We have been to many different Mexico Resorts but the Barcelo Karmina Palace was by far the best resort we stayed at for both the rooms, service and food. The grounds are very well kept and the pools are always maintained. The nice part is that there are many pools so if you are looking for a quiet spot you can find one. The 3 a la cart restaurants were above average that included some very nice entertainment. Check in and out was very fast and when we checked in at 11:00 am our rooms were ready. The view of the ocean was always hazy due to the major shipping port that was nearby but that didn't have any big effect on our trip. We highly recommend this resort, definitely a great place to stay.

The resort, itself, was beautiful, the staff very efficient and hospitable. The best A La Carte, by far, was the Japanese and Gerardo our Waiter was professional, kind and the best compared to all the other Restaurants. We found the service lacking at the Mexican Restaurant, and please do not order the Crepes with Lobster, as there is NO LOBSTER, and we really didn't know what type of fish was in it. The Italian was OK; however it just lacked. The buffet was OK, the salads and soup wonderful; however the meat seemed to be overcooked most times.
If you want to get your hair braided with extensions, you will find Donna, along side her Mother & Father at their Booth on the resort very professional. She does a great job and they are all so very personable.
Emanuel, our Pool Waiter at the Adult Pool is fantastic, goes beyond, remembers drinks and was work every tip, daily, we gave him.
Taking Canadian money is the way to go as NO PASSPORT is needed to exchange money at the front desk. This must be done early in the morning, though, as they run out. The ATM at the resort charges $4 Cdn for using and charges another $3 at your own end, but I found the exchange even better than the front desk. Remember to take Peso's to the market and Walmart. They do barter at the Market at Walmart, BUT WILL NOT at the shops in Manzanillo on the City Tour. The Market near the ocean is also great, many things interesting to buy and are willing to barter.
We were all saddened that the Disco started so late. We found that being in the sun all day made us tired and trying to stay up for the Disco until 11 very difficult. The Nightly Show was great and should be taken in.
There was no beach within the resort, only a lagoon that had rocks, Sandrays and Spiny Creatures that if stepped on could lead to an infection, so we kept to the pools.
Transat Air going to Mexico was horrible, two hours late departing one place and another two hours the next. Arriving into Mexico at 10am almost made the first day a writeoff.
This resort is great for people who want a vacation to come and veg, lay by the pool, tan and take in the sun and beverages.

we stayed at this resort during Xmas 2011.
We initially were sent to a room that clearly had some water/ mold issues.... we tried to get reassigned and I had to become aggressive to get moved to another room overnight and then switched again the second day. once we settled ( with the assistance of our transat rep) we found the final room to be good.
the pool grounds are heavily treed and if you want shade no trouble... sun by the pool is harder to come by and the beach area is very small. but the snorkling at the beach is amazing and you don't have to be a great swimmer as you are in a little bay.
the food was exceptional and the staff were very pleasant.

I would go back to this resort but i would not rush back... it was fine and fun but not over the top.

This was our first time to Mexico and I can honestly say we have no complaints. The hotel check-in process was very quick. The staff had everything ready to go and our very large group was checked in in not time at all. Some of our rooms were not ready yet but we also had arrived earlier than expected so it was no big deal. Our rooms were great, very spacious, lots of places to put your clothes, fridge was well stocked everyday and the bathrooms were huge. We were with a group of 20 and everyone was impressed with the rooms. The view from our balcony was amazing, the sunrise and sunsets were breath taking.
The food at the resort was great. We ate at all three a la carte restaurants and I have to say The Mexcian and the Japanese were our favorites. the food at both of these restaurants was absolutely amazing and you can't beat the view from the Mexican. The Italian restaurant was ok, I recommend ordering the steak. The food at the buffet was excellent. there was something new everyday and our group of 20 never complained. If you get a chance to try the Clam Chowder soup....be prepared to have a couple of bowls. The service we received was probably the best we have ever rec'd on any of our vacations. The staff at the buffet and the restaurants are awesome. The bar staff were also ready to please. The pools are the resort were nice, although the water temperature is a little chilly but the kids don't mind and the adults found it very refreshing on the hot days. The beach is not the best but not a deal breaker either. You can snorkel right off the beach just be careful of the rocks.
We went off the resort a few times and we always felt safe. We kept to the main streets and there was never an issue. We went zip-lining which was a great experience and had a blast. The pizza that you get at the end was mouth watering. We also went to a local beach and went boogie boarding for the day and it was a lot of fun.
All in all one of our best vacations. I would definitely go back to this resort, we loved it. Actually hoping to get the pricing for next year and we just might do it all over again!!!