If this is your vacation to hit some of Mexico’s Mayan ruins, sample the world-class boutiques that abound in Cancun, and show your sullen kids a really great time so they’ll want to vacation with you again, consider a stay at the Moon Palace Resort. Although its sister resort with shared facilities, The Cancun Palace, is soon to become an outpost of the Hard Rock Hotels chain, the Moon Palace is large and diverse enough to do a really great job entertaining guests.
With one of the most comprehensive kids programs in the city, the Moon Palace is happy to send up a private babysitter, watch your kids for the day, or keep your teens occupied at the in-house disco.
That leaves plenty of time for some Mom time — one of the most important parts of every vacation — as well as adult time to renew relationships. Even better: The hotel is an all inclusive resort so that you won’t break the bank trying to keep everyone busy.
Family-Sized Accommodations at the Moon Palace
Very large and luxurious, the Moon Palace is one of the most upscale all-inclusive resorts in Cancun. There are 2457 rooms (many with balcony) and suites divided by location into the Nizuc and Sunrise Sides of the resort. The Moon Palace makes it incredibly easy to travel with active kids, but this may not be the first choice for those traveling with the mobility impaired. The 14 restaurants, myriad pools and 2,000-foot-long, white sand beach mean there’s lots of walking around or waiting for a golf cart if the sun gets too hot. Families traveling with infants and toddlers will certainly want to take along a stroller.
We always hear how tough it is to find a hotel room for a family with three kids. Not here! Be sure to ask about the Family Deluxe rooms; available exclusively to families, the Family Deluxe room sleeps six people (maximum 4 adults) in their own beds. No rollaways here, because you get two connecting Superior Deluxe rooms (one with a king bed for Mom and Dad, and the other with two double beds for the kids). Cribs are available upon request. Also included: A balcony with space for a dining table and chairs.
Aside from the spacious accommodations, the Family Deluxe room includes additional amenities to help keep your kids entertained. An Xbox 360, a DVD Fun in the Sun Bucket, special room service menus just for kids, children’s bathrobes and slippers, and a fully stocked snack refrigerator in the kids’ room come in every room.
And if you really want to splurge, check out the Villa Suites which come with their own golf cart.
Moon Palace Relaxing with Family Fun, Spa, Golf
As tempting as the in-room amenities make it sound, no one wants to spend all day indoors. So be sure to check out the Moon Palace’s tennis courts, seven outdoor pools (two kids’ pools), a kids water park, playground and climbing tower and 14 restaurants. There are also several Jacuzzis, myriad of water sports, a game room, and an in-house spa (complete with a salon with kids beauty treatments too!) This property is also known for its access to Jack Nicklaus Signature golf courses in Cancun. Tours to destinations outside of the resort can also be arranged through the concierge.
Daily beach activities as well as evening entertainment are also a part of the Moon Palace experience, so be sure to plan your stay accordingly. If you’re staying for a while, don’t worry, you won’t get bored with the nightlife. Each night of the week, the resort puts on a different live show, including a Michael Jackson Revue, a Fire Show, as well as performances inspired by Mayan legends and Hollywood.
Courtesy of the Moon Palace: An All Inclusive Kids & Teens Club
The Moon Palace offers a great Kids Club for the 4 to 12 year-old guests from 9:30am to 9:30pm. Your kids can spend the afternoon lounging by the kids’ pool, playing on waterslides, visiting the mini-cinema, or indoors at the game room playing air hockey, ping pong, foosball, pool, or video games.
There are special activities designed for tweens; fun ones like mini-golf, treasure hunts, puppet shows, dancing lessons, a “chef for a day” program and Spanish lessons.
Teens also have access to the indoor game room during the day, and the Andromeda Disco during the evenings. Open nightly throughout the year, it’s a lot of fun for anyone 13 to 17. Older children are also invited to join their parents in the fitness center or on the tennis courts — just remember, supervision is a must.
The Specifics: What you get from the Moon Palace’s All Inclusive Plan
Pretty much everything is included in this all-inclusive deal. Along with your room, a stay at the Moon Palace comes with all the food you could wish for: complete access to the resort’s restaurants — fresh tortillas at breakfast — and snacks whenever you want them. At most of the restaurants and bars, casual is okay. Just remember that if you want to dine in your swimwear you’ll have to order room service. Guests 18 or older can take advantage of the open bar.
The all-inclusive stay also offers free internet, long distance phone calls back to the States, and complimentary cell phone service so you can stay in touch with your kids. And while activities like the spa, destination tours, and golfing weren’t mentioned, the resort takes care of those perks too. To ensure that your family gets the most out of your vacation, the Moon Palace also includes $1,500 of resort credit (for families who book a week’s stay) that you can use to purchase anything of your choice that’s offered, but not covered, by the all-inclusive deal.
For more great Cancun resorts, check out FTF’s complete list: “Top Ten Cancun Family Beach Resorts.”
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