Barceló Maya Palace - All Inclusive

On the ground the Palace gives you 6 sea-facing restaurants, three of its own pools including an adults-only one, and rooms that are all Junior Suites or Suites. The wider complex adds 11 pools, two water parks, a theatre and two nightclubs, the Maya Mall, and a spa and fitness block of more than 43,000 square feet in which the U-Spa alone runs to 32,000. Free double-decker buses connect the hotels every 20 minutes from 8am to 2:30am, which is a lot better than the old reputation suggests, though walking end to end still takes half an hour. Wi-Fi is free throughout, in the rooms and in public areas. The gym is 16 and over, opens 6:30am to 8pm, needs no reservation and runs instructor-led yoga, Pilates, Zumba, spinning and functional classes; spa hydrotherapy is 18 and over. The Barcy Kids Club runs 9am to 5pm and the water park 9am to 6pm.

This is the pick for families and mixed-budget groups who want maximum variety and do not mind a mega-resort, and it is a long-standing favourite for weddings and reunions because relatives on different budgets can book different hotels in the same complex and still share the beach. Guest reports in September 2026 were consistently positive about food, staff and the grounds, with no repeat complaints about seaweed that month. Couples wanting somewhere small, quiet and polished will be happier at a standalone adults-only property like Secrets or Excellence, or at the Barcelo Maya Riviera next door. On price, Barcelo's own rates in October 2026 started around $222 a night for a Junior Suite and ran past $600 for the Presidential Suite, so what you pay here depends far more on which room category you pick than on the resort itself.