Beach Palace: Completely re-built after 2005 hurricane opening in 2007.
We found the hotel great for what it is - a high rise modern hotel on the busy Cancun hotel zone. Rooms are split between lagoon view and ocean view. Ocean view are great for obvious reasons. Lagoon view is decent for sunset views, late afternoon/early evening sunshine which you miss on ocean side, and evening views of the Cancun city lights. Rooms are modern and very nice, spacious with a large balcony with daybed. Rooftop pools were nice for staying in the late afternoon sunshine when the hotel blocks the sun on the lower ocean side pools. Excellent beach. The kids club is immediately adjacent to the lower level pools and next to a small kiddie pool - seems to be the best kids club location of any of their properties since Adults can be at the pool with the kids mere steps away (spoke to a couple of families who said their kids loved the club). This is our favorite over the Cancun palace when staying with family on the hotel zone.
Cancun Palace:
Middle of Cancun hotel zone, now opened after re-model post 2005 hurricane. Prior to that...it's a busy, active, place. We have never stayed there as it seems too hectic/confined to us, but others we know love the location and atmosphere. We will go for dinner at Japanese place while staying at the Beach or Sun Palace since they have Bennihana style grill tables.
Sun Palace: Couples only on the quieter end of Cancun hotel zone. Renovations done after the 2005 hurricane. Great beach, small pools. Smaller and more intimate for couples only. One of our favorites.
Moon Palace Golf Spa Resort: Large sprawling hotel which consists of older "Moon" and "Sunrise" sides, with newest section the Moon Grand. It is south of the Hotel zone out on its own. Good because it's secluded from the mass of other hotels, but a bus or taxi ride to the hotel zone (free bus from hotel to cancun/sun). We loved it when we first went there and it was only 1/3 the size it became when they added the Sunrise and Moon Grand. It does host a lot of conventions. Big wide beach but the water itself is lame - more of a big lagoon and lots of sea grass. Huge pools. OK miniature golf course. Lots of choices for dining and lots of activities - Hobie cats, climbing wall, etc. We always seem to day trip here regardless of where we are staying, but I always leave thinking it is too over run with people.
Aventura Spa Palace: Adults only half of this large resort. 1 hour south of Cancun. Ocean is not swimmable as the area fronting the ocean is a large rock outcropping sheltering rough seas. They do have (man-made) lagoons which are kind of like saltwater swimming pools on the inside of the rock wall. Large regular pools ala moon palace. My wife loved it since it can be relaxing, romantic, no kids. I enjoy it less due to no ocean swimming, but still find plenty to do. Lots of stuff to do. Last day visit in Dec 2011 it seemed to be showing its age to me. I've heard renovations (and hard rock?) is forthcoming (or that's at the Aventura Cove).
Aventura Cove Palace: Similar to Spa Palace but kids permitted so more kid-friendly amenities.
Xpu-Ha Palace: no longer owned by Palace Resorts.
Playacar Palace: In Playa Del Carmen ~ 60 minutes south of Cancun. Smaller hotel which was existing and refurbished by Palace resorts. Good location for day tripping to Cancun to the North, to Aventura/Xpu-Ha to the South, and Cozumel via nearby ferry. Steps to Cozumel ferry or the action of 5th avenue of Playa Del Carmen (but far enough to not notice the evening activity). Our family that went (age 12 to 70+) really enjoys this smaller, more intimate hotel with fine dining and the personal touch from having fewer guests. Excellent location to explore the Mayan Riviera with a bus station a few blocks away, and the collectivo transfer station another block further, and reasonable car rentals.
Cozumel Palace: Similar in size to Playacar Palace (i.e., smaller hotel). No beach at all as it fronts a rock wall, but OK snorkeling in the crystal clear water right off the hotel front. South edge of pool area has a small sand area with chairs to hang out on (seldom used as most are by the pool). Since the hotel is on the lee-ward side of the Island, the ocean is like a big salt water swimming pool - usually not too rough (compare to mainland which can be very rough and un-swimmable). Do the included snorkel trip and day trip to Chankanab park. We enjoyed a July week here with family - good for a smaller hotel (smaller dining rooms, etc.). Lots of things to do on the island if willing to explore.
