The resort was ver nice and clean. Lots of pools, not a problem finding a chair. We went on 2 bike tours 17 kms very good. Juan Pablo was very good on the tour and for water arobics. The staff were very friendly and very accommodating. The food was good and good variety. We walked to village and felt very safe,. The shows were entertaining. The beds were a bit hard. We will come back!!

Just spent 7 incredible days at the Barcelo Ixtapa Beach hotel in January. 30+ degree temperatures each and every day, barely a cloud in the sky and not a drop of rain during our stay. Ixtapa is the perfect destination for a January getaway.

The Barcelo Ixtapa definitely looks like a Sheraton 'circa 1980', however it is very clean, and the staff (though maybe fewer in number than other AIs we have visited) were very friendly and helpful. For sure the newer condominiums looked more luxurious, but we were told they were primarily full time ownership condos. Our impression from the incredible Playa el Palmar beach was that the Barcelo had one of the largest, if not the largest, and most beautiful grounds and pool areas of the All Inclusive hotels along the strip.

Our hotel room was clean, beds were comfortable, air conditioning worked and the mini bar was replenished daily. The bathroom was dated and a bit grungy but the panoramic view from our 7th floor balcony was spectacular and more than made up for the view in our bathroom. Perhaps if we had intestinal problems and had to spend more time in the bathroom it would have bothered us more - haha . We definitely agree that higher floors and ocean view rooms are preferable (the even # rooms have the ocean views) however our other family members were scattered on the 5th and 3rd floors and all had nice views of the pool area and ocean and no one complained about their rooms or noise inside the hotel.

The Barcelo’s location is incredible! We absolutely loved the beach and warm water. Shopping across the street was so convenient. Public transportation is cheap (around 9 pesos per person) and ran all day, taking you either direction - to Zihuatenejo or to the Ixtapa Marina or Playa Linda (where you could catch a small boat to Ixtapa Island for 40 pesos return). We enjoyed the hotel guided 2 hour bike ride to Playa Linda, afternoon games of beach volleyball, snorkelling at Coral beach on Ixtapa Island, and a day trip to Zihuatenejo. Vendors along the beach were plentiful but polite. It was also fun to watch the many parasailers each and every day.

Food wasn’t always the best or particularly varied, but we all still managed to gain weight during our stay! We enjoyed the omelette station, pancakes and fresh fruit for breakfast. Open air restaurants either side of the pool were nice. Kids especially loved the self-serve soft ice cream. The rice and beans, pork tacos and french fries on the buffet at La Palapa restaurant were popular. The chicken fajitas, BLTs, french fries and breaded mozza bites were popular at the poolside restaurant, Caracol. Coffee was good at all locations, and the tortilla chips , fresh guacamole and salsa were always yummy. We all liked the pasta station for dinner in the main buffet, but other buffet offerings were a bit hit and miss. Salad bar at all buffets was okay, not great, but okay. We all liked the Sunset dinner which was a barbecue/buffet. Liked the ambiance of the Don Quixote restaurant but beware the lighting is dim, we could hardly make out the menu. We had the best luck with the calamari appetizer, salmon entree and ice cream dessert at Don Quixote. Overall, alcoholic beverages were a bit of a letdown, wine took a while to adjust too, but within a day or two we all managed to find drink choices that pleased our palates.

Ixtapa and Zihuatenejo both look to be in a bit of an economic slump, restaurants and shops are quiet, which is very sad to see. The people in the shops were friendly and not intrusive in spite of things being so quiet. We always felt safe while wondering during the day, we did not wander too far at night. We absolutely loved our stay in Ixtapa and would return to the area and the Barcelo hotel in a heartbeat!

This was an amazing trip. Staff is wonderfull. Book the combo tour and book the sunset dinner. Grounds are beatifull. Also great at thte spa. Outside restaurants have amazing food, the fresh fruit and veggies are faboulous.

