GR Caribe by Solaris

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.

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.

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.

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.