One of Cancun’s longest-established resorts has some built-in advantages that come with a huge footprint and a long stretch of beachfront. If you’re looking for an all-inclusive resort with the Riviera Maya’s kind of space but in the action of the main hotel and nightlife zone, then Grand Fiesta Americana Coral Beach Cancun offers much more than most of the other options in the region.
This was my second visit to Fiesta Americana’s Coral Beach resort and the first one was nearly a decade ago, back when the resort was one of the few holdouts with a la carte pricing. Filling up a resort this size without going all-inclusive proved too difficult, however, so eventually they took the approach of, “If you can’t beat them, join them,” and started offering rates that included meals, drinks, entertainment, and more.
Apart from that though, the changes at this long-standing resort are mostly around the margins, playing to its strengths rather than trying to overhaul too much and get away from the character. And there is plenty of character here, some of it clearly tied to the times when it was built. There’s a big atrium lobby with hanging vines, a glass elevator, escalators, and enough marble to build an oil sheik’s palace.
The decadent level of space this resort has, however, allows it to stay ahead of many of the more bunched-up resorts in the Cancun Hotel Zone. You see this at the pools, in the spa, and in the spacious bars and restaurants. Plus as we said a decade ago, it wows you when you enter the lobby, wows you again in your room, then really makes an even better impression when you get out to the pool and beach. It’s huge, yes, but it’s a well-designed property that never feels overwhelming or impersonal.
Pools and Beach in Cancun
First of all, the pool complex here just might be the best in Cancun, with multiple swimming pools, two swim-up bars, plenty of lounge chairs for everyone, and some whirlpools. Parents vacationing with kids and couples looking for a quieter space can both find their areas. There are several places to eat by the pools, including pop-up places where they’re preparing your lunch right in front of you.
There’s legally no such thing as a private beach in Mexico, but some of the beaches are cut off from others, making them feel more private. That’s the case with the long stretches of sand in front of Grand Fiesta Americana, where the beach is somewhat narrow but is conveniently right by the pools and some restaurants. Members of the Infinite Club have a roped-off section of lounge chairs to themselves, plus a deck area above with its own bar.
This beach is not on the main strip of Cancun, but is around the corner to the north. This means you can’t just stroll for an hour after leaving your lounge chair, but it does offer a feel of exclusivity that’s hard to match in the area otherwise. (If you do want the long beach strolls, check out their sister property Live Aqua Cancun instead.)
Dining and Drinking at Grand Fiesta Americana Cancun
There are so many dining choices at this all-inclusive resort that you would have a hard time getting into a routine in the space of a week. On top of the variety of nine regular dining options, there are theme nights, poolside daytime options, and room service on top of that. Yes, room service is part of the all-inclusive plan, so if you have a nice balcony or a dining table in your room, you can have a romantic dinner for two anytime.
The main buffet restaurant is Vina del Mar, popular with families and a good start to the day with a view of the water. It has indoor and outdoor seating. There’s also a coffee shop on site for something smaller and guests in the top suites have a separate lounge on the 11th floor where they can have a quieter breakfast with a panoramic view.
Lunch choices expand to several spots around the pools, including a seafood and tacos place where you can eat with your toes in the sand. Or grab lunch at Isla Contoy, perched over the water under a palapa. During my visit there was an appetizer bar with ceviche, guacamole, shrimp cocktails, and other items.
At night most guests change out of the pool clothing and into something nicer to dine at one of the fancier restaurants, These are included in the all-inclusive plan but require reservations. There are a lot of them to choose from, including the AAA 5-diamond fine dining option, Le Basilic.
Part of the reason this resort has stayed relevant and fresh is by updating the offerings on a regular basis. Three of the restaurants on the bottom level of the resort opened anew this past summer: Chianti IL Consorzio (Italian), Havanna Club Steak & Latin Lounge (Argentinean/Mexican Steakhouse), and Torii (Asian). The Tuscan Italian restaurant has brick oven pizza, calzones, pasta, and a long wine list (extra charge for bottles). The Asian restaurant has a sushi bar and teppanyaki tables.
For a fun night that will make you feel like you’ve been transported to Guadalajara, dine at the large multi-level Mexican restaurant and enjoy a tequila while a strolling Mariachi band entertains the crowd.
