Hotel Catalonia Playa Maroma
by Lenny Travel on 10/29/25
What people like / positives
-
Beach & Grounds
-
According to Oyster, the beach is “pristine white sand” and there’s a long stretch, which gives space for strolling and playing.
-
The resort has a beautiful, somewhat “jungle-like” feel in its landscaping, which many families find relaxing.
-
For “Privileged” guests, there’s a more private area on the beach with waiter service.
-
-
Service & Staff
-
Many reviews praise staff friendliness.
-
Rooms are generally well-maintained; some report clean, modern bathrooms depending on the room type.
-
-
Food
-
There are a variety of restaurants (buffet + a la carte) – Italian, Spanish, Mexican, etc.
-
Some guests on Privileged say the “B’Loved” restaurant is a real plus.
-
According to Tripadvisor, food is “great in quality and variety” especially if you make use of the Tapas bar and buffets.
-
-
Pools & Kid-Friendliness
Issues / Cautions (especially for kids)
-
Seaweed (Sargassum)
-
Several recent reviews (e.g., on Reddit) mention bad seaweed on the beach, which can make parts of it less pleasant.
-
While staff report they work to clean it daily, it’s not guaranteed to be fully clear.
-
Depending on the timing of your trip, seaweed conditions can vary a lot.
-
-
Kids Club Limitations
-
According to TripAdvisor, the kids club “is small” and some say it felt “abandoned.”
-
One review complains that on their stay, the person in charge of the club “never did anything” with the kids.
-
Minimum age: some note that younger than ~4 may not be served by the kids club.
-
Babysitting only starts at certain ages — per TripAdvisor, possibly 4+.
-
-
Food Consistency
-
While a number of guests like the food, some say the buffet is “mediocre at best.”
-
According to another reviewer, a la carte restaurants can be hit or miss.
-
One complaint: only one or limited restaurants are open in the evening for some guests, leading to long waits.
-
Use of “family-style” serving utensils (tongs/spoons) at buffet raised hygiene concerns.
-
-
Entertainment
-
Some say entertainment is “poor” or “virtually non-existent.”
-
Others note limited evening shows or lack of kids-specific evening entertainment.
-
According to Reddit, there may be aggressive sales pitches (timeshare) during your stay.
-
-
Logistics / Accessibility
-
According to one Redditor, the hotel is somewhat isolated (“far in from the highway”), making local transport a bit inconvenient.
-
With kids, depending on their age and mobility, that could be a factor (getting off-property, excursions, etc.).
-
-
Wildlife
-
Some reviews mention coatis, lizards, and other jungle-like critters freely roaming.
-
Could be fun for kids, but also something to be aware of (safety, snake concerns, etc.).
-
My Verdict (Practical / Forward-Thinking)
-
Is it “nice enough” for a 1- and 8-year-old? Yes — but it's not a kid-centric mega-resort. Your 8-year-old will probably enjoy the beach, the pool, and some activities. The 1-year-old will need more supervision, and the kids club won’t be a huge draw for them (depending on age policies).
-
Best if you…
-
Consider upgrading to Privileged, because that unlocks better restaurant access, nicer beach area, and could significantly improve your experience.
-
Bring some entertainment for the kids (toys, tablets) — since evening shows or kids club might not be super robust.
-
Be strategic with timing: sargassum is very seasonal. Check recent seaweed reports for Playa Maroma around your travel dates.
-
Budget for babysitting if you want a “date night”; don’t rely solely on the kids club.
-
-
If you’re very focused on “kids having a ton of things to do”, there may be more family-oriented all-inclusives out there (with bigger water parks or stronger children programming). But if you want a somewhat relaxing, nature-y, calm beach resort with enough for kids plus a decent food / service balance, this is a solid pick.
