If you are reading this, you are most likely planning a trip to Xcaret in Playa del Carmen, Mexico. If that is the case, you are in for quite a treat! My husband and I went on an anniversary trip in 2018 to Cancun, and Xcaret was definitely a highlight. There are so many attractions available at Xcaret, that it can be somewhat overwhelming.

However, if you plan in advance and realize that you can’t see everything, you will have a great time. In this article, I will talk about five of our favorite attractions. At the end, I will also share some tips to save some money on your trip to Xcaret.

To read more about our experience at the Grand Park Royal Cancun Caribe Resort, click here. 

What Is Xcaret?

Xcaret is described as a natural theme park loaded with over 40 attractions for people of all ages. It is located in Playa del Carmen, Mexico, and is named after the nearby archaeological site known by the same name. There, you can swim with dolphins, explore natural rivers, see breathtaking shows, and enjoy international cuisine. In sum, Xcaret is an activity that you really have to experience to truly understand. 

With that said, we hadn’t anticipated going to Xcaret when we initially planned our trip. We had heard of it, but it wasn’t something that we thought we would have time to do. However, while at the resort, we decided to look into some fun excursions that we could do, and Xcaret came highly recommended by everyone. In the end, we decided to visit Chichen Itza and Xcaret and we don’t regret it at all!

How Much Does It Cost To Go To XCaret?

You are probably wondering how much it costs to spend a day at Xcaret. The good news is that you can pay the reasonable admission fee (click here for current rate) and have plenty to do all day. That said, many of the best activities have an additional cost, so it is important to plan and budget in advance. If you plan on eating lunch during the day and swimming in the underground rivers, I strongly recommend that Xcaret Total package, which includes a lunch buffet, a rental locker, snorkel fins rental, and one optional activity!

At the end of this article, I will share a few tips for saving money, but for now Click HERE to see current fees and to book your admission to Xcaret online in advance, saving 10% – 15% + an additional $5 off with code XC5-AF19 (valid through 2/14/2019). 

Five Must-See Attractions At Xcaret

With that background, I am now ready to reveal five of our favorite attractions at Xcaret. Of course, there are many others to choose from, but you can’t go wrong if you plan these activities into your day. 

1. Underground Rivers (included in park admission)

This was an absolutely breathtaking experience for both my husband and me. When someone told us we should swim in the underground rivers, at first I said I didn’t want to do it because I am not very good at swimming. I am so glad that I changed my mind! 

Xcaret has three underground rivers (they say underground, but you can still see the surface almost the entire time). The three rivers are called the “Blue River”, the “Mayan River”, and the “Manatee River.” 

The rivers are full of crystal clear water, and according to the website, average about 5 feet in depth. However, I feel like it was deeper since neither my husband nor I could reach the bottom at any point. Life jackets are required, and there are exits placed periodically throughout in case you want to leave before you get to the end (but I recommend that you don’t!). 

If you have ever gone to a water park with a “lazy river”, that is basically what this is, but so much better! You will enter the river at the beginning, and choose which of the three rivers you want to follow. From that point on, you can swim or float around 650 yards to the end. As you swim through the river, you are surrounded by beautiful trees and caves. It is a great opportunity to really just relax and enjoy. 

One great thing about the underground rivers (and Xcaret in general), is that it has photo stations throughout where you can scan your wristband, and have it take a picture of you. If you purchase the photo pass, you can download all of the pictures after your trip. The pictures are really high quality and eliminates the need to ask strangers to take pictures of you. Here are just a few of the pictures that we took. 

Even though I am not a good swimmer, this experience was amazing. Trust me, you don’t have to know how to swim and you will have a great time. 

Tips for Underground Rivers

• Do this at the beginning of your day. It will take you about an hour to get from one end of the river to the other, and they are on opposite sides of the park. At the entrance, you will put anything that you want to have at the end of the river in a large locked bag, and they will give it to you at the end.
• Take a waterproof phone carrier if you want to take videos or your own pictures. More about this in the tips at the end of the article. 
• Buy the photo pass and take as many pictures as possible in the river. If you click on the “Recommendations” tab here, it will give you details on the photo pass. If you book your admission from this link, just check the box under “enhance your experience” that says “add photo pass”. 

