Relaxing at one of their many pools one late afternoon at sunset
Moon Palace Grounds
A view of the beach during one of our walks
Beautiful bird life on the grounds
Anthony practicing his martial arts in the pretty courtyard below our room.
The Swing Bar – yes, there’s a bar where you can order a drink on a swing. Yes, really! How fun, right?
The water park for kids is massive
Water Magic at Moon Palace
Moon Palace Adult Pool at The Grand
Along one section at The Grand, there is a long thin pool that is connected to some of the rooms, just off their patio. Gorgeous right?
Pool shots were taken at the Cusco pool, where there is also a swim up bar for fun cocktails like Strawberry Daquiris and Pina Caladas
Top photo is along the beach in front of The Grand and lower right is at the Adult Pool
Other Moon Palace pools throughout the property
Relaxing at the Adult Pool
Cocktails at the Moon Palace Cusco Pool
AWE Spa Magic at Moon Palace
One of the biggest gems at Moon Palace is its luxury spa: AWE. Be sure to read my separate write-up on the spa. Because we have several sections dedicated to wellness and it’s a big part of our site, also check out our wellness section as well as our section on spas and retreats.
Massage options at AWE Spa include deep tissue massage, aromatherapy, as well as holistic and citrus massages and they have individual experiences which include body treatments for total renovation, soul breathe, relaxing and ones that involve citrus, freshness and scents.
We love anti-aging facials so was thrilled to see a Vitamin C and Ceutical facial on the menu. They also have an Essential Shock Intense facial, a balancing one as well as something they refer to as Diamond Energy.
While they offer the traditional treatments you’d expect to find at an upscale spa, the real magic is in the hydrotherapy room. The sounds and colors are so relaxing that you won’t want to leave — a hot tub is located on one side and a cold dipping pool on the other.
Moon Palace Entertainment
Cultural Cuisine at Moon Palace
A few shots taken in the main Buffet at The Grand
Salmon Tiraditos, with edible flowers served at Cusco, the Peruvian restaurant on-site.
Creme Brulee at the French Restaurant Le Chateau where we dined on my birthday. More delicious edible flowers accompany the dessert.
One of our favorite stops (every day actually) was at the French patisserie in the lobby, conveniently located near the walkway that took us to our room. They had scrumptious French chocolates and macarons in a variety of flavors. You can also get ice cream, teas, baguettes and cappuccino here. It’s worth noting that this is included in your ‘all inclusive’ offerings.
Moon Palace Rooms
Notice that all the room photos show a whirlpool tub right in the room, which is similar to my experience at the Hard Rock. Wellness Suites provide access to the Wellness Pool, aqua spinning bikes and a private instructor. There’s also the Ambassador Suite, which is a great option if you want an upscale experience or if you are traveling with kids and want plenty of space.
Our patio looked a bit like this one but with a different view. This outdoor patio is part of one of the family superior deluxe suites.
Because it’s an all inclusive resort, the perks extend to your rooms. For example, in our room, there were bottles of whiskey and other spirits, as well as a fully stocked fridge with water, soda, beer, and snacks. If you book the Family Superior Deluxe Suite, you also get Hershey’s milkshakes in your mini-bar.
Because it was my birthday, the chef made a birthday cake in the shape of my Canon camera — and while it looks just like a camera, I can assure you it was edible and….delicious. I was surprised by the moistness of the vanilla creamy inside. What a lovely touch – two thumbs up. #ThePalaceLife
T’is the Season
This may have been the first time I’ve ever traveled for my birthday, so it was nice to have birthday cakes throughout the week (yup, I’m a Sag!). It’s always so close to Thanksgiving (and sometimes ON Thanksgiving) so traveling usually isn’t in the cards.
We were also lucky to be there at the beginning of December, so the resort was decorated for the holiday season. My favorite ‘holiday feature’ was the massive festive Christmas tree in the lobby.
If you’re heading to a beach side resort, it’s good to know if there’s shopping on-site, especially if you forget something. The Moon Palace Cancun gift shops sell beautiful jewelry, swimsuits, sandals, shoes, hats, dresses, cover-ups and more.
On our final night, we hung our hat at the Steak House. Lower left is taken at the Habibi Lebanese restaurant earlier in the week. Photos from our dinner can be found in our cultural cuisine write-up on Moon Palace Cancun.
For more information on how to book, the room rates and the special offers Moon Palace Cancun has, head on over to their website. BTW, on-site, they can also set up side cultural and adventure tours to nearby tourist attractions as well.
Cancun & Surrounding Area
As much as I am a cultural enthusiast and am always interested in the historical traditions wherever I go, this trip was all about R&R, reading books (we have two dedicated section to book reviews now – a general one and one for spiritual reads) and spending time in the water as much as possible. Because of that, we didn’t head north where ruins and other tourist attractions lie. I’d strongly recommend that you do however, especially Tulum.
As for its history, much like Cozumel, Isla Mujeres and the entire Yucatan Peninsula, Cancun was originally home to the Maya people, and scattered remains of that culture still dot the landscape. Nearby, you can get day tours to historical gems like Tulum, Mayan ruins, or for adventure enthusiasts, you can go snorkeling, kayaking or zip lining.
We didn’t have a positive experience with one of the local tour operators, so I’d suggest booking directly through the hotel or getting a private driver for a day and going solo.
Don’t forget to check out our review of the AWE Spa at the resort and our overall Spa Reviews section for reviews of great spas around the world. Also be sure to read our Hotel & Resorts section of the site as well as our comprehensive article on the food and wine offerings at Moon Palace, where cultural cuisine is the order of the day.
DETAILS:
Renee Blodgett is the founder of We Blog the World. The site combines the magic of an online culture and travel magazine with a global blog network and has contributors from every continent in the world. Having lived in 10 countries and explored nearly 80, she is an avid traveler, and a lover, observer and participant in cultural diversity.
She is also the CEO and founder of Magic Sauce Media, a new media services consultancy focused on viral marketing, social media, branding, events and PR. For over 20 years, she has helped companies from 12 countries get traction in the market. Known for her global and organic approach to product and corporate launches, Renee practices what she pitches and as an active user of social media, she helps clients navigate digital waters from around the world. Renee has been blogging for over 16 years and regularly writes on her personal blog Down the Avenue, Huffington Post, BlogHer, We Blog the World and other sites. She was ranked #12 Social Media Influencer by Forbes Magazine and is listed as a new media influencer and game changer on various sites and books on the new media revolution. In 2013, she was listed as the 6th most influential woman in social media by Forbes Magazine on a Top 20 List.
Her passion for art, storytelling and photography led to the launch of Magic Sauce Photography, which is a visual extension of her writing, the result of which has led to producing six photo books: Galapagos Islands, London, South Africa, Rome, Urbanization and Ecuador.
Renee is also the co-founder of Traveling Geeks, an initiative that brings entrepreneurs, thought leaders, bloggers, creators, curators and influencers to other countries to share and learn from peers, governments, corporations, and the general public in order to educate, share, evaluate, and promote innovative technologies.
