Hotel Grand Riviera Princess
Hotel Grand Riviera Princess is a family-friendly all-inclusive resort in Playa del Carmen, Mexico with 144 rooms. Amenities include Adults-Only Pool, Beach, Buffet Dining, Kids Club and Teen Lounge. Travelers rate it 4.4/5 across 11,347 Google reviews.
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Traveler Insights(89 discussions)
Grand Riviera Princess works best when understood as part of a multi-resort system rather than as a standalone property - and as of mid-2026, it's essentially a new resort. The property closed on November 1, 2025 for a comprehensive top-to-bottom renovation and reopened May 27, 2026 with refreshed rooms, restaurants, and public areas. Guests share privileges with Grand Sunset Princess and the 144-room Princess Family Club Riviera, which in practice means access to multiple pools, restaurants, and entertainment options across a large complex. One important caveat: the adults-only Platinum Yucatan Princess is excluded from that exchange - Platinum guests can visit the other resorts, but Grand Riviera guests can't go the other way.
The renovation appears to have fixed the property's historic Achilles heel. For years, food at Grand Riviera was the consistent complaint - average to below average for a Riviera Maya all-inclusive at this price. Post-reopening reviews tell a different story, citing exceptional food and beautifully refreshed rooms, with one detailed family review calling it one of the best all-inclusive family resorts in the Riviera Maya. The 674-room scale still means this is a big, busy complex, and swim-up suites remain the room category worth targeting for 24/7 pool access.
Grand Riviera Princess is the family-friendly anchor of the Princess complex, best for groups and families who want lots of space, pools, and dining variety at a mid-tier price - especially attractive right now while the renovation is brand new. Couples wanting a quieter adults-only experience should book Platinum Yucatan Princess directly rather than counting on cross-access. Playa del Carmen is about 30 minutes south for 5th Avenue day trips, and Cancun airport is a 60-70 minute transfer.
Pros
- +Fully renovated top to bottom during a Nov 2025 - May 2026 closure and reopened May 27, 2026 - rooms, restaurants, and public spaces all got a comprehensive refresh
- +Post-reopening food is a genuine turnaround - recent guests call the dining exceptional, a complete reversal of the property's old weakest link
- +Shared privileges across the Princess complex - guests can use pools, restaurants, and entertainment at Grand Sunset Princess and Princess Family Club Riviera too
- +Swim-up suites available giving 24/7 pool access from your room
- +Not far from Playa del Carmen - accessible location for day trips into the town
- +Large 674-room resort with extensive pool and beach space across the complex
- +Relatively affordable for the Riviera Maya region, and the fresh renovation makes the value proposition stronger than ever
- +Friendly staff culture with a good service reputation - recent family reviews rank it among the best all-inclusive family resorts in the Riviera Maya
Cons
- −Platinum Yucatan Princess is NOT included in the shared privileges - access is one-way (Platinum guests can visit the other resorts, but not vice versa), a common booking misunderstanding
- −Only reopened May 27, 2026, so the renovated resort's track record is still short - most detailed reviews online describe the pre-renovation property that no longer exists
- −Not a premium resort - Princess is a mid-tier brand with pricing and polish to match, renovation notwithstanding
- −Large complex can feel overwhelming or impersonal, with long walks between buildings, pools, and restaurants
- −Seaweed in this Riviera Maya stretch can be problematic seasonally
- −Limited nightlife on-property compared to staying in Playa del Carmen itself
- −Proximity to Playa del Carmen means more urban feel than remote jungle resorts
- −Transfer from Cancun airport runs about 60-70 minutes - longer than hotel-zone resorts
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Google Reviews
“Five stars for our server at Snack Sunset, Lorenzo Poot, who made our mornings the best part of our trip. Thank you Lorenzo for your genuine kindness and for always keeping our coffee full -- please give your babies a hug for us! Thank you also to Va...”
“This resort is one of the best I ve ever been to, very clean, beautiful scenery, lovely staff that go above and beyond to make sure you are enjoying your time in there. Fantastic foods and restaurants ( I highly recommend the Steak house and La Fleur...”
“We were looking for a place to rest, enjoy, eat and forget all the life stress. This place is perfect. Delicious food, there’re multiple restaurants with different thematics, you can find your favourite one. Also, we were able to enjoy the pool, basi...”