We booked 10 nights at GP Colonial with Expedia. Stayed there from June 20th till 30th. We go to All-Inclusive resorts twice a year, so we’ve been to few so far. But this resort was simply amazing.
Arrived at Cancun airport 30 minutes early and within 15 minutes we were outside waiting for our hotel transfer. Expedia offers Best Day Tours for the transfers and it was a great choice. We only waited maybe 5 minutes and we were all sitting in a nice Mercedes Sprinter minibus. There was only one stop on the way to the resort, so the trip was no more that 90 minutes, but it felt much shorter. So finally we arrived at the resort, before Noon. Check-In was a breeze, and we even got upgraded to a Junior Suite. We stayed at villa 58 (it’s a part of White Sands), but we mostly used Colonial facilities. Room was very nice, with a large bathroom with Jacuzzi and very nice shower. We were little concern about the size of the resort, but it really was no issue. It was very nice walking around and discover different sites at this gorgeous resort. All the grounds and facilities are kept spotless, this was probably the cleanest resort we went to so far. Beach is amazing and it stretches for probably two miles, and there were always plenty of shaded spots to choose from, so we didn’t have to wake up at the sunrise and reserve the spot like in most other resorts. If you’re a pool person you’ll in for a treat. Two main pools are huge and never crowded as well, plus there are multiple smaller pools, some are for adults only. Make sure you check the salt water pool, it’s beautiful, surrounded by rocky beach. Another thing you don’t want to miss is SPA. It’s little out of the way, but it’s well worth it. Make sure you bring towel card and room key.
My wife got massages and did her nails, and she said it was great, but you do have to pay extra for that. The food was really good as well. New theme every night at the buffets and if that’s not enough you have 8 a La Carte Restaurants to choose from. We usually went for dinner around 7PM and the wait at the restaurants was never more than 5 minutes. There were 2 Night Shows, one at Colonial at 9:00PM and second at Riviera at 10:15PM. The shows were really professional, make sure you don’t miss the Mayan show at the Riviera it’s simply stunning. After the live show at the Colonial there was a live band playing, and after Riviera Show there was a Disco. So there was always plenty of entertainment. All the stuff was extremely polite, always smiling and trying their best. We tipped, not because we had to, but because everyone worked so hard to make your stay as good possible.
We would definitely go back again, hopefully next year.
Highly recommended resort.
Feel free to mail me if you have any question.

We were not sure if we were going, following the swine flu outbreak, but so glad we did! This was the best holiday we have ever had. The hotel was still running at low capacity when we arrived and it was very quiet (which we liked), but this did not impact on the service in any way. We were given a free upgrade at check-in and the staff were so friendly and helpful, always smiling and happy to help. Although the restaurants were not all open, they were operating on a rota basis and we tried most of them. The buffet (Hacienda) was great, plenty of choice, all fresh hot cooked food, spoilt for choice! Tyhe bar staff are all extremely friendly and often make up drinks for you to try, the tequila shots went down really well...! The resort is exceptionally clean and very well looked after by the staff. Take your map with you for the first few days, but you soon find little short cuts and although it is a huge resort, there are always the little buggy's and the train passing by to jump on if you don't feel like the walk. Must visits: the salt water pool, very relaxing and a good compromise if one of you prefers the beach to the pool! The Adult pool is amazing, surrounded by palms, quiet, some mornings it was just us lazing in the whirlpool! The entertainment is good, we watched one of the shows at the theatre, very professional! Its well worth a visit to the spa, just get a towel and a locker, and relax! All free, except the massages etc. The room was great, minibar filled every day, maid was lovely, we did tip but only a couple of dollars, she made us towel animals! I would definitely go back here, hopefully very soon. This is only a brief review and I'll probably think of a lot more to add...

Our flight and private transfer were great, no delays. We arrived at the resort around 4:00 pm. We were offered cold wet clothes but no welcome drink. Check in went smooth. We were in room 1917 (requested 2nd or 3rd floor in Bldg. 8 or 9 so got a room I requested. The location was great to go to Punta Emilia in the am for coffee and watch the sun rise and it was pretty much central to all the activities, etc. The room was fine but the bathroom was smaller than I had expected (no separate stand up shower from the tub and there were no jets in the tub that hit your back). The pull out sofa my son used was not good even with the extra padding (which I’m not sure if they ever put it on even thought I requested it twice). I reserved a Jr. Suite so we could each have our own bed, but may consider just a regular room next time and my daughter and I would share a bed since the pull out was so uncomfortable for my son to sleep on. We had a great partial view of the ocean from the balcony and the air conditioning worked great (I was actually too cold at night). I found if I kept the cabinet door open that the mini frig was in, the beverages stayed a bit cooler (still not cold so I would get ice). So much for the room, it was okay and we really were only in it to sleep. We only got towel art two of the six days.