We arrived at the Barcelo jan 13th with a group of 8 for another one week stay. This is probably our 10th stay here. We also go to at least two other mexican All Inclusive resorts a year but continue to feel that this resort always feels more like home.
One of the best features of this resort is Location Location Location. It sits on the beach of one of the most beautiful beaches we have ever visited, and we visit a lot. The water is warm, the surf enjoyable ( but don't ever turn your back to the waves) and the beach is the flatest and best walking beach of all. You can walk for miles while watching the surf come crashing in. You also won't find any rocks or coral on the sand or in the water. This makes the running, walking and entry into the water that much safer. And if the ocasional large wave hits you, you don't have to be concerned about hitting any rocks. There are however times when the waves are just to large so pay attention to the flags and talk to any of the two great barcelo lifeguards that patrol both the pools and the beaches. They are always there with your safety in mind.
The hotel is also located just across the street from a very large mexican flea market as well as the small town of Ixtapa. The town is very clean safe and filled with various tourist shops and restaurants. On several occassions we would walk through the town in the evening after dinner and felt very safe. Yes there are a lot of time share or vacationship ownership sales people on the street corners but they don't really bother you if you just so No Gracias to any promotional gifts to attend a presentation. So if not interested again just give them a firm NO Gracias and keep walking. Don't be offended by them as that is what they do for a living. I actually say hello to them before they do as I know the routine.
Once or twice during the week we take the 30 minute walk to the marina via the sidewalk. Just walk to the front street and turn left on the sidewalk. This is a nice early morning walk that takes you to the marina filled with larger boats a few shops and some nice restaurants. You can also get to the marina by turning right on the beach and continuing for about 2 miles and then turing left up through the path just before the end of the beach at the marina water entrance.
If you like to golf there are two golf courses, one is actually within easy walking distance. We know of a couple where the husband golf's every morning and loves it.
Once during our week we usually also take the local bus (less than one US $ each way) to Zihuatanejo a beautiful fishing village . Lots of shops beaches and local market to explore. Again very safe for those of you that are concerned about some of the negative media attention associated with the gang wars in some parts of the country. Suggest that such off resort adventures be undertaken in the mornings as it does get hot during the day.
And that's what's also so nice about ixtapa. The Jan weather is usually always sunny and in the mid 80's F or higher 20 C.
The Barcelo itself is a nice 12 story hotel with most rooms facing the ocean. This provides the BEST ocean views and sunsets in all of Mexico. The rooms are very similar to most resorts. Yes a little tired looking in some cases but upgrades are being made. But we certainly don't spend much time in the rooms anyway. Once you see the views from most rooms you will understand why I speak so highly of this aspect of the resort.
As for the food, I do read some of the other reviews that don't rate this area very high.
All I can say is that the breakfasts are great with respect to all the basics. Lots of fresh fruit and cereal. The eggs and omelettes are always cooked to perfection right on the grill for you. So not sure of what the issues are. They will also bring you capucino coffee if you ask for it. All the waiters and waitresses provided great service. In particular Claudio, who knew how we liked our coffee and when. He was also always very pleasant and attentive to our needs as we were a large group of 8.
Lunch was usually at the outdoor restaurant where once again we were provided with a full buffet that always included fruits salads fish chicken and several meat dishes. Also burgers hot dogs and fries for those that wanted it. There was always something being freshly cooked on the grill. Usually fish. So can't see why anyone would ever complain about the food.
The same can be said for the evening Buffets. Yes there could be a more extensive variety of food and there has been a little less selection than in earlier years but that is a factor of the economic reality associated with the number of tourists still able and willing to travel south into mexico. They also have two other specialty resaurants where both service and food are highly rated.
One suggestion I would make is to have more varity of beans during lunch and dinner.
As we usually gathered for pre dinner drinks in the outdoor lobby piano bar area, a special thanks to Maritza for taking such special care of us each year. She is always so pleasant and engaging. Again, that's why we love to call this place home.

The hotel grounds are very lush with trees and flowering bushes everywhere. Staff are always ensuring that the grounds are kept very clean. There are 3 very clean pools, two suitable for children and one very large adult pool with one of the best swim-up bars in mexico. You just can't beat the late afternoon drinks looking out at the ocean with the sun slowly setting. We were also glad to see the lifeguards enforcing the no children in the adult pool or swim-up bar area. The waiters on the beach and around the pools ensured that you were never thirsty for to long. Great service by all of them. And in particular we can't say enough about how Roberto, Jesus and Ullysiss treat us when they see us each year. The kindness of the staff is a major factor in us continuing to come here.
And for those of you that don't like flies, this is the place for you. There are no bugs to speak of anywhere around the beach, pool or restaurants.
We also take a number of bike tours through the area and again no flies or mosquitos. The same holds true for any evening walks around the resort or across the street in Ixtapa. You can sit outside anywhere and not be concerned about bugs.
We will try to go back to the Barcelo in early march to take advantage of the later sunsets.