Hi Nancy, great video as usual! I stayed at a few Iberostar properties before. That's great that they got rid of plastic bottles. I am sure when one resort chain does it, the others will follow. I will bring a metal water bottle with me next time. This is a beautiful resort like most of their others.
I was pleasantly surprised at how upscale the Maya was within the complex. It was impressive and a really good choice for a family vacay with kids. It took a couple of days to get used to everything being in glass or refillable bottles but we just came back from Valentin Imperial and we noticed how much extra waste there was and Iberostar has shown us there really doesn't need to be. Like you said, I hope the other resort chains follow suit. Take care! 😊
Hi! Glad you enjoyed it. My shortlist for our extended family is: Iberostar Paraiso Maya Hotel Marina el Cid Ventus at Marina el Cid Dreams Natura Finest Playa Mujeres They are on my list for different reasons and these are only based on our experiences with these resorts. Our family is 21 people and ranges in age from our parents in their 70s to the youngest child being 8 years old and a whole lot in between.😊 Finest is my top pick for food, luxury service and it is a smaller size. Iberostar Maya for the water park and pools.A quality resort with a ton to do but not quite as 'upscale' as Finest Marina el Cid and Ventus (2 halves of the same resort) is at my top for 'bang for your buck'. They often have kids under 12 free with a paying adult. Upper level rooms are amazing on the Ventus side. Dream Natura is my top pick for all around service and food. Hope that helps 😊
The service was pretty good.😊 It was slower at busier times of day, of course. It usually is at most resorts. Beach service was not as good as around the pool because the beach is huge and all 4 resorts use the same beach. Overall, we were satisfied with the service at Maya.
You mentioned the evening entertainment is a fee? Is that true? I have been there 3 times about 10 years ago so wondering if this is new? I am talking about the large one in the Lindo area?
Hi! I am referring to the shows in the theater in the Plaza area. There is still included entertainment options for the different resorts but there are also upgraded options that you can pay for. We didn't pay for the theater option after speaking to some guests who didn't feel it was worth the expense. Imo it would be nice if they included one show in the theater for guests staying a week or more but at this time, they don't.
Hi! There is a paid show in the big fancy theater. We didn't bother with it. Just too expensive imo. There are other 'shows' and events going on (bands, magic, dancers etc) that happen at the resort and also in the plaza area that are included. We didn't find it necessary to attend any extra paid shows. The included events and activities were good. Hope that helps a bit 😊
@@saramango7 The Iberostar App from the play store. 😊. You can download it in advance. Browse 'as a guest' and check out info about the resort. You can also look at the resort map directly from their website.
Hey Sara! Sorry for the delay about your restaurants question. You are a woman after my own heart lol! I always look at the menus before hand to narrow down which restaurants we want to be sure not to miss. You can access all of the menus also online from the App on your phone and the Iberostar website. Don't forget, if you stay at Maya you have access to Lindo, Beach and Del Mar restaurants as well so there is a lot to look through. Maya has some great restaurants and probably best outside of the Grand. Enjoy your trip 😊
Hi! Pools are not heated in the winter. They tell me they are fine but I haven't been there in the winter myself. I would assume the spa pool is always a nice temp.
Hi! Yes, I do think Maya would be a really good fit for teens. Lots of sports and activities going on at the beach and the pool as well as the star camp area. It is also small enough that they can't 'disappear' on you too easily. 😋
Thank you for sharing this! Super informative. Few questions: 1) How was the night life? Was their free shows? 2) Did you see any weddings at this resort? (My Fiance and I are looking into a destination wedding.) 3) The seaweed/sargassum looks like a lot. Did this bother you on the beach and was it hard to swim in the ocean? Thank you so much!!!!
Hi! 😊 To answer what I can: 1) the night life was good. There is a lot going on. Nothing too super exciting but not boring either. 😊 There is always something going on in the plaza area in the evenings, as well. If you download the app they give you a list of activities and events each day. If you have a look at that you can see how you feel about the nightlife offerings. 2) We did not see any wedding when we were there but some of the venues are tucked away for a bit of privacy, so that may be why. I can't speak to the wedding coordinator and their service but the resort is a good pick if you have children and families on your guest list. Maya has enough for kids to keep busy but is luxurious enough for adults to feel pampered. 3) The sargassum is heavy but it is inconsistent. Some days we could go into the Sea to swim and play around in the waves and other days it was too heavy to go in comfortably. (I don't like to feel it swirling around my legs lol.) I hope that helps. Let me know if there is anything else I might be able to answer.
Iberostar has set things up in such a way that two resorts share one "water" area. Maya and Lindo share the water park (lazy river)and pools. If you look on the map, it is in the center between the two resorts' suites buildings. Beach and Del Mar share their own separate pool area doing much the same thing.
