I just stepped into the lobby at Barcelo Maya Riviera. It’s only 11am so I don’t expect to be able to check into my room immediately.

They sanitize the front desk counter after each guest.

I was told my room should be ready at 2pm. They gave me a room number of 58127, a map of the resort, and a towel card. I think the towel card is supposed to be used to sign out towels from the towel hut. The idea of carrying around a card for towels doesn’t sound appealing to me. I wish they could tie that to the bracelet I’m wearing that opens my room door.

I found the buffet just below the front desk.

It seems like they’re still on breakfast. It’s all self-service except for an omelet station. 

I’m not a big fan of self-service food but I do like this self-service station.

I think I’m just going to finish drinking this Modelo then check out buffets at the other resorts.

This is just outside of the buffet area. My room should be somewhere on the top floor.

I’m over at the resort next door which is the Beach resort. I’m thinking this might be their buffet.

Actually that’s the theater.

I found their Spanish restaurant but it isn’t open for lunch.

I found the Caribe Buffet. That’s the resort on the other side of Beach. It appears to be closed.

Next to Caribe I came up to the Maya Mall.

While I’m here I can check out their bowling alley/sports bar called Strikers.

It looks like the sports bar is to the left, the bowling alley is straight ahead, and there’s a theater area to the right.

I was just going to get a beer. I waited quite a bit while she made other people’s drinks. When she finally came over to me all she said was “put a mask on.” I guess you have to wear a mask at the bar. Now she’s making more drinks for other people and more people are coming in. I just wanted her to pour a beer. It’s not worth waiting half an hour for. I’m heading out.

This is the Caribe hotel lobby.

I came to another buffet at the Tropical resort. It is also closed.

I made it to the Palace Resort.

The Coral Grill is of course closed.

We have a winner! La Hacienda.

I was able to find some food that isn’t self-service.

I got some beef and cauliflower.

Then I found the taco station.

A waiter brought me a beer and pina colada. Now the vacation can begin!

Here is a look at my room key. It’s pretty much the same as I had at Planet Hollywood.

Nice and loose so it’s comforatable.

They do serve plastic straws at this buffet.

I’m going to head back out. I can make my COVID test appointment and dinner reservations while I wait for my room. I like this place though. I’ll have to remember it.

These are the Palace restaurants.

It’s just a matter of time until they get flipped over.

That’s my resort way over to the left.

They’re working on seaweed cleanup.

I’m going to stop at this Coco bar for a drink.

I got a rum punch.

Right after I ordered it I realized I didn’t have my backpack. I left it at the buffet. I went back and as soon as I walked in the waiter came over to the hostess and said something in Spanish that I think means “that’s the guy who left the backpack.” And she gave it to me. That was huge. Basically everything of value that wouldn’t fit in my wallet is in that backpack.

After I retrieved my backpack I headed back to the Coco Bar. On my way back I noticed that Coral Grill at the Palace is now open.

I got another rum punch at Coco.

Next I ordered a banana daiquiri. I don’t think that’s what this is but it is very good. I’m guessing it’s strawberry.

They have grab and go waters here.

I wanted another of those good daiquiris so instead of asking by name I just said “I’ll have another.” The bartender who made it is gone now so the other bartender asks “Strawberry?” I said I think so. Okay that wasn’t strawberry. This is strawberry and this isn’t that. This one is too dark.

On the way back to the hotel I think I figured it out. I bet it was strawberry banana. I said banana. He thought I said strawberry banana. I bet that’s it.

You can get your watercraft here.

This is where they have the swimming with dolphins.

It looks like you can leave for excursions from this pier.

And I made it back to the resort.

I think this is the bus that takes you between the resorts if you don’t want to walk all the miles I just walked

It’s past time for my room to be ready but it still isn’t ready yet. They wanted to move me to the 2nd floor. I’ve seen that view. I said not unless you want to cut down the palm trees that are going to be blocking my view of the ocean. 

So they gave me someone else’s room on the 5th floor who hadn’t arrived yet and gave them my room that isn’t ready yet.

The bellman took my suitcase when I first arrived. When I came back to retrieve it he was clearly overworked and playing this shell game with the guests and suitcases. I watched him tell three sets of guests to go up to their room and he would be up with their bags in 5 minutes. When he told me the same thing I asked if I could just take my own bag. It was right there and it was on wheels. I had been in the same clothes since 2am and was sweating from having walked all around the resorts for a couple hours in the heat. I just wanted to take a shower and change clothes. He was very resistant to the idea. I get it. This is how he makes his living. I gave him a tip and took my own bag.

It seems that the channels marked Ing are English, Esp are spanish, and the ones with both are sometimes english and sometimes spanish.

I am heading back down the hallway. This is what the view would’ve been if I wanted to save $300 and not get ocean view.

I’m down on the 2nd floor now. Through this open door you can get an idea of what I would’ve had for a view had I allowed them to stick me on the 2nd floor. The blue you see is the pool. Those palm trees are blocking the ocean.

Guest Services is where I’m supposed to go to make dinner reservations. I’m not a fan of having to decide when and where I’m going to eat for the next eight nights.

Both of those desks were full so I was waiting outside for one to open up and a group of like 10 people just walked up and went in before me. 

I said forget that I’m not waiting for them. So I went to schedule my COVID test. They say it’s in the arena and downstairs which seems crazy. It’s so big.

This is where the COVID scheduling and testing happens. I’m scheduled for Saturday 10:15am.

When I returned to Guest Services I was able to walk in and make my dinner reservations.

I went ahead and made reservations for Italian tonight, Japanese tomorrow night, French the next night and Mexican the night after that. Then I can figure out the rest of the week.

I decided to have a couple of pre-dinner cocktails in the lobby bar.

This is a really nice screen that probably goes to waste on stuff like this too often. They should use that for the NBA playoffs or the College World Series or something.

Blue Lagoon

I was going to have a second cocktail but the bartenders don’t seem very interested in making drinks. I’m the only customer right now. All three bartenders are way down at the other end of the bar talking. I sat here with an empty glass for a few minutes, then I headed to the restaurant.

It looks like the Japanese and Italian restaurants are in the same place just on different sides. The teppanyaki looks fancy.

We are going to the Italian side tonight. You can view their menu here.

There is a salad bar as well. I’m not a big self service buffet person so I’m skipping it.

Risotto.

Seafood Spagetti

Cannoli 

Back at the room. I wanted to make it to the show at 9:30 but I don’t think it’s going to happen. It’s been a long day that started at 2am for me. I think I’m going to bed.

Continue to Barcelo Maya Riviera: Day 2

• all-inclusive
• Barcelo Maya Grand Resort
• Barcelo Maya Riviera