they also had a lion cub on a different day, but it was after we left the resort.
The food is fine. I wouldn't say it was amazing, but it was fine given that it was buffet food. Everybody can find something they like to eat.
We ended up doing two excursions (Xcaret and Aktun Chen; both were worth it) while there, but we would've been fine just hanging there too. It was a trip that was both relaxing and fun. I'd go back there except I dislike doing the same thing twice.
There is a mini golf course there that we did one evening. There's a shopping plaza area where vendors are selling their wares, and on the evening we went they were having a "fiesta" with a little singing and dancing, and the kids got to smash a pinata. DD6 had a ball.
I don't know anything about the DR Barcelo, but I appreciated the direct and short flight to Cancun. DR is just that much further to go for us so I'm not sure I see that in our future unless we move.
Kid's Club was very casual and you didn't have to reserve a spot or anything, just come and go as you like. DD6 loved the bungee jumping (which was more like slingshotting), marble diving at the pool, and did some crafts. The pool is enormous and great for kids. It's not deep (~4 ft) so there's no diving but fine for playing around in. If you have kids who don't swim, you might want to bring some floaties.
Over by the Palace is some good snorkeling. I saw a French Angel, sea turtles, stingrays, guitarfish, and lots of ones I couldn't name. The coral is pretty beat up and colorless but there were lots of fish.
Over by the Palace one day was a photographer who had a couple squirrel monkeys with him, and he took photos of DD6 with the monkeys on her shoulders, with the ocean in the background. A couple of my most favorite pictures ever!! So we ponied up the money (can't recall if it was $15 or $30) for the CD (not an instant thing - we had to catch the shuttle from the Beach to the Palace and find the Kodak kiosk someplace inside the Palace in the evening). I heard they also had a lion cub on a different day, but it was after we left the resort.
The food is fine. I wouldn't say it was amazing, but it was fine given that it was buffet food. Everybody can find something they like to eat.
We ended up doing two excursions (Xcaret and Aktun Chen; both were worth it) while there, but we would've been fine just hanging there too. It was a trip that was both relaxing and fun. I'd go back there except I dislike doing the same thing twice.
There is a mini golf course there that we did one evening. There's a shopping plaza area where vendors are selling their wares, and on the evening we went they were having a "fiesta" with a little singing and dancing, and the kids got to smash a pinata. DD6 had a ball.
I don't know anything about the DR Barcelo, but I appreciated the direct and short flight to Cancun. DR is just that much further to go for us so I'm not sure I see that in our future unless we move.
One more thing........visiting this website should help in your decisions.
http://www.unofficial-barcelo-maya.com/site/
http://www.unofficial-barcelo-maya.com/site/
2manypets
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- Jan 28, 2005
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We stayed at the Maya Palace a few years ago. Snorkeling was a lot of fun, but you had to walk quite a ways to get the snorkel gear. If I remember correctly, the beach in front of the Palace was a bit rockier than the other resorts. The regular rooms were quite large and very nicely decorated. The resort has a lot of things going on for both children and adults. The food was just OK, but it was plentiful.
Also, if you stay at the Palace you get more TS restaurant entitlements and you can eat at any of the other resorts buffets or drink at their bars.
Also, if you stay at the Palace you get more TS restaurant entitlements and you can eat at any of the other resorts buffets or drink at their bars.
2minnies
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- Jun 25, 2001
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I will second that! Very helpful forum. We stayed at the Barcelo Maya Palace last Christmas and are returning in a few weeks.
shoney
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- 3,912
Loved that site when I was planning my trip!
One thing to keep in mind....it is a fan site, so it can be a bit one-sided. Kinda like getting Disney info on the Dis!
To confirm what another poster noted, if we book at Palace we can eat/drink at any of the resorts, however if we book at Beach/Caribe or Tropical/Colonial we can only eat/drink at those particular resorts?
That may be a show stopper for us. If we are visiting another resort area beach or pool, I want to be able to enjoy a snack or drink.
That may be a show stopper for us. If we are visiting another resort area beach or pool, I want to be able to enjoy a snack or drink.
Yes....staying at Palace gives you the rights to eat at any of the resorts. Staying at Tropical/Colonial gives you the rights to Beach/Caribe too. Staying at Beach/Caribe only allows you to eat/drink at their buffets. However, we had no problem getting a drink at the pool bar at the Palace as Colonial/Tropical guest. They aren't very strict apparently.
Dallas_Lady
I only work for the vacation money
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- Dec 20, 2001
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- 3,349
Bumping this... we are researching the Barcelo Maya for either this summer or next. Getting a little Disney'ed out if you can believe that
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