Paradise Found at The Grand Mayan, Acapulco

The pool is absolutely incredible! I don't know exactly how long it is but it's really a "river" with varying depths. My small children loved it! You can watch the waves crash on the beach from the pool or lounge chairs literally everywhere on the resort grounds. The resort staff (which is, by the way, on the same grounds as The Mayan Palace) were extremely friendly and helpful, something that is not always the case at resorts in the United States. No snobs here! If you at least try your hastily learned Spanish it's even better! Beware if you're traveling without a man, though :) The Mexican people, for the most part, thought it amazing (and a little loco) that I was traveling with my two ninas solo without an esposa! What can I say? I live to live!

The grounds were well kept, gorgeous, and in the evening absolutely romantic. There are paddleboats, kayaks, and rowboats for you to enjoy, as well. There were Security Agents everywhere and at no time did I feel unsafe, molested or at risk of anything except for having too much sand in my bathing suit.

The Mayan is right on the beach and while it may be a little too rough for a laid back swim it is still enchanting. There are guys running around with all kinds of things to do: boogie boards, horseback riding, quad rides, you name it. If they don't have it they will get it or tell you where to find it.

I was exceptionally relieved at the scarcity of beach peddlers. I know a body's got to make a living but I hate saying," No, gracias," all day long. There are a few so if you're into bargaining for Mexican goodies you will get your fix.

An Aqua Park is on the grounds with small water slides and an inner tube ride. The water is very warm - even my kids didn't want to stay too long- and it costs 300 pesos for an adult and two children. I suggest you skip it and go to CiCi in town. Much nicer and cheaper, as long as you're going into town for lunch/dinner/whatever.

Quick Tips:

The resort is quite far from the "action" of Acapulco so if you want to be in the thick of things this is not the place for you. However, if you're interested in a laid-back, peaceful, serene environment then you have found your Happy Place.

Meals are a bit costly at the resort and the choices for children are extremely limited. Acapulco is a place for fine diners, not Macaroni and Cheese afficiandos. On the first day take a taxi to Wal-Mart where there are plenty of American-friendly foods for your picky little eaters. The kitchen is quite do-able so a little meal here or there is no problem. Room-service was fast and decent.

Best Way To Get Around:

Taxis are plentiful and go anywhere you want to. It costs about roundtrip into town since the Resort is about a 25 minte ride to the Costera or you can bargain with the taxi driver and hire him for all day (around ) I do not suggest renting a car - driving here is best left to the professionals and is not really cost-effective once you figure in Mexican car insurance, gas, et al. The locals drive like maniacs and they don't use turning signals or lanes. God forbid if you're involved in an accident.

Once you get into town take the bus. It's fun, adventurous, and cheap!

These rooms are luxuriously beautiful! We had a two-bedroom and it was huge! The materials for doors, countertops, floors, faucets, et al were top notch. The second bedroom has a Jacuzzi tub and the maids provide you with bubble-bath, bath oil, and bath sea-salts. The balcony has a small dipping pool which was perfect for that refreshing cool-off needed after a hot, humid day. I could actually cook in the kitchen! It was bigger than a "kitchenette" and lacked only an oven but who cares?

Good food and lots of stimulation! The restaurant was open-air with cool views of the Bay. It's a little like a Mexican version of Joe's Crab Shack or Hard Rock Cafe. Family friendly, too. Try the Coconut Shrimp - I made like a pig and ate every last bite!

The staff here were friendly but the food was average. It's edible but a little over-cooked and over-priced. Your kids---if typical American mac and cheese/chicken finger eaters--- will find few choices on the menu. The buffets were themed, but, again, they were over-priced and average quality.

This chain is owned by the same group that owns Senor Frogs and it shows. The menu is virtually the same, the ambiance and decor is of similar nature but the view is of the Costera Aleman instead of the Bay. Still, a fun place to eat and to people-watch.

Rumm-ba! Cafe is located on the grounds of The Mayan Sea Garden Resort. Mayan Palace has a complimentary shuttle that will take you there and back. I thought the food was tastier and less expensive here. The wait staff were very friendly and fast, like almost every waiter in Acapulco!

Here even those who color outside the lines can create personal, one of a kind momentos of their vacations. There are two to three tables set up throughout the resort where you can paint your own piece of pottery. The ladies have drawn lines on the plates, vases, et al, and have an assortment of paint colors to choose from. They take your masterpiece home with them, re-paint the black lines, fire and glaze it and in la manyana, you have a very cool treasure. It is very cheap ($2.50 to $15.00) and a great way to un-wind while expressing your artistic flair. This was great fun for the kiddos and adults as well!

Awesome, of course, and not to be missed! Please tip the divers because, hey, they just dove off an extremely rocky, steep cliff into a tiny inlet of water!! Don't eat at La Perla unless you want to pay a lot for mediocre food. We watched the divers from the observation deck and it was darn awesome.

The Fort of San Diego has great views of the Bay from atop the walls. I expected that there would have been more actual artifacts from soldiers living at the Fort or focused more on daily life at the Fort. The museum displayed lots of artifacts from the early period of Acapulco, especially pieces from Asian trading. It was interesting and somewhat educational.