This trip report is long; so skip down to the bottom if you want the quick summary and the link to my photos. Many of your trip reports helped me choose the GP for our vacation, so I’m hoping that our experience will help some of you if you are planning your vacation. My family of five just returned from a 6-night stay at the Grand Palladium White Sands Resort. My husband and I were celebrating our 30th anniversary. Our 3 grown children (ages 20, 23, and 25) came along on our celebration trip.

Our requirements were:

We wanted to go somewhere we had never been to relax and have fun.

• We wanted to go to a beach resort that didn’t feel crowded.

• We needed a vacation that had enough options to keep the “kids” happy.

• We wanted time to spend as a family.

• The trip had to fit within our budget. The place I've always wanted to visit was Mexico, so my search began. Colleagues at the school where I work would often talk about their winter/spring break trips. Many of them visited the Riviera Maya and recommended the area to me. I engaged in weeks of online research, read hundreds of reviews, forum posts, and solicited feedback from coworkers. The task of choosing a resort was daunting as there are so many places to choose from. I had to prioritize our needs and hope that there would be a resort that would fit our needs and was affordable. THANK YOU to many of you who contribute to these sites. Based on all the helpful information and reviews, we finally decided on the Grand Palladium. I think the things that attracted me most were: shade on the beach, resort seemed big enough so we would not feel crowded, jungle environment, many activity and food options, and the price was right! Originally, I booked the Colonial through the Fiesta website using a Fiesta Hotel promotional code. But I had to change our vacation dates and was unable to rebook at the same promotional rate. I waited for another promotion while still searching travel sites for a deal. I ended up booking the White Sands through “Resort Vacations To Go” for a cheaper rate than on the Fiesta Hotel site with the summer promo code. The White Sands was only slightly higher than the price quote for the Colonial so we opted for the upgrade. Round trip transfers were also included. The service from my Resort Vacations To Go agent was excellent. I highly recommend them! http://www.resortvacationstogo.com/all-inclusive_resorts.html

Overall, our trip was fantastic! Everything wasn’t perfect, but we are easy-to-please and we go with a positive attitude, grateful to have the opportunity to travel together.

DAY 1

We arrived in mid-afternoon in Cancun. Customs was quick and we exited the airport ignoring the people who were calling out to us as we went by. (great advice from unofficial Palladium). Outside, we saw the Lomas Travel Desk. They had our name and we waited about 15 minutes for our van to come. We shared the van with another party, but had a non-stop transfer to GP as the other party’s resort came after GP. It is 1 hour and 15 minutes from the airport to the lobby of GP. Upon arrival, we were greeted warmly, given cool towels, and were the only ones around to check-in. After receiving key/towel cards, we had a personal orientation with Carmen. She was very friendly and told us all about the resort. She asked us for our drink orders and we sipped on cool tropical drinks while Carmen told us about GP. Then we were off to Building 57. The bellhop service was excellent. Our friendly driver loaded our luggage into a cart, we boarded the golf cart, and we were off. On the way to our villa, our driver told us more about the resort and pointed out the different areas. He said they were at 70% occupancy. Our 2 junior suites were very spacious with A/C that worked very well. (actually it was very cold at times, and I occasionally shut it off for a bit.) We had a whirlpool tub, robe, slippers, a safe in the closet, an iPod docking station with a clock, a small patio that faced the jungle, and we had champagne delivered to our room for our anniversary. Our 3 kids shared a junior suite with 2 queen beds and a sofa bed, which was already made up when we arrived. The sofa bed was uncomfortable for my son and on the first night he woke up 10 times and didn’t sleep very well. He got used to it as the week went on and also got softer pillows. No complaints about the beds for the rest of us. On our first night, we had dinner at Sumptuori (Japanese show cooking). We were there before 6 and did not have to wait. The sushi was delicious! Our chef was entertaining and we were all pleased with our appetizers, entrees, and desserts. We walked out of there feeling stuffed! After eating so much, you feel like you have to walk so we set out to explore the resort in the evening. I was struck by how serene and incredibly beautiful the grounds were. The ambience is very romantic and peaceful. The many pathways and bridges are lit, but you are in a vast jungle environment, so it was easy to get lost and we did! The signs are confusing at first and you really have to study them and follow the arrows from the perspective of one coming towards the sign. If you keep this in mind, you will figure out whether you should go right, left, or make a U-turn. Having the resort map in hand helps and there are large maps at walkway intersections as well. We loved exploring and couldn’t wait until the next morning to get to the beach.

