Just got back from a week at this wonderful resort. I did a lot of research prior and I actually wanted to go to Aruba or Grand Cayman but the prices were much more than I wanted to pay. This resort came highly recommended to me and the prices were very reasonable so after reading up on it we booked...... and I'm so glad we did!

At check-in I realized that I lost my passport (ugh!!) and was referred to the Concierge, Roberto. He was wonderful.... and very patient. Long story short - my passport was delivered to me the following morning at 9am. Thank you Roberto!

OK... the rooms - we upgraded to a deluxe... not sure what the difference is other than having a plasma tv but we really liked it. The rooms were spotless - We were in building 5 on the second floor. It's closest to the beach and we found it very convenient - I would definitely recommend staying in building 5 or 6 (which are right across from eachother). Next time I would choose the top floor and get a junior suite - it's not much more than what we paid so why not. It's all in what you prefer but we liked the quick walk to the beach area. It was a little bit of a walk to the lobby area but it's such a pleasant walk you won't mind. The lobby area has a bar with great Margaritas and it's also where the breakfast and dinner buffets are located. The lobby also has great sitting areas where you can just relax and have a drink and do some people watching.

The food - loved all three buffets. The variety was wonderful and I tend eat on the healthier side and it was all very accomodating. Breakfast buffet has an egg station where they make eggs any way you want them and omelets too... along with anything you could want on a breakfast buffet. Lunch buffet is located at the pool/beach area and it's so yummy - and in a perfect location. Just throw your cover up on and enjoy :) Dinner buffet is excellent - the food is fresh, delicious and plentiful. Oh and I can't forget the fresh juice bar on the beach - AMAZING and healthy - Go Willberth! He was a wiz with that Vita-Mix! There are four restaurants that you can also go to - Mexican, Italian, Spanish and Steak house. We went to all but the Spanish and quite honestly we enjoyed the buffets just as much if not more. You will not need reservations for the restaurants which is great if decide at the last minute that you'd like to try one. The Mexican was our favorite. It was definitely the best food I've ever had at an all inclusive resort.

The staff in every part of the resort was fantastic - friendly and courteous. Loved them all. I know a lot of people had complaints about the Vero Club staff (the kids in the red shorts) - I thought they were great. I did the aqua aerobics with them and they also invited us to do various activities (volley ball, spanish lessons, etc). They cater to the Italians because that's why they're there and that's what they are paid to do... Also they take pictures of you on the beach and you can go to the gift shop and purchase them if you like them. You'll see Riccardo there and he's an absolute pleasure to deal with.

As far as the beach - it was the most beautiful beach anyone could ask for. You can go for nice long walks in either direction and it's just beautiful... and spotless and not crowded at all. Pefection! The beach alone is worth the trip! The pool is beautiful as well and there's a great 'chill out' section with cabanas and hammocks as well three jacuzzi's with varying water temps - but I still couldn't leave the beach!

This was my first time to an all adult resort and it definitely makes a difference!

I can't recommend this resort enough - it far exceeded my expectations. I will absolutely go back there (...again and again) and will recommend it highly! So if you're researching resorts - don't hesitate with this one.

Enjoy!

Although our stay was short, only 3 days, I haven't felt this relaxed in years. The serene athmosphere of this hotel puts your mind and body at ease. The only drawback for this hotel is the distance from the airport, 1hr 15min, I guess if it was closer it wouldn't be that quiet but I would definately go back there despite the distance.
The units are 3 stories high, the 1st floor has double beds, 2nd - king size beds and the 3rd is the honeymoon suite. We stayed on the 1st floor. Our unit was located closer to the beach. The units are positioned in the tropical forest with squirels, lemurs, lizzards and birds, so for evenings bring a bug spray. Then there are 2 pools. One is in a quiet zone with 6 cabanas sorrounding it. Nearby is the relaxation area with a pool table, ping pong table, a bookcase with books in English, French, Italian and Spanish. The other pool is quite big, sourrounded by lounge chairs, to get a good spot come early between 7~8am and through a towel, then head off to breakfast. Beyond the pool, there are 3 jacuzzi with different temperature settings, and then there is the beach. Its very beautiful as this being the only hotel, its not crowded at all.
For dinner, there is Grill, Mexican and Italian restaurants as well as the buffet. If you get hungry in between the meals, there is a seaside bar by the pool, a small bar in the lobby area which makes amazing cappucino/espresso or any cocktail, there is also a small stand on the beach where they make non-alchogolic smoothies with tropical fruits.
The service was very good, nobody is ever in your face, but only when you need them.
Truly a great experience!