2. Swimming With Dolphins (separate fee)

Swimming with dolphins at Xcaret was one of the most amazing experiences of my life. That may sound like an exaggeration, but it truly was amazing. I had always dreamed of doing this, so when the opportunity arose, we decided to take the plunge. 

There are a few different options for swimming with dolphins at Xcaret. Each includes different activities and have different price points. The three options are listed below from least expensive, to most expensive. 

• Swim with Dolphins Interax.  Including swimming with dolphins and close-up interactive with the dolphins.
• Swim with Dolphins Ride. Includes swimming with dolphins, riding a dolphin, and close-up interaction with the dolphins. 
• Swim with Dolphins Primax. Includes swimming with dolphins, being pushed by your feet by the dolphins, and close-up interaction with the dolphins.

Since we were already spending quite a bit, we decided to go with the least expensive “Interax” option. When our scheduled time came up, we were split up into small groups with other people and taken down to the dolphin area. Each group had a guide that provided information about the dolphins and lead the group into the water.

From there, it was pure joy! We each got a turn getting a kiss from the dolphin before heading out into the water where multiple dolphins swam around us in circles. It was such a great experience and one that I would recommend to anyone! 

Click HERE to book (narrow to Xcaret and scroll down). 

Tips for Swimming with Dolphins

• Pictures are not included in the photo pass, unfortunately. You can buy a separate photo package for any of the dolphin activities and I recommend it. There are different options based on how many pictures you want, but we ended up spending around $130.00 USD. They will take pictures of you regardless and once you see the pictures it can be hard to resist!
• The dolphin area is not covered, so plan accordingly. We didn’t have any sunscreen left on us by the time we got to the dolphins, because it all washed off in the rivers. You may consider wearing a swimming shirt to you don’t get burned. I don’t burn easily, but my husband came away from this one a bit red. 

3. Sea Trek (separate fee)

This was an unforgettable experience as well. The Sea Trek activity is so unique and awesome, that I have to recommend it as well. The Sea Trek activity consists slowly descending about 25 feet under the ocean surface and then walking along a path for about 25 minutes surrounded by beautiful sea life. 

Since breathing is important, Xcaret provides you with an individual helmet that allows you to breathe as if you were on land. The helmets might make you feel like an astronaut, but they are obviously necessary and make this experience possible. 

The only requirements (other than being at least 8 years of age), are that you know how to walk, breathe, and decompress your ears. You will have a short 10-15 minute instruction before entering the water and then you will walk on the ocean floor for about 25 minutes. There is a guardrail along the entire route and professional scuba divers are present to ensure everyone’s safety. 

My husband and I loved this experience because we were able to see some amazing fish and other sea life close up in their natural environment. In case it isn’t clear, this does not take place in a pool or an artificial aquarium. You will actually be walking on the ocean floor and it is amazing!

Since we had our waterproof phone protector, we took a video the entire time. 

Click HERE to book (narrow to Xcaret and scroll down)

Tips for Sea Trek

• They will take an underwater picture of you at one point during the walk. This is included in the photo pass and you can download it with the rest of your pictures. You can purchase the pictures individually as well if you don’t purchase the photo pass. 
• If you take your own phone to take a video, you will be instructed to hit the “record” button before entering the water. Don’t forget to do this, otherwise, the pressure will be too strong and you will not be able to turn it on. This will result in a long video, but it is worth it. 
• Practice decompressing your ears before you go under. You can easily reach your hand up under the mask without letting any water in to plug your nose, but they will give you some tips on decompressing your ears without your hands as well. 

4. Aviary and Butterfly Pavilion (included in park admission)

We finished up at Sea Trek around 2:00 PM, and at our lunch buffet right after. When were done, we decided to check out some of the great nature exhibits that Xcaret has to offer. After consulting our map, we decided to check out the aviary and butterfly pavilion, because they were in the same section of the park. My husband was a little bit unsure if he would like it, but we were both amazed at how beautiful it was. 

The aviary is truly outstanding. Not only does it give visitors the opportunity to see some gorgeous birds up close, but it also does so much for conservation. The aviary includes natural habitats where over 1500 Mexican birds can live, many of which are in danger of extinction. Xcaret’s scarlet macaw has gone a long way towards repopulating the jungles of southern Mexico, and the babies were so cute! 

