Staff was great, coffee shop was nice, beds were comfy but the restaurant situation on a rotating…read morebasis was very frustrating for an all inclusive.

I booked a double swim-up pool room through Capital One Travel, and even received an email…read moreconfirmation from Capital One stating the hotel had verified my room type, double beds with a swim-up pool. After a long day of travel, we arrived around 6:30 PM only to be given a standard room with no swim-up pool. I immediately showed the concierge and front desk my confirmation email, but they refused to honor it, insisting that "this is what Capital One booked." My wife is pregnant, and we were traveling with our two-year-old for a friend's wedding, not exactly the time to deal with such nonsense. After two exhausting hours of back and forth, they still refused to give me the room I had already paid for unless I paid an additional $400 USD. I managed to get Capital One on the phone within minutes, but the hotel staff claimed they couldn't reach them. Out of pure frustration and with a toddler in tow, I eventually paid the extra charge just so we could settle in. The concierge, Emilio, apologized profusely and promised to make it right with a complimentary Bali bed or other perks, none of which ever materialized despite multiple follow-ups during our stay. The manager, Karen, was equally unhelpful. It was clear they cared more about squeezing a few extra dollars out of guests than building any kind of loyalty or goodwill. To make matters worse, on our last day, $300 USD was stolen from my backpack in our room. I filed a report, and instead of offering any form of compensation or accountability, the staff searched our belongings as if we had misplaced it ourselves. Absolutely unacceptable. The food was decent, but service throughout the resort was almost nonexistent. If you wanted food or drinks by the pool or beach, you had to get up and fetch it yourself while several servers stood around chatting at the bar. Overall: avoid this place at all costs. I've already told friends and family to stay far away. For the price, the dishonesty, lack of service, and outright theft make this resort one of the biggest disappointments I've ever encountered.

If you're looking for a budget-friendly, all-inclusive resort with decent views, this could be a…read moresuitable option. However, based on my experience, I wouldn't return--and I wouldn't recommend it to friends or clients. **Accommodations** We wanted to book a Family Suite, but it was unavailable for our dates. Our Travel Agent recommended that we stay in a "Premium Deluxe Privileged Suite," which left me wondering what the standard rooms looked like because this room was anything but premium or deluxe. It was small, the view overlooked a roof, and it was noisy due to its close proximity to the nighttime lounge. The one saving grace: it was clean. **Activities** Activities were underwhelming. The staff were polite, but interactions often felt forced. We skipped the poolside games and had to go on a bit of a scavenger hunt to find tennis rackets and balls when we were ready to play. The mini-golf area was located on a hot rooftop along with the tennis courts, poorly marked and hard to find. The snorkeling was a major disappointment--there were no fish, and the rocky sea floor made it uncomfortable for the kids. We had to carry them to more comfortable spots. Kayaking required a reservation, but we couldn't get one. One of the most frustrating moments was arriving at the bracelet-making activity only to find no one there. After waiting and tracking down staff, we learned (15 minutes in) that it was somewhere different than listed on the schedule and was already over. We were told to try again the next day which we did, but surprisingly, I was told it was meant for adults due to limited materials. I couldn't quite follow but the kids were able to participate. I couldn't but I was able to assist them. **Dining** Food was decent overall, but the reservation system was frustrating. Like many all-inclusives, most restaurants required reservations but getting one was nearly impossible. Everything was booked for the week, except one day. The first night, we stumbled into the Hibachi restaurant early and were seated with another group. That was the only way we were able to experience one restaurant. On our reserved dining day, we were delayed returning from Xel-Ha and missed our time. There was no flexibility or sympathy--the answer was simply, "We're full." Back to the buffet. As Privileged guests, we had access to Bloved, which didn't require a reservation. While the menu was limited, the service and food were solid. Buffets were very basic and lacked authentic Mexican or international flair--it's clearly tailored to foreigners. **Kids Club** This was one of the biggest disappointments. At other resorts, our kids never wanted to leave the Kids Club. Here, they called us to pick them up after just an hour. The Club took a midday break for lunch and on the first day, they closed at 12 PM, despite the schedule saying lunch was at 1 PM. Our kids liked it enough, but weren't eager to return. Staff engagement was hit or miss. One attendant was constantly on her phone during pickup. On our last day, however, a different staff member provided a much warmer and attentive experience. **Pool** The pool area was also frustrating. Like many resorts, guests "reserve" chairs early with towels--but here, the seating shortage was excessive. There was plenty of space to add more lounge chairs, but the resort simply hadn't. By day three, I realized I had to claim seats first thing in the morning before breakfast just to have a spot. **Spa** Privileged guests receive one free visit to the water circuit, which includes the sauna, steam room, showers, and relaxation pool. This was the highlight of my trip--peaceful and rejuvenating. Unfortunately, I wasn't able to schedule any additional services, as appointments were fully booked by the time I went. The staff were professional, though not particularly warm--perhaps because I wasn't buying anything. My husband used the gym daily and had no complaints. **Final Thoughts** This resort might work for travelers focused solely on price and basic amenities. But if you're looking for high-quality experiences, engaging activities, and consistent service, this isn't the place.

