We recently stayed at the Moon Palace Resort, which boasts three resorts on one property. The Nizuc, the smallest resort, was the perfect choice for my wife and me. We read positive reviews about it, especially for couples, as it had fewer families compared to the Sunrise and Grand resorts, which offer more activities for kids.
The buffet was just okay, but the sit-down restaurants required reservations. We enjoyed the pool area, where we could snack on various options like brick oven pizza, hamburgers, fresh ceviche, and fresh onion rings. The food was great while we lounged by the pool.
The pools were relaxed and had a nice vibe. There weren’t too many kids, and there were plenty of drinks at the swim-up bar. If you’re just lounging by the pool, the servers will always check on you and ensure you have everything you need.
If you’re traveling with a family and kids, I recommend staying at the Sunrise or the Grand, which offers a waterpark. I’ve seen mixed reviews about the Moonrise, so I suggest doing your research before booking there.
As for the Grand, it seems to be the best resort on the property, but it’s also the most expensive. The Nizuc, on the other hand, was a great choice for a relaxing couple’s vacation. We didn’t go to the beach because of the seaweed, but we knew that before we booked our stay. Instead, we decided to take a ferry to Isla Mujeres, an island about 20 minutes from Cancun. The ocean water around the island is clear blue, and there are plenty of restaurants by the water. We had a great time on the island if you’re willing to leave the hotel for the day.
The Nizuc was exceptionally clean and well maintained our beachfront king-sized room, was excellent. The restaurants were fantastic, and the bars offered a relaxed atmosphere perfect for sipping drinks. We thoroughly enjoyed the overall vibe of the hotel.
However, there was one significant flaw that anyone visiting this resort would likely encounter firsthand. The sales pitch for a membership to all the palace resorts was relentless. As soon as we checked in at the front desk, a clerk pointed at a man behind us and informed us that he would provide us with all the necessary information about the resort and how to utilize our resort credits.
We reluctantly sat down with him, but he immediately began discussing a tour to the grand, which we were not interested in. Despite our repeated refusals, he persisted and even seemed to become agitated when we expressed our disinterest. After about 30 minutes, we decided to leave.
He didn’t show us anything except circling the sunrise resort and the Nizuc and grand hotels. He didn’t provide any information about the pools, restaurants, or their menus. Everything revolved around the tour to the grand to earn resort credits.
The next day, we received a phone call in our room from a young lady who claimed to be there to assist us with our resort credits. We went to the lobby to meet with this lady, and guess what? It was the same sales pitch and tour again! After repeatedly declining, we decided to take the tour for an hour and a half at the Grand. If you decide to take the tour for the resort credits, here’s what they’ll do first: you’ll have lunch with the salesman, then he’ll take you on a tour of their high-end rooms. Then, they’ll take you to a room filled with salespeople trying to sell you a membership for Palace Resorts for a minimum of $18,000. For my wife and me, who only travel once or twice a year, this makes absolutely no sense!
We declined the offer to the first salesman, so he sent another man, whom he said was quality control. He made another pitch to us, but we said no again. Then, he sent a third guy and asked my wife and me what was holding us back and what he could do to get us to buy the membership. We said no again, and finally, as we were leaving, he told us to talk to this gentleman, and he’d give us our resort credits. He also tried to sell us a 60% coupon for $299, which was unbelievable!
After two days, my wife and I were having to figure out the layout of the resorts, where we could eat, what they served, and what kind of attire to wear. In fact, it wasn’t until the second day that we found the pub, a bar at the Nizuc, that’s open until 1 AM. The bartender told us about a restaurant that we were allowed to go to that sits next to the golf course. This is something they should’ve told us instead of trying to get us on that tour for the sales pitch.
Finally, we checked out, and before we could walk out of the hotel, another young lady asked us how we liked the hotel. We told her everything was fine except for the sales pitch, and here we go again! She tried to sell us a 60% off coupon for $299, again which was unbelievable!
So, in summary, the Nizuc was great, the service was great, the food and the swimming pools were great, but at least for us, the sales angle wasn’t great.
