Grand Residences Riviera Cancun - All Inclusive
Grand Residences Riviera Cancun is the all-inclusive that feels like it isn't one. The suites are the defining feature: One Bedroom Master Suites of about 1,800 sq ft, Two and Three Bedroom suites for groups of up to 8 or 10, private-pool suites of over 3,000 sq ft, and a four-bedroom penthouse at the top. Puerto Morelos sits between Cancun and Playa del Carmen, about 30 minutes from Cancun airport, and the beach here is calm and quiet. Travelers who have done the big Hotel Zone resorts and want something calmer without giving up quality keep ending up here. It still trades as Grand Residences by Royal Resorts, while its Cancun siblings now carry the Holiday Inn Club Vacations name.
Things to Know
- Timeshare Property
Traveler Insights
Pros
- +Real suites, not hotel rooms: One Bedroom Master Suites run about 1,800 sq ft, Two Bedrooms about 2,400 and Three Bedrooms about 3,000, and even the Junior Suites are around 600 sq ft
- +One Bedroom Master Suites with a private pool (about 3,100 sq ft) are the room people plan whole trips around, in both beachfront and resort-view versions
- +Quiet, uncrowded atmosphere in Puerto Morelos that guests contrast favorably with the party energy of Cancun's Hotel Zone
- +The main pool is split into adult, kids and general sections, with a separate lap pool, so couples get a calm corner without leaving the resort
- +Service is the reason people come back: guests name concierges and guest-services staff in reviews, and some families have returned for eight years to the same kids club team
- +Kids club plus a separate teen's club, and a weekly family program of games, sports and crafts
- +More to do than the size suggests: tennis courts, bicycles, sailboats, yoga by the sea, afternoon tea on the terrace, cooking and mixology classes, and a spa with massages, body wraps and facials
- +Snorkel gear is included, round-trip airport transfers come with every booking, and 24-hour room service is part of the all-inclusive plan
Cons
- −It is a timeshare resort sold through Holiday Inn Club Vacations, so many fellow guests are owners and new visitors report invitations to sales presentations
- −Some travelers feel tipping expectations are high, with service perceived to slip when guests are not tipping regularly
- −Dining is a short list: El Faro Grill and Flor de Canela for dinner, Heaven Beach Bar & Grill, the Lobby Cafe and a pool bar. You will know every venue by day two, and some guests find dinner good rather than gourmet for the price
- −Puerto Morelos town is about 8 minutes away by car, so exploring means a taxi or a resort bicycle; there is little to walk to outside the gates
- −Booking and pricing can be confusing because of the ownership structure, and rates vary a lot depending on whether you book as an owner, through the resort's reservations site or through a third party
- −Minimum check-in age is 25 and anyone 13 or older is priced as an adult, which catches out families with teenagers and younger couples
Service is where the resort earns its strongest marks. It is small enough that staff learn names, and guests single out concierges, bartenders and kids club counselors in reviews. Dining is compact: El Faro Grill and Flor de Canela for sit-down dinners, Heaven Beach Bar & Grill on the sand, the Lobby Cafe, a pool bar, 24-hour room service and a chef-in-suite option, plus a gourmet market for snacks and wine. The main pool is divided into adult, kids and general areas with a separate lap pool, and the activity list is longer than the size suggests: tennis, bicycles, sailboats, yoga by the sea, afternoon tea, cooking and mixology classes, a gym with a personal trainer, and a spa with a beauty salon.
This resort works best for families and groups who want genuine apartment-sized space and consistent service, and for couples who want a quieter Riviera Maya stay a notch above the big-box properties. It sits at the premium end of the market, so if restaurant variety and big nightly shows are the priority, larger resorts will serve you better. Puerto Morelos town, the Croco Cun zoo and the protected reef are all close, and Xcaret is under an hour away.
Common Questions
Is there really timeshare pressure and how bad is it?
How does the kids club work and is it good for teenagers?
How is the beach and snorkeling compared to other Riviera Maya resorts?
What is there to do outside the resort?
Is the all-inclusive dining good enough or should we book outside restaurants?
Is there a local tax to pay at check-in?
Restaurants (2)
| Type | Restaurants |
|---|---|
| Mexican | Flor de Canela |
| International & fusion | El Faro Grill |
From the resort's own dining pages. Only restaurants the resort lists are shown. All are covered by the all-inclusive rate, per the resort.
What's nearby
45 min drive · 24 mi
Playa Mamitas40 min drive · 24 mi
Playa Delfines40 min drive · 23 mi
6 min drive · 2.3 mi
Museo Maya de Cancún45 min drive · 24 mi
Puerto Morelos Town Square and Malecón6 min drive · 2.2 mi
More things to do (24)
- Xoxi Cancún · adventure park30 min drive · 15 mi
- Croco Cun Zoo · wildlife14 min drive · 5.5 mi
- Playa 88 · beach40 min drive · 23 mi
- Riviera Cancún Golf · golf35 min drive · 19 mi
- Playa Coral · beach35 min drive · 19 mi
- Xcalacoco Beach · beach35 min drive · 21 mi
- Punta Esmeralda Beach · beach45 min drive · 22 mi
- Iberostar Cancún Golf Club · golf45 min drive · 25 mi
- Leaning Lighthouse of Puerto Morelos · historic site6 min drive · 2.3 mi
- Puerto Morelos Botanical Garden · nature20 min drive · 5.8 mi
- Dr. Alfredo Barrera Marín Botanical Garden · nature20 min drive · 5.8 mi
- Moon Palace Golf Club · golf30 min drive · 15 mi
- Iberostar Playa Paraíso Golf Club · golf30 min drive · 13 mi
- Playa Maroma · beach30 min drive · 14 mi
- El Camaleón Golf Course · golf35 min drive · 19 mi
- Museo del Chocolate · museum40 min drive · 23 mi
- Parque La Ceiba · nature40 min drive · 24 mi
- Frida Kahlo Museum Playa del Carmen · museum40 min drive · 24 mi
- Playa del Carmen Fifth Avenue · town40 min drive · 24 mi
- Playa Delfines Lookout · viewpoint40 min drive · 23 mi
- Voladores de Papantla (Parque Fundadores) · historic site40 min drive · 24 mi
- El Rey Ruins · ruins45 min drive · 24 mi
- Iberostar Golf Club Cancún · golf45 min drive · 25 mi
- Cenote Chaak Tun · cenote45 min drive · 26 mi
Amenities
Show 8 more amenitiesShow fewer
Style & Rooms
Atmosphere
Room upgrades
Seaweed & sargassum
Cancun gets sargassum, typically worst May through August.See the month-by-month guide →Google Reviews★ 4.7 · 1,226 reviews
“Absolutely, exceptional Hotel in every way! From the staff to the accommodations to the grounds to the amenities, I’ve never been so impressed! I’ve stayed at properties around the country and traveled to five star hotels, this experience was outstan...”
