Grand Palladium Riviera Resort & Spa

Riviera Maya's Grand Palladium resort complex consists of five separate resorts: Colonial, Kantenah, White Sand, Riviera, and Royal Suites (which has non-reciprocal access to all other resorts). However, the remaining four resorts are unofficially split up further based on their location -- Colonial shares space with Kantenah, and White Sand with Riviera -- but all guests in these four resorts have access to the features, food, drinks, and entertainment of the others. 

The Riviera and White Sand each have their own large entrance, reception desk, and lobby located in what is essentially one massive building split into two sections. The Riviera side has a big, open-air lobby with a brown palm frond roof, dark green marble tiles, and a large, central, hand-painted structure that looks like a temple or tiered house. The outdoor landscape feels a bit wild and tropical, while the lobby's interior, with dated peach couches and colonial-style wicker furniture, feels a bit no-frills. The dark floors make the lobby and its near wall-to-wall reception desks, bar area, and lounge space feel a bit dimmer than it should -- even in daylight. Meanwhile the courtyard's collection of welded sculptures depicting Mexican musicians give it a fun, rustic vibe. 

The Riviera has a real feeling of adventure and seclusion: It is surrounded by a lagoon, and as this is the complex's largest resort, grounds are appropriately sprawling, combining a tropical and desert feel. The resort has open hallways, nice landscaping, and clear-cut signs to help you get where you are going (but it's still possible to get lost). Shared space -- across the entire complex -- tends to have a generic, but well-kept, look. While not as fancy as the other resorts in the complex, the Riviera has a slightly more romantic and private vibe -- and because it's the farthest from the family-friendly features, there tend to be fewer children running around. (Some families still do prefer the Riviera for its big two-room Suites.) The downside to this is that guests staying here can expect to do more walking to get to the restaurants and other resort features. 

The huge, four-resort Grand Palladium complex entrance is off northbound Highway 307. It's just over an hour's drive south of Cancun and 30 minutes south of Playa del Carmen, but less than 15 minutes north of Akumal Beach's town center and 30 minutes north of the town and beachside ruins of Tulum. Adventure parks Xel-Ha, Xcaret, Xplor, and Alternative Tours are located just up the Highway 307 strip on the way to Playa del Carmen. The village-like resort complex gives guests little need to explore beyond the property, but if you want to get out and about you'll need a car or cab -- even just to make it to the front gates. 

Grand Palladium Riviera is more removed from the action than the other resorts in the complex, which means guests staying here can expect to do more walking to get around. The complex does have an internal shuttle service as well. The buildings in this section are situated along rocky stretch of shoreline, but the tall mangroves and palm trees mean that ocean views are still scarce. Those seeking convenience rather than seclusion should try to request a unit in building 60, which is closest to the sandy beach and pools. 

With 948 rooms over two categories, Riviera keeps it simple. Decor is slightly dated, with walls, linens, and accents in pale colors like peach, soft yellow, and sea foam green. Furniture is of light rum-stained wicker and dark woods. Junior Suites are the lowest category here, and have jetted tubs either in enclosed bathrooms or in-suite (families tend to prefer the former, more private, layout). The two-room Suites feature the same decor but have separate living rooms. Both categories come with sofa beds; the 570-square-foot (53-square-meter) Junior Suites can come with a king or two double beds, and sleep up to five, while the 721-square-foot (67-square-meter) Suites always come with king beds and can sleep four. For this reason, even though the Riviera is farthest from the kids' club, it still draws its fair share of families -- though it is slightly more popular with couples. White Sand also has two-room Suites, though, and a more convenient location. Though Kantenah also has two-room suites (its Master Suites), this category is pricier. 

All rooms are situated among the garden grounds and most lack ocean views -- it's possible to get a unit with a glimpse of the water but there are no guarantees. Amenities include outdoor balconies, minibars, flat-screen TVs with satellite channels, coffeemakers, digital music players, bathrobes, and slippers. Bathrooms are spacious, with walk-in showers in addition to the jetted tubs, as well as cream marble tiles, small windows, generic toiletries, hairdryers, and makeup mirrors.

Couples seeking something unique may want to check out the adult-only Mayan Suites on the White Sand property, situated on the lagoon.

The Grand Palladium Riviera and White Sand share a slightly small main buffet, La Laguna, with outdoor seating overlooking the pool that serves breakfast, lunch, tea time snacks. There's also a pool-facing bar of the same name with lower-level swim-up service. (An additional and similar buffet is available on the Colonial/Kantenah side of the complex). There's an additional, much larger buffet, Kabah, that is shared between the two properties, but located on the Riviera side proper. Kabah is open for three meals a day. Otherwise, the a la carte selection includes the impressively decorated Bamboo (a Chinese restaurant), La Lola (Spanish tapas), Portofino (Italian), and Ribs & More, a grill and barbecue joint. Reservations are required 24 hours in advance for the a la carte spots, and most have seating both indoors and outdoors. 

On the other half of the resort complex, guests have even more choices with La Adelita (Mexican) and El Dorado on the Colonial side, and Sumptuori (Japanese sushi, hibachi, and table service) and Chang Thai (Thai) on the Kantenah side. 

In addition to the official restaurants and buffets, there are quick snacks like nachos and burgers available at the Beach Bar, Punta Emilia (at the beach on the Riviera and White Sand side), and Sports Bar.

Besides having a head-spinning amount of dining options across all four resorts, Grand Palladium has implemented a fantastic program for those with restricted diets (including those with egg allergies, dairy intolerances, or celiac disease). Upon check-in guests with special dietary needs will receive a card to present to dining staff which alerts them to their particular requirements. Informed staff members can then show what dishes are acceptable or can be modified for the guest. 

