I read most of the reviews before going to this resort, so it helps to know what to expect. It can't be said enough that this is a huge resort (it is a Jungle). We stayed as guests through an exchange July 12-19, 2008

ARRIVAL - Shuttle service is available from the airport to the resort. We arrived at 11:00am and check in was not until 5pm. However we were able to check in early at 3pm. In the meantime we did go prepared with swimsuits and swam in pool until checkin we were even able to get a palapa (grass hut with bed underneath). Then went to Playa del Carmen using the bus $2 each person one way and loaded up on groceries at Wal-Mart. You will find everything you need there. We however took the cab coming back for $20. We are a family with 3 young children. DRAWBACK - although we arrived early and emailed request we were still not able to get a low numbered room. Palapas are $30 a day, however if you order food amounting to that much then charge is waivered. Make sure you check your bill to ensure the charge is removed.

SHUTTLE - Athough I emailed (3x) requesting a low number room we litterally were in the last room next to the makeshift lobby, as the new Grand Mayan lobby has not been completed as of yet. It was a little combersome with a stroller getting on the shuttle, but it was doable. DRAWBACK - not all shuttles go where you want them to go, become familiar with flag colours which indicate where they are going.

RESORT - What can I say it is beautiful and well maintained. There is the Mayan Palace and the Grand Mayan (newer)which is where we stayed. Staff is very friendly. Maid service was exceptional. Dipping pool on balcony which was very refreshing since pool water was very warm. Beach is very rocky so be very careful. If you want a beach go to Playa 20 min away. DRAWBACK - A pair of brand new white pants was mixed up in linen and it was not found

RESTAURANTS - We ate at Balche (steak skirt is delicious), Havana Moon, and Del Lago(breakfast buffet is good). Prices were reasonable. DRAWBACK - 15% gratuity is added to all bills so be aware

TOURS - We did Chichen Itza, which was a very interesting and informative tour. DRAWBACK - a long day with young children and most tours are 10 hours. I would recommend renting a car and driving yourself. Overall we had a good time and would go back again and definitely do more tours. Oh yeah bring bug spray, mosquitos are abundant at night!

Arrival at airport: Go through airport & buy your alcohol before you pass through Mexico's 3 second custom check. Walk up, no x-rays, questions or funny looks. Push a button & you're in. *Have your transportation pre-arranged before your trip and don't stop for the gauntlet of tourist trap cabby's and hagglers just inside the exit doors! It's crazy!!! The grand mayan POC outside will be wearing a Red Top!
They carry you straight to the check-in tent and check-in is easy. Make sure you ask for your towel card (used at the pool). They then send you to someone who gives you the info(map.tours etc..) and the timeshare sales pitch. If I can say NO to the singles mom Ms. Mexico with the top 3 buttons undone, you can too! It's not worth your time, 10%, 100 dollars or a sneak peak of those twin peaks!
They carry you & your bags all the way to your door. (Bring plenty of small bills for tipping for your stay). We were at building #3, lucky us, so I will not complain about the trips to the beach & pool. Golf course is emmaculate with 400 workers constantly grooming. Amazingly they disappear before every shot! No kidding!
Excursions: Best bang for your buck? The jungle extreme adventure. Zip-Lining, biking & Cenote swim. 65$ per person. Includes transpo, the trip & authentic Mexican cooked lunch. The 2 guides are awesome (Victor & Julio from Vera-Cruz) They even stopped us off at the locals shack in Puerto Morelos so I could buy my wife her hammocks & my teenagers wrestling masks!!
Pools are clean & very pleasant. Plenty of things for the little ones at the kids zone they have at the pool everyday. The palapas are wonderful and really a must. Reserving one isn't really hard for anyone who can get up before 10 a.m Plenty of shade huts on the beach & yes the rocky beach will tear your skin to pieces and slippery enough to cut you a flip.
Upon our arrival, I took a bus-van to Playa-del Carmen's Mega grocery store(15 pesos) $1.50 us. You have to go outside the main gate & cross the hwy where traffic is heading south. When you see the Playa sign in the front window, step towards the road & wave your arm to stop them. I spent $160 in drinks (2 cases & 2 fifths of tequila with mixes) and groceries that lasted a family of four a whole week. Of course you have to take a taxi back to the resort, but this was only 20 dollars. You'll see the taxis underneath the Mega on the bottom parking garage. We ate one time at Del-Largo (restaurant on resort), and that alone cost me $130.
To save on drinks by the pool, buy a bucket of beer the first day, and covertly keep your bucket. Fill a small gym bag with your grocery store beer and stop by your buildings ice machine & fill-up on your way to the pool. We used our small bag w/wheels because of course it was heavy. Pre-mix your other drinks and carry them also. Keep it on the down low- Hello!!!
Over-all, this trip was pretty cool. Hot & Humid & very family oriented. A few Definates:**** Do use your safe in the room (common sense for most people)******Get plenty of bottled water*****Water shoes for the beach******Grocery shop at Mega******Room service for breakfast the first & last morning(awesome)*******Small bills for tip money*******Bargain with the local venders by the pool: Kwanta Kwesta (how much)....es muchos (too much) then make your offer! Worked everytime!
Would I go back? Probably not, due to the shear size of this place. Did I have a good time? Of course, I love to bargain 5-star resorts plus this is a great one-time vacation spot. Here's my bill run down for a family of four for a weeks stay. Believe it or not? Golf $74(1 time)-Dinner at del-largo $130- Extreme adventure excursion $130(2 people) - Groceries $160 -Bucket of beer $7.50- room service 2 breakfasts 56$ for a total of $558.50.
Of course we spent money out of pocket on other stuff, but that was my Grand Mayan bill! Ain't I cheap? I hope you can take advantage of a truth-filled review! Enjoy..... from a good ole boy!

