The Hotel Review: Maya Caribe, Mexico
Carretera Chetumal Puerto Juárez Km. 266,3 XPUHA Q 77750 Riviera Maya, Quintana Roo
Review: Val Jones
The 5* Barcelo Maya Caribe Hotel has 414 rooms and suites all with terrace, balcony or private swim up pool. This beach front hotel forms part of the Maya Grand Resort with its 2750 rooms and 20 Restaurants. Hotels across this resort interact with each other allowing guests a wide range of facilities to choose from. The Maya Caribe has a traditional feel with Mexican art and wonderful effigies of the Aztecs. We didn’t have to take many steps through the lobby before we came across the Maya Mall, a fun and vibrant entertainment and dining centre accessible to all five hotel in the resort. The main check-in desk is in the lobby but as we were All-Inclusive Premium guests we were escorted to the Premium lounge where cool drinks awaited us along with a personalised check-in service.
THE FACILITIES
multiple restaurants & bars | activities & entertainment programme | diving centre | bar and bowling alley | medical centre | chapel | water sports centre
The Maya Mall links closely with the Caribe, and hosts many shops, bars, restaurants, a night club and casino. The Mexican Bazaar is an area close by with quite a few traditional stalls and shops. Pirates Island Water Park & Surf Rider is also within this vicinity and it’s about the only facility that you will be charged for. The U-Spa is situated near the pool and beach area and has hydro pools and outside swimming pool with Jacuzzi jets. There is a daily dolphin show and a also chance to swim with the dolphins. There is a beach front walk which navigates the length of the resort and as an alternative, if you prefer the shade, there is a connecting walkway that runs through the centre of each hotel taking you to all the available internal bars and restaurants.
The swimming pool and children’s pool are situated adjacent to the beach and next to the Captain Morgan Bar which has with a daily entertainment programme. There are also plenty of sheltered areas with hammocks and sunbeds. We used the adult-only pool at the nearby Barcelo Beach Hotel on a couple of occasion, it was a five-minute stroll away, and to be honest this is the beauty of the resort you can essentially pick n’ mix on hotels and facilities to use.
THE ACCOMMODATION
Our Superior Swim Up Suite had all the wow factors. We had external patio doors leading to our private terrace area, with a full size hot tub, table and chairs, sun loungers and the fantastic private swim up pool. Private pool side waiter service was available from the Captain Morgan bar with drinks being brought to the edge of our pool. The suite décor was traditionally Mexican with dark wood furnishings, cream floor tiles and marble pillars splitting the bedroom area from the seating area which housed sofas terracotta sofas. Air conditioning is standard and other facilities included safety deposit box, robes and slippers plus a mini-bar, which having our own pool we found invaluable and this was filled daily, we could relax on our sunbeds without having to move very far unless we chose to.
THE DRINKS & DINING
Captain Morgan Grill & Pool Bar is a fun bar with options of buffet food at lunch times. We ate here on a couple of occasions and couldn’t fault the wide range of food on offer or the service. Lots going on around and about this pool bar with the entertainment team keeping guests busy with games for all the family. The Caribe Lounge Bar had beautiful outside seating with white and purple light up chairs – very quirky and a good atmosphere, it was also a place for families to chill and spend time together. La Funte Spanish Restaurant had a delicious salad bar and appetizers such as Bloody Mary Shots with Cockles, Russian Potato Salad with Mayonnaise, Farm Fresh Mediterranean Salad, Crunchy Baguette with Crab. The Lamb Chops with a Brandy Jus, served with Rosemary and Garlic Potatoes and the Grilled Salmon in a Dill and Lemon Sauce were divine. We also enjoyed evening meals in the Mexico Llndo a traditional Mexican restaurant with a wide menu choice and the Trattoria Pizza and Pasta restaurant where we enjoyed great pizza and good wine. We headed to Kufulkan Theatre on our last night we thought we would sit and have just the one drink whilst watching the start of the circus show, it turned out to be so good we couldn’t tear ourselves away, seeing the show though to the end which was great fun.
Highlights:
- Swim up suite accommodation
- Friendly and efficient service
- Great food and drink options
- Wide choice of facilities
- Beach Location
Barceló Maya Caribe:
Rates at Barceló Maya Caribe start from US$ 196 per night based on two people sharing on an all-inclusive basis. To book or for more information visit www.barcelo.com.
THE TRAVEL
T1 Escape Lounge – Manchester Airport
Airport Transfer – QTS – Cancun
We chose a brilliant company to transfer us from Cancun Airport – the transfer took around an hour and the car was comfortable with air conditioning and a friendly driver who pointed out landmarks en-route. The whole experience ran smoothly and we couldn’t fault the service. A great recommendation.