With more bars than some small towns, the Grand Palladium complex has plenty of places to make sure your cup is never dry, from the beach, to the pool, to the theater, to the lobby, to the late-night dance club. The White Sand/Riviera sections of the complex have two lobby bars, a theater bar, a beachside snack and booze bar, and a swim-up bar near the poolside buffet. There's a unique saltwater pool among the rocks on the Riviera side where a small bar is set up, and a late-night dance club, Sunset Blvd., is located off the Riviera lobby. 

On the Colonial side, there's Bar Colonial in the lobby, serving coffee and cocktails; a surprisingly large Sports Bar decked out with table games, sports memorabilia, ancient pay-per-use Internet kiosks, and a large projection screen TV; a bar off the theater serving spirits and soft drinks during the live shows; and the dual-level Gran Azul bar next to the buffet. The lower half of this bar has swim-up service that closes in the early evening, but the top part stays open late. Nearby, on the Kantenah side, there's another lobby bar, two evening lounges off the lobby, and off the far north corner of the beach, La Jarra beach bar. The Kantenah side also has an adult-only pool with bar service, while both resorts have the beachside Beach Bar (that also serves snacks) just behind the main pool and water park. 

The Mayan Riviera coastline is famous for soft white sands, turquoise waters, and sometimes, rocky coral shorelines -- oh, and a few (or more) gusts of wind. While busy and filled with sunning bodies (some topless), small shady palapa huts, and lounge chairs, the long stretch of beach behind the large resort still manages to feel natural and relaxing. Perhaps this is due to the mangrove and palm tree barrier between the edge of the pools and the beach itself, or the secluded Las Rocas area -- a naturally elevated spot with rustic views, coral reefs, and a saltwater pool -- connected to the sandy beach via a scenic walk through jungle landscaping with peekaboo ocean views. Down on the sands, lifeguards are on duty; water sports gear like paddle boats and kayaks are in frequent use; a webcam streams live; and people take dips in the shallow waters. Typical white loungers with tight-stretched blue fabric are strewn across the sand, and if you've got kids, note that topless sunbathing is allowed. The shoreline on the Riviera Side is rocky, so guests can expect to walk a bit to the sand. There's not much shade available on the stretch of beach closest to the Riviera and White Sand resorts (aside from that offered by palapas), but farther down on the Colonial and Kantendah sides there is a small section of sand under the shade of palms.

Beach bars include Las Rocas, Punta Emilia on the edge of the White Sand and Riviera beach section, the Beach Bar smack in the middle of the beach behind Colonial/Kantenah (where food and beer, but no liquor, is served), and La Jarra on the far edge of the Kantenah strip. 

In total there are seven pools and one saltwater pool accessible to Riviera guests, with a large main pool (with small kids pool), adult-only pool and bar, and the seaside Las Rocas saltwater pool calling the Riviera/White Sand area home.The main pool is large and contains jetted areas, multiple bridges, and plenty lounge space. If viewed from above, its irregular shape looks like a splatter of water. Notable features include the in-water tiled lounge beds, exercise bikes placed around the pool's edge, beach entry section, and a slightly sectioned off area where the swim-up bar is located. The remaining pools (plus a nice-size kids' water park) are located on the Colonial/Kantenah side of the complex. The kids' water park is off the main pool on this side, between the large pool deck and the beach. Kantenah has an additional small pool with hot tub and bar service. 

There's also a garden-surrounded adult-only pool (marked on the map, but not on resort signage) placed between the Colonial/Kantenah and White Sand/Riviera sections. Although it's a quasi-secret, it's usually packed, but is a much quieter and more elegant looking spot than some of the other pools. A small bar is off to the side to serve up drinks. An infinity-style pool lined with shaded loungers is located at the spa, but can only be accessed with a spa pass. 

Built first, the Grand Palladium Colonial claims the bulk of the complex amenities; just off the lobby guests will find bars, a theater, and multiple shops -- including a pharmacy and tobacco shop, a 24-hour doctor's clinic, and row of tour desks, along with baggage, telephone, and money services. On the grounds outside the lobby, Colonial is home to a pretty chapel with mass services (and weddings), orchid garden, and a flamboyance of flamingos (also found outside of Kantenah). Behind the Colonial and Kantenah pool area, there's an indoor and outdoor kids' club area with a large and colorful water park full of slides, fountains, and splash areas. The resort also has a baby club and teens' club, which is priceless for those hard-to-cater-for ages. 

Around the complex grounds, guests will find a large sports center -- that people actually use -- with tennis, basketball, archery, soccer, running tracks, and mini-golf. Nearby, there's also the massive Zentopia spa which has its own pool; a large hydrotherapy area with saunas, various temperature pools, a typical Mayan sweat lodge, and treatments; beauty salon, treatment rooms with outdoor showers in Mayan decor; and gym. Access to the spa used to be a part of the all-inclusive, but in order to keep it less congested and more relaxing, the hotel decided to start charging a small fee. 

Because of the massive grounds, golf cart shuttles transport guests from lobby to lobby, with drop offs at the spa and sports center as well. But, if you want to get adventurous, you can always rent a Segway and zip around the property yourself. The garden grounds have an abundance of wildlife. It's not uncommon to see coati (raccoon-like animals), raccoons, capybara (large hamster-like fellas), and various birds throughout the grounds -- there are even caged-in crocodiles hanging out behind the Colonial/Kantenah lobby. The resort also has three natural cenotes hidden among the verdant grounds, although unlike the popular ones along the highway, you cannot swim in them. 

Parking and basic Wi-Fi are free, but if you want faster speeds with more access, you'll have to pay extra.