All-Inclusive Moon Palace Resort, Cancun

What we love about the all-inclusive Moon Palace Resort in Cancun is its ability to meet our vacation needs no matter what they are or how they change.

This sprawling yet elegant Mexican resort is located along the Caribbean Sea coast of Quintana Roo. Being outside the main tourist center of Cancun adds a sense of tranquility rarely found in this area. That doesn’t mean it’s remote and dull. Instead, Moon Palace is so big that it has facilities that vacationers of any age or interest will enjoy.

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Variety of Vacation Styles at All Inclusive Moon Palace

Whether you crave buzzy entertainment or non-stop dining and drinking, find it here. Families who want to maintain their fitness, recreation and wellness routines — and try something new — can do it. Moon Palace has endless activities and things to do. Alternatively, make this your annual flop and drop vacation and just enjoy their gorgeous beach.

All options are available here and all of it’s included in one rate.

Teens and Young Adults Love Entertainment, Good Food

If our teens and grown kids want urban energy, the all-inclusive Moon Palace has a big disco and the glass-enclosed Sky Bar. Of course, there are dozens of other bars as well as unlimited alcoholic beverages. The all-inclusive Moon Palace pricing covers admission to several theatres and nightly shows.

Seventeen stylish restaurants and pool cafes range from dine-anytime international buffets to reserve-a-seat Asian and Caribbean specialties. The restaurants we sampled were quite good. My authentic breakfast tacos were delicious. The entertaining teppanyaki chef who juggled knives at Momo made eating out a big adventure. At any restaurant, if you want the waiters to packge your meal to go, or you prefer room service, the choice is yours.

Munchers and snackers are accommodated in high style. In addition to each room’s coffeemaker, there’s a basket of packaged chips and cookies. The daily stocked minibar has juice, soft drinks and premium alcohol. At night, you may have small plates of artisanal chocolate delivered to your room.

Recreation Facilities Promote Fitness While the Spa Provides Wellness

If your active family wants to work out, select among the watersports, spin classes and bike rentals to suit your fitness regimen. All ages can book golf and tennis lessons. For relaxation, send kids to the games arcade and invest me-time at a yoga class. Or, choose a spa treatment with Mayan traditional herbs.

DJs flank some of the seven pools while classical music or the silence of frogs in daylight plays at others. We loved sprawling out on any of the hundreds of chaise lounges by the pools. Each day we chose a new one.

Everyone wants beach. The all-inclusive Moon Palace is built along a beautiful, quarter-mile of powdery white sand along the Caribbean. It’s immaculately maintained and has its own guarded turtle nest corral at the north end.

Pick Your Spot and Hang Out at the Moon Palace or Beach Palace Resort

There are elegant public spaces in marble and beige. Drink in some of this resort’s very Mexican lounges done in dark wood and wrought iron. Kids will find lots of fun rooms with playful decor. 

With free shuttles to the Beach Palace Resort in nearby Cancun city, you can choose a day of glitzy shopping at the Zona Hotelera malls, then swim with dolphins that same afternoon. 

Underpinning all resort operations is an authentic Mexican warmth and personal attention that makes every guest feel welcomed.

Twice the Fun at Moon Palace, and It Gets Grander

There are more than 2,300 places to sleep — plus a convention center — in this sprawling landcaped complex. Two resort wings have complementary facilities and their own personalities. The Sunrise wing — where most families go — has many pools, an awesome teen lounge, adult nightlife and an all-night deli. This tower has the buzzy nightlife and an ice cream parlor. The small convention center addition is there.

In keeping with the contemporary look, the calmer Nizuc wing boasts big modern works of art in the public spaces, high ceilings and dramatic design accents. In addition to a few finer restaurants, Nizuc has a family-friendly minigolf course, kids playroom with video game arcade, and two playgrounds. We like having the beachfront theatre and one of the two gyms located there. Families staying at Nizuc find it’s easier to take Pilates, zumba and other classes or watch the night’s show. Both of these resorts have their own Kids Clubs, open daily, where counselors tend to kids ages 4-12.

The elegant Moon Palace The Grand Cancun is a separate hotel, next door. Look for more marble, more concierge staff, gourmet dining and nine pools, one with a waterpark for younger guests. There are day and evening adults-only nightclubs, an enormous Spa and a karaoke bar. Swim up suites with their own plunge pools sleep four, and the rooms themselves are very luxurious. Note that as part of the all-inclusive package, guests at The Grand can use the Moon Palace facilities but Moon Palace guests cannot ‘gate crash’ at The Grand.

Accommodations for the Disabled at Moon Palace

This resort is big, but it’s designed to be very accessible for an all-inclusive experience available to all guests. At the Moon Grand, room blocks and common facilities are built within a mangrove habitat frequented by huge iguanas and shy crocodiles (no, I did not seen one), with concrete paths winding around. Between the Grand and the other two wings is a free shuttle bus system, and the staff uses electric golf carts to deliver luggage and transport guests locally.

As you work your way along the grounds, you’ll see several zero-entry pools and ramps running parallel to many of the stairs that lead up and down around them. Handicap accessible rooms are scattered throughout, with easy reach balconies, large doorways and furniture at the right height for those who are wheelchair bound.

One of my favorite strolls was the paved path along the seafront promenade — breezy and mysterious after sunset with the lights of Cancun glittering in the distance — that connects all three resorts.

Luxury Touches Make Moon Palace Stand Out

Munchers and snackers are accommodated in high style. In addition to a coffeemaker, basket of packaged chips and cookies, and fully stocked minibar with juice, soft drinks and premium alcohol, small plates of artisanal chocolate are delivered to your room.

At the Sunrise wing, there’s a full cafe in the lobby bar, where you can get a fresh panini to eat inside, take to the pool, or eat in your own room. Chocolate and dessert addicts will love the ice cream shop scooping the resort’s delicious homemade, extra creamy ice cream into cones and cups; and the bakery serving petit fours, artisanal chocolates and other fine bites — both open 24/7.

The night crowd and adults and kids 18+ can take advantage of the stylish Noir Disco, open some nights early for a teen-only event. There are a few large theatre venues with evening shows, including big name bands and guest karaoke.  With the lobby lounge and sleek Sky Bar for afternoon and evening, Sunrise has the most nightlife. Intra-resort shuttles run 24 hours to accommodate those who want to party. 

Trip Planning Details for an All-Inclusive Moon Palace Getaway

Moon Palace is not only convenient to the Mayan ruins and ecological parks of Riviera Maya. It’s also very easy to get to because it’s only 10 minutes from the Cancun airport.

The size, scale and variety of activities and dining make it a good choice for family reunions and multigenerational trips. That’s when everyone wants family together time at the pool or beach, yet time alone to nap, shop or learn a new sport. 

Choose from a variety of room types that will house everyone in your reunion group. Moon Palace has spacious doubles with two queen beds that work with younger kids. Two-room Family Connect Suites offer more privacy. They also have single rooms with special pricing. All have whirlpool tubs and balconies.

Rates vary widely at different times of the year and for different room classes. Summer is typically when kids and teens age 17 and under can stay free in their parents’ room and enjoy dining and activities at no charge. Plus, the many value-adds given as package offers means most families will be able to find a vacation time that works for their budget. Contact your travel agent or Palace Resorts directly for current rates and more information.

For more great Cancun resorts, check out FTF’s complete list: “Top Ten Cancun Family Beach Resorts.”