Isla Mujeres Palace: Small hotel on island off Cancun, now for adults only. If your ideal vacation is to read by the pool in peace and quiet, this must be the place to go (not for me). Day tripped here in April 2008 on the included tour to the Island (no more day trippers since changed to adult only). The water off the small beach is not swimmable as it is pretty murky and very shallow (used the sea kayaks and paddles kept hitting bottom). Appears to only have one main dining room. Rooms were quite nice with a balcony looking over the sea. If your primary objective is to relax, this would be a great place. Some decent beaches are apparently a short taxi ride away.
Vallarta Palace: Bought by palace and remodeled. Haven’t been there, but have heard good reviews.
RESORT DETAILS/PHOTO'S
Beach Palace
Overview: Re-opened Dec 07. Completely re-built after 2005 hurricane. The newest of the Palace Resorts. We stayed there April 2008. We found the hotel great for what it is - a high rise modern hotel on the busy Cancun hotel zone. Rooms are split between lagoon view and ocean view. Ocean view are great for obvious reasons. Lagoon view is decent for sunset views, late afternoon/early eve. sunshine, and evening views of the Cancun city lights. Rooms were the best we've stayed at yet - spacious with a large balcony with daybed. Rooftop pools were nice for staying in the late afternoon sunshine when the hotel blocks the sun on the lower level pools. At time we visited, the beach was non-existent immediately in front of the hotel - but it has now (2010) been restored. The kids club is immediately adjacent to the lower level pools and next to a small kiddie pool. This seems to be the best kids club location of any of their properties since Adults can be at the pool with the kids mere steps away (spoke to a couple of families who said their kids loved the club). This is our favorite over the Cancun palace when staying with family on the hotel zone.
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| View from Rooftop |
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| Kid's club |
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| Kid's club |
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| Kid's club pool |
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| Kid's club reg's |
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| Kid's club activities |
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| Tour times |
Overview: Middle of Cancun hotel zone, now opened after re-model post 2005 hurricane. Prior to that...Busy, active, etc. Never stayed there - seemed a too hectic/confined to us, but others we know have stayed there loved the location as it is a short bus ride to clubs and it overlooks the beautiful ocean with a great beach. Ate dinner at Japanese place while staying at the Beach Palace (bennihana style grill tables).
SUN PALACEOverview: Quieter end of Cancun hotel zone which has had renovations since the 2005 hurricane. As of April 2008, best beach of the Palace Resort hotel zone locations. Small pools. First place we stayed at of Palace Resorts (1998), and returned Nov 2008. Smaller and more intimate, it is couples only.
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| Kayak tour is on lagoon across road from hotel |
Overview: A large sprawling hotel which consists of older "Moon" and newer "Sunrise" sides (plus Grand now gearing up). It is south of the Hotel zone out on its own. Good because it's secluded from the other hotels, but therefore a bus or taxi ride to the hotel zone. We loved it when we first went there and it was only ½ the size it became when they added the Nizuc. It can attract convention goers, and families. Great stretch of sand for beach, but the water itself isn't that great (more of a big lagoon and lots of sea grass). Huge pools. OK miniature golf course. Lots of choices for dining and lots of activities - hobie cats, climbing wall, etc. We always day trip here regardless of where we are staying.
