Moon Palace Review

As the signature property of the Palace Resorts brand, which currently has 10 oceanfront hotels in Mexico and in Jamaica, Moon Palace is Cancun’s largest all-inclusive resort with over 3,000 guest rooms across multiple buildings in three sections. It is also designated as a AAA Four Diamond resort. Given how large the property is, they do a good job of keeping up the grounds and rooms. And for families, in particular, Moon Palace is a great place to get a lot of bang for your buck.

Location

Located less than 15 minutes from the airport, Moon Palace is ideal if proximity is at the top of your checklist. With the provided shuttle, you'll be dropped at a giant port au cochere, which is ideal for people who want to start the vacation immediately.

The Lobby

Like every part of this resort, the lobby is enormous and always bustling. The center bar is accented with elegant details like marble floors, stained glass ceilings, chandeliers, and plush seating areas. You can choose to be shown to your room or not by the concierge. But in general, it's a convenient meeting place for meeting family or friends before dinner.

Rooms

For those who like options, there are many room configurations. Choose from swim-up suites and rooms with views of the ocean, garden, resort, or golf course. Family suites have two rooms including a smaller connected room with double beds, so kids can be put to bed without the adults having to adopt the same bedtime. Most rooms have balconies or a walkout terrace, which are great for taking a minute to soak up the fresh air. It's worth booking a space close to the ocean so you can fall asleep to the sound of waves lapping.

One of the resort's signature amenities is the stand-alone jetted bathtub. Perks include a minibar that is stocked daily with complimentary drinks and snacks, a smart TV and bottled water replenished daily. The rooms are spotless and modern, but the décor is reminiscent of a model home: Think carved leaf wall art, fabric runners across the foot of the bed, dark woods, rattan patio furniture, and a lot of shades of cream and beige.

Bathroom

The bathrooms are spacious, a real luxury to anyone a cramped bathroom at home. With Jack and Jill sinks and mirrors and a separate area for the toilet, the setup is ideal for couples. The bathroom is ideal for those who like options because you can choose between a powerful shower and a Whirlpool tub. The most romantic touch in these rooms is the placement of the Whirlpool tub in the bedroom instead of the bathroom. Towels and toiletries (CHI) are standard, but the hotel provides a fantastic hairdryer and straightener for those looking to pamper. The robes and slippers provided are the kind you'd want to take home after your stay.

Food & Drink

Like most big all-inclusive resorts, there are several restaurants on the property. You have cuisine options to choose from including Mexican, a Brazilian steakhouse, comfort food, Italian, sushi, Indian, or Mediterranean. One of the main restaurants serves a massive breakfast buffet in the morning. For those who want easy access to snacks, there's a 24-hour European café off the lobby for ice cream, crepes, and specialty coffees. If dining out isn't your thing, room service is included and available 24 hours a day. Most restaurants are casual during the daytime, but request long pants and collared shirts at dinner.

Water Attractions

The main hangout for guests are the property's multiple pools and a kids’ water park. The main pool is sprawling and has a party atmosphere from dawn to dusk with music, sports, and games. Families will love the FlowRider surfing simulator adjacent to it that always has a line, but is worth the wait. The open-air bar, which has swings instead of chairs, makes smoothies and mocktails garnished with banana dolphins holding maraschino cherries in their mouths. If you don't want daily competition for snagging a chaise lounge, there are other pools at Moon Palace that have more restrictions on who can use them and are much more relaxing.

Spa

Like the resort itself, the spa is also supersized. There are 36 treatment rooms for massages, facials, and scrubs, as well as a full salon. It's also a great place to get a pedicure. The spa even offers a chocolate wrap to tie into an ingredient important to the Mayans. The best part about the spa is its location, as it is set far away from the hotel rooms and pools, out on the golf course, so it is much more serene and less crowded. If you want to bring your kids along and not have some solo relaxation time, the spa also offers some treatments for little ones and teens.

Fees & Other Info

• Wi-Fi is included, as are unlimited free calls to the United States. The Wi-Fi was strong enough to stream TV shows.
• Guests are given a Resort Credit to use on activities of their choosing like spa treatments, horseback riding, bowling, private dinners, golf, off-site tours to Mayan ruins, and motorized water sports. The amount depends on the length of stay from $500 for three nights to $2,500 for 12 nights. The coolest part? If you have credit left over at the end of the trip, it can be rolled over to subsequent stays at any Palace resort or transferred to someone else. A 16% service fee must be paid on all products and services purchased with the Resort Credit.
• Pets aren't allowed, but there are lots of animals on the property including cats, iguanas, birds, and coatis.