Moon Palace - Cancun

I’ve traveled to a number of places around the world and have followed one basic philosophy… been there, done that! That is, until my wife and I discovered the all-inclusive Palace Resorts, specifically, the Moon Palace. We’ve now been there twice and are currently planning our third trip.

All-inclusive is just that: aside from your airfare and money for walking around and souvenirs, everything is included. Transfers to/from the airport, all food and beverages (including alcohol), non-motorized water sports, and gratuities are all part of the package. Depending on the length of your stay, there are a number of day trips to choose from as well. Scuba and off-site snorkeling trips are available for an additional fee, as are horseback riding, deep-sea fishing, parasailing, jet skis, and much more.

The Moon Palace is divided into two sides, the Punta Nizuc and the Sunrise. Both have their own guest lobby, gift shops, gym and spa, and at least two restaurants. In total, there are 10 restaurants on the property. Each side has a huge pool with swim-up bars under the palapas and more bars than you can count. There’s a golf course, spa, tennis courts, miniature golf, and more activities than you can shake a stick at, or just relax with a margarita in hand and take a nap on the beach.

The Palace Resorts also offer the use of their other properties under their "Stay at one, enjoy them all" policy, except the Spa Palace (for obvious reasons.) If you’re doing a little shopping in Cancun and get hungry, hop in a cab to the Beach Palace for some lunch, drinks, and a quick swim to cool off. Do nothing or keep yourself busy the entire time you’re there - it’s up to you.

Bottom line… the accommodations are superior, with a Jacuzzi in every room; the staff is friendly and polite; and the service is some of the best I’ve had. The grounds are kept in immaculate condition. There’s only so much I can say about this place in the space I’ve been given, so your best bet is to experience it for yourself. If you’ve never been on a trip like this before, I suggest that you make your arrangements through a travel agent.

Quick Tips:

If you have any interest in history, you must take the trip to Chichen Itza. Keep in mind, this is an all-day trip, with plenty of walking in a jungle environment. Wear a good pair of running shoes and leave the flip-flops at the hotel. It’s also a good idea to borrow a towel from the room to keep wet and placed on the back of your neck. This will help keep you cool in the still air of the jungle.

Don’t miss the "booze cruise?" to Isla Mujares. It leaves the dock early, but you should have enough time for breakfast. If you’re prone to seasickness, sit on the upper level. There are optional activities for an additional fee, or just kick back on the resort’s private beach - or swim with the shark!

Scuba in Cozumel… nuff said!

Best Way To Get Around:

Transfers from the airport and back are provided by your tour operator.

At the resort, you can walk from each side to the other along the beach, or you can take a shuttle from lobby to lobby. There’s also a shuttle to and from the golf course/spa.

There are shuttles that will take you to the Sun and Beach Palaces, but they fill up fast and don’t run often enough. Take a cab if you’re headed to town. It was only 70 pesos the last time we were there, and you can split that with another couple if you want.

Transportation is provided with the day trips.

We have stayed on both sides of the resort. The rooms in the Jacuzzi suites are similar to one another, although the next time we're there, we'll be sharing a presidential suite with some friends. There is more to come.

This is one of the best restaurants at the resort and one of the most popular. It's not uncommon to have to wait 30 minutes to be seated, but the food and service are well worth it.

Each time my wife and I stay at the Moon Palace, we try to have dinner here at least two out of the seven nights we're here. We also order different meals and sample from each other's plates.

The only criticism we have is that sake is not available, but other than that, no complaints from us.

This is by far one of the best adventures I've ever taken. I signed up for the two-day resort course, which included the basic land instructions, pool time, and an open-water dive on the reef approximately 1 mile east of the resort... and this was just the first day. For the second day, I had opted for the two-tank dive trip to Cozumel.

What you get for the cost of your course: instruction (of course), transportation to the dive sites, and use of the equipment. If you wish to use a wet suit, there is an additional charge. If you opt for the Cozumel trip, you also get transportation (by bus and ferry) to the island of Cozumel and lunch after your dives. There's also a little time to do some shopping.

The instructors are friendly and saftey-conscious. The equipment and boats are clean and in very good condition. I've done this trip twice, and both times my experience has been absolutely perfect.

I had heard of other "divers" that have not had the same luck as I, primarily due in part to their sensitivity on the subject of tipping. Many of the top resorts in the Cancun/Riveria Maya area "all-inclusive", and the gratuity is already included in the price of their vacation. Aqua World does NOT share in this gratuity. My basic rule is this: if I had a good time and was treated well, I throw the guys a bone--20 to 50 pesos for a day trip is chump change!

The other complaint that I've heard about is that the instructors were demeaning and rude to the divers. This can happen when a "diver" does something stupid. Diving can be a very dangerous sport! If you're unsafe, expect the tongue-lashing you deserve and say you're sorry.

Once again, I had a great time diving with Aqua World and will be taking their open-water certification course on my next trip to Cancun.