Planning a family vacation to Cancun and overwhelmed by the sheer number of all-inclusive resorts? You’re not alone. Cancun boasts a vast array of hotels, all vying for the attention of families. While many claim to be family-friendly, finding the best Cancun resorts for families requires careful consideration.
This review of Beach Palace Cancun is based on a comprehensive seven-day experience. Our family was initially invited for a three-night hosted stay to facilitate this review but extended our visit for an additional three nights at our own expense – a testament to the allure of Cancun’s beautiful beaches.
However, is Beach Palace truly the best family all-inclusive resort in Cancun? It’s important to note that “Cancun proper,” or the Cancun Hotel Zone, is distinct from the Riviera Cancun. Resorts like The Grand at Moon Palace Cancun and Royalton Riviera Cancun, often cited as exceptional family all-inclusives, are located in the Riviera Cancun. This review focuses on Beach Palace, situated directly in the heart of the Cancun Hotel Zone, offering a prime location for families seeking the quintessential Cancun experience.
In this Beach Palace Cancun review, we’ll delve into essential aspects for families: accommodations, dining, pools, the beach, and a glimpse into the kids’ club and staff interactions. We’ll also explore the Resort Credits program offered at Palace Resorts and share our firsthand experience.
While Beach Palace is often listed as a five-star hotel online, it’s more accurately categorized as a solid four-star resort. Setting realistic expectations is crucial. If you’re accustomed to true five-star luxury and anticipate a comparable experience to resorts like The Grand at Moon Palace or Grand Velas, you might be slightly disappointed. However, if you’re seeking a relaxed, all-inclusive family resort in Cancun with an absolutely stunning beach as its centerpiece, Beach Palace is definitely worth considering. It’s a fantastic option for families prioritizing beach access and a fun, casual atmosphere over ultra-luxury.
Family-Friendly Accommodations at Beach Palace Cancun
For budget-conscious families, standard double rooms at Beach Palace, typically located on the lower floors, might seem appealing. These rooms come with two double beds and views that may overlook the lagoon, garden, or city, rather than the ocean. However, for families needing more space, especially those with older or taller children, two double beds can be restrictive.
During our stay, we initially secured a great deal for an all-inclusive package. Recognizing the need for more space and a king bed, we opted for a modest upgrade of US$31 per night. This upgrade moved us to a comfortable room on the seventh floor, featuring a king bed and ample space to accommodate two rollaway beds for our two children. This proved to be an excellent solution for our family of four.
The room’s layout incorporates double sinks positioned behind a partial wall, with a soaker tub situated in front. Privacy is primarily offered in the shower and toilet areas. This semi-open bathroom concept may be less ideal for families with older children or for those traveling with friends who prefer more bathroom privacy.
One of the highlights of our upgraded room was the breathtaking view of the ocean and the Cancun Hotel Zone strip. The expansive balcony became our favorite spot to enjoy the sunrise over the beach each morning.
While the mattresses and bedding at Beach Palace were comfortable, the pillows were adequate but not exceptional. Although a pillow menu is available through the Palace Resorts app, allowing guests to request different pillow types, we found the standard pillows to be sufficient.
A thoughtful amenity, unique to Palace Resorts in our experience, is the inclusion of both a hairdryer and a flat iron in the room. Like The Grand at Moon Palace, Beach Palace also provides CHI brand bath products, adding a touch of quality to the bathroom amenities.
However, a significant drawback of the rooms at Beach Palace is the lack of soundproofing. The room doors throughout the hallways are designed to close firmly, which, without proper sound insulation, results in disruptive door slamming noises. This constant noise, occurring throughout the day and night, was a persistent issue. Despite using white noise machines, sleep was frequently interrupted by hallway noise and conversations. Improving room soundproofing would greatly enhance the guest experience at Beach Palace.
Dining Variety for Families at Beach Palace Cancun
Beach Palace offers a range of dining options to cater to different tastes, including a buffet and several à la carte restaurants.
Tequila Buffet
Tequila serves as the resort’s buffet restaurant for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. While moderately sized compared to other all-inclusive buffets, it offers a good variety of options. The croissants and pastries are a highlight, comparable in quality to those at The Grand at Moon Palace, but they are produced in smaller quantities and not consistently replenished. Arriving for breakfast by 8 a.m. was often necessary to secure croissants, and on a couple of occasions, they were already unavailable.
An omelette station is available for breakfast, staffed by a friendly and skilled cook. However, wait times could be unpredictable as the omelette chef sometimes assists in other kitchen areas.
Lunch options remain fairly consistent daily, but always include freshly grilled items. If tacos are on the menu, they are highly recommended. Guacamole, while not always displayed, is readily available upon request and is excellent.
Dinner themes rotate nightly, with the Indian & Lebanese night being a standout, offering authentic and flavorful dishes. Other dinner themes were satisfactory but less memorable.
