Moon Palace Cancun: The Ultimate All-Inclusive Resort Guide
Our family has vacationed at Moon Palace Cancun multiple times, and it’s become our go-to all-inclusive resort. The combination of exceptional food, endless activities, and genuine hospitality makes it worth every penny. This guide shares everything we’ve learned to help you plan the perfect trip.
📋 Quick Reference: Check out the resort sitemap for a complete list of restaurants, activities, and room options.
📅 Planning Your Trip
Booking Strategy
Book 4-6 months ahead - The resort sells out quickly during school vacation periods, so plan early.
💰 Save $700+ with Member Rates
Palace Resorts has a member referral program that can save you significant money compared to Costco or other travel sites. While I don’t recommend buying into their timeshare, booking through a member gets you:
- 1,500 resort credits for spa treatments, tours to cenotes, and activities
- Two complimentary 30-minute massages
- Free airport transfers both ways
💡 Pro tip: You can find members on eBay, or reach out to me for a trusted referral contact.
🏨 Which Location to Choose
Moon Palace has three locations: Grand, Nizuc, and Sunrise.
Stay at the Grand. Period.
The other locations feel like ghost towns in comparison. The food quality is noticeably better at the Grand, and since it’s the newest property, guests at Nizuc/Sunrise have to pay $100/day/person just to access the Grand’s restaurants. Save yourself the hassle and book the Grand from the start - the upfront cost difference is worth it.
🛏️ Room Selection Tips
- Avoid rooms near the waterpark if you want daytime quiet (they play music all day)
- Request oceanfront for the best views and ambiance
- Standard rooms are fine - we skip the swim-up pool upgrades and use the savings elsewhere
✈️ Getting There
Airport Arrival
Expect a 1-hour wait at customs after landing. Factor this into your plans.
When exiting the airport:
- Ignore the salespeople inside - keep walking with your head down
- Find Palace Resorts staff outside - they wear light tan clothes and are usually at the end of the parking structure
- Ask locals for directions if you can’t find them - don’t engage with vendors inside
⚠️ Critical: Keep your transfer slip safe - it’s your ticket back to the airport!
Hotel Check-In
- Go straight to check-in
- Politely decline the timeshare presentation folks (tell them “We only have 5 minutes”)
- Get to your room quickly to decompress - you can deal with vacation planners later
📱 Essential Apps & Tools
Palace Resorts Mobile App
Download the Palace Resorts app immediately - it’s your vacation command center:
- Restaurant menus and hours
- Activity schedules and booking
- Room service ordering
- Direct access to vacation planners
- Real-time updates
The menus alone make this app essential with so many dining options available.
🍽️ Dining Guide
The food at Moon Palace Grand is exceptional. Here’s your complete restaurant roadmap.
Must-Try Restaurants
🏆 Casa Mia - Best Overall
Formal Mexican cuisine that rivals any restaurant worldwide. If I could only choose one place to eat multiple times, this would be it.
- Must order: The steak, margaritas, and every dessert on the menu
- Why it’s special: Easily one of the best meals of my life
🍳 Cusco - Best Breakfast
The undisputed breakfast champion. We tried every breakfast spot, and Cusco wins by a landslide.
- What makes it great: Largest selection, skilled cooks, perfectly prepared eggs
- Skip: Grand Buffet in the lobby - it’s just “ok” by comparison
🍣 Jade - Best Sushi
Surprisingly excellent sushi - we went twice.
- Recommended: Sashimi and salmon flambé
☕ Awe Cafe (Spa) - Best Coffee & Health Food
For coffee nerds and health-conscious guests. I tried coffee everywhere - this is the only place worth visiting.
- Also great for: Fresh smoothies, salads, healthy breads
Good Options
- La Cantina - Best tacos (carnitas & al pastor), great mojitos, amazing flower dessert
- Trevola - Best pizza (ask for it crispy - comes undercooked otherwise)
- Tapa - Best appetizers with interesting flavors
- Boulangerie - Best ice cream (many flavors) in the Grand lobby
Hidden Gems
- Fresh Tortilla Lady - Between Casa Mia and La Cantina, watch her make fresh tortillas
- Coco Bar - Beach bar serving drinks in coconuts
- Fire Show Churros - Fresh churros at the nightly fire show (very good!)
