Overview
Grand Sirenis Riviera Maya Resort & Spa is a huge family-friendly all-inclusive situated on Mexico’s Riviera Maya, around 20 miles from Playa del Carmen.
With 970 rooms, 10 restaurants and a host of included activities, the scene is lively and oriented towards families -- although the property does host plenty of weddings in high season.
The resort, which opened in 2006, is divided into two properties separated by a manmade river. The Spanish-owned company also has properties in Ibiza and Dominican Republic.
The Grounds at Grand Sirenis
A cross between an ancient Mayan pyramid and a spaceship, Grand Sirenis features a series of vast stucco and limestone buildings with steeply angled sides set amid dense jungle. The lobby is a soaring, minimalist glass and concrete pavilion dotted with glowing onyx scuptures reminiscent of Mayan structures. Golf carts ferry guests between lobby, rooms and restaurants through low-ceilinged, low-lit white corridors that feel like a sci-fi movie set.
The Rooms at Grand Sirenis
Suites are large and fairly minimalist in style, comfortable without being hyper-luxurious. All feature flatscreen TVs, jacuzzis and terraces, along with tea and coffee making facilities. A very basic room service menu and mini-bar stocked with beer and soft drinks are included in the room rate.
The Restaurants at Grand Sirenis
Along with the main buffet, there are eight themed a la carte restaurants, from Cinecitta, an Italian bistro to Ikebana, Japanese teppanyaki restaurant and a Brazilian steakhouse, along with Cajun, Mexican and a Mediterrean restaurant specializing in seafood. There’s also a French restaurant called Le Relais Gourmand that attracts an extra fee. Beachside, a casual palapa snack bar called Bayou dispenses smoothies, juices and tacos.
The Pools/Beaches at Grand Sirenis
There are three main swimming pools at Grand Sirenis, one with a swim-up bar, in addition to a children’s pool. A “lazy river” – a canal-like waterway powered by a current that allows guests to float along with swimming – winds throughout the property. The lovely unspoiled beach is flanked by rocky headlands and the famous Mayan reef is just offshore, affording great snorkeling opportunities.
Recreation at Grand Sirenis
The property has a gym, two tennis courts, an outdoor shooting and archery range, billiards room and ping pong tables. In the water there’s kayaking, snorkeling, diving (attracts an extra fee) and a water gym, while beachside there is volleyball and beach football.
Entertainment-wise, shows are performed nightly at the theater. A disco is set at a distance from the accommodations, close to the beach: shuttles can ferry guests there and back.
The Spa at Grand Sirenis
The 34, 100 square foot spa features a hydrotherapy circuit consisting of submerged massage beds, concurrent swimming pool, waterfalls, massaging jets, jacuzzis and an indoor thermal suite of saunas, Turkish bath, hammam and scented showers. Along with massages and body wraps, visitors can experience high-tech treatments like time in a “floatarium,” a black-tiled room with a buoyant salt-heavy pool at its center and fiber optic lights changing colors on the ceiling, or the “chromotherm” machine, a space age-looking machine covered with a plastic dome that concentrates the effects of body scrubs and wraps.
The Highlights:
- The spa is beautifully designed and offers above-average treatments and experiences
- The Mayan ruin set on a headland just off the beach provides a great photo op
- The themed a la carte restaurants are a nice change from buffets, although the food doesn’t always live up to the settings
- The abundance of pools and the lazy river mean you can always find a place to cool off
The Drawbacks:
- Some public areas allow smoking and many guests do so: non-smokers might find this offputting
- The property is too large and crowded to really feel romantic, so honeymooners might be better off elsewhere
- Internet access isn’t included and is very pricey
The Verdict:
Grand Sirenis offers good value for families and couples looking for a livelier scene than at a boutique hotel. While the food and ambience are fairly standard for all-inclusives on the Riviera Maya, there are aspects – like the spa and the beautiful, secluded beach with its authentic Mayan ruin -- that elevate the property above its competitors.
Address: Carretera Federal Cancun-Tulum, km 256, Akumal-Quintana Roo, Mexico
Reservations: +52 984-875-1700
Room Rates: $$$
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