We really enjoyed the butterfly pavilion as well. It is one of the largest butterfly pavilions in the world and has over 20 regional species of butterflies. We went in the late afternoon, so there weren’t as many butterflies active, so if you have a chance to go in the morning you may see more. That said, the habitat that they have built there is beautiful and you will definitely enjoy it. 

Tips for Aviary and Butterfly Pavilion

• Take your time and rest when you can. There is definitely some walking involved and it is pretty humid. 

5. Xcaret Mexico Espectacular (included in park admission, unless you want assigned seats and dinner)

There are many shows going on at Xcaret, but this is one that you won’t want to miss. It starts at 7:00 PM and lasts for about two hours, but it is well worth waiting for! 

The show takes through the history of Mexico, starting in the pre-hispanic days and continuing to the present. The beginning was so cool because they play some of the Mayan ball games and show you how it was actually done! One of the games was like an ancient hockey/soccer hybrid, using a flaming ball and wooden sticks. You have to see it to understand completely, but it was amazing. 

My favorite part of the show was watching the Papantla flyers because they originated in my home state of Veracruz. The show also shows you regional dances from all around Mexico and it is quite the performance! 

If you just want to see the show, you can go in with your standard admission. However, there is another option if you want to ensure that you get a seat and a nice dinner. If you purchase the dinner package, you will have a great seat and a meal that includes multiple courses of regional foods.

Since it was our anniversary, we decided to splurge and get a nice dinner as well. It was worth it just to have the assigned seats, and the dinner was really good too! Some of the courses were better than others, but I really enjoyed the majority. 

Click HERE to book (narrow to Xcaret and scroll down)

Tips For Xcaret Mexico Espectacular

• If you don’t pay for the assigned seats and dinner, make sure you get to the theater at least 30 minutes early. 
• Sit back, relax and enjoy the amazing Mexican culture. You may hear bad things about Mexico, but it is a beautiful country with an amazing culture. 

How To Save Money At Xcaret

Although you can have an amazing time at Xcaret just with the price of admission, if you decide to do some of the optional activities, the cost can climb pretty quickly. That said, this could be a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, so if you can afford it, it is well worth the cost. 

To make it a little bit easier, I want to share a couple of tips that may help you save some money. 

• Buy your waterproof phone protector in advance. If you are going to take pictures or videos in the rivers or any of the other underwater activities, you absolutely have to have a waterproof phone protector. We didn’t know about this in advance, so we ended up buying one at the park. Unfortunately, they go for about 30 USD at the park, which is pretty high. I recommend that you buy them in advance since you can get them for much less in advance. For example, you can buy a pack of two here for a much more accessible price. 
• Buy your admission and extra activities online at least 21 days before your visit to save 15%. If you buy your tickets and extra activities ONLINE, a 15% discount will be applied at checkout. 
• Purchase the Xcaret Plus or XCaret Total admission options. Both of these options include a lunch buffet that you can redeem at one of many restaurants on site. We went with the restaurant “La Cocina” and it was amazing. They had so many authentic Mexican dishes and it was unlimited! If you buy the XCaret Total admission, you get everything that is included in Xcaret Plus, but you also get to bundle one optional activity from the following: Adrenalina, Sea Trek, or Snuba Family. This is a good way to save a few dollars if you know that you are going to want to do one of those activities. 
• Try to get a discount on your admission from your resort. You are able to purchase tickets to Xcaret at most resorts in Cancun and Playa del Carmen. The downside to this is that in order to get a steep discount, most of the resorts require that you sit through one of their timeshare presentations. We did that in order to get a discount on our admission to Chichen Itza and Xcaret, but we had to waste two hours to do it. Learn more about that bad experience HERE. We were able to get admission and transportation for about 40 dollars less than we would have online. Even though we saved some money, it is still a safer bet to buy online and get the guaranteed discount than risking not getting the discount at your resort. 
• If you don’t buy activities online, ticket agents on site may be able to give bundle discounts in person. Since we bought all of our activities and admission in person at Xcaret, the ticket agent that helped us authorized a bit of discount on our activities. We were able to save a decent amount that way, but it ended up being pretty close to what we would have been able to pay if we had planned ahead and purchased online with that discount. If you are only a few days away from your trip and are not eligible for the 10% or 15% DISCOUNT online, definitely ask for a discount in person! 
• Consider bundling multiple parks to save. Experiencias Xcaret has more than just one park, and you can save if you bundle trips to 2-4 of the parks. Click HERE for details. 

