Grand Velas Riviera Maya vs Moon Palace The Grand - Cancun
Velas Resorts vs Palace Hotels — Side-by-side resort comparison
Key Metrics
| Metric | Grand Velas Riviera Maya | Moon Palace The Grand - Cancun |
|---|---|---|
| Our Rating | 9.2 | 8.1 |
| Star Rating | 5.0 | 5.0 |
| Room Count | 539 | 1,304 |
| Restaurants | 8 | 12 |
| Pools | 4 | 19 |
| Year Opened | 2008 | 2017 |
| Year Renovated | 2021 | 2017 |
Features
| Metric | Grand Velas Riviera Maya | Moon Palace The Grand - Cancun |
|---|---|---|
| All-Inclusive | Yes | Yes |
| Adults Only | No | No |
| Beach Access | Yes | Yes |
| Spa | Yes | Yes |
| Kids Club | Yes | Yes |
Dining Comparison
| Metric | Grand Velas Riviera Maya | Moon Palace The Grand - Cancun |
|---|---|---|
| Total Venues | 15 | 28 |
| Included | 15 | 28 |
| Extra Charge | 0 | 0 |
Room Comparison
| Metric | Grand Velas Riviera Maya | Moon Palace The Grand - Cancun |
|---|---|---|
| Room Categories | 11 | 6 |
| Suite Categories | 11 | 5 |
Activities Comparison
| Metric | Grand Velas Riviera Maya | Moon Palace The Grand - Cancun |
|---|---|---|
| Total Activities | 23 | 25 |
| Included | 17 | 20 |
| Extra Charge | 6 | 5 |
Pros & Cons
Grand Velas Riviera Maya
Pros
- Cocina de Autor is the first all-inclusive restaurant in the world to earn both a MICHELIN star and AAA Five Diamond — included in the rate
- SE Spa with Forbes Five Stars, 90,000+ square feet, and 40+ treatment suites is one of the largest and most awarded resort spas in Mexico
- Three distinct ambiances mean guests in Zen Grand have a completely different resort experience from guests in Grand Class — useful for multi-room group bookings
- Tulum ruins are 15 minutes away and cenote tours are easy half-day excursions from this location
Cons
- Zen Grand suites are three-quarters of a mile from the beach — the shuttle runs frequently but beach access requires active planning
- Cocina de Autor and Piaf book up as far as 6 months in advance in peak season — call before arrival rather than assuming on-arrival booking
- Premium pricing at the top of the Riviera Maya all-inclusive market — the quality justifies it but the commitment is real
Moon Palace The Grand - Cancun
Pros
- Guests who book Grand-tier access get into adults-only restaurants and pools that standard Moon Palace guests cannot enter — the access separation is real and consistent.
- Water park with 14 heated pools means rainy or cooler days in winter don't shut down the main family activity.
- Le Château holds a Wine Spectator award — unusual for an all-inclusive and worth using if you care about wine pairings.
Cons
- Sargassum on the beach is not a occasional problem — it's a persistent seasonal reality from roughly April through October, documented across years of guest reviews.
- The resort is large enough that getting from your room to certain restaurants can require 10–15 minutes of walking or waiting for internal transport.
Summary
Grand Velas Riviera Maya has a higher guest rating, while Moon Palace The Grand - Cancun has more restaurants, while Moon Palace The Grand - Cancun is the larger property, while Moon Palace The Grand - Cancun has more dining venues, while Moon Palace The Grand - Cancun offers more activities.