You're right! If Xcaret is in your budget then that one would most definitely be better. Probably the BEST option for that age group but it is 3x the price per night than Maya. I was considering resorts within the same price range. 20 and 18 are considered adults at Mexico resorts (where alcohol is concerned) just fyi 😊 Xcaret is full of activities and with a ton of stuff to do. If you can afford it that is a fantastic family trip idea. 👍😀
@@newtravelescapes Thanks! Also, loved your video. It's very helpful. Is there a second bathroom in the adjoining room? I can't tell when I browse the website. And did you have a hard time with the dinner reservations before arriving?
@@RebeccaAckerman-t2z thank you so much! The two connecting room family suites have a full bathroom for each room. One bedroom has a king and the other has two doubles. It is about 1250 sq ft. Make sure you compare pricing. Sometimes it saves you some money to book separate rooms and email the resort to request that your rooms are in the same building and as close together as possible. If it can save you money then you can decide if you want them connecting or just as close together as possible. We made all our dinner reservations as soon as we arrived and had no issues. We modified them if and when we needed with the concierge. (If a new time was available, of course).
I liked the size of this resort. I find Royalton Splash a bit too big but that is personal preference. Some people enjoy a larger resort. I can't speak to Planet Hollywood except that I have heard it is a smaller version of Hard Rock. 😊
I have! Though, I stayed at the Lindo (same resort, different area) and this resort was so dreamy. Best vacation I've ever had. Also, the buffet food was good!
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I have been here twice, the service was amazing. And the food was BUSSIN
We really enjoyed it too. An awesome choice for a multi-gen family vacay.
That 'snake' bar is hard to beat. 😄
@@newtravelescapes My favorite drink was the chocolate monkey
i love their service! everyone is so nice and friendly i love the people there so much, some of the kindest ppl ive ever met!
One of my favorite resorts ! Going back for my 50th
Happy Birthday & Have fun! 😀
Im going here in a week or so thank you for this. Very formative !
Have fun!!!
Hi Nancy, great video as usual! I stayed at a few Iberostar properties before. That's great that they got rid of plastic bottles. I am sure when one resort chain does it, the others will follow. I will bring a metal water bottle with me next time. This is a beautiful resort like most of their others.
I was pleasantly surprised at how upscale the Maya was within the complex. It was impressive and a really good choice for a family vacay with kids.
It took a couple of days to get used to everything being in glass or refillable bottles but we just came back from Valentin Imperial and we noticed how much extra waste there was and Iberostar has shown us there really doesn't need to be. Like you said, I hope the other resort chains follow suit. Take care! 😊
Great video as usual!
Glad you enjoyed it!
Thank you for this video!😊
My pleasure! 😊
I have been here twice. I'm trying to go back this year
Have a great time!!! I hope you get back sooner rather than later. 😊
Thank you for the review! I'm curious, what are the other resorts on your "short list" in the Cancun area for a large family gathering?
Hi! Glad you enjoyed it.
My shortlist for our extended family is:
Iberostar Paraiso Maya
Hotel Marina el Cid
Ventus at Marina el Cid
Dreams Natura
Finest Playa Mujeres
They are on my list for different reasons and these are only based on our experiences with these resorts. Our family is 21 people and ranges in age from our parents in their 70s to the youngest child being 8 years old and a whole lot in between.😊
Finest is my top pick for food, luxury service and it is a smaller size.
Iberostar Maya for the water park and pools.A quality resort with a ton to do but not quite as 'upscale' as Finest
Marina el Cid and Ventus (2 halves of the same resort) is at my top for 'bang for your buck'. They often have kids under 12 free with a paying adult. Upper level rooms are amazing on the Ventus side.
Dream Natura is my top pick for all around service and food.
Hope that helps 😊
Great video with lots of info!
Question, for the big water slides, are all ages of kids allowed? Or they have to be a certain age to use them?
Thank you! There is no age restriction but there is a sign with height restrictions.
What is the required height?
Are you able to enter the Paraíso Lindos international buffet? It would have been better if the Mayan had an international buffet.
You sure can! When you stay at Maya you can dine anywhere except at Joia. Maya is a great resort. 😊
Very informative, thanks!
Glad you enjoyed it!
Thank you for this review! How was the pool side and beach service?
The service was pretty good.😊 It was slower at busier times of day, of course. It usually is at most resorts.
Beach service was not as good as around the pool because the beach is huge and all 4 resorts use the same beach. Overall, we were satisfied with the service at Maya.
You mentioned the evening entertainment is a fee? Is that true? I have been there 3 times about 10 years ago so wondering if this is new? I am talking about the large one in the Lindo area?
Hi! I am referring to the shows in the theater in the Plaza area. There is still included entertainment options for the different resorts but there are also upgraded options that you can pay for. We didn't pay for the theater option after speaking to some guests who didn't feel it was worth the expense.
Imo it would be nice if they included one show in the theater for guests staying a week or more but at this time, they don't.
The resort charges extra for nightly entertainment in the theaters? We have to pay to watch the night shows?
Did I hear that correctly?
Hi! There is a paid show in the big fancy theater. We didn't bother with it. Just too expensive imo.
