Pros

  • Beachfront property in the Hotel Zone close to central Cancun
  • Unique Cycladic design with well decorated interiors
  • Contemporary and stylish rooms with decorative woodcut headboards
  • Relaxing pool area with oceanfront hot tubs
  • Three restaurants (and snack bar) serving buffet and a la carte meals; two bars
  • Peaceful landscaped garden space with tiled fountain
  • Mini-golf, tennis courts, boutique, gym, and marina with water sports
  • Access to and ability to use facilities and amenities at next door Royal Solaris Cancun
  • Free parking
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Cons

  • Fee for Wi-Fi
  • Bathrooms can feel small
  • No balconies
  • Use of some amenities requires visiting the property next door
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Bottom Line

The newest (via a 2010 revamp) and most luxurious of Cancun's Solaris resort hotels, the all-inclusive, 200-room GR Caribe is a fixture along the Hotel Zone, thanks to its eye-catching Cycladic architecture. Upscale and slightly exotically stylish rooms can feature sunken sitting rooms and either lagoon or ocean views -- but none have balconies. There are three restaurants on-site and room service is available 24 hours a day. Guests can relax at the comfortable main pool with two oceanfront hot tubs, on the beach, or play a round of mini-golf with an ocean view. They also have access to the fitness center, spa, and all other amenities found next door at the Royal Solaris. This is a family-friendly property, although most guests are couples who come for the quiet and romantic vibe. Most of the kid-friendly features are found next door. 

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Amenities

  • Fitness Center
  • Internet
  • Jacuzzi
  • Pool

Oyster Hotel Review

GR Caribe by Solaris

Scene

Gorgeous and unique Cycladic design with relaxed upscale vibe

GR Caribe's bright, bleach white walls and curved lines catch your attention, and immediately stand out on the street. Red bougainvilleas spill over the edges of the entrance walls, large pottery vases with decorative cut-outs rest atop the stair ledges, and while marble floors, archways, and sliding glass doors guide you into the hotel lobby. The vibe here is exotic, chic, and contemporary. The property, originally built in 1990, is fairly small, and people seem to occupy much of the indoor public space, from the cushioned lounge chairs, to the swinging love seat, to stools at the Lobby Bar. But, to be fair, the majority of the hotel's space is outdoors, including the hallways, stairs, relaxation gardens, and much of the lounge space. The Caribe is calmer and more refined than the Royal Solaris next door, and people here tend to keep more to themselves. It definitely doesn't feel like you are in Mexico, here, surrounded by white walls, mosaic tiles, stone and travertine tile floors, and verdant greens.

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Location

In the Hotel Zone; a quick drive to shopping and central Cancun

GR Caribe is located in the Hotel Zone around KM 20.5, directly next door to sister property Royal Solaris Cancun. While there isn't much within easy walking distance, many restaurants and shopping plazas that line the main drag can be reached within a 15-minute drive (or less). Central Cancun, the epicenter of nightlife and home to a collection of chain restaurants, is also just 15 minutes via car. Ancient ruins like Tulum, Coba, and Chichen Itza are between 1.5 to 2.5 hours away by car, respectively. Cancun Airport can be reached in under 20 minutes.

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Rooms

Contemporary and exotic Cycladic-style rooms, with no balconies

The 200 rooms at GR Caribe continue the Mediterranean theme found throughout the resort and have white walls, tiled floors, and soft edges and arches. Dark wood furniture feels rich against the bleached walls, while the complementary colors of deep reds and chocolate browns accent the space. The leather padded wooden headboards are impressive. With decorative cut-outs over a slightly reflective surface, they appear exotic and delicate. Upgrading from standard Deluxe Rooms gets you sunken sitting space, straight-on ocean or lagoon views, and a bit more space. All rooms come with minibars, a selection of Almond & Olive toiletries, coffeemakers, desks, upscale (if small) bathrooms featuring rainfall shower heads and mosaic tile accents, flat-screen TVs, and ironing materials. Housekeeping will also get creative with towel art, leaving imaginative creations each day on your bed. Unfortunately, none of the rooms have balconies.

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Features

Few features on-site, but plenty accessible next door

Although the GR Caribe is considered a bit more upscale than its next-door sister property, it has significantly fewer on-site features. Depending on how you look at it, this can either be good or bad. The property is less likely to feel overcrowded, however, but for access to sought-after amenities like the spa, gym, and some larger-scale live shows means, you'll have to head over to the Royal Solaris (only a three-minute walk). Either way, the Caribe still has a nice, relaxing pool with cushioned lounge chairs and cabanas, poolside food and drink service via Snack Caribe, two large hot tubs facing the lapping waves of the Caribbean Sea, and separate area with loungers and cabanas on the shared beach. There's also the shared marina across the road that has a small selection of water sports. Other on-site features include a mini-golf course and tennis courts.

