Barceló Maya Colonial - All Inclusive

perfect resort for families with young children!

We had a good time at the resort overall, especially when it came to relaxing by the water. The property is very large, with plenty of space to swim in the pools or ocean and lots of room to lounge by the beach or poolside. The beach itself was excellent; the water was crystal clear and we were able to see plenty of fish very close to shore, which made swimming there a highlight of our stay. There is no shortage of activities, with options like tennis, pickleball, a bowling alley, go-karting, and a casino, and we also enjoyed the nightly live shows at the theater. On the downside, the whole property felt somewhat dated, especially the rooms. Even though the beds were advertised as queen size, our room had two twin beds, and when we requested a king, the only option offered was a ground-floor room, despite having paid for a superior category. Service around restaurant reservations was also frustrating: there was only one person handling bookings for the à la carte restaurants, which led to a very long line, and by the time it was our turn, there were no spots left for any night of our stay. The buffet food was very mediocre; over four days, not a single dish stood out or felt memorable. If your priority is simply to relax at a beautiful beach and enjoy the pools and you are not too concerned about food quality, you will likely not be disappointed here.

Stayed Dec 21–29 and had an awesome week. Room was cleaned well every day and the whole place is super tidy. The beach is gorgeous - soft sand, clear water - and we ended up walking a ton because the resort is big but easy to get around. Pools were clean and never felt packed; plenty of chairs and a fun swim-up bar. Staff were friendly everywhere (check-in, restaurants, housekeeping). Lots of food options and the bar was well-stocked - good wine and solid spirits, not just the basics. We felt safe on the property and beach the whole time. Only heads-up: it’s a large complex, so expect some walking. Overall, excellent stay and great value -would happily come back :-)

99% of the staff do not speak English. Half of Our group of 19 got food poisoning Open buffet; the food is recycled and clearly not fresh . Issues with the smell of the washroom of the lobby smelled like throw up. No proper first aid kit and no one to communicate with due to language barrier. The room was nice and clean The landscape and the beach are excellent.