We stayed at this resort for 7 days and our experienced was not good. We've upgraded our room to…read morePrivileged to have broken lamps, no handle on bathroom door and unable to book dinner at Ala Carte restaurants. Privileged pool and beach restrictions was not enforced. Towel exchange closes at 5pm and pool closes at 7pm. The Privileged pool should be open for at least till 10pm considering guest are unable to go to beach due to seaweed and you usually arrived at resort past 7pm after excursion. Alcohol drinks were very mild and inconsistent depends on what bar you're getting it from. Our room service did not show up, so we ended up leaving the resort early morning without breakfast for excursion. The only thing I liked at our stay was the Alegria Spa as the massage was very relaxing. Definitely not going back here.

This spot can be more better. Loved their part that theres for Adult only side but it looks like…read moreits an easy access for below 18yrs. But i wish there more easy access on some and snacks (here u have to go in a restaurant to get some or front entrance by the coffee shop) I wish there more day activities for adult other than the pool or beaches. I was hoping for more entertainment during day time or evening time. There bath on the roof where we stayed was a struggle. It took us awhile to figure out the nobs (for water & massage). We also got locked out, good thing we figured it out how to maneuver the door nod ‍

Do not waste your time and money here. Hot tubs? All cold. Did your resort booking include $200/day…read morecredit? Good luck figuring out what you can use it on. Grifters, scam artists... nickel and dime you to death. AVOID THIS PLACE. DO NOT BOOK THROUGH COSTCO. CostCo should stop doing business with this place. There is ONE activity; sit on your butt and drink. Pools are cold too. Warmest water was the lagoon... Food is TERRIBLE. Rooms are rundown, dirty, and TINY after they put a stupid spa tub in every room that doesn't even work. 4 buildings with hot water not working. Go ANYWHERE else. Using AI photos to sell reservations, look at my included AI SLOP from THEIR website. The actual resort DOES NOT look like the photos online. Rooms: Rooms are dirty and need updated. Nearby activities: There is NOTHING to do at the resort. Include off-resort activities in your planning and after you see what the resort costs are plus costs to not be bored for 7 days? Anyplace else is a better value. Safety: Not sure what is in place to keep underage kids from drinking. Kids clearly seemed intoxicated. Did not seem safe. Walkability: They do have lots of golf carts wildly racing around the property full of drunk people and families... Drivers are staff and aren't intoxicated, just in a hurry? Food & drinks: Drinks are good. It's all they have. Food is gross in the Marketplace. Fries and chicken tenders were good poolside. Noteworthy details: Seriously... GO.ANYWHERE.ELSE! You will not be sorry. I am on day 2 of 7 and if they told me I could get on a shuttle and leave right now, even with no refund, I would go in a heartbeat. If you love this place... cool. Enjoy.

We absolutely love this place! We have stayed at Barcelo several times and every time I am…read moresurprised by how nice it is. We have stayed at Gran Bahia Principal and it was "ok" and we have also stayed at Xcaret, which was expensive. The Barcelo rooms are clean and nice, the staff is very friendly. This trip we used Barcelo's transportation from the airport and it was a little more money than private transportation but it went way smoother compared to past trips. We had a fun time comparing 20 year old photos from our first visit to Barcelo. It is just as beautiful now and we will continue to come back.

