Grand Riviera Princess All Suites Resort & Spa

Connected to its sister property, the Grand Sunset Princess, the hotel occupies a vast complex that's attractively laid out around 12 pools on a beautiful stretch of uninterrupted beach near Playa del Carmen. Fashioned after an hacienda, this resort has bright, airy lobbies with marble floors, doric columns, and floor-to-ceiling windows. Room buildings are never more than a few floors tall, which contributes to a more relaxed atmosphere than can be found at resorts with tall towers -- however, it also means the grounds are sprawling, so guests should be prepared to walk or take the resort shuttle. The grounds are beautiful and well-maintained, and the resort appeals to families and couples in large part, though it is also sometimes frequented by groups of partiers.

The Grand Riviera Princess sits a few hundred yards from a long stretch of sandy white beach, 40 minutes south of Cancun and a 15-minute drive from the tourist town of Playa del Carmen. The resort has a shuttle bus that runs into Playa del Carmen for a small fee. There's also a trolley to shuttle guests to the beach; the resort is sprawling, so guests that don't use the shuttle shoud expect a fair amount of walking to get around.

Decor varies by room type, but all of the 672 rooms are pleasantly modern, with padded headboards, tile floors, sleek wood accents, and neutral tones throughout. Standard features include ceiling fans, air-conditioning, safes, and flat-screen TVs. Balconies open onto views of the pools, grounds, or the beach. Unfortunately, Wi-Fi isn't included in standard rates. Larger rooms and suites -- some of which are designated adult-only -- have private whirlpools, direct access to pools, and bathrobes/slippers. Platinum Suites include access to adult-only pools. Minibars are stocked with soda, water, and a few beers. Bathrooms are attractive, and include rainfall showers plus generous counter space and toiletries.

Reservations and a dress code are both required at the seven a la carte restaurants; it is recommended that dinners in these restaurants be booked several days in advance. The food at both the a la carte restaurants and the two buffets is generally average.
The hotel maintains a well-manicured stretch of beach with plenty of palapas and a bar with a daily BBQ; guests can reach it by walking (it's about a half mile from the lobby, and depending on the room location, it can be a bit of a trek) or by taking the resort trolley. An adults-only section of the beach is available for Platinum Guests. Note that staff members at the beach can sometimes be persistent in offering spa services.
The nine bars include several swim-up bars, as well as a 24-hour sports bar. The main pool can sometimes get a bit lively -- there are often plenty of people drinking at the swim-up bar here -- but there are a total of 12 pools across the property, including quieter adults-only options (one reserved for Platinum Guests only).
There is a well-equipped fitness center stocked with a good number of stationary bikes and exercise machines. There is a medical practitioner on staff 24 hours a day.
There are plenty of activities for kids, including a teen club, and babysitting is available for a fee. The Mini-Club for ages four to 12 has a pool and outdoor patio with games. There aren't many options for the three-and-under set, however, so the resort may be better suited for parents with older kids. There are plenty of activities adults will enjoy, too, including evening shows, and one scuba lesson per guest is covered under the all-inclusive rates.