DAY 2

I woke up early and headed to the beach to watch the sunrise. Building 57 is just a 3-minute walk to Punta Emilia (the 24 hour beach snack bar) and the beach. I got a cappuccino (they were great) and walked down the beach while enjoying the sunrise. Loud rock/rap music was playing at Punta Emilia and this was not what I really wanted to hear at 6:30 a.m. Nevertheless, I still enjoyed the beauty of the sea and the picture perfect sunrise. We had a late breakfast at Kabah, the WS buffet. Coffee was served immediately and we loved the vast choices of food and juices. The fresh papaya, mangos, kiwi, and plums were just a few of the many fresh fruits available. Cooked to order omelettes were delicious. There is a fresh juice bar with someone cutting the fruits/veggies and blending them right there for you. Everyone in the family was pleased. Afterwards, we spent the day at the beach. Even when arriving at the beach at 11:00, we were able to find loungers and a place in the shade for all 5 of us sitting together. Every palapa was taken, but we moved loungers under the shade of 2 palm trees and also claimed the hammock that was there too. The beach is truly paradise! On Sundays, there is paella cooked on the beach near the Colonial beach bar. We walked down from the WS section of the beach towards the Colonial/Kantenah side to get some paella. This is not a long walk – perhaps 3-4 minutes at a leisurely pace. There were 4 chefs serving 4 different kinds of paella under a canopy. A live band was playing. Then at the beach bar adjacent to the canopy, they had burgers, salad, hot dogs, nachos, etc. laid out buffet style. The paella was great, but the buffet items were just OK. The burger my daughter took was not appetizing and she took one bite and decided not to finish. Having had such a hearty breakfast/brunch, a big lunch was not needed, so one bad burger was not a big deal. We cold have easily gone to Punta Emilia for more food anyway. The beach is long and beautiful. It was rocky on the WS side and wearing water shoes is a must. But this is where the good snorkeling is. We saw lots of fish up close near the reef. Very cool. Kayaking in the sea was fun too. Non-motorized water sports are included and you only needed to sign the waiver form at the water sports counter near the middle of the beach, have your wristband punched, and then go ask for the kayak at the counter by all the life preservers. Dinner that evening was at Ribs N More. Great service and great food! Did not have to wait for a table for 5. The power went out twice during dinner. Each outage only lasted a few minutes and the staff proceeded with service as if nothing happened. In the evening we went to the 9:00 show at the Colonial. It was not really a show, but more like a game show. Not quite appropriate for children. There was drink service at the theater.

DAY 3

This was our day to rise early for breakfast and then go horseback riding at Rancho Baaxal. I will post a separate review of this attraction on Trip Advisor. The WS buffet was not crowded at 7:30 and we enjoyed another excellent breakfast with good service and good coffee. After the ranch excursion, we stopped at Playa del Carmen. It was very hot at noon and the vendors would constantly call out to you. We did not find this enjoyable and just went to Starbucks, bought 2 items at a convenience store and decided to go back to GP for lunch by the pool. The pool on the White Sands side is the nicest and largest pool I have ever seen. The Colonial pool was busier with louder music and more activities. My family preferred the WS pool. The WS pool has 4 whirlpool areas, it was as warm as bath water, had loungers in the water, a swim-up bar, and was 4 feet deep at the deepest point. There is also a zero-depth entry at one end. Tons of palapas and loungers were available and it was not crowded at all. What a way to relax! The music was not annoying and there were a few activities like BINGO, ping-pong, and cooking lessons going on. We ate at La Laguna, the buffet restaurant overlooking the pool with covered outdoor seating, and several hungry birds flying around. This smaller buffet has a great spread: freshly grilled burgers, fish, pasta, salads, guacamole, fresh fruits, and desserts. After lounging at the pool, we had dinner at Portofino, the Italian ala carte restaurant. Entrée portions were smaller and we were grateful because we were eating all day already! We walked to the saltwater pool in the evening looking at the crabs and iguanas on our way. It is very dark at the saltwater pool at night, but we could see the area was stunning and the pool was unique and we couldn’t wait to come back the next day.

