Hi MacyLyn,
I'm a Travel Agent who loves the Barcelo Maya property and have sent many couples there to get married. I promise you this is not a sales pitch.
This resort is in a gorgeous setting and they do a great job with just about everything. The biggest piece of advice that I can give you (this pertains to any destination wedding, not just the Barcelo) is to be 'PATIENT'. As with any wedding, the closer you get to the wedding date the more stressed you may become. The fact that this ceremony will not be in your back yard may add more to your stress level since you can't simply drive to the facility and speak with the wedding coordinator. Please remember that the wedding coordinators are planning scores of weddings and are devoting more time to weddings that are happening on any particular day. These resorts have wedding ceremonies practically everyday, sometime multiple weddings per day, every day of the week except Sunday (if it's a Civil Wedding). Your wedding is not the only wedding they have to coordinate! When you call, they simply can't drop what they are doing and immediately call you back (you would not appreciate that on your wedding day if they did that too you). Unfortunately, this waiting time for them to call you back can be stressful to you, especially if they don't call back the same day. Relax, be patient!!! You should also always use email to have a paper trail even if it's a follow-up to a phone call. They are professional, very good at what they do and they will eventually get back to you. What may seem like a major problem to you is probably a very easy fix for them to take care of, they've seen it all. Remember, they have to deal with great brides (like you) and some bridezillas that require more attention than others. In the end, if you're patient, you will be very, very happy with the final outcome and the overall experience at this resort.
They even provide excellent customer service after the event. I had a bride accidentally leave a beautiful shell floral arrangement there. Her Mother made it for her and she brought it with her from the States. There is no way it would have gone through customs without the receipts that it was bought and made in the States, so shipping it back was not an option. I asked the wedding coordinator to hold it for me and I picked it up when I personally went there about 6 months later and I brought it back. They actually secured it in a safe place and bubble wrapped it if so it would not break until I got there. Hopefully nothing like that will happen to you, but it's stuff like that, that show they go above and beyond.
Tips for the resort. You've made a great choice. If possible, remember to reserve your dinner reservations for your entire stay the first day you get there (they fill up fast). Those staying at the Palace section should be able to use the restaurants at the other four sections too, so you'll have lots of choices. Don't forget that they have an adult-only pool set back behind the walkway to the two buildings in the middle of the resort (Palace section). It is quite lovely and serene. You can rent a Cabana bed on the side of that pool for the entire day. They have pretty good free snorkeling right on site in front of the Beach/Caribe and Tropical/Colonial sections of the complex so you may not have to pay for a snorkeling excursion elsewhere if you or your guests want to snorkel. They have a 'shuttle bus' that goes between the lobbies of each section of the complex if you don't want to walk from one section to the other for dinner, shows or the disco (some ladies may be wearing heels).
I hope this helps a little!
