A Week at Hotel Grand Riviera Princess on the Mayan Riviera
Relaxing on the Mayan Riviera
Our First Visit to the Mayan Riviera in Mexico
Picking the Right Vacation for the Right Time
We had lots of ideas on the table for a quick winter break in mid-December and opted for a seven-night, all-inclusive stay with Air Canada Vacations on the Mexican Riviera at the Hotel Grand Riviera Princess Resort.
If you have followed our travel blog in the past you may have noticed, that this is not our usual format of travel but after a long stint of work, we were looking for a hassle-free solution. One where we didn’t have to plan much, didn’t have to cook our meals, or had to pick a restaurant for each meal out.
The alarm was set for 4 am but we were already up at 3 am in anticipation of an early morning flight from Vancouver to Cancun.
Festive musicians perform at the Grand Riviera Princess
Getting There
The Air Canada flight was a bit longer, 5.5 hours, than we had anticipated but was fine on a 787 Dreamliner. It should have been easy to find our Air Canada shuttle to the resort but we were whisked aside by a convincing airport clerk who claimed she represented Air Canada. She led us to a desk at arrivals where they asked to see our confirmation.
We complied, but something didn’t feel right. The gentleman at the desk sent us to bay 26 but there were no signs of an Air Canada bus or staff. I looked up and instead found the correct bus and friendly Air Canada representative without too much trouble.
A slightly annoying deviation but not entirely unexpected with so many people outside the airport trying to hustle us into their taxis or vans.
The Grand Riviera Princess Resort was about a 45-minute bus ride south on Highway 307. It was now dark and all we saw was one big resort after another and by the time we finally arrived, we were pretty knackered feeling the 3 am start to our day.
Traditional dance performance at Hotel Grand Riviera Princess
Check-In
The check-in was flawless and very professional with a bellboy bringing our luggage to the room. We had a junior suite with a private balcony, king-size bed, amply sized bathroom with double sinks and a great shower.
On the third floor, you had to climb a few steps but we figured the steps would do us good after feasting on the buffets. Palm trees grew right up close to our suite which made it very private but also it did not have much of a view. The room also had a safe so that we could store passports and other tech items we didn’t want to carry at all times. Excellent. All in all, we liked the room.
An almost jungle-like setting at the Hotel Grand Riviera Princess
The Resort
The Hotel Grand Riviera Princess is indeed an impressive resort and as daylight arose, we ventured out to get more familiar with the grounds, restaurants, pools, and the beach.
Countless dining options are all included with your stay and by using the resort app, you can check hours and make reservations at a few specific dinner restaurants. The food selection is astounding and you can usually find something you’ll like, Mexican food, or a more North American palette.
And let’s not forget the drink choices. From swim-up bars to the in-room free minibar, or barista coffees to go from any of the restaurants. There is an abundance here and you may find yourself drinking more than you would at home :)
Marvellous walkways to your room, restaurants, or the pool
The Pools
Swimming is what we had looked forward to the most and there were plenty of choices. With three main pool areas (probably ten pools in total) you could usually find a spot that fit your mood and the elongated pools bordering the swim-up rooms were terrific for doing laps or water aerobics.
The resort is so big that it took us a couple of days to get the lay of the land. It was easy to find a spot in the morning but as the afternoon approached they crank the music up in two of the three main pool areas. This can be fun and is understandable if you are at the resort to party and have a good time but gets a bit tricky if you prefer quiet time.
We are in our late fifties and loved some of the music but when it turned techno and loud we got slightly agitated after a while.
We studied the resort map and found a small pool close to the main lobby. It was quiet and we settled in and ordered drinks. After a few minutes, however, our waiter, in a courteous manner, explained to us that we were in the “platinum” area of the resort. She told us to relax, finish our drink, and then vacate the area as we didn’t have the platinum wrist band.
Unknowingly we snuck in and had poolside drinks in the “Platinum” section of the resort
We were surprised when she took our second drink order and figured that we were okay here for a while. We were sitting next to a nice couple from Ontario we had met earlier and thoroughly enjoyed ourselves.
Then after about twenty minutes a concierge approached us and told us the same story about the “platinum” areas. She did an excellent job and was equally courteous and kindly told us that we should find another spot and showed us on the map some of the quieter spots. We finished our drinks and moved on. Our “Platinum” moment was over.
On our last morning, we decided we would attempt to swim/walk through all the pools before departure including the elongated pools, and perhaps surprisingly, it took us 62 minutes :)
Swim-up bar at Hotel Grand Riviera Princess
The Beach
We went to the beach a few times but it was never a huge success for us. During our stay it was quite windy almost the entire time and especially on our first visit to the beach we sensed a smell of oil or sewer and it was a bit disappointing. On previous visits to Mexico in Zihuatanejo and Cabos we had long wide beaches where we could go for walks. We realize that we have been spoilt.