Then if you’re ready for a nightcap, there are several spots to have a drink apart from the restaurants. For families there’s a sports bar that’s really an arcade, with pool tables, foosball, and video games. It has self-serve drinks and snacks.
If you’re in a room with a balcony, you can close out the evening with a drink there. All rooms have an included minibar and you can also order what you want to be delivered. The larger suites come with mini liquor bottles and mixers already provided.
The lobby bar evolves through the evening, starting out with a piano player and then later getting more lively with some kind of band performing. To feel like you’re on the coast though, you can head down to the beach and lounge around at a spot where you can hear the waves lapping on the shore: at Nah K’aax, which means “Jungle House” in the Maya language.
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The Gem Spa and Hydrotherapy Circuit
The Gem Spa at Grand Fiesta Americana Coral Beach is grand indeed and they didn’t go halfway: it’s a 40,000-square-foot facility with a 10-stage hydrotherapy ritual that’s designed to take two hours. I only showed up an hour before my scheduled massage, but my abbreviated version was still heavenly.
There are separate sections for men and women and an attendant took me through the circuit in the right order. A hot steam room, then a cold spa shower. A dry sauna, then the ice bath room. Application of a layer of mud, then another shower. The last section in the separated part is a series of pools. There’s a hot whirlpool, then a tepid pool, then a cold plunge pool. After that I walked on stones along a water path with handrails, meant to massage the feet. (I grew up next to a river with stones like that on the bottom where we’d swim in the summer, so I was feeling nostalgic.)
Then men and women join together in a huge hydrotherapy pool with different kinds of jets that can pummel the muscles with water, as well as whirlpool areas and lounge chairs to relax in while waiting for a spa treatment. When my name got called, my muscular masseuse found all my knots from spending too much time in front of a laptop. She dug into them with fingers, hands, and elbows and left as relaxed as I could possibly be.
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Rooms at Coral Beach Cancun
With 602 rooms and suites to choose from, you’ve got plenty of choices at Grand Fiesta Americana Coral Beach. All of them have balconies and nearly all have at least a partial sea view, with only the hallways looking toward the other buildings of Cancun. Even the smallest have a living room area, chairs on the balcony, and premium bedding. They’re the size of a junior suite at many competitor hotels, at 560 square feet.
Beds are configured as two doubles or a king and many of the basics are taken care of well: plenty of mirrors, good lighting, and a safe that holds a normal-sized laptop. Expect some kind of music player in combo with the clock. This is an older hotel, but they’ve kept up with the times with regular revamps and renovations over the years. You’ll find complimentary fast Wi-Fi, places to recharge your gadgets, and a smart TV where you can stream a movie or two.
If you step up to a suite level, you get a larger balcony—downright huge in some cases—more space inside, and maybe a whirlpool tub in a big marble bath. Would this be big enough for the two of you?
If you’re ready to party like a rock star with your friends, then book the four-bedroom “Infinite Ocean Front Penthouse.” It’s twice as big as the average American house and it has its own swimming pool on a huge terrace. A Bose stereo, 80-inch TV, steam room, and Jacuzzi are just a few of the extras. See more info here.
Guests that book one of the higher-level suites get some extra perks, such as a separate check-in area, a lounge with higher-shelf liquor, and their own separate beach section.
Booking a Stay in Cancun
Since Coral Beach is one of the largest resorts in the area, the rates are usually quite reasonable and in the off-season they can dip below $400 per night all-inclusive. Expect a range of $600 to $800 for the standards in high season, more for the larger suites. Book four nights or more and they throw in an airport transfer, which is quite welcome at the maddening Cancun airport. Look for other offers and packages on their site.
These rates include everything after you arrive. I locked my wallet in my safe and never touched it again until I was checking out and needed to tip some people. Meals, drinks, entertainment, and the minibar contents are part of the all-inclusive plan. (But not spa treatments or watersports.)
See more info and book directly at the Coral Beach Cancun official site or check rates here online.
Hotel Scoop editor Tim Leffel was hosted by Fiesta Americana for purposes of review. As always, all opinions are his own. All photos by Leffel except the spa hydrotherapy pool, courtesy of the resort.