Restaurant selection at the Caribe is simple: Cafe Solaris, a buffet-style restaurant, is open for breakfast; Bogavante, the a la carte Mexican grill and seafood spot, is open for lunch and dinner; and Italian-inspired Veneto is open solely for dinner (and hosts themed menu nights). Room service and the Lobby Bar are available 24 hours.

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Cancun Essentials

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Oyster Hotel Review

GR Caribe by Solaris

Scene

Gorgeous and unique Cycladic design with relaxed upscale vibe

GR Caribe's bright, bleach white walls and curved lines catch your attention, and immediately stand out on the street. Red bougainvilleas spill over the edges of the entrance walls, large pottery vases with decorative cut-outs rest atop the stair ledges, and while marble floors, archways, and sliding glass doors guide you into the hotel lobby. The vibe here is exotic, chic, and contemporary. The property, originally built in 1990, is fairly small, and people seem to occupy much of the indoor public space, from the cushioned lounge chairs, to the swinging love seat, to stools at the Lobby Bar. But, to be fair, the majority of the hotel's space is outdoors, including the hallways, stairs, relaxation gardens, and much of the lounge space. The Caribe is calmer and more refined than the Royal Solaris next door, and people here tend to keep more to themselves. It definitely doesn't feel like you are in Mexico, here, surrounded by white walls, mosaic tiles, stone and travertine tile floors, and verdant greens.

See More Scene

Location

In the Hotel Zone; a quick drive to shopping and central Cancun

GR Caribe is located in the Hotel Zone around KM 20.5, directly next door to sister property Royal Solaris Cancun. While there isn't much within easy walking distance, many restaurants and shopping plazas that line the main drag can be reached within a 15-minute drive (or less). Central Cancun, the epicenter of nightlife and home to a collection of chain restaurants, is also just 15 minutes via car. Ancient ruins like Tulum, Coba, and Chichen Itza are between 1.5 to 2.5 hours away by car, respectively. Cancun Airport can be reached in under 20 minutes.

See More Location

Rooms

Contemporary and exotic Cycladic-style rooms, with no balconies

The 200 rooms at GR Caribe continue the Mediterranean theme found throughout the resort and have white walls, tiled floors, and soft edges and arches. Dark wood furniture feels rich against the bleached walls, while the complementary colors of deep reds and chocolate browns accent the space. The leather padded wooden headboards are impressive. With decorative cut-outs over a slightly reflective surface, they appear exotic and delicate. Upgrading from standard Deluxe Rooms gets you sunken sitting space, straight-on ocean or lagoon views, and a bit more space. All rooms come with minibars, a selection of Almond & Olive toiletries, coffeemakers, desks, upscale (if small) bathrooms featuring rainfall shower heads and mosaic tile accents, flat-screen TVs, and ironing materials. Housekeeping will also get creative with towel art, leaving imaginative creations each day on your bed. Unfortunately, none of the rooms have balconies.

See More Rooms

Features

Few features on-site, but plenty accessible next door

Although the GR Caribe is considered a bit more upscale than its next-door sister property, it has significantly fewer on-site features. Depending on how you look at it, this can either be good or bad. The property is less likely to feel overcrowded, however, but for access to sought-after amenities like the spa, gym, and some larger-scale live shows means, you'll have to head over to the Royal Solaris (only a three-minute walk). Either way, the Caribe still has a nice, relaxing pool with cushioned lounge chairs and cabanas, poolside food and drink service via Snack Caribe, two large hot tubs facing the lapping waves of the Caribbean Sea, and separate area with loungers and cabanas on the shared beach. There's also the shared marina across the road that has a small selection of water sports. Other on-site features include a mini-golf course and tennis courts.

Restaurant selection at the Caribe is simple: Cafe Solaris, a buffet-style restaurant, is open for breakfast; Bogavante, the a la carte Mexican grill and seafood spot, is open for lunch and dinner; and Italian-inspired Veneto is open solely for dinner (and hosts themed menu nights). Room service and the Lobby Bar are available 24 hours.

See More Features

Best Rates

Amenities

  • Beach

  • Business Center

  • Cabanas

  • Cable

  • Fitness Center

  • Internet

  • Jacuzzi

  • Kids Allowed

  • Meeting / Conference Rooms

  • Mini Bar (with liquor)

  • Pool

  • Poolside Drink Service

  • Room Service

  • Separate Bedroom / Living Room Space

  • Supervised Kids Activities

  • Swim-Up Bar

  • Tennis Court

Disclaimer: This content was accurate at the time the hotel was reviewed. Please check our partner sites when booking to verify that details are still correct.