MOON PALACE THE GRAND CANCUN- THE ULTIMATE LUXURY MEXICAN ESCAPE FOR FAMILIES
My family and I had THE BEST all-inclusive experience we’ve ever had in September 2019. At the time, the boys were 10 and 7.
The resort to add to your list: Moon Palace The Grand Cancun in Mexico. It’s only 10 minutes from the airport, so you can get to the goods quickly.
highlights & must do’s
Download the Palace app on your phone. It won’t be live with your reservation until you check in to the hotel and have a room number, but you can see activities for the current week, as well as all the restaurant menus. You will be drooling.
You can also access the other resorts you can visit - namely the Beach Palace, Cozumel Palace, Playacar Palace (this was one of my favourites on a previous trip in June, right in Playa Del Carmen) Moon Palace Nizuc Section, and Moon Palace Sunrise Section. You CANNOT go to Le Blanc Cancun, but if you are staying there, you CAN enjoy all of the other Palace properties.
ACTIVITIES
The Turtle Release Program - You must get there an hour before it starts. You’ll be invited to line up on the beach in a special section. When it’s full, you have to just watch from behind the fence and you won’t get to hold a baby turtle. Everyone will get their own 20 minute old hatchling at dusk to release to the ocean. It was amazing!
Go Bowling at The Ninth Pin - There is a nominal charge to use this, $50 Resort credit, so you paid 16%, or 8USD to have the shoes and lane for one hour WITH food and beverage service coming right to you. (Palace has since discontinued the Resort Credits, so I’m not sure how they are going to charge going forward). These are pristine lanes and top-notch equipment, we were truly impressed. The bowling shoes seemed older, but I’ve never seen a nice pair, have you?
The Wired Lounge - This is where the boys wanted to be. There were multiple rooms for Xbox, Playstation, arcade-style games like Jurassic Park and The Walking Dead, not to mention a great snack bar. And it’s all included!
Kids club - Every kid’s dream starts here! Roam the arcade, ropes course, bumper cars, indoor play gym and even their own snack bar. There are a few video games like video hockey, a mirror maze and spy games going on that I’ve never seen anywhere else. You can also sign out bikes (kids and adults) and tour the property from here.
The Flowrider at the Water Park - Be prepared to sign a waiver, and it’s totally cool to body board instead of standing up. There is a snack bar hidden right below, we didn’t even see it. The kids will probably be able to do the racing waterslide, but they must be 5ft 3 to do the tube slides, and they always need two people. There is a kids waterpark ship and a wave pool for the littles.
Professional Photo Shoot - We had our 30-minute photoshoot taken on site. That’s my go-to souvenir every time, you won’t be disappointed. Prices started at around $23USD per photo, and you receive it on a flash drive to print at home.
Beach Palace - We stopped for a free exchange afternoon at the Beach Palace after a different tour we did with Urban Adventures. There is a fun slide to the pool that anyone can ride, and the beach was stunning! Waves were high that day, but there was a lifeguard standing right on the shoreline that will calm your nerves. You MUST ride the elevator to the top floor and take some pictures of the view! There is also a pool and bar up there to enjoy.
THE FOOD
I’ve spent 14 nights at this place in total and I STILL haven’t tried them all!
Habibi - Middle Eastern Cuisine is a must for breakfast and dinner! No one goes here and I don’t know why. There are belly dancers a few nights a week at dinner. I recommend the Habibi - eggs in cocotte, fried and served with awarma, labneh and za’atar.
Jade - We enjoyed Thai, Chinese and Japanese cuisine more than once. Grand an asian cucumber cocktail with sake, vodka and a dash of lime and sparkling water.
Tavola - The Italian outpost was amazing. The individual wood-fired pizzas are to die for! The Pesto Gnocchi is another fave, and I drool every time I pass the enormous wheels of fresh parmesan cheese.
The Boulangerie - This is the French cafe of your dreams. Amazing gelato, chocolate bark, macarons, pastries, coffee and sandwiches. If you order a meal, it takes a little while to be delivered to your table which feels weird in a coffee shop, but it’s worth the wait. My colleagues bring tupperware to load up on treats before flying home, it’s that good. Open 24 hours.
La Cantina - The Mexican casual side restaurant has guacamole with crickets! Make the kids try it, and take a video. They taste like chips. Time your dinner with the Mariachi singers, usually at 6:30 PM on alternating evenings.
Los Tacos - This casual dining spot is overlooking a pool. Yes, you can swim while you wait; it was so hot the day we ate here I had to! Amazing food, with a menu incorporating 18 different tacos from the many different regions in Mexico.
Cusco - The BEST place for breakfast or even lunch if you’re dry, with food stations. Peruvian cuisine is known as one of the premier examples of fusion dining. It was never too busy and the service is top-notch. The seafood options at lunch were unreal.
The Library - Speakeasy (downstairs beside the Mexican restaurants) through the bookcase - WOW, what ambience. This adults-only bar is THE place for a specialty cocktail like a Negroni, smoked mojito, espresso martini or an Aperol Spritz. The AC was always blasting here so bring a scarf, ladies!
JC’s Steakhouse - It can be quite difficult to score a reservation here, you must make one through the app at 10 am when they open. The portions were huge, similar to the Keg here. Every show we saw in The Grand Theatre was amazing. They start at 9 PM and usually are only 45 minutes. Free popcorn and candy buffet every night, with a bar as well!
The Library Bar
THE BEACH
The Beach was lovely, with powder white sand, many hammocks and chairs when you want them. There is waiter service, but it was never overcrowded. There is also a coconut drink hut on the beach just behind the Caribeno pool - it opens at 1 PM until they are gone. This is a seasonal feature, I don’t know how long it’s going to be there.
I could keep going on, but I don’t want to overwhelm you! Some things you should just experience for yourself. The spa, rooms, and entertainment were all top-notch. This was one of our favourite vacations because we never were bored. There is always somewhere new to go and something different to eat!
ACCOMMODATIONS
I’d recommend the Grand Family Suite which is two connected Superior Deluxe Rooms - one with a king, the other two double beds.
Private bath with shower
Double whirlpool tub
Balcony with chaise lounge, chairs and table
Seating area
Non Smoking room
Welcome bottle of Robert Mondavi Twin Oaks Cabernet Sauvignon
Liquor Dispenser
Minibar with sodas, bottled water, juices, domestic and imported beers (refreshed daily)
Minibar in the kids’ room offers chocolate milkshakes, juice, soda, water, chocolates
In-room snacks include chips, chocolates, peanuts and crackers (subject to change at any time)
Coffeemaker
Individually controlled A/C
Direct-dial telephone
Smart TV with YouTube, vTuner and Weather Channel
Alarm clock with wake-up light/radio/iHome dock
CHI® bath amenities
Bathrobes and slippers
CHI® hairdryer and straightener
Iron/ironing board
Welcome amenities for families, Xbox 360/Selection of Xbox Games upon request
Fun in the sun bucket kit
Special room service menu for kids
L’Oréal Kids bath amenities, kid-sized slippers and robes
Exclusive beach bag (one (1) per room/per stay)
Umbrella
24-Hour room service and Turndown service
Digital safe (laptop size)
High-speed Wireless Internet
Garden View and Resort View
Available view is not guaranteed