This place is absolutely horrid,if you've ever complained about the holiday inn in the states,I'd…read moretake those over staying here. To be more exact,we stayed at the Barcelo maya caribe.it is so dated and falling apart.the grout in the shower/tub is falling apart.hvac unit sensors are bad so it'll just keep blowing cold air no matter what temp it is. The door lock only partially works with having to try multiple times just to get the door open. The good is like eating elementary food from the eighties in the states at the buffet no matter if it's breakfast lunch or dinner.a few of the staff seems to be glad that they're working and the other seems like they're forced into labor be it in the dining hall or room staff. We're here for a wedding and booked here due to all the in-laws are staying here.the staff are rude and have no patience even tho there's a huge language barrier.we normally book our own stay and do our research before you choose a place but due to the fact we're not the ones that chose this place. So the buffet is always open to all but if you wanted to eat at some of the other they have here,you have to reserve ahead of time and if it's booked out,your eating dinner at 9pm or later.my in-laws ate at one of the Italian place and they said the food is horrendous.overly salted and over cooked.i would never stay here ever again and I'm posting this so it would save you the headache and disappointment. My nieces book a room that showed a double bed and they got charged for a double and the room only had a single,and when they went to the front desk,they told them it was their fault.thereis no discription for the room just pictures so there's no way to know and like I said earlier,the staff is very short and very rude. When the cleaning lady came by and asked if I wanted the room clean,I told her I just needed towels and water.she handed me the towels and told me the waters in the mini bar and before I could tell her it's out,she just took off. I don't understand,maybe it's because it's all inclusive or what but they seem to be miserable and give really bad

It's only gotten worse. Don't get the beach club membership if you want an umbrella. Just awful and…read moreno kids' menu, no happy hour, blah blah. I'll make my own food and drinks. It's just the worst class of service surrounded by million dollar properties. I'm surprised you can use the toilet. Everything has gone to total poop but they claim they are trying to be more "upscale." What? 1000 pesos to spend on food and drink in order to use an umbrella? That's $50 American! The attitude of the employees has gone downhill just like the general service. Unless you are staying at the hotel and eat all the overpriced mediocre food, forget it!

They brought in cheap sand with crushed up shells. It not only hurts your feet it has spread all…read morethe way down the beach. The white powdery sand we loved is no more. They should be ashamed of what they have done.

I think Catalonia Royal Tulum is a solid 3.5 star experience. It is definitely not some amazing…read moreresort but for what it is and how much it is, I think it does the job. I would like to shout out how clean this resort is. The room was very clean and the rest of the resort is very clean as well, including the beach and the pool. The food though is not great. There are some items that are better than others but the food is pretty mid otherwise so don't come here if you really really care about that. Although the food is not the best, no one got sick and that's all that really matters! The portion sizes were also weird -- some things were tiny and some were averaged sized. It was hard to gauge how much food you're ordering. Some things to note -- I do think it's worth it to pay up for the privileged room. It gains you access to the Bloved restaurant which without it means you can only eat breakfast and lunch at the buffet (which is fine but that would drive me crazy).

Amazing all inclusive adults only resort. Staff is attentive and friendly, the resort layout…read moreoffers good room privacy, and the pool and beach are right next to one another. Food was good at all the restaurants and drinks were available at a variety of bars. We were able to book all of our excursions through Amstar at a desk right in the lobby. I give Catalonia Royal Tulum a 10 out of 10. Best vacation of my life!