DAY 4

This was our day to go to XPLOR. (I will post a review on Trip Advisor.) Prior to leaving on our vacation, I booked 5 tickets for XPLOR, the adventure park about 20 minutes from GP. Advance ticket purchases get a 10% discount and the line to get into the park is shorter for online ticket holders. We had another early breakfast, but this time at the Colonial buffet. It was more crowded than the Kabah but we still had good service with attentive wait staff pouring coffee for us and clearing our dishes. We went to the outside of the Colonial entrance and caught the collectivo to go to XPLOR. We waited about 10 minutes for it to come. It holds 13 passengers. The driver was very courteous and helped us with the doors and asked us where we wanted to go. The cost for the collectivo is $26 pesos, or about $2 USD. In 20 minutes we were at the entrance to XPLOR. After an awesome day on zip lines, amphibious vehicles, rafts, and swimming, we crossed Hwy 307 to catch a collectivo back to GP. After waiting 30 minutes and no collectivo showed up, a taxi pulled up and all 5 of us squeezed in. Another couple that had been waiting even before us also took a taxi. After such a tiring day in the sun at XPLOR, we relaxed at the saltwater pool. There is a bar and comfortable loungers arranged theater style, so wherever you sit, you can take in the breathtaking ocean view and the saltwater pool. There are also Bali beds. The saltwater pool had little fish swimming in it. The choice for dinner was Mare Nostrum, the Mediterranean restaurant. Again, we were not disappointed and we walked away satisfied. We took in the 10:15 show at the Riviera theater. It was adult themed and just OK for us.

DAY 5

Since we had heard so much about the spa, we decided this was the day to go. After breakfast, we walked to the spa from our villa (about 10-12 mins.). The spa pool is rectangular and you can do laps. There are 3 outdoor Jacuzzis and a curved “lazy river” section that leads from the pool to another spa area where the hot tubs, hot shower, sauna, steam room, and the foot massage are. The foot massage is a spiral-like walking path with rocks on the bottom and jets of cold water shooting out from the rock-wall sides. We especially loved the outdoor hot tub with a fountain in the middle and spouts of running water to massage your back. I could have stayed there for hours. The spa pool has few loungers (only about 20) so it can be difficult to find a lounger. The fitness center overlooks the spa pool. The bathrooms in the spa have showers and little bottles of shampoo and bath gel available. It was back to the beach in the afternoon. One daughter painted at the painting cart by Punta Emilia – very reasonable – only $10 usd for a dog figure. You paint it and then pick it up the next day. They glaze it for you. It turned out perfectly! My daughter was so pleased! After some more relaxing beach time, we went to El Dorado, the steak restaurant. Food and service were fantastic! This was my favorite dinner. After dinner, we hung out in the Colonial lobby, enjoying the music, vendors, and the show. We also used the internet at the sports bar (you need a credit card). There was a chess set on a table in the sports bar so my son and husband starting playing. They attracted some spectators and they kept playing while my daughters and I went to catch the show at the Riviera theater. We ended up getting lost in the dark while walking to the Riviera side, but we eventually made it. (Again, carry your map with you!) The guys did not come too much later. This show was better than the first one we went to – music/dancing/costumes/props – all put together well.

