No-reservation à la carte dining at all 11 venues sets this resort apart from most Cancun all-inclusives, where dinner reservations consume your first morning.
The activity calendar is genuinely varied — pottery and cacao ceremonies on the same day as HIIT and aqua cycling attracts a more engaged, less passive crowd than typical resort programming.
Staff receives consistently high marks for language ability and attentiveness — many guests report staff remembering their drink preferences by day two.
The 24-hour fitness center on the rooftop is one of the better-equipped resort gyms in Cancun, with actual weights and cardio machines rather than token equipment.
Cons
No direct beach access — the Ennea Beach Club is 10 minutes away by shuttle, and the shuttle stops running at 6 PM, which cuts off evening beach access entirely.
The rooftop infinity pool is aggressively featured in marketing but only accessible to Vantage Club guests — non-Vantage guests can drink at the adjacent bar but cannot use the pool itself.
Construction noise from the adjacent Dreams Grand Island property affects some lower-floor rooms during daytime hours; ask at booking which floors are farthest from the construction site.
Drink quality has been flagged as inconsistent at certain bars — reports of watered-down cocktails at high-traffic spots during peak hours.
Sandals Royal Barbados
Pros
The rooftop infinity pool is the Caribbean's first — an evening pool experience with ocean views that's unavailable at other Sandals properties
All-suite property means no standard rooms — every guest has suite-level accommodations
'Stay at One, Play at Two' with adjacent Sandals Barbados effectively doubles dining to 20+ restaurants and 10+ bars
15-minute transfer from Grantley Adams International Airport — one of the shortest Sandals arrivals in the Caribbean
Lovers Lanes bowling alley and craft beer bar are genuine novelties within the all-inclusive format
Cons
Summary
Sandals Royal Barbados has more restaurants, while Hyatt Vivid Grand Island is the larger property, while Sandals Royal Barbados has more dining venues, while Hyatt Vivid Grand Island offers more activities.
