What a great, informative video. Great narration and detail. I'm considering this one for myself and my 3 boys in May. Was looking for a place that has lots to do for teenagers!
Thanks! One of the things I loved most about it was how big it was and how much there was to explore. Just being able to walk up and down the beach and do all the snorkeling was such a huge plus for me.
The first time my wife and I ever went anywhere tropical and warm, by an ocean, this was our destination. Every vacation since has to try and live up to this amazing over the top standard. Jamaica? Meh. Florida? Meh. We were seriously spoiled for our first taste at resort vacationing. Can't wait to go back.
You'll almost definitely see some. I probably saw at least one lizard a day, usually more. But they are big so it's easy to avoid them and they usually stay away from all the people. Also I saw a few small mammals - I think they are called agouti.
I don't remember the exact hours, but usually they were getting cleaned in the morning until around 8am or 9am. Most people would be swimming until around dinner time but I never say anyone in the pools after the sun started setting.
You should be able to book parasailing from the resort's scuba diving company (Dressel Divers). Their stand is near the pier in the middle of the resort.
You can easily walk from the Palace (left when facing ocean) to the Riviera (right when facing ocean) but there was no clear way to get past those areas since they are rocky and overgrown. I think that's partially to keep the Barcelo Maya "private" so that people from other beaches nearby can't walk there easily.
Hi. I'm going to this resort in spring. The information on my travel agent's website is so confusing though. My booking states I'll be staying either at Beach, Tropical, Colonial, or Caribe. The travel agency website states the restaurants which I can use without extra charge are those which as I found (after I had booked the resort) are located at the Palace section. This website doesn't give you a choice of booking the Palace or Riviera so I can't understand why they they advertising those restaurants as free for the guests from those 4 hotels. The same is with a gym. The agent's website shows a photo of a gym with a weights section which looks like it's located in a building with walls. However when I reffered to the websites of all of those hotels (including Riviera and Palace0 I found out that the only weights section located in a walled building is at the Palace. This one is air conditioned. There is the second weights section - part of another gym and this is located within the ground of those less expensive hotels. The website states that the guests from Tropical, Caribe, Beach and Colonial can use that gym but not the Palace gym. The problem is this gym is not in a building, it is in a palapa (hut) so it is shaded but not air conditioned. It doesn't have walls as the travel agency photos indicate. Can samobody please give more information whether you can or cannot use that air conditioned weights section at the Palace and is it truth that the other gym is an open air gym practically? I chose this hotel mainly because I liked the gym equipment shown in the photo but now it seems that the agency has deceived me by putting a photo of a gym which I won't be allowed to use (or can I upgrade for those $20 to use the Palace gym as it is with other paid facilities - and whether this money gives me one entry or is it for the whole stay.) Now I don't even know what equipment I will find in this open air gym - since the photo seems to show the Palace gym. I just wonder if anybody could upload the picture of that open air gym. At this point I really feel deceived by the travel company I chose. I've seen another hotel with good gym and pools just north of Playa del Carmen - I was in two minds which to choose and I chose this and I don't know if I've made a good choice.
If your booking is at the beach/tropical/colonial/caribe, then you will not have access to the restaurants or gym at Palace/Riviera without paying extra. There is a fairly large and well equipped indoor gym at the center of the resort for all to use - you can see it a little in this video: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-8EnwkifAKPs.html
I want to persobally thank you for this details and awesome content and tour in the resort (not cause i'm looking to travel to Riviera) more because i had been selected to work there and before my flight i now got a better picture and resort size. Thanks 👏
Great video, so informative! We r going to Barcelo this week and im doing my research. Im wondering if they hVe snorkelling gear and life vest to use 🤔.
What type of group are you traveling with? My recommendation depends on if you have kids, have people who have trouble walking, like sand or snorkelling, etc. Each of the hotels is a little different, but it really depends on what you like.
