We spent a week at Barceló Maya Colonial in June. The resort itself is stunning — palm trees, clean grounds, and a massive pool area that’s great for both relaxing and having fun. That said, there were a few things that really impacted our overall experience.||⸻||Beach & Seaweed:|There was a lot of sargassum seaweed during our stay. The hotel does try to clean it every morning (credit to the hardworking grounds crew), but it’s a losing battle. While you can still find swimmable areas, if you’re expecting clear turquoise waters, you might be disappointed during seaweed season.|Also, it’s advisable to wear water shoes or sandals when going into the sea — there are quite a lot of rocks just below the surface that are hard to see and could cause injury if you’re not careful.||⸻||Rooms:|Spacious, clean, and comfortable. The air con worked well, and we had a nice balcony overlooking the gardens. The minibar was nicely stocked and refreshed daily, which was a great bonus. Nothing ultra-fancy, but totally fine for what we needed and great to come back to after a hot day.||⸻||Food & Drink:|The buffet was good, with a solid variety and fresh options — breakfast especially. We also tried a few à la carte restaurants. Most were average, but the steakhouse stood out as the best meal we had at the resort itself. That said, the best food of our trip was off-site in Playa del Carmen, so definitely plan to eat out at least once or twice if you’re up for it.||One frustrating part was the experience at the poolside restaurants. They had strict rules about being fully covered up (shirts, shoes, no swimwear), which is understandable — but not always well communicated or handled kindly. There were also odd restrictions around seating: some tables were limited to two people only, and when we tried to add a third chair, we were told to move. We were a family of six, and when there weren’t enough six-seater tables, staff refused to put two smaller tables together, instead asking us to sit separately. For a family-friendly resort, this felt unnecessarily rigid and frustrating.||The wine situation also wasn’t great — the cheapest bottle at the à la carte restaurants was around $30 USD and it was awful. If you want anything decent, you’ll need to pay quite a bit more, which feels pretty unreasonable for an all-inclusive experience.||⸻||Staff & Service:|This was one of the more disappointing aspects of the stay. Aside from the restaurant staff (who were polite and efficient), many of the other team members came across as unfriendly, disinterested, or just unwilling to help. The water park staff were particularly rude, and the go-kart attendants clearly didn’t want to be there. It often felt like guests were an inconvenience rather than being welcomed.||That said, we did want to call out Eduardo at the games counter in Strikers — he was by far the friendliest and most helpful staff member we met during our entire stay. His attitude stood out in a big way and made a real difference.||⸻||Resort Pricing:|Be prepared — on-site prices are shockingly high. We paid nearly $50 USD for a bottle of sunscreen and $7 USD for a bottle of Evian. Definitely bring your own essentials like sun cream, toiletries, and snacks, or you’ll end up overpaying for basic items.||⸻||Activities & Extras:|There’s plenty to do around the resort – mini golf, nightly shows, spa, tennis, and more. The resort is huge, so the shuttle trains are helpful for getting around.||The pool area is fantastic — absolutely huge, very clean, and there are loads of sun loungers. We never had any issue finding space, even during busy times.|The kids’ pool with slides was great — it’s free to use, has fun features, and there are plenty of sunbeds around so parents can relax while keeping an eye on their little ones. A really nice touch for families.||However, the on-site waterpark was a bit of a letdown. It costs $20 USD per person to enter, and it’s quite small — only four slides and a Surf Rider wave machine, which was fun but didn’t make it worth the price. Also, kids under 18 are required to wear life jackets, even if they’re strong swimmers, which felt excessive and unnecessary in some cases.||⸻||Overall Thoughts:|The resort looks amazing and offers a lot in terms of space and amenities. But the lack of warmth from much of the staff, the inconsistent service, the rigid and sometimes frustrating restaurant rules, the seaweed-heavy beach, and the high prices for everyday items took away from the overall experience.||If you’re going, go prepared: bring your essentials, pack water shoes, manage expectations on service, and plan a few meals off-site. You can still have a good time — just don’t expect five-star treatment in how you’re looked after.