DAY 6

On our last full day, we slept in a little and went to the buffet mid morning. The kids really liked the pool area and wanted more of it, so we spent a few hours there. Then we all went to Punta Emilia for an afternoon snack around 3:00. We were a bit disappointed with the slow service. For some chicken wings, 2 bowls of pasta, and an order of nachos, we sat there for 1.5 hours. Granted, we do have a cool breeze and an incredible beach view while we are waiting, but we were hoping for better service. Not every table was taken and I could see 3 wait staff. Our waitress must have had extra food because she ended up giving us an extra order of nachos/guacamole and chicken strips as well. We were thinking some people gave up waiting for their food and just left. As this was our last full day, we stayed on the beach and swam in the waters closer to the Kantenah side where it was less rocky. We always lounged on the WS side though as the shade was plentiful and we just grew to like that side of the beach. For our last dinner, we were trying to decide between the Gala night at the WS buffet or going to La Adelita, the Mexican restaurant. We opted for the latter. Our last dinner turned out to be the one with the slowest service. The entire dinner took about 2 hours and we missed the show that we wanted to see at the Colonial theater. After one hour we had only gotten our salad and soup. It took another hour for the entrée and dessert. Of the 6 ala carte restaurants, this was our least favorite due to the slow service and mediocre Mexican food. The kids were happy though and the incredible desserts were a nice way to end the evening. The crème brulee was the best! We thought of going to the 10:15 show, but since it was late and we had to leave by 8:30 the next morning, we returned to our villa, feeling so very full as we did all week.

THINGS WE LOVED about the Grand Palladium:

• The all-inclusive experience – our first, and hopefully not our last!
• Not crowded anywhere we went (indoors or outdoors)
• Loungers and shade always available at the pool and beach
• The resort grounds are stunning!
• The SPA
• Saltwater pool, WS pool, and the beach – beautiful!
• The Caribbean sea was warm; snorkeling was fun.
• Spacious clean rooms with shampoo, bath gel, lotion, hairdryer, robes & Jacuzzi
• In room safe – great to have; easy to use
• Housekeeping: had towel art 3 of 6 nights; quick response to a call for more towels,
• Building 57 – a PERFECT location! 1 minute to the pool, 2-3 minutes to your beach lounger, a 5-minute walk to the buffet, but you do have to go up and down the bridge.
  BUFFETS & RESTAURANTS
• Food was good to excellent;
• Loved having a different themed dinner each night and not having to make a reservation.
• No waiting for a table, 5 of 6 nights when arriving before 7:00.
• Waited only 25 minutes once when we went to dinner after 8:00.
• Service at restaurants/buffets was friendly and good, 90% of the time.
• Punta Emilia bar staff was not as attentive and friendly
• Swim up bar and other bar staff were fine (with or without tip)
  In summary, the Grand Palladium White Sands Resort proved to be an excellent choice for our family vacation. There was something for everyone, and we enjoyed walking around the vast grounds. The lush natural landscaping, flowers, fauna, and ambience are incredible. However, I can see how a resort this large may be more challenging for those with mobility issues, and for parents with young children. We did see several strollers around, but getting over the bridge meant someone had to carry the stroller and the kids over to the other side. For families with younger children, the Colonial/Kantenah side would be more family friendly. We loved the White Sands side though, especially the pool, buffet, and the fact that we were close to the saltwater pool. It was also quieter and more relaxing and provided more of what we wanted in a vacation. We never felt crowded and enjoyed having the flexibility to eat whenever we wanted to and not having to wait (except once). The staff work very hard and for the most part were pleasant and friendly. They don’t seem to mind if you want to practice your limited Spanish, or order dinner in Spanish with the wrong pronunciation. Activities were plentiful, and you could try as many things as you wanted, or do as little as you wanted.
  On our last day, my daughter and I rose at 6:00 to go watch the sunrise. Always breathtaking! The bellhop came exactly at 8:30, the time we arranged the day before. Checkout took 5 minutes as we were the only ones. Our Lomas transfer to the airport came exactly at 9:00 as planned. It was another non-stop transfer to the airport. I am pleased our transfers were so efficient.
  We had excellent service, delicious food, and fun times in a resort that is truly paradise! Everyone in my family would not hesitate to return to GP White Sands!

  To view photos, click

  Your text to link...