Just returned from a week at the Grand Mayan. The reviews of others were so helpful to me, I felt compelled to share our experience. The grounds are impeccable, just gorgeous. Unfortunately, we ended up in Building 12, the farthest away. However, it was very quiet and we had great success with the shuttles. They came often sooner than indicated and there were always places to sit - it was so easy to navigate. We had a problem upon our arrival in that we were told our luggage would be sent to our room, but it didn't show up after about an hour. I was starving, but didn't want to leave for dinner without knowing the bags were there. I was concerned, but fairly polite for me! Anyway, after the 3rd trip downstairs they brought the car around and it turned out the bags had never left the trunk. They were so apologetic; shuttled us to dinner personally and gave us valet parking for the rest of the trip - really great! I found the staff extremely kind and accomodating. We did attempt our pathetic Spanish, but we were always understood. The pool was great, and we did manage to go in the ocean one evening with the help of aquasocks. Food was average - we ate at the Havana Moon a couple of times, and there was a great fun rock and roll band one night and even my 12 year old danced and danced! We also ordered from room service, just know that it really takes about an hour, so don't order when you're starving! Pizza was good from room service. Our room was very clean and new - another advantage of staying in a larger numbered building. Used the safe and had no problems with belongings.
I would recommend renting a car - although my husband was nervous, it was nice to be on our own. We got the maximum insurance and obeyed the traffic speeds. A word to the wise:
If you drive to Chichen-Itza, be SURE to use the toll road. We took it there, but not back due to some confusing directions. It took a little over 2 hours to get there, but 4 to get back - you will go through every tiny town, there is no way to get back to the toll road, and each town has at least 4 "topes" - speed bumps that you have to go over very slowly. It took forever!!!!!! Enjoyed Xcaret and tried Snuba - my son was thrilled - and the underground river was really neat. My husband and son booked a fishing trip with the resort and my son caught a barracuda - really exciting for him!
It is so true that the trip is what you make it - my husband called misplacing his driver's license and credit card an "adventure!"
A final tip - many places that we thought would take credit cards didn't; be sure to carry plenty of cash. Have fun!!

July 10th 2008
We stayed at the Grand Mayan Palace in the middle of June 2008
the stay was excellent, everything about the complex was 5 star, the employees that work thier give a superb service and nothing is too much for them.
We only had two problems whilst stay there in our two weeks, the first was the high pressure selling on our presentation I would advise anyone to stay clear of this presentation unless you were serious about buying time share, and the second point was we had trouble with the complex accepting our credit cards they kept saying our banks were refusing to accept them which was strange because outside the complex they worked fine.
Stay clear of the timeshare presentation and you will love your stay there.
Regards
Chris Turner
England