Barceló Karmina - All Inclusive

This is an amazing spot and a great deal for an AI. I was already a fan of Barcelo and feel you get high quality at a value. This was in line with my other experiences. However, it wasn't perfect, and if you're not in a good room and eat at the buffet only, you may not be pleased. With that said, do pay attention to other low rated reviews. The property itself is stunning. The grounds are a perfect tropical oasis enhanced by the gorgeous Mayan design of the hotel. The rooms are large and comfortable with spacious balconies. The location across from Las Hadas is exquisite. Some things required a maintenance call, but it was quick to resolve. The reception staff are so nice and always try to be helpful, but the check in process is overly time consuming and it can easily take an hour. As for the ala carte restaurants, the Italian was excellent. The Japanese was also wonderful with delicious, fresh sushi and many other options to fit any taste. The Mexican restaurant is a lovely experience with decent fare. The buffet, meh, I looked and wasn't impressed. Its dining area is quite inviting, though. Room service is good enough- I ordered breakfast and loved it on my balcony. Ok, so Premium Level. I have mixed feelings at this Barcelo. It guarantees you a room on the top two floors, but honestly that won't mean much if it's not facing a nice direction. The Premium Lounge is fine, but the lobby location, selection of snacks and overall atmosphere are mediocre. Most people probably don't even use it, but I did, and appreciated having it. Room service is 24 hours and included free for Premium only, so that's a great benefit if you like eating in your room. The drive to the historic town center of Manzanillo is about 15 minutes, but it's nice to be closer to Las Hadas and see the twinkling night views across the bay. I'd definitely stay again.