My husband and I took our 2 daughters (16 & 17) to Cancun Oct 9th-13th, 2006. Booked through [----](hotel only). We had a great time and the Gran Caribe was wonderful. I really don't know how some of those negative reviews could have been about the same place!! Check in was a breeze...took about 10 minutes and we were given a welcome champagne cocktail. The lobby is beautiful and those marble floors are kept as clean as a whistle. We were assigned rooms 2425 & 2426 on the 4th floor. There were no adjoining rooms available, but we were next door. The views were great....both the ocean and the lagoon, so there was something to see both night and day! The rooms looked exactly as they did online.....absoultely spotless! Everything smelled very fresh....no "mildewy" smell at all and in the tropics that is saying something! The fridge was in a large armoire and you should keep the doors open so that it will stay cold enough. You may have to leave a note for the maid to leave the doors open. I had medication in it so that was an issue for me. They were restocked every day, with soda, water and beer. The air conditioning worked VERY well...got a little too cold at night! It is VERY humid there and if you keep the door open long, you will have fogged up mirrors and doors! GREAT marble shower with a built in bench and shower massage...plenty of hot water, but not much pressure. Shampoo, conditioner, soaps, etc. There was a ceiling fan, coffee maker, blow dryer and iron in both rooms. We never had to ask for a thing! Lots of pillows, triple sheeting...good quality linens. The beds are VERY firm, but the mattresses are of high quality, so it is still comfy...and this is from a gal with a deluxe pillow top and memory foam! Now MY bed seems too soft! Our towels were replaced every day...big towels...plenty of them and nice fresh smelling as well. (As you can see I have a sensitive nose!) The pool is a little small compared to some resorts, but in Oct it was not crowded. The sun beds are great!! They are around the pool and on the beach and are a perfect place to spend the day! The waitresses come around all the time to see if you need something to eat or drink. We tipped a little each time and they really appreciate it. We took souvenier magnets from Memphis and those were a hit as well. The sushi/pizza cafe is right next to the pool and the sushi is great....my daughters loved the pizza as well. As for the food...you won't go hungry. I must say that I had a queasy stomach the entire time, so I may not be the best judge, but there is a little something for everyone, even my picky vegetarian daughter. Just don't go expecting gourmet delights. Breakfast was the best...omelettes, pancakes, waffles, cereal, etc. Some of the desserts tasted like they had been in the freezer a little too long, but there was always fresh ice cream! Now for the only truly negative thing I can say...those halls are LOUD!! You can tell the "first night" folks because they are so loud....everything echoes down those marble halls and the doors SLAM!! Be considerate of your fellow travelers and close your door softly...everyone will appreciate it! All in all a wonderful resort with a gorgeous beach...just watch out for the waves!!

Well, we stayed at the Gran Caribe Real from Sept 2-9... When we arrived to Cancun after a long flight...I was really irritated with people trying to grab my baggage right when we exited the airport to catch the shuttle bus. We didnt know if there was a shuttle bus, so we had to ask around and it was really hard cause most of those people didnt speak any english...so after walking around for about 20 minutes, we finally made it to the bus!! We had originally booked the Gran Costa Real hotel, so we were taken there. We checked in, no problem, went up to our room and found that they had given us 2 double sized beds, no ocean view, no balcony. We were extremely disappointed...so we went down to the front desk, and they told us to wait till the morning to change rooms. So we spent the 1st night there, and slept on a double bed in the childrens play area...which was really annoying...But then in the morning, they asked if we wanted to be moved to the Gran Caribe Real, we asked if there would be a king size bed, balcony and ocean view, and they said yes. So we moved....they paid for the cab to get there. We arrived and it was way more nicer than the Caribe Real. We checked in and went up to our room...it was great!! The fridge wasnt working at 1st, but later, someone came and fixed it. The food was actually pretty good, considering it was all inclusive. The people and staff were excellent!! Really nice!! The pool was great too!! I didnt like the shopping there that much...I really got annoyed at Market 28, the people were so pushy and try to rip you off...MAKE SURE YOU BARGAIN...like if they ask for $100 US for something, Go down to about $10US, then work your way up. They are just waiting for someone from another country to go and make money off of them! Make sure you do the Jungle Tour, that was AMAZING!! It was the nicest thing I have ever done, it was so worth the money spent!! I would definately go back to Cancun...Im not too sure if I would return to this hotel...but Cancun was amazing!!

We stayed at the Gran Caribe Real at the beginning of September for 2 weeks. We loved the hotel and defintely recommend it!
.
Positives:

Room: Good standard, air con worked well and safe provided.
Room service: excellent.
Staff: Friendly and helpful.

Food: I have read other reviews about this hotel before going on holiday which stated that the food was very bland. I have to disagree with this. The Albatros restaurant was excellent, on a daily basis there was a choice of 4 different soups, and the main courses were international or mexican with fish, pork, chicken, cold meats etc. The salads/deserts were excellent too! We ate in Marias once, the standard of the food was good, but there was only a limited choice on the menu. So we decided to eat all the time in Albatros.

Negatives:
Only a few things to comment on,
Timeshares: Word of warning, In Cancun they go overboard with Timeshares, as soon as you walk out of the airport arrivals they approach you. We booked our holiday with Thomas Cook, we ignored everybody that didnt have a Thomas Cook badge, and believe me we were approached by a lot on the way out of the airport. At the airport entrance the Thomas Cook Reps were waiting and everything went smoothly from there. When you arrive at the hotel they will book you in, and then tell you to see the Hotel staff opposite who will give you information about great offers etc. Don't go over there, they are time share and will do anything to get your credit card details, and then "they will take you to the cleaners!" We politely refused saying we were very tired and that we would see them tomorrow. With that they left us alone to go to our room. Don't give your credit card number to anyone!

