Fairmont Riviera Maya (Mexico) vs St. James (Barbados) - which is nicer?
#1
Original Member
Original Poster
Join Date: May 1998
Location: Rockville, MD, USA
Posts: 157
Fairmont Riviera Maya (Mexico) vs St. James (Barbados) - which is nicer?
Trying to choose a southern destination for next winter. 2 adults and 2 toddlers.
Has anyone been to both of these? Taking into account the suite upgrade, which of these 2 hotels would you recommend?
Thanks
Miz
Has anyone been to both of these? Taking into account the suite upgrade, which of these 2 hotels would you recommend?
Thanks
Miz
#2
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: YYC
Programs: AC SE
Posts: 829
no upgrade available at the St James.
#3
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: May 2009
Location: FRA / YEG
Programs: AC Super Elite, Radisson Platinum, Accor Platinum
Posts: 11,874
You can get a nice and spacious one-bedroom suite at the Fairmont Mayakoba which should be much more suitable for a family.
One advantage of the Fairmont Barbados would be that you'd be right on the beach while many of the rooms/suites at the Fairmont Mayakoba are a walk away from the pool or beach.
#4
Join Date: Apr 2004
Location: YYZ, DUB, OGG
Programs: *G (as are spouse and 2 kids), ACCOR ALL DIAMOND, Marriott - GE
Posts: 1,189
Mayakoba
- more expansive - carts by staff and BMW bikes
- all inclusive option
- choices of accommodation
- more isolated suites with area for rooms
- lots more wildlife
- father away from the city life - (Playa) and other restaurants
- Mexican obviously
- airport an hour away
- Mexico and ?crime with Canadians (as well militarized towers along the highway to and from the airport)
- more of a resort/paradise feel with the mangroves and canals
- hurricanes possible
- upgrades to casita suite - got beach casita on my second time there
- only brought the eldest there - twice
- kid friendly all year around
Barbados
- suites/rooms all really in one area
- limited choice of restaurants
- really two choices of accommodation - second level rooms and ground level junior suites (really no upgrades)
- junior suites (little more room and really only interior difference) on ground floors push out to the BEACH (i.e. walk onto it)
- probably more stuff for kids
- closer to Limegrove Mall and restaurants/some clubs (and everything really vs Playa distance) - HIGH END stores - can walk to it in 10-20 min
- British twist of Bajan life - i.e. some formal cultural things like people still wearing jacket and slacks to go to the bank
- RBC (Caribbean) around island - not that there is a true direct fee-free transaction allowance because it is RBC, but similar setups
- airport about 30 min away and towns all along
- crime appears to be generally less here overall relative
- more hotel like (building/block) - some villas inland -30-50 metres from the beach
- hurricanes less possible; off the normal route, but not impossible
- brought 1 and 4 year old at the time (and at 2 and 5)
- adults only winter time
- more expansive - carts by staff and BMW bikes
- all inclusive option
- choices of accommodation
- more isolated suites with area for rooms
- lots more wildlife
- father away from the city life - (Playa) and other restaurants
- Mexican obviously
- airport an hour away
- Mexico and ?crime with Canadians (as well militarized towers along the highway to and from the airport)
- more of a resort/paradise feel with the mangroves and canals
- hurricanes possible
- upgrades to casita suite - got beach casita on my second time there
- only brought the eldest there - twice
- kid friendly all year around
Barbados
- suites/rooms all really in one area
- limited choice of restaurants
- really two choices of accommodation - second level rooms and ground level junior suites (really no upgrades)
- junior suites (little more room and really only interior difference) on ground floors push out to the BEACH (i.e. walk onto it)
- probably more stuff for kids
- closer to Limegrove Mall and restaurants/some clubs (and everything really vs Playa distance) - HIGH END stores - can walk to it in 10-20 min
- British twist of Bajan life - i.e. some formal cultural things like people still wearing jacket and slacks to go to the bank
- RBC (Caribbean) around island - not that there is a true direct fee-free transaction allowance because it is RBC, but similar setups
- airport about 30 min away and towns all along
- crime appears to be generally less here overall relative
- more hotel like (building/block) - some villas inland -30-50 metres from the beach
- hurricanes less possible; off the normal route, but not impossible
- brought 1 and 4 year old at the time (and at 2 and 5)
- adults only winter time
Last edited by patty canuck; Jun 23, 2017 at 6:34 pm
#5
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: YVR
Posts: 640
Previous comment not related to this thread so deleted.
Last edited by kokinos; Jul 4, 2017 at 2:33 am
#6
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: Montreal, QC
Programs: Fairmont Platinum, SPG & Marriott Platinum, HHonors Diamond & AC 25K
Posts: 3
All I have to add is I stayed at the St James Club in Antigua on a business conference earlier this year and it was terrible. Very dirty hotel, poor service from most employees and terrible food. I'm avoiding anything "St James" for the rest of my life as it was really that bad.
#7
Join Date: Jun 2012
Posts: 493
All I have to add is I stayed at the St James Club in Antigua on a business conference earlier this year and it was terrible. Very dirty hotel, poor service from most employees and terrible food. I'm avoiding anything "St James" for the rest of my life as it was really that bad.
It's a fabulous quiet discreet place. It's small, with mainly two buildings. The beach is fantastic. I would assume most of the rooms are the same, with balconies right on the beach. There were families there with small children. A lot of people staying there are British, since Barbados used to be a British colony and they have direct flights from London and Manchester.
Just what floats your boat, I guess. I'd go there again.
#8
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: YVR
Posts: 640
Okay, I am a bit speechless at this comment. I think laughing is the only option? I have rarely seen such an uninformed comment in my life... Kokinos has been to a hotel named St James in Antigua, had a bad experience and this obviously means that a city called St James in Barbados would offer the same level of service? Come on!