TripAdvisor Traveler Rating

This is my second visit to the Barcelo Huatulco. There have been a number of changes since my last visit about 7 years ago. Let me give you the positives and the opportunities for improvement. Positives: ...- This is a lovely smaller resort. Everything is close by. - Staff, of course. In particular, we wanted to recognize the following staff who went above and beyond to make our holiday enjoyable: Maricela C.- Doña Rosa Fernando C.- Pool Adelina S.-La Tortuga (breakfast) Victor C.- premium lounge Paulina V.- Front desk Lourdes-our room caretaker -Room fridge was well stocked with only the things we wanted. We really appreciated this. -We enjoyed the pools, the drinks at the pool, and the beautiful beach views and sounds. - The servers in the buffet restaurants made a real effort to get to know us and welcomed us to their section day after day. This is what the all inclusive experience is like at its best. We did not have this experience at the specialty restaurants (more below). Opportunities: - The service in the specialty restaurants was lacking. It seemed all we got was our order taken and food dropped off. Each night we just left when we were done, and no one spoke to us. Last time we were here the service in the restaurants was attentive and fun. We missed that during this visit. We had the same empty service experience at Agave (x2), Fontana, and Kyoto. - Food was lacking some days—for example, there has been no bacon for the past 3 days at breakfast. Breakfast items at Tortuga ran out and were not replaced in a timely way. In general, the food at Dona Rosa was great. Lots of choices. Overall we had a very relaxing 8 days which was the goal. Thank you to everyone who made our time here enjoyable.

Our first time stay at the resort, We will be going back, had an amazing time, great hotel.nice atmosphere, the best of all, NO TIMESHARE OR MEMBERSHIP SALES AT ALL. wE WILL TELL FAMILY AND FRIENDS TO COME... AND VISIT.

The transportation service from the airport (and back), to a quick check-in got us started on the right foot. The ocean view room was amazing and the staff throughout the complex were super cordial and hel...pful. We purchased the premium package and did not regret the extra expense. Victor Cabrero and other staff in the Premium Lounge were the best. Booking a la carte from the Premium Lounge was easy and the ladies looking after that were great. Our room was cleaned every day and we tipped every day for such good service. We thought the choices for food around the complex were more than adequate. I had an egg white Omlette with additions every morning. It’s hard not to overeat. The salmon in the Italian restaurant was cooked to perfection. We tipped for every drink and meal. I find it’s the least we can do for these amazing people working for low wages. Staying at the Barcelo did not stop us from getting out into Santa Cruz, Crucecita, two excursions, many other beaches, snorkeling, and running or walking around Huatulco.

Canadian here. I wasn't going to put Barcelo on blast & write a public review but in a response to a private satisfaction survey I filled out they basically told me I was lying about getting food poisoning... which honestly kind of pisses me off. The thing I failed to mention in the satisfaction survey was that BOTH my girlfriend and I got food poisoning from their buffet on the exact same night (it was an Italian themed pasta night) so it was no coincidence. It knocked us out for two days and led to me having medical complications when I got home. So, here are my gripes, publicly aired, as someone who has worked in a kitchen professionally for the past decade. We spent a week here and then a week at Secrets Huatulco, so we have something to compare it to. Funny enough, the food ingredients were actually better quality and tastier at Barcelo (especially the desserts) BUT the hygiene practices and food safety were significantly worse at Barcelo. Absolutely abysmal. For that reason alone I would never recommend this resort to anyone. The fry station in the buffet was disgusting, a station of obvious uncleanliness and food poisoning just waiting to happen. The buffet is about twice as large as the one at Secrets which is great unless you don't have enough staff or a large enough kitchen to maintain it. Subsequently, the food was often lukewarm at best. Not once did I see a single food thermometer out checking temps. As a prime example, they made these yogourt parfaits at breakfast and they would just leave them sitting out on the counter for several hours in the morning. I rotated one in an awkward angle to see if it would get changed out and sure enough, several hours later it was still there. Sadly, as Barcelo only lets you eat at the à la carte restaurants max twice per week so you were forced to eat at the buffet often. Secrets was much cleaner and had much better food safety practices in their buffet. Subsequently the food was often hot and fresh and the kitchen looked visibly MUCH cleaner. On top of that, if you like sleeping in, don't come here. Starting at 8:30am-9:00am the cleaners will start dragging furniture all over the marble floors in the suites above you that will wake even the deepest of sleepers. Simple furniture felt pads for chair and table legs would've fixed this but I was told nothing could be done. Also the WiFi sucks and the building was intermittently without power for two full days (fun!). The room had maintenance issues that were not addressed despite us notifying front desk - the shower leaked under a large tile that would ooze gross brown bathroom water onto the rest of the bathroom when your stepped on it. The entertainment was great though, actually better than Secrets. Those dancers really know how to put on a show. Bartenders & cleaners worked incredibly hard and security was pleasant and helpful. Drinks were great, better than Secrets. It's a shame the kitchen can't get its act together otherwise this would be a great recommendation from the both of us.

This is the second time we have stayed here. We stayed 2 weeks this time. This is not a huge resort, but perfect if you want a quieter time and better service. The staff are excellent .the room was really ...good, and kept spotless by the cleaning staff..The Buffet was different every day, like a new restaurant. Everyone was eager to please. We will come again. Thank you.