1 / 5

Krystal Grand Cancún

Cancun, Mexico

4.1(2,487 reviews)

FamilyKrystal Grand

Krystal Grand Cancun is a 403-room all-inclusive in two round towers at Punta Cancun, km 8.5 on the Hotel Zone boulevard, and its fans know exactly what it is: a well-priced beachfront base a short walk from Coco Bongo and the rest of the club strip. For first-timers, groups of friends and families on a budget, the location does a lot of the work. One of the two towers houses the Altitude Club, a premium tier with its own lounge, bar, complimentary room service and bigger suites. It is often described as the adults-only side of the hotel, but it is not: kids can stay in Altitude rooms, and only the infinity pool and the Le Delice restaurant are adults-only.

Traveler Insights

Pros

+Punta Cancun location at km 8.5 puts Coco Bongo, Mandala and the main club strip a few minutes' walk away, closer to the nightlife than almost any other all-inclusive in the Hotel Zone
+Eight dining options for a mid-priced Cancun stay, including The Grill with its Josper oven, Risotto with a sommelier, Ayami with three teppanyaki tables, Red Fish taqueria and the O Restaurant buffet
+Four pools, including a dedicated kids pool and an ocean-view infinity pool reserved for adults booked in the Altitude categories
+Altitude Club tier is a real step up: its own tower, an a la carte breakfast lounge, the Altitude Club Bar, complimentary room service and access to the Le Delice French restaurant
+Well priced for a Hotel Zone beachfront all-inclusive, usually coming in under what Riu or Hyatt Ziva charge nearby
+Bar staff and named restaurant servers get warm, specific praise from recent guests
+More to do on site than its size suggests: Beach House Spa with five treatment rooms and a steam room, a gym open 6am to 11pm, and yoga and meditation at the Moskito Beach Club

Cons

−Service consistency is the recurring complaint: slow or unhelpful staff come up again and again, even as other guests single out individual employees for praise
−Elevator waits are a well-worn grievance across the two towers, with guests describing long, hot waits when units are out of service
−Room service costs extra for everyone outside the Altitude categories, and the Starbucks outlet is pay-as-you-go too
−Altitude is a premium club tower, not an adults-only section: children can stay there, and only the infinity pool and Le Delice are restricted to adults
−Kamp Krystal only takes kids aged 3 to 10 and is closed on Sundays, a narrow window for families with tweens
−Like the rest of the Hotel Zone's open-sea stretch, the beach can bring rough surf, rip currents and red flag days that keep you in the pool
−Cleanliness and breakfast variety get mixed marks, so this is not the pick for travelers moving up from Moon Palace or a Riu Palace

The facilities run deeper than the price suggests. There are eight dining options: the O Restaurant buffet with themed dinners, Red Fish for ceviche and tacos, the Beach Bar & Grill, the Take a Bite cafe, The Grill with its Josper oven, Risotto, Ayami with three teppanyaki tables, and Le Delice for Altitude adults on stays of three nights or more. The Grill, Risotto and Ayami need reservations through the concierge. Four pools include a kids pool, and there is the Beach House Spa, a gym open 6am to 11pm, Kamp Krystal for ages 3 to 10 (Monday to Saturday) and a games room for over-10s. The weak spots are service consistency and the elevators, both frequent complaints, and room service is extra unless you book Altitude.

This is a strong fit for budget-minded couples, friend groups and first-time all-inclusive travelers who want to walk to the nightlife, and for families with younger kids who want a kids club and a kids pool. Swimmers should know that the Hotel Zone's open-sea beaches often fly red flags, so plan on the pools some days. It sits a step below Riu Palace Kukulkan in polish; couples who want a fully adults-only setting are better served by Hyatt Zilara or Royalton Chic, or by the Altitude tier with realistic expectations.

Common Questions

Is the Altitude Tower adults-only?

No. Altitude is a premium club tower with its own lounge for a la carte breakfast, the Altitude Club Bar, complimentary room service and larger suites, and children can stay there. The adults-only parts are the infinity pool, which is reserved for adults booked in Altitude categories, and Le Delice, the French restaurant for Altitude guests 18 and over on stays of at least three nights. If you want no kids anywhere, look at a dedicated adults-only resort.

How close is Krystal Grand Cancun to the nightclubs?

Very close. The hotel sits at km 8.5 in Punta Cancun, and Coco Bongo, Mandala and the rest of the club strip are a few hundred metres up the boulevard, roughly a five-minute walk. For a group trip where going out is part of the plan, you will not need a taxi or shuttle.

What's included and what costs extra?

