Grand Park Royal Cozumel

This was our 3rd time to this resort. We enjoy the location and the fact that its 150 pesos to take a taxi downtown to site see, shop, have a beer by the ocean or take the ferry across to Playa Del Carmen. The room we stayed in was basic and the bathroom sink was in the bedroom rather the bathroom was a little odd. We discovered the adults only pool and area (this was a bonus!) Quieter than the other pool and less hectic. The bars were busy but never had to wait too long for a drink. We never participated in any of the nightly shows, we were too tired. If you are like us where you like to watch TV at night, you'll can only get 1 chanel in English. We had a great time here until the day we checked out. The minute you no longer have the braclet on you can no longer get a drink or snack! I get that you shouldn't be able to continue to enjoy all the amenities, however our flight was delayed by 3 and a half hours and we couldn't get a drink or a snack. We were completely cut off.

First trip to Cozumel. Have been to GPR resorts before and generally had a favorable experience. This resort is a $10 taxi ride from the main area where the shops and ferry terminals are located, but only a block from the cruise ship terminal. It's possible to walk to the central district - I did it a few times, but it takes awhile. The resort was very clean and the staff were always polite and helpful. Beds and linens were nice, and basic bathroom supplies were provided. The resort is compact enough that it's easy to get from your room to all of the facilities. There's decent snorkeling right off the beach at the hotel, and three pools (two next to the ocean). My only complaint, and it's less a complaint than just disappointment was the food. It's all OK, there were just a number of things that weren't quite what we expected. My most glaring example was the "baklava" which was several layers of something like pie crust, filled with something that maybe contained noney, but wasn't honey. Baklava should be many many layers of paper thin filo with honey and nuts between them or on them. Basically, the food lost something in the translation. Service at the buffet was a little slow at times, and we left before we got our drinks once because they never arrived. Some of the food was very good, and fresh fruit was usually available. I particularly like Pescadore, the seafood-mostly restaurant. One thing I particularly liked about the theme (non-buffet) restaurants was the small to medium sized portions. I didn't walk out stuffed to the gills as one might in many America restaurants. If I wanted to order three appetizers, a salad, two mains, and something off the specialty list, no problem. I could try a lot of things and enjoy the variety without getting overly full. Desserts were simple, except that Pescadore had more of a buffet salad / dessert area. I didn't try ordering multiples of anything off the menus, but I'm pretty sure they would have allowed it. I'm not a huge drinker, but I did try a few at the various bars. Overall OK, but I was particularly disappointed by whatever the mango mixer was. I thought that in a tropical area with access to so many fruits, the mango would be the best. It wasn't. There was an aftertaste, and looking at the jugs holding the mixer, they didn't have that deep yellow-orange color that ripe mango juice has. Pop/soda and some of the other mizers like cranberry were fine though.

We recently stayed at the Grand Park Royal Cozumel for a family vacation, and overall we had a really good experience, but there are some important pros and cons worth knowing before booking. The positives: The resort itself is beautiful and well-maintained. The entertainment was excellent and varied; silent rave, casino night, magic show, circus performances, a Mayan show, and plenty of activities geared toward kids, which we really appreciated as a family. The beach is small but very nice, and the snorkeling right off the resort was fantastic. We saw puffer fish, stingrays, a sea snake, and more without even leaving the property. There are multiple bars throughout the resort, including swim-up bars, and the drinks were surprisingly well-made and consistently good. Food was decent overall. The buffet wasn’t amazing, but it was solid and reliable. There are three à la carte restaurants; Italian, Mexican, and Mediterranean (more seafood-focused). Reservations aren’t required, but sometimes there is a wait and you’re given a pager, which was fine. There’s also a beachside snack bar serving burgers, pizza, nachos, and hot dogs, which was honestly delicious and very convenient. Other activities like ping pong and beach volleyball were a nice touch. One of the biggest highlights of our entire trip was scuba diving with Alfredo at the on-site dive shop. He is hands down the best instructor we’ve ever had; kind, personable, incredibly skilled, and truly focused on making sure everyone has an amazing experience. Javier was also fantastic. They tailor the dives to what you want to see, and thanks to them, I finally got to see a seahorse. We would honestly return to this resort just to dive with them again. The resort is also close to downtown Cozumel, which is great. You can walk or take a cab for around $10 USD, and there are plenty of shops, ruins, and things to explore. The negatives (and these matter): The service in the buffet and restaurants was slow. It often took quite a while for anyone to greet us or offer drinks. This wasn’t a dealbreaker, but it was noticeable. The biggest issue by far is the checkout policy. Checkout is at noon, and the moment you check out, you lose access to everything. No food, no drinks, no pool, no beach chairs—nothing. You’re told you can either leave the resort or sit in the lobby only. Our flight was delayed several hours, and we were essentially expected to sit in the lobby for six hours or leave the property altogether. When we attempted to use the washroom or grab a drink after checkout, we were told security would be called. This was shocking and honestly humiliating. We’ve never experienced this at any all-inclusive resort before. They did offer an option to extend access for four hours at $30 USD per person, we were seven people which felt unreasonable given the circumstances. We also arrived late on our first night, so being forced out exactly at noon felt especially unfair. This alone would seriously deter us from returning unless the policy changes. Another con was the wristbands. They are extremely tight, cannot be loosened, and are uncomfortable. If you lose one, you are charged $100 USD, which felt excessive considering it’s not a room key. Traveling with two children, this caused unnecessary stress the entire trip. We also had a $1,000 dive watch stolen from our suitcase (either at the airport or the hotel), so I strongly recommend locking up valuables. Overall: We truly did have a great family vacation, and the diving alone was unforgettable. However, the checkout policy, wristband system, and lack of flexibility left a very sour ending to an otherwise wonderful stay. These are issues that could be easily improved and would make a huge difference. If you love diving, snorkeling, and entertainment, and especially if you dive with Alfredo or Javier, you’ll likely have an amazing time. Just be very aware of the strict checkout rules before booking.