TripAdvisor Traveler Rating

Enrique and Sebastian were great entertainment we played bingo and won!!! They kept the party going great music, and we learned a little Spanish. Santiago was out pool waiter he made sure our cup was never empty!! The food was always available.

Hotel has just been recently taken over by GR Solaris, so there are some teething problems. Our first room was dirty, with broken toilet seat. We asked to get moved , they said they were full!! and that we had booked a certain category of room through selloffvacations.com - so our only option was to have a room facing onto another hotel or upgrade to a higher floor with a $40US per night - the next day we found out the hotel was only 9% full!! Food was average, they have two restaurants, one night Mexican, one night Italian with a buffet for breakfast and lunch. Breakfast was very good we have to say. Hotel was very quiet. There are three pools. The only pool that was used was the adult pool because it was heated. Unfortunately, the other pools were too cold to use, which included the swim up pool bar which was disappointing. However, on a positive note all staff were very friendly. I think they are trying to adjust to the change in ownership. A huge shout out to the Pool entertainment, which was a lot of fun. Special mention to Enrique who is a great entertainer and very personable. Jorge who was also very attentive when it came to the poolside drinks, both these guys get 5 stars from us. Carlos was another star, he works in the Mexican and Italian restaurant in the evenings. Overall it was a nice break away from the cold weather, beautiful property so it will be interesting to see what the new owners bring - rumours are they are trying to make it a member hotel!!

This was our fourth visit to the GR Solaris Lighthouse, but our first after they purchased it from the Barcelo Gran Faro October 1, 2024. The three restaurants food was fabulous! The Solaris Buffet was especially tasty on Tuesday, the Oriental night. Otherwise, it was just good with various choices. Beef meats were too done for us and not much flavor. Tacos were scrumptious! The breakfast buffet was always good with plenty of choices. The cook, Flor, was so gracious and happy to prepare our meal with whatever choices we made. The pools, restaurants, bars and housekeeping staff are all amazing! We experienced some facility issues, but they were all handled gratefully by the resort manager Jose Luis and Fernanda. We thank them for their kindness! A special thank you to Jorge (pool bar services), food servers Carina, Odalis and Bruno. The restaurant supervisor David and the young lady who greeting us at the Solaris Buffet door were also fabulous. We were quite disappointed that Irene was relocated from the pool snack bar to being a cook at the Solaris Buffet, as we were not able to enjoy her pleasant personality and great service. PLEASE CONSIDER BRINGING HER BACK TO THE POOL SNACK AREA! All in all, we had a wonderful 9 night stay with plenty of great service, wonderful food choices and GREAT Mango Margaritas!!

Here’s an expanded version with more detail for each point: Where do I even begin? We stayed at Barcelo in February 2024, and at that time, we had a pleasant experience. Unfortunately, this trip was entirely different, and I can confidently say it has soured my view of the resort. When my friends and I arrived, we decided to take a tour of the hotel to consider purchasing a membership. Part of the incentive to attend this meeting was the promise of a free three-night certificate. This offer seemed appealing, but it has turned into a frustrating experience. Despite attending the presentation and following up with the staff multiple times, we have yet to receive the certificate. Each time we’ve contacted them, we’ve been told that it was sent and they would resend it, but nothing has come through. This lack of follow-through has been incredibly disappointing and unprofessional. Pros of the Resort:     1.    Exceptional Pool Staff: Two individuals stood out during our stay:     •    Enrique at the pool: He went above and beyond every day to make sure we were comfortable and taken care of. His friendly demeanor and professionalism were refreshing, and he truly brightened our days.     •    Jorge at the pool bar: Another fantastic staff member who consistently provided excellent service. He was attentive, personable, and made us feel welcome. These two team members were the highlight of our trip and the only reason I’m not giving this resort a one-star review.     2.    Clean Rooms: The housekeeping staff did a great job maintaining cleanliness in the rooms, which was appreciated. Everything was tidy and well-kept, ensuring a comfortable stay from that perspective. Cons of the Resort:     1.    Freezing Pools: The majority of the pools were so cold that it was nearly impossible to enjoy them. We ended up spending most of our time at a single small pool near the beach, which was the only one warm enough to use comfortably. For a resort of this caliber, I expected all pools to be heated or at least usable.     2.    Limited and Repetitive Food Options: The dining experience was one of the most disappointing aspects of the trip. The food selection was extremely limited and became monotonous after just a few days. There was little variety, and it felt like the same meals were being recycled day after day. For a resort catering to an international clientele, the lack of creativity in the menu was unacceptable.     3.    Electricity Issues: The electricity in our room went out several times, often for hours at a stretch. This caused significant inconveniences, including a lack of air conditioning during warm weather, disrupted access to showers, and problems with running water. These repeated outages were frustrating and not what I expected from a resort of this size and reputation.     4.    Poor Service at the Beach Buffet: The service at the beachfront buffet was practically nonexistent. It was rare to have a server come to our table, and on multiple occasions, we had to get up and get our own coffee and drinks. The staff appeared disinterested, rarely acknowledging us, and the overall experience felt disorganized and inattentive.     5.    Missing Amenities: Upon arrival, I noticed there were no robes in our room. Assuming this was standard, I didn’t think much of it until five days into our trip, when I found out my friends had robes in their rooms. When I finally requested one, it felt like a hassle to get something that should have been provided from the start.     6.    Timeshare Overload: The resort seemed more focused on pushing timeshare sales than ensuring a quality guest experience. This constant emphasis on membership and sales was overwhelming and took away from the relaxing vacation vibe I was hoping for. Final Thoughts: Considering all of these issues, I can confidently say I will never stay at this resort again. With so many other excellent options available, there’s no reason to settle for a place that prioritizes sales over guest satisfaction, provides subpar service, and fails to address basic guest needs. It’s unfortunate because there were a few bright spots, like Enrique and Jorge, but overall, the negatives far outweighed the positives.

Where do I start. We stayed at Barcelo back in February 2024 and was a nice experience. That has definitely changed. I arrived with my friends and we decided to do a tour of the hotel to consider a membership. Was also promised a 3 night free certificate if we sat through the meeting. We've not received that certificate and have followed up with them three times already. Each time they state they have sent it but will send again. Still no certificate. Pros of resort: - Enrique at the pool each day - Jorge who was also at the pool who served drinks. - rooms are clean Both Enrique and Jorge were outstanding. Super friendly. The highlight of our days and why I'm not giving one star. Cons of resort: - pools are freezing and can't really swim in them. Only one small pool by beach is warm enough to get in - food is so limited and very repetitive - electric has gone off in room several days, for several hours at a time which obviously was a challenge with air conditioning, showers and running water. - general service at the beach front buffet was so bad. Barely had any service. Had to finally get own coffee and drinks. They barely acknowledge you. - didn't have any robes in room when arrived so assumed they didn't supply. Found out my friends had so requested one 5 days into trip - appear to be more interested in selling time shares than anything else Would definitely never stay at this resort again with all the other options available.