The corridors are noisy at night, you hear every noise.
If you want a quiet swim then avoid the main pool from about 12 to 3pm.

Apart from that, nothing to complain about.

We did a lot of activities during our stay. Our top recommendation is XCaret, the place is amazing! There is an underground river which you can swim along, Mayan ruins, dolphin swimming, snorkeling and you get a meal included in the price as well. And to top it all, in the evening there is a free show which is orinetated around the history of mexico and the Mayan civilisation and also includeds the Famous Ball game that the Mayans used to play. Well worth every penny! Xelha was lovely too, it is purely about snorkeling, lots of beautiful colourful fish to explore!

Don't do the Dolphin Discovery at Isla Mujeres. The swimming with Dolphins is enjoyable, but they rip you off, the deal we got didnt even include a meal, (every other tour we did had a meal included). The video/photos excessively expensive and the complex is stuck in the middle of the island far away from the main town and shopping. This trip cost us twice as much as anything else we did for the whole two weeks. Don't do it!

You will be much better doing the Swimming with Dolphins at XCaret.
The pirate Ship cruise was hilarious, one of the highlights of our 2 weeks. We haven’t laughed so much in Years!! Highly recommend it!

We also visited Chitchen Itza and Tulum which were amazing. You cant climb the pyramid at Chitchen Itza anymore which was a disapointment, but the site is very impressive so it didnt matter too much. The journey to Chitchen Izta is long and tiring, and it will take 12 hours in total for the whole day, but well worth the trip if you like archaeology. But be willing to spend 6 hours + on a coach. Tulum is beautiful as its right by the sea and you can also spot edges of the coral reef about a mile off shore. The Tulum trip is only half a day, we were back in the hotel for lunchtime.

We would definitely recommend the Gran Caribe Real Hotel, We have read some negative reports on this site which after staying here, We disagreed with. The hotel staff
are very friendly, the hotel itself is very clean and the food excellent. We were also able to book all our trips in the hotel with relative ease.

The Carribean sea is quite strong at the Gran Caribe Real, be careful when swimming as the waves can sweep you off your feet. But, If you stay at the Gran Caribe Real, you can also use the Gran Costa Real facilities as well (5 min jouney away by bus) and If you like the calmer waters, the sea here is sheltered by the island Isla Mujeres and there is hardly a wave. So we visited this hotel to swim in the sea a couple of times. Very nice.

We have been on holiday to other hotels where we have fallen sick from eating the food, no such problems here. The water in the hotel is all mineral water as well. We wouldn’t hesitate staying there again and intend on doing so in another few years.

Thank you Gran Caribe Real for an excellent holiday!

Third time visiting this hotel and the best vacation yet.
Our first time was Nov 2003, then went after hurricane in Feb 2006, then August 2006. I have to say It just keeps getting better and better. Everytime there seem to be more and more improvements to the resort, food and staff.
My husband and I went as a last hoorah before having our first child. I was 7 months pregnant and definetly found enough shady areas to sit on the beach.
BEACH- Best beach by far in Cancun. We walked up and down the beach both ways and the Garibe was the nicest. Lots of seaweed in the morning but the staff clean it up off the beach in the early morning. This was the only resort that did so. Waves were amazing!!!!! Only too big to play in 1 day out of the 7. And me being 7 months was able to go in and jump the waves! Little bit of seaweed in the water, but you can just toss it aside or swim to a spot with none. Didn't really bother us.
The sand was not as soft as it has been the previous times, but there was a massive hurricane and this is all new sand from the bottom on the ocean. Still nice to walk on though!!
The waitress came around often but sometimes not often enough. One thing I could say is they could have more waitresses on the beach.
FOOD- yummmm. We have been to Maria's previous vacations and it was lovely. But this time we decided to just visit the buffets. We loved all the food in the buffets. Fresh fish, prawns, pasta, lots of tasty rice and veggies. New icecream machines were GREAT! Didn't visit the sushi as I was pregnant, but my husband did and he RAVED about it.
ROOMS-AMAZING!!!!! we upgraded to the Presidential Suite for a nominal fee and it was the best money we could have spent. We first upgraded to an oceanview but it was not really the full front view we were looking for. Then we upgraded to the presidential that same day. 2 jacuzzis full bar in room and the VIEW!! WOW!! We wont stay any other way. The cost was worth it!
STAFF-GREAT! All the waitresses were amazing! If you are pregnant this is the place for you. I got the royal treatment the whole time I was there. They were plenty of drinks for me to drink with no alcohol!
POOLS- We didn't visit the pools as we are beach people. It was always busy by the pools and most chairs were taken by mid afternoon. The beach was our haven and we never had a problem finding places on the beach.
TIPPING- we tipped to the waiters and waitresses. Its not mandatory but if you receive good service we thought they should be given something to show our appreciation of the service. Generally it was $1 US per order or $20 Pesos per order. Lots of $1 bills are a GREAT idea!

Like I said this was the best trip we had ever been on. Next time will be hard to top it. February 2007 is already booked and we cant wait to go back. And I imagine it will only get better with the new buildings being built and more ammenities being added!