The Grand Oasis Cancun, located 10 miles from downtown Cancun, is a beachfront, all-inclusive resort and spa complex with plenty to offer guests of all ages. After the completion of soft renovations slated for December, the complex will consist of five fully updated towers featuring brand-new rooms with new furniture, flooring, bathrooms and in-room technology. If my recent stay at The Grand Oasis Pyramid was of any indication, clients are in for a treat.
Upon entering the main building, guests are welcomed with a large, lush, green indoor oasis located in the center of the lobby. Vines drape down each floor, turning the interior of the hotel into another world — a world that is completely provided for with the aid of the nearly omnipotent all-inclusive bracelet. At check-in, guests are told about all of the facilities and amenities that are offered with the bracelet — a prized possession that includes a fee to replace, so be sure not to take it off — as well as on the facilities and services that cost an additional charge.
With tennis courts, a nine-hole, par-3 golf course, a spa, a gym and dance clubs, guests will have no problem filling their days and nights with things to do. To help plan, each room comes with a schedule of activities organized by the hour, for everyday of the week, with various options suitable for anyone.
Though there is only one pool for the whole property, it snakes through the five different buildings making it one of the largest pools in the Cancun Hotel Zone. Also available is Wi-Fi access at various hot spots around the resort. Although Wi-Fi must be purchased, for $20, guests receive 24 hours of Internet use, which is a good deal considering you are free to use the 24 hours for up to seven days at your leisure and not consecutively — just be sure to log off at the end of each session. There are also a variety of lounges and business centers for clients looking to get some work done.
Although located near a number of local businesses within the Hotel Zone, the Grand Oasis offers a variety of shops and good eating only a few steps away from the hotel rooms. With 18 restaurants and bars at the resort, guests have plenty of options when it comes to dining and drinking without ever having to leave the property. There are many different types of cuisine available to satisfy all palates and appetites including restaurants specializing in Mexican, Italian, Brazilian and Japanese food as well as seafood, gourmet and international buffets.
There are also bars found just about everywhere on the property from the luxurious to the sports-themed. I lounged in Fountaine Bleu, a luxury bar located on the main lobby level and found a relaxing ambience as well as strong margaritas.
For my first night at the Grand Oasis, I decided to dine at Hacienda Sarape for local Mexican fare and live entertainment from a Mariachi band that serenaded diners, including myself, throughout the evening. Upon being seated, I was presented with chips, guacamole and salsa, which I accompanied with an obligatory cerveza. I ventured over to the salad bar for appetizers where I indulged in a cactus salad and ceviche. Since I had been spoiling myself with the freshest seafood throughout my stay in Cancun, I decided to order Sarape’s version of surf-n-turf for some red meat, which included a delicious flank skirt steak flame-grilled and marinated to perfection. It came with a serving of large shrimp on a bed of mashed potatoes with grilled onions and tomatoes on the side.
The next night, I dined at Careyes — one of the two luxury gourmet restaurants at the Grand Oasis. The restaurant is open only for dinner and requires advance reservations and also has a dress code. I was impressed by my five-course meal which included a starter of spicy shrimp; a hot salad of grilled fish on greens topped with grapefruit and complemented by a sweet white wine; a traditional red snapper Veracruz for the soup course; and, for the main course, grilled fish and a creamy crabmeat salad with peppers served in a large seashell. Dessert was dried fruit ice cream topped with gelatin and caviar and a lovely chocolate souffle. I appreciated both the flavor and presentation of each course.
In addition to the many options for dining and drinking at the Grand Oasis, 24-hour room service and minibar access is also included, ensuring that clients are getting all of their needs met.
The Details
The Grand Oasis Cancunwww.oasishotels.com
