Luxurious Family Fun at The Grand at Moon Palace Cancun

The Grand at Moon Palace Cancun is both luxurious and somehow still next-level in terms of being kid-friendly. In fact, it’s got the biggest kids club we’ve ever seen. And rather just than simply providing a great pool and splash pad like other resorts, The Grand at Moon Palace Cancun has an entire water park for guests to enjoy! But it’s not just about family fun: all of your stress will melt away after a visit to one of the most fabulous spas I’ve ever visited. And foodies will enjoy the many restaurants onsite serving culinary masterpieces. Few other places provide luxury and family-friendliness simultaneously and do it well. After much debate and research, we decided we were ready for a vacation. Today I’ll share how our recent experience was at The Grand at Moon Palace Cancun and what you can expect if you, too, feel ready for travel. Many thanks to the property for hosting us!

Covid-19 Safety Protocol

First, let’s address the elephant in the room. Many people have halted all travel plans this year due to COVID-19, but it is possible to get away from the daily grind and minimize risk at the same time. Choose the safest possible way to get to your destination (We prefer Delta and appreciate the safety precautions they are taking during this time.), and then make sure wherever you’ll be staying has implemented protocol you feel comfortable with. For example, The Grand at Moon Palace Cancun has gone the extra mile with their COVID-19 safety procedures. Here’s what you can expect when you visit:

Upon arrival at the resort, you’ll be asked to step onto a sanitizing mat to disinfect your shoes. While that’s happening, the porters will disinfect your luggage.

Each room at the resort is disinfected using an electrostatic nebulizer system in between guests. You’ll know this has been completed when you see an unbroken seal on the door. You’ll see a similar seal on the mini-bar fridge, too. Every room is equipped with a personal hygiene kit, which includes hand sanitizer, wipes and face masks. There are social distancing floor decals all over the resort, and tables in the restaurants are spaced apart.

There are no more buffets, so everything is ordered a la carte. You’re encouraged to access online menus on your phone by scanning QR codes instead of using a physical menu.

All staff members wear masks. While masks are not required for guests, we wore ours the whole time we were there anyway. (I especially recommend keeping your mask on when ordering food, as that helps protect the servers.)

It’s easy to forget about the pandemic when you’re on vacation… because it’s easy to forget all of your worries while on vacation! But The Grand at Moon Palace Cancun has done an excellent job at balancing the realities of the times with making sure your family still has an awesome experience. Of course, the decision to travel is one only you can make and nothing is completely without risk. We felt like we were in great hands. Now, let’s talk about the beautiful resort itself!

Luxury for the Whole Family

When considering where exactly to stay, keep in mind that The Grand is the most luxurious section of the Moon Palace resort complex. The Grand Family Deluxe accommodations, specifically, are a great choice for families. In the past, I’ve written at length about the value of adults having a separate space from kids while on vacation. Often, that might mean the kids sleep on a sofa bed, but in this case, the kids each get their own double bed!

The Grand Family Deluxe is made up of two connecting Superior Deluxe rooms. (We stayed in 87-326 and 87-328.) One of the rooms has a king bed and one has the two double beds mentioned earlier. Each room has a double whirlpool tub and balcony, as well as a desk and sitting area, so there’s more than enough room for everyone. The Grand Family Deluxe also comes with beach toys, and adorable kid-sized slippers and robes! These were really welcoming touches that made the vacation extra special for my girls. Something so small really shows that children are not an afterthought at this resort.

A Splashing Good Time

There are nine pools in total at The Grand at Moon Palace, but here are a couple of our favorites:

Caribbean Pool

This family pool is just a few steps from the beach, making it easy to go back and forth, spending a full day in the sun. A roaming mobile mixologist hand-crafts mezcal cocktails right next to your lounge chair! This really is a spot every member of the family will enjoy.

Adult Pool

This pool is a stunner! It’s a great place to relax and enjoy some grown-up time while the kids are at the kids club. A DJ spins live music and the atmosphere has a club-feel at night.

Water Park

This property has an entire water park! I’m not just talking about a cute splash pad and a slide. It’s got a lazy river, wave pool, Flowrider experience, giant water slides, and everything you could possibly want from an actual water park!

The pools really provide enough entertainment to keep everyone busy for the duration of your trip!

Sand and Surf

When you’re ready to get into nature, one of the most beautiful beaches is right there onsite. And one advantage of traveling during a pandemic is that we had the whole beach to ourselves! No need to social distance when you feel like you’re on a private island! The sand at this location is powder soft and the ocean water was just the right temperature. If you’re in need of some relaxation, the beach here is the place to do it!

Never a Dull Moment!

When you’ve had your fill of relaxation, you won’t have to venture outside the resort to find something to do. Here’s what we would recommend:

Kids Club

The kids club is nothing short of epic! Often these spaces have movies, games, crafts, and maybe some outdoor activities to keep kids busy while parents have some time to themselves. This kids club, however, provided a space my kids didn’t want to leave! From the bumper cars to the ropes course, from the mirror maze to the unique Time Freak game, from the 3-floor labyrinth to the arcade, this resort has raised the bar forever on all kids clubs!