Final Thoughts

My husband and I had the most amazing experience visiting Xcaret. We were definitely tired at the end of the day, but it was worth it. Like I said above, we didn’t know much about Xcaret when we were planning our trip, but we are so happy that we found out about it. 

Whenever anyone tells us that they are planning a trip to Cancun or Playa del Carmen, we are quick to recommend Xcaret and we hope that you will make the decision to go. I can assure you that you will have the time of your life and it will be an unforgettable experience.

Let us know in the comments below how your trip goes! 

The post Five Must-See Attractions at Xcaret in Playa del Carmen Mexico appeared first on My Latina Table.

I am so excited to share this in-depth review on the Grand Park Royal Cancun Caribe resort in Mexico. My husband and I recently returned from our anniversary trip, and we had a great time.

For some background on us, my husband and I got married in 2009. Right after we got married, we spent our honeymoon at a resort in Playa del Carmen, which is in the same general area as Cancun. After that, we had three kids and we hadn’t had the opportunity to go on any trips together as a couple.

This year, we felt like the kids were old enough to stay with my mom, so we decided to book a trip to celebrate our 9th anniversary. We spent quite a bit of time researching different all-inclusive resorts in Cancun before eventually deciding on the Grand Park Royal Cancun Caribe Resort.

In this blog post, I am going to provide an in-depth review of our experience. I will cover the below topics. For each topic, I will assign a score based on the total number of points for each topic. As you can see, some topics have a higher total point value, because in my opinion, they are more important to the overall experience.

1. Check-In Process (5 total points)
2. Room Options (15 total points)
3. Dining Options (15 total points)
4. Entertainment Options (10 total points)
5. Spa Experience (5 total points)
6. Vacation Club Presentation (10 total points)
7. Location (10 total points)
8. Beach and Pool (10 total points)

Please remember that this review is based mainly on our own experience. Obviously, we didn’t experience all of the different room options, and we weren’t even able to try all of the restaurants, but we did as much as we could and hope that this review is helpful for anyone considering a trip at the Grand Park Royal Cancun Caribe.

Find the best deal, compare prices, and read what other travelers have to say about this resort at TripAdvisor

Check-In Process At The Grand Park Royal Cancun Caribe – 2/5

We started our trip early in the morning, with an anticipated arrival time at the resort at about 5 pm local time. We contracted our airport to hotel transportation through Cancun Transportation, and it went very well. The driver was waiting for us upon arrival and the fees were very reasonable.

We made it to the hotel right around 5:30 pm. When we arrived, the bellhop put a tag on our bags and took them, telling us that they would be waiting for us at our room when we finished checking in. After that, we were ushered over to the check-in area. We thought that it would go quickly, because there were two people already being attended to by the staff, and we were next in line.

Unfortunately, it didn’t go as quickly as we had envisioned. Keep in mind, at this point we were extremely tired from traveling all day and we just wanted to get to our room. For some reason, the two people in front of us had some issues that they were discussing, and it wasn’t our turn for at least 20 minutes. At this point, we were a bit frustrated, because there were many other desks open at reception and it looked like there were other staff members that could help us.

Nevertheless, we waited and eventually it was our turn. The check-in itself was relatively painless. We asked right off the bat if there were any upgrades available. It took the staff member about 5-10 minutes to look it up on his computer, but eventually, he told us that he could upgrade us to the adult-only Royal Tower for $60.00 extra per night. For us, that turned out to be about $300.00 extra.

We felt that the upgrade cost was a bit high, but we decided to go for it since it seemed like it would be worth it in the end. More on the room later.

After we received our keys, we were introduced to a “concierge”, who was supposed to explain a little bit about the resort and get us to our room. In reality, this was just a glorified sales pitch to try to get us to join one of their “tours” of the resort (aka – Vacation Club presentation). I don’t want to get too deep into that yet, because there is a whole section about it below.