PLAYACAR PALACE
Playacar Palace Overview: In Playa Del Carmen ~ 30 minutes south of Cancun. Smaller hotel which was existing and refurbished by Palace resorts. Good location for day tripping to Cancun to the North, to Aventura/Xpu-Ha to the South, and Cozumel via nearby ferry. Narrow almost non-existent beach directly in front of the hotel seawall, but a few steps south there is a wider expanse of beach. Steps to Cozumel ferry and action of 5th avenue of Playa Del Carmen (but far enough to not notice the evening activity). Our family that went (age 12 to 70+) really enjoyed this smaller, more intimate hotel with fine dining and the personal touch from having fewer guests (stayed there Dec 06), as well as two of us that returned Dec 2011.
AVENTURA SPA PALCE
Aventura Spa Palace and Aventura Cove Palace (1/2 Adults only, 1/2 for families). This summary based on when it was all adults only...
Overview: 1 hour south of Cancun. Ocean is not swimmable as the area fronting the ocean is a large rock outcropping, and seas are rough. They do have (man-made) lagoons which are kind of like saltwater swimming pools on the inside of the rock wall. Large regular pools ala moon palace. My wife loved it since it can be relaxing, romantic, & no kids. I enjoy it less due to no ocean swimming, but still find plenty to do. Lots of stuff to do.
ISLA MUJERES PALACE
Overview: Now ADULTS only.
Small hotel on island off Cancun. Day tripped here in April 2008 on the included tour to the Island. The water off the small beach is not swimmable as it is pretty murky and very shallow (used the sea kayaks and paddles kept hitting bottom). Appears to only have one main dining room. Rooms were quite nice with a balcony looking over the sea. Resort is inundated with us day trippers off the tour, and I'm guessing seems deserted outside those hours. If your primary objective is to relax, this would be a great place. Some decent beaches are apparently a short taxi ride away.
COZUMEL PALACE
Cozumel Palace: Similar in size to Playacar Palace (i.e., smaller hotel). No beach at all as it fronts a rock wall, but fun snorkeling in the crystal clear water right off the hotel front (somewhat dead coral, but colorful fish).
We spent a week here July 2009. I loved the fact that you could always swim in the ocean as the hotel is on the leeward side of the island, so less susceptible to big waves. Pretty compact pool area. Ok included snorkel tour. Good included tour to Chankanaab Park (but seems too long...we left early).
PUNTA CANA MOON PALACE
Punta Cana Moon Palace - January 2010 (before conversion to Hard Rock). Incredible beach, expansive hotel, very good dining, some language barriers. A- overall.
Overview: 1 hour south of Cancun. Ocean is not swimmable as the area fronting the ocean is a large rock outcropping, and seas are rough. They do have (man-made) lagoons which are kind of like saltwater swimming pools on the inside of the rock wall. Large regular pools ala moon palace. My wife loved it since it can be relaxing, romantic, & no kids. I enjoy it less due to no ocean swimming, but still find plenty to do. Lots of stuff to do.
ISLA MUJERES PALACE
Overview: Now ADULTS only.
Small hotel on island off Cancun. Day tripped here in April 2008 on the included tour to the Island. The water off the small beach is not swimmable as it is pretty murky and very shallow (used the sea kayaks and paddles kept hitting bottom). Appears to only have one main dining room. Rooms were quite nice with a balcony looking over the sea. Resort is inundated with us day trippers off the tour, and I'm guessing seems deserted outside those hours. If your primary objective is to relax, this would be a great place. Some decent beaches are apparently a short taxi ride away.
COZUMEL PALACE
Cozumel Palace: Similar in size to Playacar Palace (i.e., smaller hotel). No beach at all as it fronts a rock wall, but fun snorkeling in the crystal clear water right off the hotel front (somewhat dead coral, but colorful fish).
We spent a week here July 2009. I loved the fact that you could always swim in the ocean as the hotel is on the leeward side of the island, so less susceptible to big waves. Pretty compact pool area. Ok included snorkel tour. Good included tour to Chankanaab Park (but seems too long...we left early).
PUNTA CANA MOON PALACE
Punta Cana Moon Palace - January 2010 (before conversion to Hard Rock). Incredible beach, expansive hotel, very good dining, some language barriers. A- overall.