Wired Lounge

Gamers will love the Wired Lounge, which is a gaming center and arcade. Think bigger than simple video games, though. Whether you like dancing games, driving games, air hockey or basketball games, kids, teens and adults will have a great time here.

Bowling

If you love bowling, check out The Ninth Pin. This ultra-modern, 6-lane bowling alley is perfect for families. You can even have lunch or dinner here!

The Magic Show

Much like on a cruise vacation, the theater at The Grand at Moon Palace has a constantly revolving selection of shows to watch. The girls really enjoyed a magic show, in particular, that was playing when we were there!

Relax and Unwind

Take that relaxation a step further by a visit to the 75,000 square foot Awe Spa at The Grand at Moon Palace to melt your stress away.

In addition to more than 100 spa suites and treatment rooms, there are multiple relaxation lounges, a sensory pool, hot and cold plunge pools, saunas, steam rooms, aromatherapy showers, a juice bar, a barber shop, and a huge full-service beauty salon.There’s even a fish spa, where you can get a pedicure during which those tiny little fish nibble away your callouses!

If you book a spa treatment there, be sure to arrive at least an hour early and bring a bathing suit. You definitely don’t want to miss out on their signature Water Journey pre-treatment process because it is seriously amazing. Your spa concierge guides you through a series of hydrotherapy environments. You start at the sauna, then move onto the invigorating peppermint-scented ice room. Then you go to the steam room to open those clogged pores. From there, you move onto the co-ed pool area, where you can use the hot and cold plunge pools and take advantage of the different water jets in the main sensory pool to massage different parts of your body.

Serge and I had a couple’s massage and it was fantastic. With the amount of tension I was carrying around in my shoulders (because… 2020), my therapist definitely had her work cut out for her!

It was good to see that there were lots of safety procedures in place to protect both guests and staff. The spa staff all wore masks, of course, but the massage therapists wore safety goggles and face shields in addition to masks, for extra protection. Only a certain number of guests are allowed into the sauna, steam room and ice room at a time. If you prefer to wait until it’s completely empty before you enter, you can do that too. Just let your spa concierge know.

As the name implies, Awe Spa is seriously spectacular and should not be missed!

No Need to Skip Your Workout

The gym at The Grand at Moon Palace is very impressive. There’s a sprawling yoga studio, and the main gym is huge. There are tons of weight machines and cardio machines, so you can stick to your routine (or try something new) while on vacation.

Eat, Drink and Be Merry

There’s no shortage of dining options at The Grand at Moon Palace Cancun! Some have a dress code and some don’t, but all have really unique offerings and something on the menu for everyone! Here’s the breakdown:

Habibi

Enjoy a live belly-dance performance while you dine you at Habibi! This is the resort’s Lebanese restaurant. The Middle Eastern inspired decor is gorgeous, and the food is fantastic.

Jade

The Asian fusion restaurant has really incredible decor, with big cherry blossom trees throughout. Enjoy new classics like rock shrimp, pork belly bao, and miso cod.

JC Steakhouse

This restaurant has very stylish decor that’s got a modern Texas vibe. The steaks we tried were solid, but the appetizers were mouthwatering!

Le Chateau

This is the property’s French fine dining restaurant. Expect delicate flavors and intricate styling. Serge managed to spill a whole cocktail on the table (and part of me), but the servers handled it deftly.

La Cantina

Try the guacamole topped with crunchy grasshoppers at La Cantina! This casual restaurant serves traditional Mexican dishes. If you time your dinner right, you’ll enjoy the musical stylings of their fantastic mariachi band!

Tavola

This is a casual Italian trattoria. It’s a great place if you’re craving pizza or pasta.

The Grand Buffet

This is one of two restaurants that serves breakfast. Due to COVID-19, there are no more actual buffets, and everything is a la carte. We enjoyed watching the table-side caesar salad preparation. It’s so fun watching them toss the salad inside this giant carved-out wheel of parmesan!

Caribeno

This is your second option for breakfast. It’s right outside the Caribbean pool and had some of our favorite tacos. Yes, tacos are even available for breakfast!

Library Bar

This is one of the coolest lounges ever! Open the secret door inside a bookcase and you’ll find yourself inside The Library Bar, a speakeasy with a prohibition-era theme. Be sure to order the smoked mojito, it’s delicious!

A Luxurious Getaway for Family Fun

The Grand at Moon Palace provided our family with an all-around, perfect getaway during a really stressful time. We felt safe, pampered and entertained throughout our visit. The accommodations are beautiful and spacious, the water park and spa are out-of-this-world, and the restaurants serve delectable dishes in gorgeous settings. The beach provided the perfect dose of “vitamin sea” before we headed back into the realities of 2020. If you’re looking for the ultimate in family-friendly, luxurious resorts, look no further!