I will say though, that we spent a good 20-30 minutes with the concierge before we were able to actually get to our rooms. We did end up signing up for one of the presentations, mainly just to get to our room so that we could relax.

Overall, the check-in experience was not positive for us. We understand that an all-inclusive resort does require some extra explanation, but in our opinion, it should never take nearly an hour to get checked-in and to the room. The staff was nice (although the concierge did apply a lot of pressure for the vacation club presentation), but the wait times were unacceptable. That is why I can only give a 2 out of 5 for our check-in experience.

Room Options At The Grand Park Royal Cancun Caribe – 12/15

The Grand Park Royal Cancun Caribe has many different room options. You can check them all out here.

We originally booked the Deluxe Ocean View room, which looked like a pretty good option. It would have an ocean view and was in the main building. The main building is not adult-only, so that is something to keep in mind if you are not traveling with children.

Breathtaking view of the sun rising from our Royal Tower suite.

We probably would have been fine keeping our original room, but in the end, we decided that we wanted something a little bit more luxurious for our stay. During check-in, we were offered an upgrade (at a cost) to the Royal Tower Jacuzzi Suite Ocean Front. This room is about 70-80 square feet bigger than the Deluxe Ocean View room, and it had a Jacuzzi. In addition, those staying in the Royal Tower are assigned a “mayordomo” or “butler”, who is there to help with reservations and any other questions.

This was actually a very big selling point for us. We just had to tell our mayordomo when we wanted to reserve anything at the resort, and she took care of it for us. For others staying at the resort, they have to go to the restaurant on their own and reserve it. It was nice not to have to worry about that at all.

Our mayordomo was named Jessica, and we were extremely happy with her. She went above and beyond to explain everything to us and to ensure that we had a great stay.

We also let them know that we were celebrating our anniversary, so they surprised us with a couple of special amenities.

We came back to this surprise on the second day!

The room itself was great. The view was amazing and it was so nice to be able to relax on the balcony while watching the waves rush up against the shore.

View out the window from the Royal Tower suites.

We had a couple of issues with the room that I do want to bring up. First, one of the sinks was not draining when we first go there. Since there were two sinks, it wasn’t a huge issue, and when we brought it up the next morning, it was fixed very quickly by the maintenance crew.

The other issue arose on the second night. We were sleeping, and we started hearing a really loud “clapping” sound coming from the air conditioner. It sounded like something may have been loose and was banging around in the ceiling. After about 20 minutes, my husband just stood up and turned off the AC, and then turned it back on again. After that, we didn’t hear the sound again.

The old “turn it off and back on again” apparently works for air conditioners too!

Overall, we really enjoyed the room. The view was unforgettable, and it was very relaxing. There were a couple of minor issues, but I would still give the room a 12 out of 15.

Book Your Room At The Grand Park Royal Cancun Caribe Today!

Dining Options At The Grand Park Royal Cancun Caribe – 14/15

One of the very bright spots of our stay at the Grand Park Royal Cancun Caribe was the food. There are some really great options, and since it is all-inclusive (with the exception of the Steak House, which I will discuss below), it is really easy to try all, or most, of the food.

Dinner at the Prime Rib House on our last night.

Here is a quick rundown of all of the dining options:

