The Grand at Moon Palace offers All-Inclusive Indulgence

The Grand at Moon Palace in Cancun, Mexico is a luxury lodging experience you will never forget. The resort fully embodies the name as it is grand on an epic scale.

Cancun is a luxurious destination located in the state of Quintana Roo, on the western side of the Yucatan Peninsula. The area is a hotbed for top-notch lodging and all-inclusive/destination resorts. I have been to the area a few times and have stayed at several amazing properties—however, The Grand at Moon Palace, has elevated the lodging experience to something that straddles the line of vacation nirvana. I stayed at the Grand at Moon Palace for four nights and just barely scratched the surface of all the offerings this enourmous property has available for its guests.

The Grand at Moon is within the Moon Palace complex and is the most upscale portion. Staying at The Grand allows you to use all the amenities at the other Moon Palace properties, while guests staying at the other ares are not afforded the same privileges. While I had every intention of exploring the other resorts, I simply did not have the time as there is more than enough to explore just at The Grand. As it was, I would have needed several more days to traverse the property to see/experience everything it has to offer.

My first couple of days at The Grand at Moon Palace were spent indoors due to a storm that blanked the area. At first I was a bit disappointed as I really wanted to hang out by the beach and the pools, but that feeling quickly faded once I discovered how many things there were to do.

THE GRAND AWE SPA EXPERIENCE

My first activity was to visit the spa. This was no ordinary spa visit, but rather an experience. The Awe Spa is over 75,000 square feet with dozens of treatment rooms. I started off by getting a locker and into a plush robe. I had my own personal attendant who lead me to the first stop of the experience:

• The dry sauna is where I rested for 10 minutes to open up my pours and let the sweat drain some of toxins from my body.
• The next station was to cool off in a cold room, which is equipped with an shaved ice machine so that you can rub your body down to cool off and close the pours. There were also some sprays and herbal rubs available, but I didn’t know what to do with them.
• I then went to an herbal-infused steam room after applying a mud mask to my face.
• From the steam room I headed to a hydrotherapy shower where multiple jets surrounded my body as they worked their way from my feet, to my face.
• Thoroughly cleaned, I donned my plush robe and headed to a warming chaise lounge chair where my attendant placed some cold cucumber slices on my eyes and wrapped my face in a cold towel.
• The next stop on this experience was the massage treatment, which I have to say, was one of the best I’ve ever had.
• The final stop on this Grand spa experience was to the relax in-and-around the therapeutic pool. Here, my attendant provided a refreshing drink to re-hydrate and also showed me some of the features of the pool.

A couple hours of relaxation was just what the doctor ordered.

THE GRAND ACTIVITIES

There are so many activities at The Grand, both indoor and out, that you will never get board. Some of the things I did included:

• Bowling
• Game room(s)
• Cooking school where I learned how to make authentic Mayan and Mexican dishes.
• State-of-the-art fitness facility.
• Performing Arts Theater – One night I saw a Michael Jackson impersonator performance.
• Waterpark – This massive complex comes complete with slides, rides and a lazy river.
• Many swimming pools – from adult only, kids, sport pool for volleyball, hanging swings and more.

THE GRAND ACCOMMODATIONS

Even the basic rooms are grand! Mine had a small step-down area with a large Jacuzzi tub, a desk and a balcony with chaise lounge chairs. There is marble throughout the room. The bathroom is large and luxurious with a shutter window that opens up into the room. Full size shampoo, conditioner and lotion is also included. There is a fully stocked mini-bar, complete with spirits, beer, soda, water and some snacks. Even the closet is spacious and beautiful. There is also a smart TV and Bluetooth stereo speaker for your entertainment needs.

THE GRAND DINING EXPERIENCE

There is no way you will ever go hungry at The Grand at Moon Palace. There are so many dining options you’ll have a difficult time choosing. From ethnic themed restaurants like Lebanese, Asian to French, to more traditional Mexican food, they have something for everyone. There are also many places to grab something light, or on-the-go. My favorite was the little French bistro where you could get a sandwich, great coffee, chocolates, a crepe or even a scoop of ice cream to tied you over until your next meal. They also have a buffet throughout the day that is so huge, or, should I say “grand.” There were many dishes and fruits that I have never seen before. They also have a fresh squeeze/pressed juice bar.

My only slight criticism of The Grand at Moon Palace was that I didn’t think the food was at a 5 star level. Don’t get me wrong, the food is very good, just not quite on par with the quality of the resort. I think being an all-inclusive resort with the need to accommodate so many people, has to be a very tall order and difficult to achieve perfection.

THE GRAND GROUNDS

I don’t know how many acres The Grand grounds are, but suffice to say, you will be able to work off a few of the calories you consume will staying here. For me, I really enjoyed exploring the grounds and seeing new discoveries. The resort has dozens and dozens of buildings spread over the massive property. There are pathways leading throughout. If you don’t wish to walk, they have a golf cart system in place with various shaded stops you can wait. It’s like a bus system, but rather with large electric golf carts. To give you an idea of how large The Grand grounds are, one of the days when it rained and I spent all of my time at the resort, I walked over 5 miles. Five miles in a day at a single resort…that should put the scale into perspective.

The grounds at The Grand are lush and well manicured, with large swathes of indigenous grass (almost marsh like). The pools at the resort are simply incredible and each completely unique from the next. One of my favorite places to hang out was a pool with swings and pods in the water with cushions for extra comfort. Everywhere I went I saw something unique, fun and exciting to see. Take the waterpark for example…it is so colorful and inviting for both kids and adults.

SERVICE AT THE GRAND

One thing that absolutely impressed me was the service at The Grand. Every employee, from management to housekeeping, was incredibly friendly and accommodating. The staff was eager to help while being gracious and genuine.  Unlike some places you might stay where you feel like the employees are just doing their job, at The Grand, everyone seems authentically interested in your happiness and well being. I was also impressed by how good everyone’s English was, I also didn’t feel like I was in Mexico.

BOTTOM LINE

The Grand at Moon Palace has to be one of the best all-inclusive resort experiences I’ve ever had. I marveled at the scale of this property and was in awe of how all the moving parts seem to work together seamlessly. Luxurious solid surfaces can be found everywhere, from intricate tile work, to lots of rich marble. The style is on the sophisticated contemporary side with some incredibly unique lighting. There are endless places to sit, with little alcoves perfect for an intimate conversation with a glass of wine, or business meeting. They have their own signature scent that you can smell throughout the hotel, from the lobby, elevators to the spa and beyond. Staying at The Grand at Moon Palace is hedonistic indulgence at its finest.

INFORMATION ON STAYING AT THE GRAND AT MOON PALACE

Address: Carretera Cancun-Chetumal Km. 36.5, 77500 Cancún, Q.R., Mexico
Location: The Grand is not in the “Hotel Zone,” but rather just 10 minutes southeast of the Airport.
Website: Moon Palace Resorts
Star rating: This is a 5 star resort
Phone: 1-800-817-1792 (US)
Rates: $500 to $2300 USD per night for 2 adults (based on accommodation level and time of year)

If you’ve ever stayed at The Grand and Moon Palace, please leave a comment below and share your experience. Or, if you have any questions about the property, I’d be happy to answer them. Click here to see more of my photos from The Grand at Moon Palace in Cancun, Quintana Roo, Mexico.