Holiday Inn Club Vacations Grand Residences by IHG

A real drawback for families with children is that the place feels partly geared toward adults. There are only two pools, and no playing, jumping, ball games, or similar activities are allowed, even if the pool is completely empty. The sea was rough when we visited, so swimming there wasn’t really an option for the kids either. The hotel has a polished, premium feel and is beautiful and well maintained. We stayed for a full week with our family and close friends who were traveling with their family. The staff were warm, attentive, and professional throughout, and the service was excellent. For an all-inclusive, the food was outstanding. Both the a la carte restaurants and buffets were well above average, and the gym was properly equipped rather than an afterthought. Part of the property is also a residence for long-term guests, which adds to the calm, high-end atmosphere. Puerto Morelos is close by and easy to reach if you want a change of scenery, with a charming town that works well for a relaxed dinner out. It’s a highly recommendable resort for adults or families with older kids, but less suited to families looking for a child-friendly pool where kids can play freely.

This place seems better suited to older timeshare owners than young families. Our trip was somewhere around 2.5 to 3 out of 5. We were there with three families and four small kids. The first two men in our group checked in without an issue. When my wife went to check in, we were told we’d have to switch rooms halfway through the trip. We’re a two-mom family, and with a one-year-old and a nearly four-year-old, having no room during nap time between checkout and check-in would have been a disaster. We told a manager how discriminatory it felt, and then they “magically” found a room that didn’t require a switch. After that, the rest of the stay backed up our feeling that the resort caters to timeshare owners rather than young families or short-term visitors. It doesn’t feel like a true all-inclusive. With small kids, constant access to snacks and food matters, but food was hard to find. Lunch at the beach grill didn’t start until noon, servers were rare, and the only two restaurants were nearly impossible to book for early dinners. Rules were confusing and strict as well. Staff told us several times we were sitting in the wrong chairs or using the wrong pools. Kids weren’t allowed in the swim-up bar pool, and chairs were supposedly always booked by timeshare owners who never showed up. None of this was explained at the front desk. The Kids Club is strictly for ages four and up. They checked my child’s passport and turned him away because he wouldn’t turn four for another nine days. For a luxury all-inclusive family vacation, I’d choose Finest Playa Mujeres instead. Grand Residences Riviera Cancun is a nice hotel with nice rooms, but it falls short on service, food availability, and the welcoming feel a family needs.

The everyday staff are wonderful, and the pool and rooms are spotless. All-inclusive is definitely the way to go here. Just don’t take a concierge discount in exchange for a 90-minute membership presentation. It felt like a timeshare scam and a hard sell, and wasn’t worth the time.

A smaller, very clean resort with friendly staff, two pools, two restaurants, and other amenities. Most guests were around retirement age, though there were also people like us with small kids. It’s a great place to relax, and Puerto Morelos is close by for dinner. We’d come back with young children.