1. Cocay Restaurant. This is in the main building and is open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. It is served buffet style and has different options each day. We tried this pretty much once a day at least when we stayed at the resort. The breakfast was by far our favorite. They had chilaquiles, which we love, apple pancakes, an omelet bar, eggs, fruits, and more! The lunch was good both times that we tried it, and we have no reason to believe it wouldn’t be good for dinner, although we didn’t have a chance to try that.
2. El Mirador (Italian). We tried the Italian restaurant, called El Mirador, on our second night at the resort. The service was amazing and the food was delicious. My husband tried the traditional lasagna, and I tried the beef cannoli. Since this is an all-inclusive resort, we also ordered the ribeye steak and a pizza to share. Everything that we tried was amazing and I definitely recommend that you try this while you are there.
3. El Oriental (Japanese). We had a very odd experience when we tried El Oriental restaurant. The night we went was “rodizio” night, and it was explained to us that they would come around with some appetizers and that we could eat all we wanted. Then, we were supposed to be served the main meat dishes as well. When we arrived, it seemed like none of the staff knew what they were doing. We heard them arguing with each other, and we were only provided a couple of appetizers before our plates were taken away. Next, they did bring us the kabobs, which tasted pretty good, but were definitely not filling. We ordered a second round of our non-alcoholic pina coladas, and they never arrived. We ended up leaving at that point because it just wasn’t a good experience overall. Our experience may have been an anomaly, but we were disappointed.
4. La Concha (Seafood/Mexican Cuisine). We were really excited to try this restaurant, but unfortunately, we weren’t able to on this trip. We had a couple of all day trips planned to Chichen Itza and XCaret parks, so on those days were did not eat at the resort. We planned to eat at La Concha on our last night. Unfortunately, we were not aware that it wasn’t open on Sundays (the other restaurants are), so we didn’t get to try it. I heard great things about this place though, so you may want to check it out.
5. Prime Rib House. This is the only restaurant on the property that is not included at no charge. It is a high-quality prime rib and lobster restaurant that you can reserve. The cost is pretty reasonable for what you get. It was 25 dollars each for the prime rib dinner, and you can upgrade to a prime rib and lobster dinner for 5 more dollars. My husband and I both opted for the prime rib, and it was delicious. The 25 dollars includes the salad bar, which had lots of options, the meat, the side (we chose the baked potato), and a fancy dessert. It also includes drinks. We weren’t sure if we wanted to do it, but since it was our last night and La Concha wasn’t available, we decided to give it a try. While it was delicious, there are plenty of other non-paid options that you will not be disappointed.
6. El Jardin Snack Bar. This was a great find! We went to El Jardin Snack Bar on our first night, and discovered that they served about 5 or 6 different varieties of authentic street tacos. They had al pastor, chorizo, bistec, and alambre. We could not get enough of this little gem while we were at the resort. The tacos were amazing and really reminded us that we really were in Mexico! We went there three out of the five nights that we were at the resort. During the day they serve hot dogs, nachos, and hamburgers, which we didn’t try, but that looked pretty good as well.
7. Cafe Sole. Cafe Sole is a small little cafe inside the main building, right near the lobby. It serves a variety of baked goods, sandwiches, and ice cream. We stopped by there for some pastries and an ice cream cone on multiple occasions, and everything was quick and good. Definitely recommended for a quick snack.
8. Pizza Corner. This is one option that we did not have the chance to try. I wish we would have, but we just ran out of time. I have heard that it is pretty quick and the pizza is tasty, but I didn’t have a first-hand experience. Probably a good place to try!

There are a variety of bars throughout the resort. My husband and I do not drink, so I cannot provide an opinion on any of the bars. That said, they always seems to be full and I have heard good things about them. There is a swim-up bar in one of the pools, and the people that took advantage of that seemed to be enjoying themselves.

Overall, I will give the dining options at the Grand Park Royal Cancun Caribe a 14 out of 15. It was that good.

Entertainment Options At The Grand Park Royal Cancun Caribe – 4/10

This is one area where we were a little bit disappointed. When we stayed at a resort in Playa del Carmen, one of our favorite parts was the nightly entertainment. There were some amazing shows that we really enjoyed.

During our check-in, the concierge told us that there were nightly shows here as well. He said that the first night there would be a comedy show. After we got settled in our room, we went out looking for it in the area that we were told. When we got there, there was a staff member sweeping the floor, and she said there was no show that night in there, but that we should check by the pool. We checked by the pool and there was nothing.

When we went back to the original conference center, someone told us that there are no shows at all this week. We were really disappointed by that because we considered it part of the package that we had purchased. We checked back on the other nights, and there was never any show going on.

There were a few other entertainment options, such as Bingo, and a volleyball court, but none of those activities really interested us. Fortunately, we were able to go on a few excursions that were very fun, so that made up for it a little bit.

Overall, we were extremely disappointed in the lack of entertainment at the resort, and for that reason, I can only give this resort a 4 out of 10 for entertainment options.