I will get the disappointments out of the way. I understand that occupancy was low due to the swine flu outbreak, but, they didn’t have the beach barbeque, paella on the beach, white party, only one of the two theaters were open in the evening, only one or two of the buffets were open, and only 6 of the 8 ala carts were available for dinner. The pool bar above the swim up bar at the Colonial pool was not open so if you wanted a drink at the bar, you had to get in the water and swim (and I’m very short). Also, if you wanted an after dinner liquor (top shelf) and went to Hemingway’s, Churchill’s or El Desvan, there was not a bartender in the bars and the bartender from the lobby bar would have to come in to wait on you and they made you feel like you were putting them out. Also, it felt like they were under staffed in the ala carte restaurants. It wouldn’t have bothered me if I gotten a deal that came out after the outbreak, but I paid full price back in February when I booked the trip.

The resort is gorgeous (natural beauty) and we loved the beach (snorkeling was great right out in front of Punta Emilia). We would typically spend the mornings/early afternoons at the beach and then move to a pool late in the afternoon. I enjoyed the salt water pool and the secret pool (no kids crying or calling of bingo numbers or music for salsa lessons) but my kids liked the activities going on at the main pools. We did get the typical shower every late afternoon for about a ½ hour or so and one day it rained for a few hours, but we went to the spa and used the free water area. The spa was wonderful! We did all get massages one afternoon (I got the deep tissue and my kids got the Swedish). The service was excellent and the prices were exceptional (they were giving 15% discounts).

The only restaurant that all three of us didn’t like was the Italian (and we all ordered items that had been recommended in postings). We all loved Ribs & More (went twice) especially the hot wing appetizer and the Steakhouse (loved the apple pie for dessert), Brazilian (my son loved, but he is the meat eater in the family) and Mexican were okay. We ate most days at the Beach Bar for lunch, but the couple of times we ate at the buffet, it was okay. I would have pastries with my coffee at the beach bar in the early am, but my kids would go to the buffet for a big breakfast which they said was good. I enjoyed the Spanish coffee or Mexican coffee after dinner, but the machine was broken at a couple of the restaurants so I couldn’t get it. We ended up eating so late because we would want to spend as much time during the day at the beach or pool, that we missed most of the shows. My kids enjoyed the disco and Sports Bar in the evenings and would hit the beach bar usually for something to eat on the way back to the room in the wee hours of the morning. I would always head back to the room around midnight since I loved getting up early to watch the sunrise at Punta Emilia and spend a couple of hours reading before I would go back to the room to wake them up after their late night.

We took two day trips. We walked right outside the resort and caught a collectivo for $3 a piece each and went to Hidden Worlds and did zip line and snorkeling in a cenote. I would highly recommend it. We took the collectivo another day to Akumal for $2 a piece each way, rented chairs for $5 each and rented a locker at the Akumal Dive shop for $15 (don’t go to the other dive shop – they claimed you couldn’t rent chairs or lockers anywhere). Renting the locker gave you access to the rest room and showers and the dive shop. We had a fantastic time swimming with the sea turtles and sting rays and had a great lunch at Lol-Ha. The souvenir shopping was much more reasonable in Akumal. The resort gift shop prices were outrageous.

Overall we had a great time, and I would like to go back when the resort is in full operation to see if the little things I felt were lacking were just because of the low occupancy. I do prefer the beach at the Grand Palladium over the beach were I have stayed the past couple of years. The pools were not as good though and I missed the little amenities (turn down service with fresh towels for the am and chocolates and water next to the bed, popcorn/nuts with your cocktails at the bars, poolside drink service). But, I can live without those little things for the overall value we got at the Grand Palladium Colonial.

While the resort is beautiful (although dated and beginning to show its wear), my room was robbed (watches, cash and more tucked away in the bottom of my closed suitcase). It is my opinion that it is a scam by the hotel and some of the staff. They wait until the last day before you check out so they can get your belongings. After reporting it - the hotel did nothing. They were completely awful to work with (Hotel guest services member, Lorena, is part of the ring. She is not to be trusted). After the report was filed and many requests made, they determined that I should have used the safe and defended their staff for going through my suitcase. Because of this, I would NOT recommend this hotel to anyone. The whole experience gave me an awful impression of Mexico. SHAME ON THIS COMPANY!!!!