The all-suite Barceló Maya Palace Deluxe is part of a mega-resort complex in the Riviera Maya (called the Barceló Maya Grand Resort complex) which consists of the following resorts on over a mile-long stretch of beach: the Maya Beach, Maya Caribe, Maya Colonial, Maya Tropical, and the “crown jewel”, the Maya Palace Deluxe. Since it is the top-ranked resort at the complex, guests of the Maya Palace may access amenities at all other resorts; however, other resort guests may not, for the most part, access Maya Palace amenities. The Maya Palace Deluxe is the recent recipient of AAA’s Four-Diamond award which reflects its stellar amenities and level of service.
Although the beach here is rockier than other beach areas at the resort complex, off- the-beach snorkeling is very good (rays and turtles are often spotted)–those who enjoy ocean swimming should head down the beach to the Maya Beach or Maya Caribe instead. Snorkelers should bring their own gear since the water sports center (where the gear is located) is over at the Maya Colonial/Maya Caribe border which is about a quarter mile walk; getting a loaner from the resort is only possible for an hour at a time and it will cost USD $50 deposit at the time of rental.
The four pools also offer various swimming opportunities, from the children’s water park to the enormous main pool with its built-in pool loungers and tables, swan jets, and natural rock waterfall. An adult’s-only pool with Bali beds (an extra charge) offers vacationers a quiet retreat, while the lap pool offers serious swimmers an opportunity to do their thing early in the morning (later on in the day this pool is often used for water volleyball or other water exercises).
Guest rooms are all larger suites; in fact, they have the most square footage of all guest rooms at this Barceló complex. Bathrooms are large as well with a tub/shower combo with body wand, a separate shower with rainforest showerhead, double vessel sinks, a double flush toilet system (different buttons dictate the amount of water used to flush), and in-room candles are a nice, romantic touch. Don’t expect ocean views or oceanfront guest rooms, even when booking an oceanfront room category. Guest room buildings are set too far back from the beach for most rooms to have this kind of a view. Booking a Club Premium room, however, is advantageous in its proximity to the beach, pools, and restaurants, which is something to consider if you have small children in tow, or you don’t like to walk any more than you have to (remember, this is a mega-resort and you will already be doing a lot of walking).
Although there is a theater, gym, and spectacular pools onsite, many other amenities are located at the other nearby Barceló resorts. The adults-only disco and Plaza Mexicana shopping center are located at the Colonial, the dolphinarium is between the Maya Beach and Maya Caribe, while the miniature golf, new Pirate’s Island water park with FlowRider and Splash Zone, bowling alley, 24-hr sports bar, casino, and teen disco are all over the Caribe. Resort shuttles with prescribed routes are available from 8 a.m. until 2:30 a.m.
There is a very good website which offers all kinds of helpful information concerning this resort complex as a whole. Check out the following: http://www.unofficial-barcelo-maya.com/site/. For an updated map of the resort, check out this link and click “Our Resort”.
Type of Resort: Family-friendly
Pro: Snorkeling, all-suite guest rooms, “stay at one play at five”
Con: Rocky shoreline, WiFi and room service are an extra charge for non-Club Premium guests, pillows and mattresses need to be replaced. Also, food can only be consumed at the restaurants or grills, not poolside nor at the beach.
Best Suited For: More affluent families or couples, those who don’t mind dolphin captivity, and vacationers who enjoy large mega-resort layouts.
No. of Rooms: 770
Room Amenities: King or two dbl beds, balcony/terrace, A/C, sofa/daybed, armchair, coffee table, ceiling fan, flat screen TV, mini-bar, in-room safe, telephone, alarm clock, coffee maker, iron/ironing board, robe and slippers, hair dryer, tub/shower combo with body wand, separate shower with rainforest showerhead, dbl vessel sinks, and toiletries. Room service and WiFi are an extra charge for non-Club Premium guests. Here is a brief rundown of Non-Club Premium guest rooms:
- Jr. Suite Deluxe: King or two dbl beds, two sofas/daybeds. Garden view.
- Family Jr. Suite: King bed in separate bedroom, two twin beds and adjoining sitting room with a sofa/daybed and two armchairs, two mini-bars, half bathroom, two flat screen TV’s. (There are only six of these rooms).
Club Premium Room Amenities: Club Premium is an upgrade and includes the following amenities:
- private check-in/out
- exclusive concierge
- rooms are closer to the beach–less walking and usually better views
- use of the Club Premium Lounge with top-shelf liquors, snacks, continental breakfast, snacks, desserts, board games, books, newspapers, flat screen TV, and computer/printer use
- priority a la carte reservations
- upgraded mini-bar
- upgraded toiletries
- access to top-shelf liquors upon request
- in-room welcome gift
- spa/beauty salon/hotel shop discounts
- turndown service
- pillow menu
- in-room pool towels
- express laundry service at the normal rate
(Club Premium Guest Rooms)
- Jr. Suite Deluxe Pool View Club Premium: King or two dbl beds, two sofas/daybeds
- Jr. Suite Deluxe Oceanfront Club Premium: King or two dbl beds, two sofas/daybeds. These rooms are now in the Oaxaca building with views of the pool; upper floors may have a partial ocean view.
- Suite Oceanfront Club Premium: King bed in separate bedroom, living room with sofa/daybed and two armchairs, dining room table and four chairs, two flat screen TV’s, bidet, two full terrace loungers and hammock.
- Presidential Suite Oceanfront Club Premium: King bed in separate bedroom, living room with sofa/daybed, loveseat, writing desk, dining room table and four chairs, dressing room, large picture window and sliding glass doors onto the terrace with two full loungers, Jacuzzi, and hammock. A small bottle of vintage tequila is included with stays of four nights or more. Ocean view.
Physically Challenged Rooms: Available
Resort Amenities: Four pools (main pool with swim-up bar, adults-only pool, lap pool, and children’s water park), two built-in Jacuzzi’s, fitness center (A/C), small sports court, shuffleboard, giant chess set, hammock areas, massage tables at the beach and adults-only pool, steam room and sauna, theater (A/C), 24-hr. lobby bar, internet cafe, pool wait service, resort shuttle service, Kid’s Club (ages 4-12), small playground, gift shop, jewelry store, concierge, tour desk, car rental, and ATM. See reviews for the Maya Beach, Maya Caribe, Maya Colonial, and the Maya Tropical for a listing of shared amenities.
Restaurants/Bars: Two buffet restaurants (El Mirador and La Hacienda), a lunchtime grill (Coral), and three a la cartes including French (La Brasserie), seafood (Caribe), and Brazilian-style roast meats (Rodizio). A la cartes require advance reservations. Evening snacks are also served at the lobby bar, while both the Kid’s Club and main buffets have their own separate children’s buffet section. Guests may also dine at the Maya Beach, Maya Caribe, Maya Colonial, and the Maya Tropical. Upon check-in, guests are given dining vouchers for a la carte dining (typically four for a week’s stay, while Club Premium guests have an additional three)–it’s best to make reservations immediately upon check-in. Palace guests may enjoy the five bars located throughout the Palace property–the 24-hr. lobby bar, swim-up bar, main pool bar, adults-only pool bar, and theater bar.
Entertainment: The A/C on-site theater hosts nightly, family-oriented theme shows, while the adults-only Jaguar disco at the Maya Colonial is open from 11 p.m. until 2 a.m. Teens now have their own lounge and disco over at the Maya Caribe. Live piano music plays at the lobby bar.