There are other 'shows' and events going on (bands, magic, dancers etc) that happen at the resort and also in the plaza area that are included.
We didn't find it necessary to attend any extra paid shows. The included events and activities were good.
Hope that helps a bit 😊
Hi 👋 What month was this video recorded in?
I believe we were there in May 2023
Do they give you a physical map of all the places?
They may have one at check-in but I'm not really sure. We used the map on the App. 🙂
@@newtravelescapes what app??
@@saramango7 The Iberostar App from the play store. 😊.
You can download it in advance. Browse 'as a guest' and check out info about the resort.
You can also look at the resort map directly from their website.
Hey Sara! Sorry for the delay about your restaurants question. You are a woman after my own heart lol! I always look at the menus before hand to narrow down which restaurants we want to be sure not to miss. You can access all of the menus also online from the App on your phone and the Iberostar website. Don't forget, if you stay at Maya you have access to Lindo, Beach and Del Mar restaurants as well so there is a lot to look through. Maya has some great restaurants and probably best outside of the Grand. Enjoy your trip 😊
Hello what about the pools temperature?
Hi! Pools are not heated in the winter. They tell me they are fine but I haven't been there in the winter myself. I would assume the spa pool is always a nice temp.
Thank you for the video. Do you think teenagers would enjoy this resort?
Hi! Yes, I do think Maya would be a really good fit for teens.
Lots of sports and activities going on at the beach and the pool as well as the star camp area. It is also small enough that they can't 'disappear' on you too easily. 😋
yes! im a teen and i loved it! esp the beach, pools and shows were all amazing!
Thank you for sharing this! Super informative. Few questions:
1) How was the night life? Was their free shows?
2) Did you see any weddings at this resort? (My Fiance and I are looking into a destination wedding.)
3) The seaweed/sargassum looks like a lot. Did this bother you on the beach and was it hard to swim in the ocean?
Thank you so much!!!!
Hi! 😊
To answer what I can:
1) the night life was good. There is a lot going on. Nothing too super exciting but not boring either. 😊 There is always something going on in the plaza area in the evenings, as well.
If you download the app they give you a list of activities and events each day. If you have a look at that you can see how you feel about the nightlife offerings.
2) We did not see any wedding when we were there but some of the venues are tucked away for a bit of privacy, so that may be why. I can't speak to the wedding coordinator and their service but the resort is a good pick if you have children and families on your guest list. Maya has enough for kids to keep busy but is luxurious enough for adults to feel pampered.
3) The sargassum is heavy but it is inconsistent. Some days we could go into the Sea to swim and play around in the waves and other days it was too heavy to go in comfortably. (I don't like to feel it swirling around my legs lol.)
I hope that helps. Let me know if there is anything else I might be able to answer.
I thought the lazy river was on the Lindo side
Iberostar has set things up in such a way that two resorts share one "water" area.
Maya and Lindo share the water park (lazy river)and pools. If you look on the map, it is in the center between the two resorts' suites buildings.
Beach and Del Mar share their own separate pool area doing much the same thing.
For teens you don't think xcaret would be better? I'm worried my 20, 18, 15 will be bored. My 12 will be fine. :)
You're right! If Xcaret is in your budget then that one would most definitely be better. Probably the BEST option for that age group but it is 3x the price per night than Maya. I was considering resorts within the same price range.
20 and 18 are considered adults at Mexico resorts (where alcohol is concerned) just fyi 😊
Xcaret is full of activities and with a ton of stuff to do. If you can afford it that is a fantastic family trip idea. 👍😀
@@newtravelescapes Thanks! Also, loved your video. It's very helpful. Is there a second bathroom in the adjoining room? I can't tell when I browse the website. And did you have a hard time with the dinner reservations before arriving?
@@RebeccaAckerman-t2z thank you so much!
The two connecting room family suites have a full bathroom for each room. One bedroom has a king and the other has two doubles. It is about 1250 sq ft. Make sure you compare pricing. Sometimes it saves you some money to book separate rooms and email the resort to request that your rooms are in the same building and as close together as possible. If it can save you money then you can decide if you want them connecting or just as close together as possible.
We made all our dinner reservations as soon as we arrived and had no issues. We modified them if and when we needed with the concierge. (If a new time was available, of course).
This looks like its better than Royalton Splash and Planet Hollywood... Anyone been here recently?
I liked the size of this resort. I find Royalton Splash a bit too big but that is personal preference. Some people enjoy a larger resort.
I can't speak to Planet Hollywood except that I have heard it is a smaller version of Hard Rock. 😊
I have! Though, I stayed at the Lindo (same resort, different area) and this resort was so dreamy. Best vacation I've ever had. Also, the buffet food was good!
"Promosm" ☝️
Do bring kids. It's a vacation.
@@karlsracing8422 If you have kids they will love it. If you don't you will likely love it. 😊. Maya is the most upscale of the 4 family properties.