Just back from 2 weeks. Very relaxing, beautiful resort. Transfers went smoothly and our request for 3rd floor/building 6 was honored. It is worth while sending in an email to the staff a week or so before hand. Within 30 minutes of arriving we met a fantastic group of 6 from Iowa, US. whom we enjoyed evening meals and beach visits with.

Grounds gorgeous, lovely restaurants, amazing juice bar at the beach and fantastic staff. The beach and cleanliness were amazing! Lots of fun critters along a beautiful jungle path to and from the lobby and beach. Catalonia is in the middle of an expansive bay and swimming and water activities were wonderful.

If you are looking for elegant evenings out, you may be disappointed and that is not due to the food or the wait staff at Catalonia. The staff (hotel staff) are amazing and bend over backwards to meet your requests. However, dress codes are lax, (any attire is accepted at evening meals) and groups of drunken tourists of any nationality can make your dinner experience less than what you may expect. The worst eating experience was at our last evening meal at the grill when the 'Vera chicks' came into the restaurant clapping and shouting in Italian to advise their Italian patrons of the evening activities by the pool.

Ditto to the amazingly accurate description of 'Vera Boy' with pony tail who was an absolute jerk to anyone other than Italian guests.

Trying to join in to activities such as horseshoes and bocce ball tournaments were difficult - and darts was completely out of the question. Volley ball was greatly attended by all guests but was very exclusive during the first week.

We had three recommendations upon leaving and they were:

Dress code
Address drunken patrons
Activities - exclusive to Italians - noisy and aggressive Vera staff

We would not return - this is unfortunate as hotel staff were amazing and the location, resort and beach were everything we could ask for. Battling the daytime/beach nonsense was just a little grating.

We stayed here January 28th to February 4th. The ride from the airport was an hour, so don’t let that put you off. We had non-stop transfers and it went smoothly. I requested a high floor in buildings 5 or 6 in writing to the resort a week in advance. When we checked in, to honor that request we had to pay an “upgrade fee” of $70 per couple. Rooms were the same as in other buildings so I consider this somewhat of a rip off. But, it was worth it to stay in the building near the beach. The rooms were very nice, clean and large. Bathrooms were modern, with rain shower heads, plenty of water pressure and hot water. Bottled water provided in the refrigerator for teeth brushing. Also in refrigerator was beer (Corona), Pepsi , Pepsi Zero and cookies. When I called for more of anything, it was brought up almost immediately, and that includes extra towels. Beach towels are one per person, per day and there is nowhere to exchange towels for a dry one. They are exchanged at night, in your room, must be there by 6. I tried numerous times and various ways, but you could only have one per day. One night they were incorporated into our towel art, which resulted in 2 beautiful swans!
The resort is in a beautiful setting, on a beautiful white sandy beach, where you could walk for miles. They raked the seaweed daily and there was none in the water or rocks in the water. The pool was beautiful, chair space by the pool was hard to come by, as there was chair saving and it was very windy on the beach.
I had a Mayan Experience massage in the spa, highly recommended, ask for Oscar. Well worth the extra price for the Mayan Experience, it was very relaxing!
We tried all the restaurants and the Mexican was our favorite. Tapas was outdoors, overlooking a stream and the atmosphere was wonderful. The Grill was our least favorite, be sure not to get your hopes up on the crab cake. More like crab mousse?! Liquor was top shelf; they had every brand we wanted and the bartenders made every drink we asked for (and a few we helped with!). Breakfast and lunch buffets were great; I’m a somewhat picky eater and could always find something. There was great variety and lunch had different selections each day, grilling station and pasta station. Breakfast had omelet station and pancakes and waffles. We ate at the dinner buffet once and were not disappointed. No reservations or limits on a la carte restaurants, we just wandered into whatever we wanted.
Staff is very friendly and accommodating. We did tip but it didn’t seem to make a difference.
We took a taxi into Playa Del Carman for shopping, $20 each way.
I’m not really into entertainment but the shows were very good and definitely something I looked forward to each night, not cheesy.
A lot of Italians do stay at this resort and they do have different manners than I’m used to. At first I put it down to the language barrier but “excuse me” must translate into Italian somehow? Also strange is the whole Veraclub thing where it seems like kids are paid to suck up to certain guests who all seemed to be Italian. Hardly worth mentioning but it was odd.
Beautiful resort, only downside was the weather. It was not very warm, cloudy and rainy. Further south might be the way to go in January!