Our first trip as couple was to Moon Palace Cancun in Mexico. As travel newbies we had no idea where we wanted to go, let alone any idea of where to stay. Ultimately, it came down to the recommendation from a friend for the Palace Resort chain of all-inclusive hotels. Upon doing some research we decided upon Moon Palace Cancun based on its large size, numerous restaurants, decent price, and resort credit offer. The following is a review of Moon Palace Cancun, including what we liked and didn’t like about the resort.
The room
We received a great deal as they were having a Canadian sale at the time. As a result, we were able to afford an upgraded room category. We chose a beachfront room hoping that we would get a good view of the ocean. We were not disappointed. When we arrived, we were shown to a room directly on the beach! Nothing is better than watching a sunrise while sipping coffee from your balcony.
The room itself was spacious with a king size bed, small dining table for two and large Jacuzzi tub! The tub was situated at the foot of the bed and by the balcony window to allow for an amazing view of the ocean while relaxing and sipping on a drink.
In addition to the 4 bottles of liquor in the room, we also received a welcome bottle of wine. Water, beer and soft drinks were kept cold in the mini fridge and were restocked daily.
The resort grounds
The resort itself is beautiful and well taken care of. The staff are friendly and keep the grounds in immaculate condition. You should be aware that Moon Palace Cancun is divided into three sections including Sunrise, Nizuc and the Grand. Our room was located in the Nizuc section but we actively explored all three areas!
The beach
The beach was one of the drawbacks for us. Moon Palace Cancun does not have a good beach for swimming. However, it does have a nice sandy area if you enjoy sunbathing or have kids who like to play in the sand. It was also a nice place to walk, look for seashells and enjoy the view.
There is also a pier on the beach that is commonly claimed by seabirds, so if you are a nature lover it is a nice place to get some neat photographs!
Entertainment
The entertainment at Moon Palace Cancun is absolutely amazing. Out of all of our travels so far this resort has not been beaten in terms of the entertainment that is available. The nightly shows are high quality and I really like the outdoor theaters. Most nights there are multiple shows going on which makes it hard to choose at times!
The resorts entertainment staff is fun and keeps things lively. If you are shy beware because they often include the audience! It’s all in good fun though and helps to make your trip even more memorable.
Resort credit offer
One thing I really love about the chain of Palace Resorts is their resort credit offer. Depending on the length of your stay you can get anywhere from $500 to $2500 US credits to spend at the spa, take tours, enjoy a special romantic dinner, and more! You should note that there is a 16% service fee for any resort credits spent but, even so, it turns out to be a really fantastic deal! We used our resort credits on upgraded wine, giftshop purchases, a romantic dinner, spa treatments, and a tour to Chichen Itza. Having the opportunity to do these extra things really made the trip to Moon Palace Cancun special!
Timeshare presentation
This was our first major trip together and our first experience with a timeshare pitch. If you are going to a resort for the first time beware of these pitches because most resort chains have them. The idea is that they are trying to sell you a membership to their chain so that you become a repeat customer. Some people like these memberships but we are not crazy about the idea because we want to explore and experience new places.
Upon check-in they enticed us to meet for breakfast and a tour of the resort. Instead, they ushered us into a room where they did their sales pitch – and let me tell you they are very good at what they do. I am extremely happy that at the time we did not have an expendable income (we were saving for a down payment on a house) otherwise they probably would have convinced us to become members. They started by offering a very high price. Much higher than the average person would feel comfortable paying! After saying no, they kept decreasing this amount until they eventually ended up offering a membership for something we could afford! I am glad we declined because, as I said, we like to be free to travel to new locations and try out new accommodations. I am not trying to discourage anyone who may be interested in a membership – it just isn’t for us!
Moon Palace Cancun – Final verdict
Moon Palace Cancun was an amazing place and we would highly recommend it! The positives far outweighed the negatives and we are hoping to return one day. Moon Palace Cancun will always hold a special place in our hearts because it was our first major trip together! This first trip is where we fell in love with travel! Read about it here!
Need more inspiration to visit Cancun? Visit our post showcasing Cancun’s beaches!
