Grand Oasis Cancún

It’s nearly impossible to miss the giant pyramid that acts as the Grand Oasis Cancún’s central point and houses a few hundred of the resort’s 1,320 rooms. One word for this hotel is "massive": from the giant lobby with soaring ceiling and hanging gardens, to the expansive grounds, to the dozens of entertainers on staff. The resort complex is shared with The Pyramid at Grand Oasis Cancún, which offers a slightly more upscale experience.

Guests are a mix of families, young couples, and groups of friends. It’s a friendly place, but it’s not a place for a quiet vacation — just the opposite. The pool deck is always hopping with either games, contests, or DJ sessions, while fitness classes and group sports take place in several other parts of the property. There is a strong focus on entertainment here, both during the day and well into the night, but most of it is better suited for couples and groups of friends than for families: burlesque-style shows keep the adults-only nightclub busy until the wee hours, and foam and themed parties draw crowds during the day — even non-guests, as the hotel sells day passes, which offer access to all facilities and activities on-site. In short, every day feels like Spring break here.

The Grand Oasis Cancún has been around for a while — and it’s starting to show. Although the rooms were given a refresh in 2019 and everything is kept pretty clean and tidy, interiors feel a bit dated and worn. A couple thousand guests roam the grounds daily, which puts a strain not only on the buildings but also on the staff, which seems to struggle to keep up with the crowds. Long lines at restaurants are common, as is a shortage of poolside loungers during peak season.

All in all, this is a decent pick for travelers seeking to let loose without breaking the bank, but there are slightly better options in the area. A good alternative is Hotel Riu Cancún, located on the northern tip of the Hotel Zone. In a contest of Riu Cancún vs. the Grand Oasis Cancún, the former wins on most fronts, especially when it comes to decor and food.

Situated on one-third of a mile of white-sand beach on one side and Ave. Kukulcan on the other, the hotel is located right in the heart of Cancún’s Hotel Zone. As such, the property is surrounded by many other hotels and resorts. Those who choose to leave the hotel will find restaurants, movie theaters, and shopping malls a short walk away. The property is 20 minutes from downtown Cancún and about two and a half hours from the Chichen Itza Mayan ruins. Cancún International Airport is a 25-minute drive away.

The only difference between the Grand Oasis Cancún’s 1,320 rooms is the views: while many look over the resort and the ocean, others offer panoramic sunset vistas or garden views. Other than that, all are pretty much carbon copies of each other. Decor is basic and generic, with a subdued beachy color palette, vinyl padded headboards or large wooden ones that double as wall decorations, simple furniture with clean lines, and plain tan floor tiles.

Each room has a terrace or balcony, a coffeemaker, air-conditioning, and a large flat-screen TV with cable. Bathrooms feature walk-in showers or shower/tub combos clad in green marble-like tiles, plus toiletries and hairdryers.

The rooms are for the most part clean, but those who are looking for any kind of luxury should look elsewhere: they feel almost like an afterthought based on the correct assumption guests would not be spending much time in them anyway. Guests wanting more space can book a Junior Suite at The Pyramid next door, which will offer additional perks, such as access to a wider range of restaurants.

With 12 restaurants and 13 bars — two of them swim-up — there’s no shortage of places to eat and drink at this all-inclusive property. There are two large buffets, but the spread doesn’t seem to vary much. In addition, there are ten a la carte eateries ranging from pizza, Spanish tapas, and Mexican-Japanese fusion cuisine to a food court and a seafood restaurant. Long lines are common at the buffets, and the reservation system for the a la cartes requires guests to stand in line in the morning or book ahead through the Oasis Hotels & Resorts app. Despite the many dining options, guests find food sub-par overall. Furthermore, the all-inclusive package doesn’t offer access to some of the on-site restaurants, as they are reserved for The Pyramid guests.

The coffeeshop serves coffee drinks and pastries, while Hippie Chic is a casual spot for pizza and burgers. At night, the nightclubs are quite popular, in particular the adults-only Kinky Club, which offers burlesque-style shows and live music.

In addition to two nightclubs, two swim-up bars, and nine other lounges, there’s also plenty of opportunities for fun in the sun at Grand Oasis Cancún. The pool is one of Cancún’s longest and winds through gardens and lounge areas. There are tons of loungers lining the pool, but some guests report that the best ones get snatched up early in the morning. The Grand Oasis Cancún is right on the beach and guests have access to beach chairs and thatched-roof umbrellas. There’s also a decent gym with a dozen or so cardio and strength-training machines, plus a casino, a spa, tennis courts, and kids’ activities. But the resort’s pride and joy is its entertainment program and it employs several dozen in-house performers including singers, acrobats, rollerblade performers, comedians, and dancers. The Oasis Arena, an outdoor theater, offers nightly family-friendly shows. A nearby golf course offers discounted rates for Grand Oasis guests.

For meetings and weddings, the hotel offers several event spaces, including the Oasis Arena and several boardrooms, the smallest of which measures 260 square feet (25 square meters).

Grand Oasis Cancún guests get access to the Grand Oasis Palm Cancún’s amenities and restaurants, but the sister property is a 20-minute drive away. Guests used to be given full access to the adults-only Grand Oasis Sens Cancún, but the hotel has been sold and rebranded as the Now Emerald Cancún.