Meals at the buffet and restaurants, drinks at the bars, the pools, the gym and kids club are part of the all-inclusive. Room service carries a charge unless you are in an Altitude category, and the Starbucks outlet is paid separately. Moskito Beach Club is fully included for Altitude guests, and spa treatments are extra.

Can you actually swim in the ocean here?

Sometimes, but not reliably. This stretch of the Hotel Zone faces the open Caribbean, so stronger surf, rip currents and red flag days are common across all the neighbouring resorts. Plan on the pools for real swimming and treat calm sea days as a bonus. If ocean swimming is the priority, Playa del Carmen or the calmer north-facing beaches are a better bet.

Is it good for families with kids?

For younger kids, yes: there is a kids pool and Kamp Krystal runs arts, crafts and games for ages 3 to 10 from 9am to 5:30pm, Monday to Saturday. Older kids get Adventure Friends, a games room with pool, air hockey, foosball and video games open 11am to 11pm, though 10 to 12 year olds must be with an adult. There is no waterpark or mega-pool, so families wanting slides should look at the bigger Cancun complexes.

How does food and service hold up over a week?

Food is generally described as solid rather than exceptional, and the eight venues give enough variety for a week if you book The Grill, Risotto and Ayami through the concierge early. Service is where opinions split most: recent guests praise specific bartenders and buffet staff by name, while others report slow responses and long elevator waits. Guests coming from Karisma or Palace resorts usually find the comparison does not favour Krystal on food or polish.

What's nearby

Ferry to Isla Mujeres
20 min drive · 8.5 mi
Playa Delfines
20 min drive · 7.0 mi
Isla Contoy day trip
20 min drive · 8.5 mi
Playa Tortugas
6 min drive · 2.2 mi
Museo Maya de Cancún
14 min drive · 5.3 mi
El Meco Ruins
25 min drive · 10 mi

More things to do (24)

Catamaran trip to Isla Mujeres · excursion6 min drive · 2.2 mi
Downtown Cancún (Parque Las Palapas) · town20 min drive · 7.3 mi
Xoxi Cancún · adventure park35 min drive · 16 mi
Whale shark swim (June to September) · excursion20 min drive · 8.5 mi
Playa Las Perlas · beach10 min drive · 4.5 mi
Garrafón Park day trip (Isla Mujeres) · excursion7 min drive · 3.0 mi
Croco Cun Zoo · wildlife45 min drive · 25 mi
Playa Caracol · beach11 min walk · 0.6 mi
Riviera Cancún Golf · golf30 min drive · 13 mi
Playa Ballenas · beach12 min drive · 4.2 mi
Puerto Cancún Golf Course · golf15 min drive · 6.4 mi
Iberostar Cancún Golf Club · golf20 min drive · 6.3 mi
Playa Coral · beach25 min drive · 11 mi
Puerto Morelos reef snorkel trip · excursion50 min drive · 27 mi
Playa Gaviota Azul · beach3 min drive · 0.9 mi
Playa Chac Mool · beach7 min drive · 2.2 mi
Playa Langosta · beach7 min drive · 3.0 mi
Torre Escénica de Cancún · viewpoint8 min drive · 3.5 mi
Yamil Lu'um · ruins10 min drive · 2.9 mi
Playa San Miguelito · beach11 min drive · 3.8 mi
Playa Marlín · beach12 min drive · 3.5 mi
Marina Puerto Cancún · marina12 min drive · 5.3 mi
El Rey Ruins · ruins15 min drive · 6.3 mi
Playa Delfines Lookout · viewpoint20 min drive · 7.0 mi

Amenities

Adults-Only Pool

Arcade

Yoga Classes

Nightclub

Kids Club

Snorkeling

Water Sports Rentals

Free Wi-Fi

Show 5 more amenities

Nightly Entertainment

Buffet Dining

Spa

Gym

Beach

Seaweed & sargassum

Cancun gets sargassum, typically worst May through August.See the month-by-month guide →

Every all-inclusive in Cancun →

Google Reviews★ 4.1 · 2,487 reviews

Maria M.

a month ago

“This was a great vocation and a wonderful stay at the Krystal Grand. From the moment we got there, the staffs was so welcoming . our hostess Nohemi was great. The smiles and the service was a 100% throughout our stay. The food was amazing. Our waite...”

Trevor K.

a month ago

“Stayed here for a week. It was a wonderful time. Staff was not pushy and very nice and wonderful. The beach is clean but very busy. Shared beach with other resorts and locals do come to the beach. The room was large and clean. Daily housekeeping was...”

morley s.

2 months ago

“My friend and I stayed in the Altitude Tower of the Krystal Grand which I highly recommend as it has some perks that definitely make a difference, such as a separate breakfast area (little or no waiting in line in the morning… the main buffet room fo...”