At the Grand Riviera Princess, it is a narrow beach crammed with beach chairs. We did go to the beach in the evening and at sunrise for a more serine experience which was quite nice. One day, as I took a walk with my camera, there was a dance party and beach volleyball in progress and the mood was excellent if you were looking for an upbeat atmosphere.
The beach at Hotel Grand Riviera Princess
Drinks anyone?
Dance party at the beach
Daytrip to Playa del Carmen
There were a few tempting day trips we could have ventured out on during our time on the Mayan Riviera. The cenotes looked inviting, or the ruins in Tulum. In the end, this was more a trip of relaxation than exploring and instead, we settled for a brief visit to Playa del Carmen.
The 15-minute shuttle to and from the hotel was inexpensive and worked out well for us. They drop you off right on 5th Avenue, Playa del Carmen’s busy shopping street. If you are looking for souvenirs to take home this is the right place. If you don’t like shopping it’s the the wrong place for you.
We were probably approached more than a hundred times during our short four-hour visit with vendors trying to lure us into stores, guys offering taxi rides, offers of day tours, guys calling me paparazzi because I carried a camera, and people selling ferry tickets to Cozumel.
The pier in Playa del Carmen
We have witnessed this in Mexico before on earlier trips and it was expected but it was over the top in Playa del Carmen.
By wearing off the main path, 5th Ave, and zig-zagging our way through the core of the city we avoided the worst tourist traps but only to a certain degree.
If you step back just one of two streets you will find more authentic shops and a calmer atmosphere. Whenever we found a nice street leading to the beach we would pop down and check out the waterfront.
There was a nice lively atmosphere around the park square area by the Cozumel ferry terminal and a beautiful beachfront. Unfortunately, the weather was not optimal, windy and rain luring.
We stopped for ice cream and despite my gripes about it being very touristy, Play del Carman was a nice break from the resort, and we did manage to find a couple of souvenir gifts to bring home.
Walking along the beach in Play del Carmen
Mayan Riviera Summary
It is not fair to judge the entire Mayan Riviera on our limited exposure. We spent the majority of the time at the resort except for our brief visit to Playa del Carmen and bus rides up and down Highway 307.
Weatherwise we had a mixed bag with a fair share of cloudy days and at times rain. Despite the cold weather warning that popped up on our phones we were never cold and I don’t think the temperature ever dipped below 25 degrees Celsius, 77 Fahrenheit, and we had plenty of sun also.
For the most part, we were quite content out of the wind by the pools with a mix of sun and clouds. We should mention the free Wi-Fi was excellent almost everywhere at the resort. As a surprise, we saw a bit of wildlife at the resort in the form of hundreds of coatimundis, geckos, birds, deer, and a couple of resident monkeys.
Resident monkey posing nicely for a portrait
The other destinations we have visited in Mexico are Mexico City, Zihuatanejo, Cabo San Lucas, and San José del Cabo. So how does this location rank in comparison you may ask? Or as a habit being a travel blogger, we asked ourselves.
The Hotel Grand Riviera Princess is probably the nicest resort we have stayed at with superb pools and beautiful grounds. At times it was a bit loud (remember again we are in our late fifties). The beach was slightly disappointing and on this front, we favor San José del Cabo and Zihuatanejo.
Culturally and regarding an authentic Mexican experience the Mayan Riviera did not score high points for us (arguably we did not explore much) and Mexico City along with Zihuatanejo was excellent in comparison with countless intriguing restaurants, small cafes, and art shops to explore.
A wonderful view of palm trees all-around
Hotel Grand Riviera Princess on the Mayan Rivera was the right choice at the right time for us. It gave us a chance to lay back and relax without being overwhelmed with logistics, which is something we are accustomed to during our 5050 travel project but wanted none of on this trip.
I somewhat regret not exploring the area more but you cannot do everything in seven days, especially if your main objective is to wind down and relax. As a rule, we rarely return to the same place twice as we constantly aim to expand our horizons.
We are already contemplating our next Mexico trip, and think we’ll aim for a slightly less commercialized destination if it still exists. A place with a quiet bay, a local coffee shop where you can hear the town wake up, and an authentic restaurant for a hearty meal and a tequila. Salud.
Pool time :)
Up early for the sunrise
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The photos in this article are made using a Nikon Zf and Voigtländer Nokton 40mm f/1.2 Asperical lens. (links to my camera and lens reviews). Editing was done in Ligthroom.