Esq and I stayed for 3 days/2 nights following a group birthday trip at another resort (Unico)…read more Our room wasn't ready upon arrival so we walked the property, bar-hopped, and participated in a ceviche cooking class. We enjoyed the expansive property with tons of restaurants, pools, and bars. All staff members were very engaging and friendly. We were underwhelmed by the guest room. A serious facelift is in order. The furniture was all scratched up, the drawers didn't close, and the sink barely drained (one of the stoppers appeared to be stuck). We almost got trapped outside on the second floor balcony because the electric key pad didn't work. Good thing we didn't shut the door! Housekeeping arrived at 4:45 PM on our second day, but we were already getting showered and ready for dinner. The only reason for the 3 Yelp stars is because of the Awaken Your Senses dinner. This was incredible! Unique and awe-inspiring. It was $195 per person, but it was multiple courses, wine/alcohol pairings, and digital entertainment. The service was impeccable. Some of the best we've ever experienced. This experience is a splurge, but if you're a foodie, check it out. We were offered a discount if we sat through a Timeshare session at 8:00 AM, but we hard-passed/declined. If you don't mind the room being a bit dark/dingy/old, then this could be a suitable all-inclusive option.

First things first: If you're looking for an authentic Mexican experience, this isn't it. But if…read moreyou want a fun, relaxing all-inclusive getaway, Hard Rock Riviera Maya is a solid choice. The resort is huge with tons to do, and we loved seeing wildlife like monkeys and capybaras around the property. Resort/Room: We stayed on the Heaven (adults-only) side and enjoyed a pool-view room. It was quiet inside despite the party outside, though the room did show some wear and tear (peeling headboard, slightly dirty tub). Still, it was comfy overall. Food: The food was just... okay. By no means authentic, and not AMAZING culinary revolutions, but it got the job done. Umo (Mexican restaurant) and Faro (buffet) were some of the better options on property. Staff/service: The real standout was the staff. Everyone was kind and welcoming and put it attention to detail to the smallest thing that real made a difference. Big shoutout to Alex (Bali bed attendant) at the Heaven pool for being super attentive and fun! Pro tip: Get off the resort at least once! You are doing yourself and the locals such a disservice if you just never leave. The area is rich with history and culture: Chichen Itzá, Tulum, Coba, 700+ cenotes, you name it. It's worth stepping out of your little paradise for 8 hours, I promise you. Overall: the amenities and activities were great, and the staff truly made the experience better. If you're looking for peace and quiet, I'd recommend staying on the Heaven side, though keep in mind it's a bit removed from the rest of the resort. If you want to be more central to everything, consider the family side instead.

This is a basic/budget hotel that happens to be right on the beach, so if you want quiet and…read morebeachfront this is it. If you want amenities and hotel service, this is not it. No desk reception, no hotel guide or amenities, no person greets you at all other than a security guard at the trailer park entrance. There was maid service, but heaps of dirty towels were left all day long on the staircase. Room was okay, nothing luxurious and showing its wear, but nothing to complain about if you're not expecting anything luxurious. Television in room is smallest ever, beds were comfortable, view out room and air con were great. Don't stay here without a car for sure, as you won't be able to really have food (restaurant is not fantastic and it's the only option).

We were so excited about this place after seeing the reviews and website. It looked gorgeous. Talk…read moreabout a bait and switch. Some describe it as "quirky" but I think they mean to describe the surrounding land where ex-pats live in trailers and hang out in their little private oasis. The hotel feels like their land's soul-less counterpart, built to subsidize the rest. The beach isn't that nice or well-kept. The hotel looks nice but it's obviously cheap, fast construction. Our room was always covered in giant red ants that ate us alive, and every time we took a shower, the entire room (not just the bathroom, the ENTIRE room) got coated in a wet, humid film. We had to put towels on the ground so we didn't slip or sleep in our own filth. They also fail to mention that the restaurant on site and tiny little convenience store are the only places to get food within a 15 minute drive, so if you don't have a car you're totally screwed. The they both also have really limited hours, the food sucks and is overpriced, and they are cash only. Cash only would have been fine if there was an ATM nearby, but there aren't. In a desperate move, we begged our Chichen Itza tour guide to drive us to an ATM when we were already supposed to be on the road, just so we could pay for a meal. The office also isn't open very often, so when we tried to pay for the room they were always closed. When we finally got a hold of someone via email to PayPal the fee, they took forever to respond, then didn't tell the front gate so we were basically held hostage by the security team when we were supposed to be catching a bus to Tulum. Finally it got worked out, but was incredibly frustrating and left a really bad taste in our mouths.