Riviera Maya Oct 2008

Hotel inspection Riviera Maya October 2008
Brenda Bader
Carol Flanigan

Barceló Maya Palace-
Beautiful resort with impressive art work throughout. Located on the far end of the other 6 Barceló properties which all share a beautiful crescent moon shaped beach.
Property has many pools, one for activities, one for children, and one for adults. One of the nicest kids clubs with a large pool with slides, etc. for the kids.
It has 3 specialty restaurants a Brazilian, French and Caribbean as well as the buffet. The specialty restaurants require reservations and are open for dinner only. All located in one area.
Very large rooms, 700 in the Palace and a total of all 2741 for all the Barceló properties.

FYI- the Barceló Beach is being renovated and will reopen 12/1/08 and well at the Barceló Caribe which just reopened 11/28/08.

Sandos Playacar- 460 rooms. They offer the Select program which is an upgrade and gives you a secure spot on the beach as well as your own pool. The newest buildings are located the farthest from the ocean. The beach is very nice, but not too large.
They offer villas which have 8 units in each building and each building has one small pool if you have families or friends that want their own area.
From the lobby to the beach is about a 15 minute walk, but the offer shuttles that come around the property and pick up and drop off at the old lobby. From there it is still another 7 minute walk to the beach.
The rooms were a pleasant surprise. They are very large and clean. The bathrooms are huge and very modern. Great 3 star property.

Sandos Caracol-999 rooms and again from the lobby to the beach is a long walk. The Select Club units are the farthest from the beach. However, it does have its own very large swimming pool next to this area. The room has a stocked bar, etc. and the standard rooms are small and in the need of renovation. The offer garden view rooms with a Jacuzzi with the same amenities and offers a king bed but again, need renovation. From the Select Club rooms you would walk past the lobby through the common area where most of the restaurants are located, then into another section before you get to the beach. A good 15 minute walk. (The property hosts 7 Senotes.) The units closest to the beach are very nice. The Select Club has its own beach area with chairs and bar. Again, this is a good 3 star property.

Catalonia- 3 restaurants all ala cart (one not included in the all inclusive package)
And 1 buffet. Surrounded by mangroves it is set up with the lobby about a 10 minutes walk to the beach. Only has one large pool. The rooms are now being completely redone and the new rooms will be very nice. But, be aware that the superior rooms have a balcony but the balcony has a 6 foot wall across it and you cannot see anything. This is due to the structure of the building. The newest building a done to request for your clients would be building 6 and is the closest to the beach.. This property was originally owned by and Italian company and they have many Italian clients. It was purchased by a Spanish company last year but they kept their Italian chef. The resort is built to be eco friendly and they have 2 Biologist who come every month to check on the flora and fauna and the critters. One of the Biologist lives on the property. It has 404 rooms of which 24 are superior and 376 are standard. They are upgrading the furniture in the rooms but they are not changing the bathrooms in the superior category and they do need work. Also, the superior rooms are the walled decks. None of the buildings have elevators. Opened in 2000. Has a small Kids Club, not very large and only open 930 – 1230 and 3p – 5p daily.

Maroma Beach an Orient Express property- Is 13 years old and written up all the time in Travel and Leisure, Conde Nast, and Forbes. It has 65 rooms and suites and is adults only. The rates include transfers, breakfast daily and 1 snorkle trip to the reef. The have a very large wine selection. The property is small and beautiful. The rooms very spacious and the bath tubs are made for 2. Their beach is not large but very nice. All meals are served with china and table cloths. This resort is classified at a 6 star. It is small and very little to do on site, but very romantic.

Iberostar Pariaso-This is one absolutely magnificent property. I would rate it a 6 star. It is part of the Iberostar Grand Collection. The attention to detail throughout the property is unsurpassed. It has marble floors, gold leafed furniture, a Sistine Chapel type ceiling. The detail doesn’t stop when it comes to the rooms and continues out to the balconies where they have teak floors!
The rooms are large and beautifully done with 310 junior suites. There are 2 buildings with all ocean view or ocean front rooms. They stock the mini bars with your choice of premium liquors. There is Butler Service in all rooms. The rate includes 18 holes of golf with a 3 night stay and 2 rounds with 5 nights or longer stay.
They have 10 Honeymoon Suites that are beautiful. They are not on the beach, but are tucked in a quiet area of the property. The suites are extremely large with the largest bathrooms I’ve ever seen and it also has an outdoor shower. They have a private door for room service so you won’t be bothered. Each has their own courtyard with a bed and a small pool. (I felt the pool could have been done to be more inviting. It’s just a rectangle in the ground), and a Jacuzzi.
The hotel is located on a beautiful beach but they do not have chairs on the beach.


Marina El Cid- This is another great property and is 2 ½ years old. It is also a RCI Time share, which they are trying to fade out. The time shares units are spread throughout the resort. They offer 350 rooms: luxury rooms, family rooms, and 1, 2 & 3 bedroom units. There is a Jacuzzi in the Spa Suite. They have 2 tennis courts on the roof. They offer 42 different wines in the all-inclusive feature. They offer special children’s menus. They are suppose to have gourmet food and are know for this. The hotel is located right next to the marina so you don’t have to go far to rent water equipment or go deep sea fishing.
They are in the process of redoing their spa and making it bride friendly; an area for her to get ready, as well as her entourage.
The ground are broken down into the right side of the property is for family and the left side is for adults. The have a kids club open from 9am to 9pm. They have free wireless throughout the resort. The beach has beach beds and hammocks.
If they stay in the Premium rooms for 3 nights they can get a free wedding package. They can handle up to 100 people for weddings. www.elcid.com/weddings

The junior suites offer kitchettes with many connecting rooms. There are Murphy beds in many of the junior suites, family suites and can sleep up to 8 people. They do not guarantee connecting rooms during high season.
The resort also offers the Mega Pass:
MEGA PASSThe Mega Pass includes the following: $35.00 USD credit towards purchasing the Cancun Shopping Tour, $30.00 USD credit towards massage services at Cocay Spa, $30.00 USD credit towards green fees at Mayan Palace Golf course(must be purchased at hotels front desk, transportation not included), $55.00 USD credit towards purchasing Catamaran Shore Cruise, $20.00 USD credit towards purchasing Tulum Xel-Ha Tour, $20.00 USD credit towards purchasing Chichen Itza Tour, $110.00 USD credit towards Hotel room upgrades.