Looking for a family-friendly vacation in Cancun? If you are searching for a holiday on the Caribbean Sea, Grand Park Royal Cancun all inclusive luxury in Mexico might be the answer. My husband and I recently returned from our trip to Cancun and stayed at this 5 start luxury resort. The white sand beaches and the azure blue water is something you need to experience for yourself to believe. The fact that my husband and I woke up to this gorgeous view everyday of our vacation was not lost on me.
While an all-inclusive resort means you don’t have to leave the beach property, there are plenty of things to see and do in Cancun, Mexico.
Grand Park Royal luxury resort
With 346 rooms and 37 suites, Grand Park Royal has the all inclusive Cancun Caribbean vacation dialed down. Guests are greeted with a welcome cocktail and escorted to their ocean view room. That’s right, all hotel rooms are guaranteed views of Mexico’s Caribbean Sea.
Our hotel room, #2014, was located in the Royal Tower and it was a 5 star experience. You’ll see in the video below that our marble bathroom was spacious with separate toilet, rainfall shower head fixtures, double vanity and a separate jetted bathtub. Large size bath amenities were from Royal Kaab and a hair dryer was available.
I didn’t experience the tub, but both my husband and I loved the shower with its strong water pressure. The rainfall fixture overhead allowed for a strong cascade of water to melt over my head and into my shoulders, washing any residual tension from the work life that I had left behind in San Francisco.
Our king bed was strategically placed in the 409 square foot room to take full advantage of the sweeping Caribbean Sea view. Additionally, our room featured a sofa, desk, 32 inch flat-screen tv, daily stocked mini bar and spacious balcony looking out to the beach, bali beds and that aqua marine sparkling water.
Royal Tower
Did I mention that our Royal Tower guest room comes with a private butler? Normally I don’t take advantage of butler services, as I like packing and unpacking my own suitcase, but both of my butlers were excellent and accommodating. I had a pre-existing leg injury that required icing on a regular basis and my butler made sure that I had fresh ice and room service goodies whenever I wanted. She also made all of our dinner reservations upon arrival, resulting in carefree dining.
I should point out that I was not receiving special treatment from the hotel. All guests of Grand Park Royal Cancun have 24 hour room service available to them. One service is included per day, the second order comes with a $15 surcharge. I recommend lunch from room service because you wouldn’t want to miss dining at any of the specialty restaurants – more on that later.
All inclusive drinks and dining at Grand Park Royal
Guests are greeted at the Grand Park Royal Cancun with a welcome cocktail or alcohol-free mocktail. You’ll want to pack resort attire for evening dinners as there is a dress code at the specialty restaurants; men are required to wear long pants, closed toed shoes and no sleeveless shirts are allowed. Ladies dress requirements are more lax, but rest assured, no one will be wearing shorts and a t-shirt to dinner.
Guests have their choice of Cocay restaurant, in addition to four specialty restaurants; La Concha Mexican restaurant, El Mirador Italian restaurant, El Oriental, featuring Asian cuisine and Teppanyaki tables, in addition to Prime Rib House. The Prime Rib House, located in the Royal Tower building, charges $30 surcharge and $35 per person for surf and turf; as always check the rates for current pricing. Of course, I was curious to try the steak house, but I felt like I was on a cruise ship where you had to pay a surcharge if you’d prefer a higher caliber of food. Needless to say, I stayed with the all-inclusive concept restaurants on this holiday.
Specialty restaurants
As each specialty restaurant requires advance reservations, it is recommended that you decide where and at what time you want to dine each evening upon check in. This concept works well for the planners, but those with pre-scheduled excursions may find this limiting.
We selected El Mirador our first night as it was below Equinox bar and I knew we were headed to the rooftop lounge for cocktails at sunset. By the way, this was a splendid choice. We were one of only three couples at the bar and the sunset over Nichupte Lagoon was fabulous!
I ordered the lamb chops Scotadito style marinated in an herb mixture with white wine. My husband had the Occhio di Bue Al Tartufo Nero, a rib eye marinated in vermouth, vinegar and black truffles. We shared a sea bass fish fillet poached and filled with spinach and almonds. It was too much food, but that’s the way the biscotti crumbles.
The next night had us dining in El Oriental restaurant, as I wanted to experience the Teppanyaki table. Sure enough, our Alltournative Mayan tour didn’t have us back to the Grand Park Royal in time to make a tight dinner reservation so we opted for an individual table. Our dinner started with edamame, a sampling of mixed appetizers, soup, chicken with a peanut sauce and Teriyaki beef. The service and food was excellent and the bamboo décor lovely.
Our final night we dined at La Concha and enjoyed a Mayan chicken dish, as well as a shredded pork regional specialty. The service was intimate and personal, as our waiter remembered us from lunch prior.
We opted for the continental breakfast daily at the private access Royal Tower Lounge. I liked the low sugar yogurt and fresh fruit option, as we were well fed on this Mexican holiday. My husband liked the strong Mexican coffee because, truth be told, he never could figure out how to operate the in-room coffee maker.
Speaking of healthy dining options, smoothie lovers will want to try the Juicy Health Bar open during the day. Of course there’s the required swim up bar, as well as several casual restaurants. Café Sole has homemade ice cream, gourmet coffee and pastries. All of the wait staff at each restaurant and bar had excellent customer service attitudes.
Family-friendly activities
There were plenty of family-friendly activities to select from at Grand Park Royal Cancun, including beach and pool volleyball. While the swimming pool, infinity pool and separate hot tub were well used, the fitness center and spa were surprisingly empty. The fitness center had a large array of equipment, however, I didn’t see what was referenced as the yoga studio. The spa consisted of four sparse treatments rooms; not what one would expect of a five star luxury resort. In fact, when I asked a customer about his spa treatment, the Canadian said it did not measure up to his expectations. Full disclosure, I didn’t not experience any spa treatments.
“Our children liked the Kid’s Club,” said a mother of three from Toronto, Canada. “Today they’re making pizza and cookies.”
I also spoke with a multi-generation grandmother, mother and daughter from Chicago, Illinois. The five-year old gave the resort a beaming thumbs up.
Need to know:
Rates range from $481 – $619 single; $621 – $799 double, $900 – $1,159 triple. The cost of the Royal Tower room is an additional $90 – $100. Prices include all gratuities and taxes. Complimentary internet is included.
Check in: 3:00 p.m.
Check out: 12:00 p.m.
Insider Tips: As mentioned previously, be sure to catch the sunset at Equinox bar. For additional insider tips follow luxury travel writer @Nancydbrown on Twitter or Instagram @Nancydbrown and Park Royal Hotels & Resorts on Instagram.
If You Go:
Grand Park Royal Cancun 52 (998) 848-7800
Blvd. Kukulcan Km. 10.5, Zona Hotelera
Cancun, Quintana Roo, Mexico, CP 77500
Grand Park Royal Cancun All Inclusive review, YouTube video and all photography by travel writer Nancy D. Brown. As is typical in the industry, I received a complimentary media stay, however, all opinions are my own.