Spa Experience At Grand Park Royal Cancun Caribe – 5/5

One of our favorite experiences on our honeymoon was doing a couples massage at the spa. We were happy to find out that the Grand Park Royal Cancun Caribe also had a spa, and it was something that we definitely wanted to take advantage of.

One of the discounts that we were provided for sitting through the vacation club presentation, was a credit for two free massages at the spa ($100 value).

My wife chose the deep tissue massage, and I chose the Shiat-zu. We were very impressed with the whole experience. They started off by leading us each ot our respective changing areas, and then leading us into the room where we would receive our massages at the same time. Like most spas, the massage room had a very appealing scent and the masseuses did a great job. 

When we finished, we were told that we could use the sauna and steam rooms for as long as we would like. We took advantage of that for a few minutes and then left. 

Overall, this was a great, and very relaxing experience and I had zero complaints. I would definitely give the spa a 5 out of 5. 

Vacation Club Presentation at Grand Park Royal Cancun Caribe – 3/10

Before booking this trip, we read multiple reviews online. Many of those reviews brought up the vacation club presentation, so we were prepared for the pitch. The vacation club was first presented to us by the concierge right after we checked in. We had asked whether we could book some activities through the resort. This gave the concierge the opportunity he was looking for. He immediately told us about some amazing discounts that he could provide for Chichen Itza and Experiencias Xcaret. 

It didn’t take long to realize that there was going to be a catch. When we asked, he told us, “in order to show my gratitude”, we want to invite you a breakfast and tour of the resort. He went on to say that in order to get the discounts, we would need to attend the breakfast. We knew that the breakfast and tour would actually be the vacation club presentation, and we told him the same. We said very clearly that we were not going to sign up for their vacation club, and that we didn’t want to waste anyone’s time. He told us that it didn’t matter and that it would be very low pressure. 

We are smart enough to realize that it would not be low pressure, but we did want the discounts. We hesitantly agreed to attend the breakfast, after he wrote down the discounts we would get. The concierge was quick to remind us that a requirement was for us to bring our credit card, because “they needed to see the brand” because they are sponsors of the presentation. Of course, we realized that the real reason is that they want to make sure that they can convince you to sign up and pay right then. We told him we knew the brand of our card and would tell him, but he still insisted that we had to bring the card.

Later that night, we decided we didn’t want to waste our time or anyone else’s, so we called the front desk and told them that we would need to cancel the breakfast. They said that was fine, but that we needed to drop off the voucher by 12:00 PM the next day. We went and dropped it off at the concierge desk, and scurried away pretty quickly. Then, out of nowhere, the same concierge from the night before came chasing us down the hallways. 

He then proceeded to pressure us into going and doing the tour right then. He said, “I just got approval for two free massages and one free trip to Chichen Itza!” We told him that it sounded great, but that we really didn’t want to waste anybody’s time, because there was no way that we were going to sign up for the vacation club. He then admitted that it didn’t matter if we signed up or not because he would get credit just for signing us up. Again, we reluctantly agreed to go. 

From that point on, we were escorted to a nicely-furnished, air-conditioned room where we were greeted by a manager. We told him the same thing – that we were not interested, and that we were taking the tour solely for the discounts. He assured us that they just wanted to show us why it is a great idea, and then it would be a simple yes or no. 

To make a long story a little bit less long, it was NOT a simple yes or no. The man giving the tour was very nice and we know he was just doing his job. However, we were escorted into a large room with other people that were taking the tour. He presented the numbers, and we told him that we absolutely were not going to pay 8,500 dollars right now + 450 dollars per month for 6 years for this vacation club. 

We countered every argument he gave us and after about 5 “no’s”, he said he needed to go tell his manager that we weren’t interested. His manager then came over and proceeded to try to convince us, in a sometimes insulting manner, to sign up for a lower cost package. After another 5 “no’s”, we were transferred to one final person who was supposed to give us a survey. Of course, this turned into one more chance for them to try to sell an even lower package. 

Eventually, we got out of there and received our vouchers. 

Daniel trying to relax in a hammock after finally getting out of the vacation club presentation.

