Grand Residences Riviera Cancun is the antidote to the all-inclusive. Located between Cancun and Playa del Carmen, just 30 minutes from the Cancun airport, Grand Residences in the newest addition to the Royal Resorts family.
And Grand Residences they are.
Let’s begin with rooms that live up to the name: they are Grand and by that I mean huge. 1,862 square feet master suites suitable for a family of four or five. Want to bring the grandparents or give your teens a bit more privacy? An adjacent junior suite adds another 646 square feet. And they are more Residences than hotel with every amenity necessary to move right in: completely outfitted kitchens, ample closets, gigantic bathrooms, full laundry rooms and luxurious robes, towels and amenities. Bring your toothbrush and bathing suit and you’ll be good to go. Oh, wait, there are toothbrushes (and toothpaste, sunblock and bug spray) awaiting your arrival. Okay, scratch that, just bring a bathing suit.
You will need that bathing suit to enjoy the beautiful beach, magnificent pool and more Jacuzzis than you can count. Upon closer inspection, you realize that the seemingly endless pool is actually three, one designated adult only (complete with swim up bar), a long, shallow kids’ pool and the main family pool.
Under the stewardship of Executive Chef Yann Cozic, the food at Grand Residences is extraordinary. El Faro Grill offers steaks, seafood and outrageously delicious desserts, while the Heaven Beach Bar served up the best grilled chicken salad I have ever had – bar none. For quick snacks, or to outfit your suite for some in-room dining (if room service is not your thing), the onsite Natural Foods Gourmet Market has just about everything you need. Plan ahead, and your suite will be pre-stocked with all of your favorite goodies.
One of my favorite things about Grand Residences is the sense that you can, and perhaps should, venture out. It seems a terrible missed opportunity to bring your kids to visit a country as rich in culture and history as Mexico and not explore. Start with nearby Puerto Morelos, a traditional Mexican fishing village mere minutes from the resort and reputed to be the inspiration for Jimmy Buffet’s iconic “Margaritaville.” I recommend a long, leisurely afternoon eating fish tacos, drinking a margarita and watching the world walk by the beach.
To add a bit of exploration and history to your holiday, head ninety minutes down a well-paved and well-traveled road to Tulum, the only Mayan ruins set seaside. Or spend a day exploring underground Cenotes or flying above the trees on nearby ziplines. Want to sneak in a round of golf, head to Playa del Carmen for a bit of shopping or enjoy a massage at the spa? Check the kids into the complimentary kids club for a few hours and grab a little "me" or "me and you" time.
The very best resorts surprise and delight their guests. Here, surprises arrive in the form of a welcome bottle of tequila, complimentary fruit in your room each day, live music by the pool, weekly sunset cruises on the Resort’s private catamaran, afternoon tea on the veranda and a staff committed to ensuring that every need is met with a smile.
Grand Residences is a "Leading Hotels of the World" and it is all luxury. But room rates vary tremendously during the year. Add to that complimentary transfers from the airport, complimentary kids club, a daily resort credit that can be applied to anything from meals to cocktails to massages and the resort becomes more doable for many and, I promise you, worthwhile for all.
Visit http://grandresidencesrivieracancun.com/ to learn more.
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The writer was a guest of Grand Residences for a three-night stay to facilitate this review. No other compensation was received.
