Barcelo Karmina

A long road off the main street takes guests to the hotel's entrance, where the Mayan-inspired architecture is immediately apparent. The seven-story white building has carvings and gold stone that brings to mind the ancient culture. Inside, the lobby's ceiling is covered in the same stunning stone, and columns are etched with Mayan designs. Guests are often seated at one of the dozens of wooden chairs and tables, either making use of the Wi-Fi or grabbing a drink from the lobby bar.

The manicured grounds are just as gorgeous -- complete with winding stone pathways, palm trees, and a Buddha garden with rock sculptures. It's a peaceful environment unless you're by the waterslide at the Family Pool or taking part in the theater show at night. Speaking of, be aware that the show runs late and can be heard from many of the rooms. Request one away from the theater if you're not interested in hearing Disney tunes until 11 p.m. While guests are primarily families, couples and groups of friends still frequent the hotel.   

The Playa de Oro International Airport is a 40-minute drive from the hotel; the hotel can arrange an airport transfer for a fee. Most restaurants and sites require a car, though cabs are plentiful and inexpensive. A Walmart is a 10-minute drive from the hotel and a Starbucks is six minutes away by car. It's a four-hour drive from the popular resort town of Puerto Vallarta and a three-and-a-half-hour drive from Guadalajara. Many visitors choose to rent a car to explore the surrounding area, and the hotel provides free outdoor and garage parking.

The most basic rooms are the Junior Suite Deluxe, which are a spacious 667 square feet. They're decorated blandly with wooden furniture, white bedding, and a couple pieces of Mayan-inspired wall art. They all have a living room area, though it's not separate, which includes a blue love seat, chair, glass dining table, and a flat-screen TV. Across from the bed is an armoire with another flat-screen TV. All rooms have mini-fridges with water, beer, soda, juice, and snacks, which are refilled each day. In-room safes, coffeemakers, robes and slippers, and balconies with either garden or ocean views are also standard. The large marble bathrooms have bathtubs, separate showers, two sinks, hairdryers, and ample toiletries.

Upgrading to Club Premium means a higher-floor room with better views of the ocean. You'll get a few extra perks, like 24-hour room service, in-room Wi-Fi, and premium liquor. You'll also gain access to the Club Premium Lounge, which has computers, and snacks and coffee throughout the day.  

The private beach at Barcelo Karmina is a small cove separated from the ocean by the 18th hole of the Las Hadas Golf Course. It has several blue plastic loungers, umbrellas, water sports, and cabanas for a fee. Since it's private, the beach is free of vendors. The hotel's pool complex is huge, consisting of six interconnected pools that have lush greenery surrounding them. There's one secluded adult-only pool and another whirlpool also restricted to adults. The family pool has a fake grotto and a kids-only waterslide. The animation team sometimes leads activities in and around the pool. 

The U-Spa has a variety of treatments available, including massages for couples. The adjacent fitness center is well-equipped with plenty of cardio and strength-training machines, as well as free weights. A beauty salon is also available. Other facilities include tennis courts, a sand volleyball court, and game room. Many of the families participate in the nightly show at Teatro Maya; the night I was there was Disney-themed, with both English and Spanish songs. There's also a disco for adults from 11 p.m. to 2 a.m.

Additionally, there's a business center with computers, several meeting and event spaces, a boutique, tobacco store, and photo shop on-site.

The all-inclusive package means guests can take advantage of any of the five bars or four restaurants at the hotel. The main Bugambilias Buffet is open for all meals, including a kids' section for picky eaters. It receives favorable reviews, particularly for an all-inclusive resort. Indoor seating includes blue wooden chairs on marble floors and the outdoor space has metal chairs and tables under a canvas. Times vary and reservations must be made for the three a la carte restaurants; they also require a dress code. Agave is an open-air, thatched-roof Mexican restaurant on the cliff that has stunning views over the ocean. Capri is the Italian restaurant located within the pool complex and Kyoto is the Japanese restaurant next to the main buffet.

There's also a Beach Snack Bar that serves fare like hamburgers, hot dogs, and tacos throughout the day. There are five bars spread throughout the property that guests can order from, though only the Club Premium visitors receive premium liquor.