Here’s a look at the brand new Catalonia Costa Mujeres. While the video primarily features drone shots of the property, there are some pics of restaurants and guest rooms. The video also offers a brief side shot of what I believe to be the new Planet Hollywood which is still being built.
If anyone has a future booking through Bookit.com, please be aware that they have suspended all operations and laid off most of their employees because of the multitude of trip cancellations due to COVID-19. No mention is made whether they will ever be back in business. The 411 is that Bookit has not sent money over to resorts which clients have paid Bookit for the trip in question. As a result, the resort will not let you leave without paying–AGAIN. So, please contact the resort where your booking is at (if you have used this company) and ask them if they have received the money from Bookit. If they have not, you have to make your decision about what you want to do–cancel the reservation in question, cancel and re-book making another deposit directly with the resort, or cancel and use another source to make another reservation. Don’t forget to call your credit card company and dispute the charge if the resort has not received your money.
The Reef 28 is a relatively new adults-only all-inclusive OPTIONAL hotel and spa right in the heart of busy Playa del Carmen in the Riviera Maya (the hotel opened in 2018). It’s basically a block away from famous 5th Avenue and a long block from the beach with access to Mamita’s Beach Club. This boutique hotel only offers 120 guest rooms, all of which are suites with only two room categories–Jr. and Master Suites with plenty of space (for a Playa del Carmen guest room), but not necessarily the best room views. But that’s the price tag attached if one wants to stay in the midst of the very busy city of Playa del Carmen.
I’ll admit, I don’t know much about this new resort, Palmaïa House of AïA, which opened Dec. 2019. I do know exactly where it’s located, though, because I walked down to this beach area Aug. 2019 when I stayed at Iberostar Tucan. This resort is located just south of Sandos Playacar in the gated community of Playacar. Obviously the resort wasn’t finished yet when I saw it from a distance, but from what I did observe it was on a pristine stretch of Playacar beach with many rooms having oceanfront views. That’s a great start in and of itself.
Aerial view, courtesy Travel Pulse
I recently returned from a stay at the new adults-only section of the Barcelo Maya Grand resort. It’s called the Barcelo Maya Riviera, and it is a complete reversal in appearance from the rest of this megaresort. While a vacationer is more likely to feel as if one is in Mexico at the other resorts in this complex, the new adults-only section is very contemporary looking with modern decor, sleek lines, updated technology, huge screens in the lobby areas, and a much more spartan look throughout. Guests at the new adults-only section have full access to all amenities at the other resorts at this complex including being able to eat at Palace restaurants without any extra charges.
I have fond memories of this resort. I first stayed here around 2015 in an upgraded Excellence Club Swim-Up Suite and thought it was a fabulous resort in terms of service, food, and amenities. My opinion still hasn’t changed. In fact, I’d place Excellence Collection Resorts as being among the top two resort chains in Cancun and the Riviera Maya (sorry, but my number one spot is claimed by Grupo Experiencias Xcaret with their wildly popular beginner resort, Hotel Xcaret Mexico–can’t wait for the opening of their new upcoming resorts which are currently being built right next door so to speak from Hotel Xcaret, La Casa de la Playa and Hotel Xcaret Arte).
My daughter and her husband are return visitors to the adults-only Valentin Imperial Riviera Maya resort, it is their “home away from home” resort go-to. After her most recent visit I asked if she would be willing to write some helpful tips about staying at this resort for my blog, so here they are. Continue reading
This new drone video is getting me excited for my upcoming trip which I’ll be taking in a few weeks! It shows the layout of the whole Barcelo Maya Grand resort complex including the new adults-only section to the south (the semi-circular building complex to the left on the screen). The entire ground floor looks like swimouts, my chosen room category–could be one huge party if the right people are there. Keep watching new blog posts after Feb. 22 as well as my Instagram account, allinclusivegal, for the latest pics of the resort.
There are multiple cenotes across the street from the Barcelo Maya Grand. Courtesy Unofficial Barcelo Maya