This was not a pleasant experience. We knew that there would be pressure, but the level of pressure, especially after we made it abundantly clear that we were not interested, was over the top. If you are confident that you can say no and you don’t mind wasting 2-3 hours (our’s didn’t even have the breakfast, and it still took over 2 hours), you might want to do this. However, make sure you get as much out of them as possible and get it in writing. 

I am giving this 3 out of 10 points, because the actual salesperson that gave the tour was nice, and because we did get some good vouchers. 

Location Of Grand Park Royal Cancun Caribe – 8/10

It is hard to go wrong in the hotel zone at Cancun. The entire area is beautiful with great access to the beach. It is a relatively short (about 15-25 minutes) trip from the airport to this resort. This resort isn’t one of the first few hotels, but it is only about half-way through the hotel zone, so it is a good location. 

We also were pleased to find that there were a couple of “plazas” within walking distance where we were able to go and get some souvenirs that were much more affordable than the store inside the resort. Just make sure that you go to a few different stores because the prices can vary based on what you look like and how well you speak Spanish. Most of the people assumed my husband didn’t speak Spanish, but once he started negotiating with them in Spanish, the prices dropped pretty quickly! 

At the Plaza Flamingo getting some last minute souvenirs.

The weather was amazing while we were there, and it was really just a great, relatively quiet and peaceful location. 

The only reason I am docking this a couple of points is that it would have been nice to be a little bit closer to the start of the hotel zone and because the traffic outside of the resorts is pretty crazy. There were a couple of times when we were walking to the plaza where we felt very unsafe because of the speed of the cars that were driving by. Overall, I give the location an 8 out of 10. 

Beaches and Pools and Grand Park Royal Cancun Caribe – 8/10 

One of the main draws to Cancun is its amazing beaches. We hadn’t been to the beach for years before this trip, so we were pretty excited to get back. 

Fortunately, the beach at the Grand Park Royal Cancun Caribe didn’t disappoint. As you can see in some of these pictures, the water was stunning and the beach was great. We had so many other activities planned during the week, that we didn’t spend too much time at the beach. That said, we did go down there on two occasions during our stay.

Daniel on the beach – nice farmer’s tan!

Daniel swimming in the ocean – kind of.

The first time we went to the beach was on a day when there was a ton of seaweed for some reason. That did make it a little bit less enjoyable, but it was still relaxing nonetheless.

Lots of seaweed on the first day at the beach.

On our last day at the resort, we reserved a canopy (a perk of the Royal Tower rooms), and were able to spend quite a bit of time down there just relaxing and spending time on the beach. That day, there was no seaweed, and the waves were bigger than normal. It was so fun and we really enjoyed it. 

Charbel relaxing in the beach canopy.

Daniel standing on the beach

Charbel having fun on the beach.

With respect to the pools, we really only spent time in one of them. There are two main pools. The first pool runs in the main section of the resort and has plenty of space. The second one is over by the Royal Tower rooms and is adult only with a swim-up bar. We only went to the pool once, but it was pretty nice. It was an “edgeless” pool, so the water just flowed seamlessly over the edge. Since we don’t drink alcohol, we didn’t spend any time a the bar and cannot provide any rating there. 

View of the main pool at Grand Park Royal Cancun Caribe

Overall, I would give the beach and pools at the Grand Park Royal Cancun Caribe an 8 out of 10, because the seaweed was kind of disappointing on one day. 

Final Thoughts and Overall Rating

Overall, we had a wonderful time on this trip. We spent two full days away from the resort at Chichen Itza and XCaret Parques, so that had a lot to do with our amazing experience. That said, the resort was good overall. I am not going to say that it was the best resort, but it did meet our needs for the most part. We were really disappointed in the lack of on-site entertainment and with the vacation club presentation, and those are the main reasons for this resort not receiving a higher score. 

I definitely would recommend this resort, but make sure you go prepared and don’t hesitate to look for better options. I can say with confidence that you will have a good time, but there may be somewhere that is better for you.

After adding all of the scores together, the final score that My Latina Table gives to the Grand Park Royal Cancun Caribe is 56 out of 80 (70%). 

Check out and compare other resorts located in Cancun here!

If you have gone to the Grand Park Royal Cancun Caribe, what did you like or not like about it? Was your experience the same? Let us know in the comments below!

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