Bocelli Italian Restaurant
Bocelli, an à la carte Italian restaurant adjacent to the buffet, provides a pleasant alternative for dinner. Most dishes were well-prepared, with a few being just average. The deconstructed strawberry dessert was a notable highlight.
Wok Asian Restaurant
Wok, Beach Palace’s Asian-inspired restaurant, requires some improvement overall. However, the sushi was fresh and skillfully prepared. Other entrees were generally acceptable but not exceptional. The sake-based signature cocktail at Wok was a standout, highly recommended for its complexity and flavor.
Smokehouse Steakhouse
Smokehouse emerged as a culinary highlight. Dining here earlier in our stay is recommended, as it might become a preferred dinner spot. While some menu items require utilizing Resort Credits (more on this below), the quality justifies the additional cost. Smokehouse is a true steakhouse that significantly elevated our dining experience. The wine list includes good selections, such as a Franciscan Cabernet Sauvignon at a reasonable upcharge.
Dishes ordered using Resort Credits, such as lobster tails and rib-eye steak, were particularly impressive. Portions are generous; one lobster tail order includes two large tails. Even dishes from the “free” menu were of good quality.
Skybar and Poolside Snacks
Both the rooftop Skybar, offering panoramic views, and the main pool area provide an extensive snack menu, ideal for casual lunches. The poolside snack options were a favorite for lunch, whether enjoyed at the pool bar or on the terrace outside the buffet. The burger and onion rings were particularly noteworthy and frequently ordered.
Pools and Beachfront Fun for Families at Beach Palace Cancun
Given Beach Palace’s prime location on Cancun’s stunning beach, the resort features one main pool and a couple of smaller pools on the Skybar level.
The main pool is well-heated and serves as the hub for daily water activities. Stand-up paddleboard yoga was a unique and enjoyable offering.
A waterslide, while single, was a hit with children. Its manageable size allowed for safe and repeated fun. The swim-up bar pool was noticeably cooler in temperature. Rooftop pools were also cooler, but hot tubs provided warmth, especially on cooler days. The rooftop offers impressive views.
Cancun’s Unbeatable Beach
Beach Palace’s most compelling feature is its location on Cancun’s renowned beach, situated in the heart of the Cancun Hotel Zone.
The beach boasts clean sand, seaweed-free waters, and playful waves, creating an ideal environment for family beach days. Compared to other beaches visited, including Grace Bay in Turks & Caicos, Aruba, and beaches in Jamaica, Cancun’s beach at Beach Palace stands out for its wave action and overall enjoyment for families.
However, caution is advised as waves can become strong, and currents can be powerful. Lifeguards are present and attentive, but families with young or less confident swimmers should utilize life jackets and maintain close supervision in the water.
Kids’ Club at Beach Palace Cancun: The Playroom
Beach Palace’s Playroom, the kids’ club, is smaller and more suited for toddlers and younger children compared to the expansive kids’ clubs found at resorts like The Grand at Moon Palace. It offers a colorful, two-story play space, suitable for short breaks from the sun or during brief rain showers. For children older than 5 or 6, the Playroom may offer limited engagement.
Families prioritizing extensive kids’ club facilities might explore other Cancun resorts. However, for families seeking a smaller, convenient play area for younger children, the Playroom at Beach Palace is adequate for shorter visits.
Exceptional Staff and Service at Beach Palace Cancun
Beach Palace, being a smaller Cancun family resort, provides commendable service. Staff, particularly at the front desk and bars, were attentive and often addressed guests by name. The staff projected genuine happiness and were consistently accommodating.
Customer service, especially complaint resolution, was well-managed by the front desk. Issues, such as a late-night security check and noise disturbances from a large student group, were addressed professionally and effectively.
Understanding Beach Palace Cancun Resort Credits
Guests staying a minimum of three nights at Beach Palace receive Resort Credits, starting at $500 and increasing with longer stays, up to $2,500. These credits can be used for gift shop purchases, spa services, select excursions, and premium menu items at restaurants like Smokehouse.
However, a 16% “service fee” applies to the utilized credit amount. This fee is not a gratuity and is payable out-of-pocket. For example, a braid service costing $80 in Resort Credits incurred a roughly $12 service fee. Similarly, lobster tails ordered using credits had an additional cost. Despite the service fees, utilizing Resort Credits can still offer value, particularly for higher-end services or menu items. Unused Resort Credits can be rolled over to future Palace Resorts vacations or transferred to others. It’s important to understand that Resort Credits are not equivalent to free spending money due to the associated service fees.
Final Verdict
Between 3.5/5 and 4/5. While the noise issue in the rooms was a significant drawback, Beach Palace Cancun offers a solid family vacation experience, particularly for families who highly value beach access. Its prime beachfront location, combined with good dining options and attentive service, makes it a worthwhile consideration for a relaxed Cancun family getaway. If a phenomenal beach is your priority and you are seeking a casual, fun atmosphere rather than ultra-luxury, Beach Palace could be the perfect fit for your family’s Cancun vacation.
