Overall Impression We spent a relaxing week at the Sun Palace Couples-only Resort, an all inclusive resort where pampering was the order of the day. This resort is located only 10 minutes from Cancun Airport near the end of the beach. This was fortunate as Hurricane Wilma, in 2005, wiped out most of the beach along this beautiful stretch of land. The beach in front of the Sun Palace and the Club Med Cancun were spared being washed out as they are located in the arch of the cove. We were met at the airport by the hotel limousine, which we requested when we made our hotel reservation. From the moment we registered there was no waiting and we were greeted at the door with flowers and champagne. We were also offered a cool damp cloth to refresh ourselves from the heat of the day.
After registration, we were invited to take a tour of the facilities and to reserve our outings. A staff member was assigned to us to see to our specific needs: we were able to reserve our golf tee times, arrange transportation, and spa services and all other outings conveniently. Our concierge, Xavier, was available for us all week and made it his business to see that all went well. We liked that the hotel assigned us a tour advisor for the duration of our stay and we could consult him about various activities throughout the week. We immediately reserved two golf days and a spa day for both of us. We also planned two outings: Coba and Ek Balam. After our tour of the property, we decided that we would be eating on the premises. The four a la carte restaurants were most appealing and seeing that we were only there for one week, we decided to make full use of the amenities.
There were a number of aspects we liked about this property such as its location, the staff’s fluency in English and their service oriented attitude, extra privacy on the beach, and our access to other properties owned by the same company. We were pleasantly surprised by the level of attention that we received. The tour/trip advisor, concierge and hotel staff were ready to assist us. Throughout our stay the staff were attentive to our every need and were most helpful. We appreciated that English was spoken throughout the complex. We also liked the relative privacy on the beach because the resort is located at the end of the Hotel Zone and the beach was used primarily by resort guests. The sand was pristine white and the water turquoise blue.
Class Of Accommodation A five-star couple’s only beach resort
Handicapped Access Two of the rooms were designed to accommodate handicapped guests
Internet Wireless connectivity was available in our room. There was a computer and office facility in the main lobby.
Length Of Stay Seven nights
Location Located on the Yucatan Peninsula, the resort is 15 minutes or 8 miles from Cancun International Airport (CUN) and 17 miles from downtown Cancun. The resort offered free shuttle service to and from the airport which we had to request upon making our hotel reservations.
Owned And Managed Palace Resorts Inc.
Pets Allowed No
Size The property had 252 rooms
Year Opened-Renovated The Sun Palace originally opened in 1986. After Hurricane Wilma in 2005, the resort was completely rebuilt and turned into an adult only luxury spa and beach resort.
Lobby And Common Areas The resort is located on a narrow stretch of land which allowed for an interesting architectural design. It made us think of an accordion: the hallways face the lagoon and most of the rooms seemed to have an ocean view. There were three infinity pools overlooking the ocean and a large exercise pool. The reception area was not very large but the cathedral ceilings and the light colored marble created a serene atmosphere. There were several common areas throughout the building. On each floor, common areas had excellent views of the ocean or the lagoon. Natural wood tables, comfortable seating and decorative Mayan sculptures made out of stone and wood completed the décor and made these pleasant areas to watch the sunset. On the ground floor, a large common area made a great meeting place. Overlooking the larger infinity pool, it was a good location to observe the beach and ocean. Lounge chairs were always available by the beach.
We discovered a charming outdoor lounging area on the second floor that became the outdoor Thai restaurant in the evening. During the day, the bar catered to those sunning themselves on cream colored lounge chairs. The hot tub was also located there. From there we had an excellent view of the Cancun skyline and it became our preferred spot for an end of the day drink.
Room Our room, number 621, was on the sixth floor and the view was spectacular. Measuring close to 600 square feet, it had a foyer which opened onto the bathroom, the shower and the double vanity on one side, and a double Jacuzzi leading into our large bedroom with a seating area to the side. The room was decorated in relaxing natural tones. The far wall was all glass, overlooking the ocean. A sitting area with chairs and a table was inside. We also had a double veranda that overlooked the beach and one of the infinity pools. Large patio doors opened onto a lounging area with comfortable furniture. Upon our arrival, fresh fruit and a bottle of wine were waiting for us on the table. The Mayan style art work set the tone for our vacation.
Dining During our stay, we ate well and had a variety of choices. There were four restaurants at the resort. There was also a Pool Bar and Beach Bar that offered light snacks throughout the day. The Alamo Restaurant located on the main floor hosted a breakfast buffet in the morning and was a Mexican a la carte restaurant by night with a Mariachi band. This restaurant was the most casual of the four. We also dined at the Tratto Restaurant, an Italian restaurant that had live music. The Thai Restaurant on the second floor offered open air seating with a view of Cancun Bay and a very romantic ambiance; we dined under the stars. The Steak Grill was located on the main level, outside, on the pool deck.
Amenities We had satellite TV and telephone with unlimited free long distance service that was included in our package.There were waffle bathrobes in our room along with an ample supply of fluffy white bath sheets. The toiletry items were from the Biosilk Spa Collection. The body lotion was thick and unctuous and toiletries were replenished daily as was the fully stocked complimentary bar and bottled water.
Spa Facilities The Asian style spa facilities were in a separate building overlooking the ocean. While at the spa we felt totally detached from the rush of travel and completely relaxed. We liked that the spa facilities in the Sun Palace were quite intimate. A relaxation massage the afternoon of our arrival set the tone for our vacation. I enjoyed a manicure and pedicure the morning of our departure and was glad that the staff were pleased to accommodate an early appointment.
Other The same company that owned our hotel owned several resorts in the Cancun area: Palace, Moon Palace, Xpu-Ha Palace, Aventura Spa Palace, Cozumel Palace, Playacar Palace, Le Blanc Spa Resort and Isla Mujeres Palace. A shuttle bus between resorts allowed us to spend an enjoyable afternoon visiting the other Palace resorts. As guests of the Sun Palace we also enjoyed day access to the other Palace resorts in the area. This was convenient because there were several resorts within the Palace chain on the same beach. Each resort catered to a different clientele: family, couples only, and golf and beach. We made use of this advantage when we golfed at the Sun Palace Playacar Resort in Playa del Carmen (about 40 minutes by car). After a challenging 18 holes of golf, we enjoyed a gourmet lunch and then used the spa facilities located in that resort. What a wonderful way to relax our tired muscles!
Date Of Visit April 2009
Reviewers Article by Andrea de Gosztonyi-McRae and Doug McRae
Photos by Andrea de Gosztonyi-McRae
Service Room service, available 24 hours a day, was included in our rate. The staff were pleasant and discreet. One evening we were particularly tired from our excursion so we ordered a room service dinner. The waiter arrived with flowers and complementary wine with our meal which arrived hot and fragrant. We particularly appreciated the privacy button that discreetly flashed red or green for the service personnel.
Would We Stay Again? Yes
