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Barceló Punta Cana to Host the Mr. Universe Competition (Again)

Where: Punta Cana, Dominican Republic

If you love men who love banana hammocks and speedos, you'll want to head to the Barceló Punta Cana Resort. The Dominican Republic hotel will be full of hard-bodied, tan men when it hosts the finale of this year's Mr. Universe pageant.

You will be able to see the ripped guys flexing their muscles and strutting on the catwalk at the all-inclusive hotel from May 10 to 14. Given that the Barceló Punta Cana sits on the water, you may also be able to "accidentally" run into a few of the muscular contestants at the beach.

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Hotel Sick / Hotel News / Costa Rica Hotels / Barcelo Hotels / → All Tags

The Barcelo Tambor Beach Gets an Outbreak of Diarrhea for Christmas

Where: Puntarenas, Costa Rica

If you thought you had a crappy Christmas, you don't have anything on guests at Costa Rica's Barcelo Tambor Beach. The hotel had to close after a nasty diarrhea outbreak last week.

The health ministry shut it down after 150 people reportedly sought treatment late last week at a local clinic after suffering from such symptoms as nausea, cramps and vomiting, though the hotel only reported 37 cases of the runs.

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Barcelo Hotels / Barcelo Resorts / Los Cabos Hotels / Hotel Promotions / → All Tags

Barcelo Resorts Use Weird Talking Pillows To Sell New Los Cabos Resort

Where: Los Cabos, Mexico

Talking pillows. Of course. Obvious candidates for a big hotel promotion campaign. Or have the Barceló Hotels group simply gone completely mad?

If only for novelty value alone, the new campaign from the Barceló group, "Pillow Talk", wins big points. It features six videos of two talking pillows, Sophie the Softie and Drew the Dreamer (who incidentally have their own Twitter accounts), as they dream of a better life. Spoiler alert, in case you want to watch all six videos and enjoy the suspense: Sophie and Drew end up finding this better life at the newest Barceló hotel in Mexico, the Barceló Los Cabos Palace Deluxe, which will open up on December 17, 2009 (or December 15, depending on which page of their website you trust).

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Bad Rate / Puerto Vallarta Hotels / Barcelo Hotels / → All Tags

Bad Rate:: Paying More to NOT Eat at Barcelo La Jolla de Mismaloya

Where: Zona Hotelera Sur, Km. 11,5, Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, 48300

[Ed. Note: Welcome to our Good Rate/Bad Rate feature where we look at hotel prices in the same city and decide which one most deserves your hard-earned benjamins. Rates quotes here were captured August 21, 2007 and are subject to change. Enjoy.]

The Barcelo La Jolla de Mismaloya near Puerto Vallarta is known for some common themes. The small beach completely disappears some months of the year, service is indifferent at best, and you're more liable to get sick eating here at your hotel than you are eating at the taco stand in a van down the road.

Perhaps the last trait explains the odd pricing policy currently posted on the hotel's website. Go all-inclusive and it's $160 a night for two. If you opt for the European Plan, however, and forsake the bland buffet meals and watered-down drinks in plastic cups, you'll pay $177 a night. In other words, you pay more to avoid their food.

If you want an all-inclusive vacation, there are plenty of better options in the area. If not, we suggest a stay at the Westin in the Marina area--this week's Good Rate--instead.

Related Stories:
· Good Rate:: $107 at the Westin Puerto Vallarta [HotelChatter]