grand mayan, riviera maya, mexico
The Grand Mayan resort is centrally located on the exclusive Riviera Maya about 30 minutes from Cancun and 20 minutes from Playa del Carmen and close to XelHa, Mayan Pyramids, the second most dramatic coral reef system in the world and fine dive sites.
Two years ago while in Cabo San Lucas, the Mayan roped us into a timeshare presentation. The resorts ARE beautiful, and after several hours, we purchased two weeks, got home, realized much of what they said was NOT true, so cancelled the timeshare after days of haggling via eMail and telephone with their reps.
This Fall, we used a weeks/points program we've had for years through WorldMark/to book two weeks at the Grand Mayan. We are delighted that we did. With our trade, two weeks in a two bedroom suite cost less than $398 plus $38 room tax . . . total.
We are world travellers, have stayed in splendid places in Tahiti (in an over-the-water bungalow costing $700/day), Australia, Thailand, Japan, England, Ireland, Greece, Holland, and elsewhere, and consider the Mayan Palaces among the best of the best. Even though I don't particularly like the Mayan Riviera because the landscape is too flat for my tastes, we so enjoyed this trip, that we reupped our two weeks on a Mayan Palace timeshare and are looking forward to the Mayan Palace in Argentina when that opens next year.
My daughter did homework before leaving on this trip and said we have to ask for Building One through Five. We got Building One, which is steps from the pool and close to all other amenities. We never waited more than five minutes for a shuttle, and found the Grand Mayan Riviera a good central location to visit Tulum, Chichen Itza, Xcaret, Xel-Ha, Isla Mujures, swim with dolphins, etc. It was also very easy and inexpensive to get into Playa del Carmen from the Grand Mayan either through the resort's shuttles or by local bus which stops just outside the Grand Mayan's main gates.
Food was superb at all of the Mayan Palace restaurants, although we found it best at the elegant Tramonto (and reasonably priced!). The resort featured an excellent band a couple of nights at the Havana Moon, which also became a favorite 'cause of the atmosphere. Fridas near the pool also has a fine menu. We were disappointed with entertainment at the del Lago during one event as it was somewhat lacking and tasteless: Young women in "traditional" costume, which turned out to be chaps with no bottoms, shook their naked bottoms around the stage. Really, folks. This was supposed to be a family show, not a poor rendition of a Las Vegas lineup.
One concern is the bug spray: Each night around 5 p.m., Mayan staff sprays surrounding vegetation to kill mosquitos. The smell is frightening and raises concern about their staff. That stuff is poison and it can't be good for resort employees who breathe it every day. The other downside in killing all crawly, flying creatures, is that the richness of the jungle suffers in that vibrant birds, iguanas, and whatever else might be around are gone as the bugs are a food source. Costa Rican jungles are rich with life; Mexican jungles around the grand hotels are virtually desolate.
It is surrounded by tropical plants, pools, bars and restaurants, and it is close to the best of everything the Mayan Riviera has to offer. Food in every one of the Mayan Palace's restaurant is excellent, whether it was traditional Mexican fare, various pastas, steak, seafood, or typical American breakfasts of bacon and eggs.
During our two-week stay, we booked a tour ever other day and enjoyed the resort surroundings and activities in between sight seeing. A daily activities program is posted in the main pool area. It includes crafts and projects for children, movies, bingo, Spanish lessons, bicycle riding around the property, tours through the jungle and more.Sunbathe on the white sand beach or you can swim or practice your favorite water sport, including fishing in the blue sea or gliding in a parachute over the Caribbean. Our favorite tours, in case you are heading to the Mayan Riviera, were Tulum/Xel-Ha, swimming with dolphins (with Dolphin Discovery — they are highly regarded), and Xcaret Plus — which was the second highlight of the trip (the first being the dolphins). Amazing place. We walked everywhere to check everything out, then swam through underground caverns, and loved the evening extravaganza. The buffet was so-so.
The reseort runs daily busses into Playa Del Carmen for only $3.75 each way, which is a great bargain (taxis run $25 each way plus tip).
Rates for the Mayan Palace are all over the map. They are posted in the lobby at $1,000++ per day for the type of suite we had . . . which was luxurious at approximately 1100 square feet with two bedrooms, two spa baths, a living/dining room and kitchen, a private spa on the deck overlooking the tropical gardens, one large screen television in each room and within feet of a pool reserved for Grand Mayan guests with floating bars, pool bars, shops, etc. Seems that accommodations can be found on Expedia and other places for around $380 per night (or close to $4,000 for two weeks). Our points/weeks program through Worldmark/TrendWest and paid less than $400 for the suite for the full two weeks we were there. Our low rate revived my faith in timeshares/weeks/points for travel. Again, everyone we talked with said this was the most beautiful property they had stayed at and we agree.
The pool area reserved for the Grand Mayan side of the resort is exceptional. The pools are among the nicest pools we have ever seen/enjoyed. Service is excellent. Pools near the Mayan Palace side are also beautiful, but more family oriented and not as luch as the Grand Mayan pools.
Our biggest disappointments were:
° One of the shows at the Mayan's Lago Restaurant was pitiful, as mentioned above. It was purportedly a family show, but at one point a dozen young women danced onto stage wearing bottomless chaps and another dance troupe had giant half-watermelon slices perched on their heads. The watermelon "hats" were silly, and we don't care one way or the other about bottomless chaps, but this was supposed to be a traditional event of Mexican entertainment and this was nothing short of tacky.
° Because of a non-varied flat terrain, the drive to Chichin Icza was long and dreary. In retrospect, seeing something this remarkable is was worth the trip. However, unless Mayan history or a quest to visit all UNESCO heritage sites is on your list (which would be a wonderful around-the-world-trip), it may not be worth the journey. And, of course, I'm still on my non-smoker band wagon. I do not understand cigarette smokers. We have travelled the world through historical sites filled with ages-old artifacts and treasures. . . and cigarette butts. WHAT is the matter with these people? These world treasures took years to unearth and resurrect at great expense. Why do caretakers of valuable historical sites put up with half-smoked cigarettes dropped all around?
During a mid-way stop to Chichen Itza, we talked with a lovely family from Guyana (yes, former territory of Jim Jones and The People's Temple). This family was sophisticated, well-dressed, obviously well-travelled, had beautiful daughters, and they all smoked. At this particular stop (photograph to the right), ashtrays were placed around the courtyard. What did these lovely people do? Dropped their butts on the ground enroute to the bus. Worse, the father of the group dropped is still-lit but into a live plant. 
Where does the total disregard for all life begin and end? How does anyone manage to stay oblivious to the dangers of cigarettes to self, family, friends and our planet? I took the butt out of the plant and stuffed it out on the ground so the plant would not suffer. Does anyone remember the Russian book "The Secret Life of Plants?" I could not bear to think of the plant dealing with that burning heat at its base. What about levying serious cigarette taxes (perhaps $5 per pack) to offset 1) medical expenses for children and/or anyone else in the home who have illnesses relating to their parents' smoking; 2) cleanup of all heritage sites, all beaches, all walkways . . . some of this is being done now, but it is being done by tax dollars. There is no reason on earth for taxpayers to pay for the sloppy habits of smokers; 3) Ban smoking at all historical sites, national parks, regional parks. 4) Cite people who hang their cigarattes out the window as they drive through dry-grass areas along freeways and country roads. This does start fires . . . we know this, we have seen this. Why is this allowed to continue? Why are people in cars behind subject to the smoke?
Reading departure signs in some big airport