It hits you immediately: Barcelo Maya Riviera, opened December 2019 at Barcelo’s Maya Grand Resort complex in Riviera Maya, Mexico, doesn’t look like the typical all-inclusive.
First, there’s the vastness of the lobby and reception area, the kind of soaring, serene space found in museum galleries. In an unmistakable departure from the typical, walls and floors are elegant expanses of beige, cream and sand uninterrupted by the festive reds and yellows of most Mexican all-inclusive hotels. Also absent are the ubiquitous Maya-influenced statues that usually populate public spaces in Riviera Maya resorts
Instead, the lobby focal point is one hugely oversized contemporary canvas in vivid blues and golds, rising behind the reception desk. Like most of the art pieces in the hotel, it’s the creation of Mexican artist Julie Sasson. Two more of her plus-sized works grace the premium lounge and lobby bar, and copies of her pieces hang in guest suites.
The atypical design aesthetic is deliberate.
“This hotel is very different from other Barcelo properties,” said Thomas Muller, assistant director of sales for the resort. “Everything here is state-of-the-art, and the space is very unique. We wanted to do something unusual.”
Everything here is state-of-the-art, and the space is very unique. We wanted to do something unusual.
One of the hotel’s differentiating features is the compelling artwork across the property — a series of intriguing faces in one restaurant, a large tree sculpture hung with light globes in another. The furniture, too, is as artful as it is functional — some pieces with intricate carvings, others with contemporary pops of color, like the futuristic orange-glowing chairs outside the lobby bar.
In fact, it’s a far cry from the five other Barcelo hotels within the complex, and not just in design. This is an adults-only property, something relatively new for the brand. It’s also the most upscale; while guests here have access to all the other hotels, the reverse is not true.
Not surprising for an upscale, all-inclusive property, amenities abound — including five bars, five restaurants, four pools, a spa and a more than mile-long beach (sharp rocks a few feet into the water at one end are a painful surprise, but the rest is heavenly). All 850 accommodations are junior suites or suites, more than half sporting ocean views. Premium-level guests can lounge around one of the 110 swim-up suites or even take a sunset soak in a private hot tub.
The entire resort complex is a tropical playground, with a waterpark, adventure park, surf-ride pool, kids’ spa, bowling lanes, mini golf — the list goes on. Also on property is the largest convention center in the region, accommodating 8,000 attendees. Yet even with a big group in-house during my visit, the hotel never felt crowded.
The Barcelo resort complex features a surf pool, among many other activities.
Credit: 2021 Christine LoomisThe restaurants, while good, are not a big departure from other all-inclusives in terms of variety. Italian, Japanese, French and Mexican a la carte restaurants serve dinner (reservations required), while breakfast and lunch are everything-you-could-want-and-then-some buffets. Knife-twirling cooks at Sapporo’s teppanyaki tables add entertainment to Japanese dining, and an elevated menu and knowledgeable tequila sommelier raise the experiential bar at Agave, the Mexican eatery. Certified wine sommeliers within the resort complex are another plus. Note: The a la carte restaurants have a dress code, and, yes, I saw one guest stopped and sent back to his room to change.
Barcelo’s We Care About You Program is the brand’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Health and safety initiatives are extensive, including mask requirements in all common areas; rigorous food-security processes; use of sanitizer and frequent disinfecting; and social distancing protocols. More information is available on the company’s website.
Online, advisors can also access Barcelo’s travel agent rewards program (register at www.barceloprorewards.com) and a special site for booking lodging, activities and transportation in one place (www.vacacionesbarcelo.com).
If your clients are looking for a more sophisticated experience that defies expectations, Barcelo Maya Riviera might just change their perception about all-inclusive resorts.
The Details
Barcelo Maya Riviera