Skip These
- ❌ Smoked Text BBQ (Sunrise) - Not authentic BBQ
- ❌ Bugambilias (Sunrise) - Used to be great, not anymore
- ❌ Caribenios - Limited options, doesn’t compare to Cusco
- ❌ JC Steakhouse - Casa Mia’s steak is much better
- ❌ Pepe’s Pizza - Cheese wasn’t even melted
- ❌ French fries anywhere - Not a single good fry on the property
- ❌ Room service - Poor quality, forgotten items, not worth it
- ❌ Grand Journey - Expensive ($120 after credits), limited menu (just beef ribs)
Dining Tips
- Make reservations immediately - Popular restaurants fill up fast. Use the app.
- Plan 1-2 hours per meal - You’re on Mexico time. Relax and enjoy the experience.
- Bring cash for tips - Tips are technically included, but tipping everyone who helps you ($1 goes a long way) ensures exceptional service.
🎢 Activities & Entertainment
Waterpark (Grand)
The best family waterpark we’ve experienced at an all-inclusive resort. Our kids wanted to spend entire days here.
- Features: Lazy river, water slides, games, mini-golf, and organized activities
- Height Requirements:
- Tube ride: 5’3”+ (our kid was heartbroken being 1” too short)
- Carpet ride: 3’11”+ (fun for everyone)
Nightly Entertainment
Shows at 9pm every night - We never missed one:
- Circus performances
- Magic shows
- Sand art demonstrations
- Michael Jackson tribute
- Fire shows (get fresh churros here!)
Daily Activities
Hourly activities throughout the resort - check the app daily:
- Beach volleyball
- Pool poker
- Mini-golf tournaments
- Water aerobics
- And much more
Indoor Entertainment
Lobby basement:
- Bowling: $58/hour (use resort credits)
- Billiards: Free
Playrooms: Multiple locations for kids - the Grand Waterpark playroom is the best. Great for solo dinner dates!
Off-Site Tours
We’ve done several tours and recommend:
- Mayan Adventures - Guided experience with cenote snorkeling (underground cave), inlet swimming, and zip-lining into water
- Xel-Ha Park - Self-guided version with an incredible outdoor lazy river
💡 Pro tip: Tours strategically exclude snorkeling from resort credits to use it as a timeshare presentation incentive.
💵 Money-Saving Strategies
Resort Credits (1,500 with member booking)
Use credits for:
- Massages (highly recommended)
- Special dinners
- Bowling
- Off-site tours
⚠️ Warning: Vacation planners earn commissions on tours and will pressure you. Get their info, read online reviews, then decide. Some activities require $5-10 transportation fees even with credits.
The Timeshare Presentation
- The Pitch: 90-minute “tour” for free nights, trips, or extra credits
- The Reality: High-pressure sales tactics that are hard to say no to
- Our Take: Only do it if you’re confident you can resist and the reward is worth your vacation time.
🎒 Practical Tips
Transportation on Property
The resort is massive - walking in the sun gets exhausting quickly. Golf carts run continuously throughout the property with minimal wait times. Always tip the drivers!
Room Essentials
- Request extra towels immediately - Rooms never have enough
- Choose your pillow type - Ergonomic, scented, and other options available via the app
Travel Requirements
- COVID-19 Testing: Schedule your return test a few days in advance. Lines are long, so arrive right when testing opens (around 2pm). Budget 1 hour for the test and results.
- Learn Basic Spanish: While most staff speak English, knowing basics enhances your experience. A few Duolingo lessons go a long way.
✅ Final Thoughts
This guide is designed to maximize your enjoyment, not create anxiety. The most important things to remember:
✅ Book the Grand location
✅ Eat at Casa Mia and Cusco
✅ Download the Palace app
✅ Make restaurant reservations early
✅ Bring cash for tips
✅ Use your resort credits for massages
Beyond that - relax, eat and drink without limits, and enjoy one of the best all-inclusive resorts in Mexico!
Questions? Reach out anytime. Have an amazing trip!
Jon