At the far eastern end of the peninsula, this youthful all-inclusive gives the neighboring, spanking new Barcelo Marina Palace, which it closely resembles, a run for its money. With plenty of space to spread out, this handsome low-rise is framed on one side by scrub-covered hills and on the ocean-side by sand dunes. Gleaming white, green-roofed three-story units surround a vast freeform pool with rock landscaping. The approach to the port cochere entrance is a weak link, with its half-hearted pond and small garden.
Open to fore and aft, the lobby is centered on a square atrium of planters surmounted by a massive wrought-iron chandelier and fringed by rattan sofas and oversize, canopied bamboo sofas. Combining gleaming whites, walls of peach, yellow and sky-blue, and a light-blue tile floor, this welcoming space creates a marvelous first impression. Romance is immediately in the air. Reception, on the left, can be overwhelmed during group check-in and, as at several competing hotels, often seems understaffed.
Three restaurants provide themed Italian, continental and Cuban fare, though the latter also serves as the generic buffet diner with ho-hum cuisine and frequent shortages. La Gondola features Roman murals, and classical music suggests a sophistication that the Italian fare often fails to achieve. A beachfront thatched restaurant offers the sole alfresco option.
The long list of activities should suit every desire, be it archery, badminton, "carbine" shooting or darts, while all the watersports one could wish for are offered. The rambling main pool, with its columned swim-up bar, is divided by a charming footbridge and has a children's section. A limestone-paved sundeck with thatched umbrellas wraps around the second pool complex with a water-slide. An open-air games room and a children's play area in the form of a galleon will appeal to guests with kids. Entertainment staff keeps up a round-the-clock roster of fun, and there's a disco which only comes to life during peak season, when the resort fills up. The shop is meagerly stocked.
Guest rooms are in 36-room blocks and come with an eclectic, albeit harmonic, aesthetic. Taupe tile floors, pale-yellow walls and checkered fabrics in rainbow hues are echoed by the tilework in the baths. Rattan chairs and matching coffee tables contrast with white-painted antique reproduction dressers supporting satellite TVs. All come with telephones, Internet modems, safes, coffee-makers and hair-dryers, and although minibars are standard, only those in suites are stocked at no fee. Walk-in closets are ample. Robes are a nice feature in the spacious bathrooms.
Parking is more than ample, as few guests have their own wheels, but like all of its neighbors, this hotel has the ungainly hollow cement block paving that permits weeds a free range. In contrast, the beach is cleaned daily, and the grounds are well-tended. Families, in particular, may find this resort appealing, although baby-sitting service comes at an extra price and the sheer size of the facility can necessitate considerable walking to and fro (golf carts are on hand—sometimes). Guests wishing transportation to and from town are out on a limb and will face hefty bills if they choose to use taxis.
