Catalonia Playa Maroma vs Sandals Royal Barbados
Catalonia Hotels & Resorts vs Sandals Resorts— Side-by-side resort comparison
Key Metrics
| Metric | Catalonia Playa Maroma | Sandals Royal Barbados |
|---|---|---|
| Our Rating | 8.1 | 8.2 |
| Star Rating | 4.5 | 5.0 |
| Room Count | 410 | 222 |
| Restaurants | 8 | 21 |
| Pools | 3 | 11 |
| Year Opened | 2000 | 2017 |
| Year Renovated | 2022 | 2021 |
Features
| Metric | Catalonia Playa Maroma | Sandals Royal Barbados |
|---|---|---|
| All-Inclusive | Yes | Yes |
| Adults Only | No | Yes |
| Beach Access | Yes | Yes |
| Spa | Yes | Yes |
| Kids Club | Yes | No |
Dining Comparison
| Metric | Catalonia Playa Maroma | Sandals Royal Barbados |
|---|---|---|
| Total Venues | 19 | 26 |
| Included | 19 | 26 |
| Extra Charge | 0 | 0 |
Room Comparison
| Metric | Catalonia Playa Maroma | Sandals Royal Barbados |
|---|---|---|
| Room Categories | 8 | 12 |
| Suite Categories | 2 | 12 |
Activities Comparison
| Metric | Catalonia Playa Maroma | Sandals Royal Barbados |
|---|---|---|
| Total Activities | 24 | 24 |
| Included | 18 | 18 |
| Extra Charge | 6 | 6 |
Pros & Cons
Catalonia Playa Maroma
Pros
- Playa Maroma is one of Mexico's consistently best-rated beaches — the fine sand and clear water are genuinely better than most Riviera Maya properties.
- Resident monkeys and coatis in the surrounding jungle — memorable wildlife encounters not found at most all-inclusives.
- Four à la carte restaurants with above-average food quality for this price tier — Japanese and Italian receive specific praise.
- Aromes café provides good coffee — a real advantage at a resort where bad buffet coffee is the norm.
Cons
- Walking distances within the property between lobby, buffet, pool, and beach are significant — room placement matters considerably.
- The à la carte online reservation system is complicated and not well-supported by front desk staff.
Sandals Royal Barbados
Pros
- The rooftop infinity pool is the Caribbean's first — an evening pool experience with ocean views that's unavailable at other Sandals properties
- All-suite property means no standard rooms — every guest has suite-level accommodations
- 'Stay at One, Play at Two' with adjacent Sandals Barbados effectively doubles dining to 20+ restaurants and 10+ bars
- 15-minute transfer from Grantley Adams International Airport — one of the shortest Sandals arrivals in the Caribbean
- Lovers Lanes bowling alley and craft beer bar are genuine novelties within the all-inclusive format
Cons
- Maxwell Beach is a public beach — other hotel guests and persistent local vendors are present and regularly cited by guests
- Lounge chair competition is consistent: early morning positioning is required for both the main pool and beachfront spots
- Service at restaurants and bars is noted as slower than expected given the pricing — allow extra time for meals
- The scale of the combined Royal Barbados and Sandals Barbados property means it's a larger, more crowded operation than quieter Sandals resorts
Summary
Sandals Royal Barbados has a higher guest rating, while Sandals Royal Barbados has more restaurants, while Catalonia Playa Maroma is the larger property, while Sandals Royal Barbados has more dining venues.