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Use our Travel forum for recommendations on everything from day trips to the best family-friendly holiday destinations.

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Original poster

Mexico Help Please: Moon Palace vs Occidental Grand Xcaret

23 replies

isitnearlytime · 27/05/2015 13:23

These seem to be our two choices. The Moon Palace would, on paper, seem to be the better hotel I.e. 5 star versus 4 star & is a bit more expensive. We will have 2 children aged 8 & 11 with us. We would like to go on 2-3 excursions during our 11 night stay but, being August, know it will be extremely hot. Can anyone advise which hotel/location would be best and also advise some good excursions that would be suitable for the kids - am thinking more wildlife/coastal beauty than hot, dusty ruins (8 yr old has no patience whatsoever! ) The ecological park next to the Occidental sounds great. I believe the beach isn't great at Moon Palace but not huge issue as can get shuttle to sister hotel.

Decisions, decisions. ....

OP posts:

Heels99 · 01/06/2015 18:10

There is a small manmade beach at xcaret.

Heels99 · 01/06/2015 18:12

Xcaret park is right next door though and xel-ha not far away. Both great for kids. Moon palace is a massive resort with thousands of rooms and facilities to match. Depends what you want!

Original poster

isitnearlytime · 02/06/2015 23:26

Thanks for the reply. Spoke to someone earlier who'd been to Moon Palace & couldn't fault it, doesn't sound like she left the resort much though. She said she'd heard the Occidental was very busy though admitted she might not have the right place. From what she said, the Moon Palace does sound awesome although it sounds like it's quite far from anywhere and I wonder if Occidental might be a better location if we want to get out a bit??

Arghhhhhh, still no closer to making a decision!

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Queenofknickers · 02/06/2015 23:29

Moon palace was amazing for honeymoon but it was 14 years ago!!! Brilliant place

Original poster

isitnearlytime · 03/06/2015 06:51

I see you can do a trip to Xcaret from Moon Palace but it's an hour's coach ride away and I presume won't be cheap. Would one day there be enough? If we were to stay at Occidental next door, I was looking at a 2 day pass so we could see it at a more leisurely pace. Xcaret seems to be the main reason for choosing Occidental as Moon Palace seems to have more to do on site. Anyone know what kuds club is like at Occidental? ?

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ArtyFartyQueen · 03/06/2015 06:55

We've booked Moon Palace for our family holiday/honeymoon this year. We looked at Occidental but it didn't seem to have as much kid orientated activities or facilities as Moon Palace and for us, happy kids make happy parents!

Original poster

isitnearlytime · 03/06/2015 07:14

Am also a bit put off that the Occidental only gives an hour's free wifi a day whereas it's unlimited at Moon Palace. How sad is that??? Will need internet access while we're away though. Otherwise, Tripadvisor reviews are mostly good for both resorts.

OP posts:

Original poster

isitnearlytime · 03/06/2015 07:22

We've been to a couple of 4*AI resorts in Europe with the kids and had a great time. These resorts had nothing like the number of facilities that The Occidental, let alone the Moon Palace, has e.g. number of pools & restaurants. Therefore, I'm sure we'd be more than happy with Occidental so just trying to weigh up if worth spending extra £600 plus cost of transportation to Xcaret etc if stayed at Moon Palace.

Need to decide soon or won't get either!

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MargolottaOfUberwold · 03/06/2015 07:35

Throwing in a spanner here but we went to the Sensatori last year which is about a mile from the moon palace last year and loved it.

Day trip from there to xcaret was abut £80 each when booked from UK.

Depending on your budget bear in mind there can be a lot of extras at xcaret, but it is amazing.

Staying further north also gives you the option for day trips to Cancun and boat trips to Isla Mujeres

roundtable · 03/06/2015 07:54

Had my honeymoon at Moon Palace. It was amazing!

Want to go back and take the children when they're older. We hired a car and went to the pyramids.

You would have access to several different hotels so not limited to yours and the kids club was pretty good apparently.

The beach isn't that great for swimming in but I love the fact that it's unspoiled as the turtles arrive every year to lay their eggs there. There's plenty of pools and the other hotels have 'swimming beaches'. It was a great holiday. Jealous!

We're limited to taking the touring caravan out at the moment.

Original poster

isitnearlytime · 04/06/2015 17:34

Thankyou Roundtable. Would love to see the turtles! Read something about a "turtle release". Does anyone know if we'd be likely to see this in August and how frequently this happens. Also, presumably, you wouldn't have to pay for this event??

OP posts:

Original poster

isitnearlytime · 09/06/2015 08:10

Ok. We've dithered so long it seems the Occidental is no longer an option so think we will book Moon Palace. Just wondered if it's cheaper to book excursions from the UK or once we get there? Definitely want to do Xcaret. Can anyone suggest any other family friendly excursions? Nothing too hot & dusty, perhaps beach/boat related given that the Moon Palace beach is not the best. Also would be grateful for any info on the turtle release! TIA.

OP posts:

Heels99 · 09/06/2015 10:26

Hi I have just got back from Mexico with my 6-7 year olds, went last year as well. Kids had amazing time. Will pm you hotel.
Xel-ha is a great trip
Snorkelling at akumal beach, sea turtles etc, get a snorkel guide
Trips are expensive, a day at xel-ha cost £240 for a family of 4 with no extras (Dolphins, manatees, stingrays, snuba etc). Travel is also a cost factor. Think is similar price to xcaret, is run by same company. So do budget quite a lot for trips.

roundtable · 09/06/2015 14:20

I'm not sure when the turtle release is but for some reason January is ringing a Bell. They might have it on their website though.

My phone is being temperamental and i have a very teary, teething toddler otherwise I would have a look.

It's almost easier when the decision is made for you. Not sure about tripswedidn't do many.

elizabethsmum · 10/06/2015 22:30

we went to moon palace in 2012 with three young dc and had a fantastic time. the grand is the newest section so i'd try and get rooms there if you can. we didn't leave the resort the much as youngest dc were dts 20 months old at the time so only went on the shuttle bus into Cancun to the sister hotel (Sun palace) as you can use facilities at all the other palace resorts
(playacar palace is also lovely- we stayed there for a few days also). i think you get resort credits still which can be used towards trips etc- we used ours for dd1 and dh to swim with dolphins at sea world, had family photos taken, went to the spa, a couple of special 'chefs' meals etc. had an amazing time. good kids club there too- dd1 loved it.

RainbowTortoise · 28/06/2015 21:53

We have stayed at moon palace several times and really enjoyed it.

The turtle release happens every evening around 7pm. They alternate between the three sections, nizuc, sunrise and grand. The volunteers are brilliant and answer any questions you have as well as doing a little talk about the sea turtles. You are able to release at least one sea turtle depending on how busy it is and there is no charge for this. They do encourage (but by no means push) for donations to help continue the programme.

It is a lovely resort and it's easy to arrange taxis to local sights and wildlife parks. The only downfall like many have said is the sea grass on the beach, but this is there for an important reason and they are (thankfully) not able to dredge the area as it is protected. You are not able to swim in the sea even on the days it looks fairly clear due to the risk of jellyfish stings.

We have been to moon palace pre children and plan to go to Mexico again next year with our little ones who will be 3.5 and 15 months. We will be staying at the bahia principle resort as my parents have been there and the facilities for children are really good apparently.

Hope this helps, let me know if you have any more questions about moon palace.

RainbowTortoise · 28/06/2015 21:59

I forgot to day the turtles start nesting in June, so the turtle releases will not begin until beginning of August, possibly the end of July.

Also an amazing experience we had was swimming with whale sharks, you can also just watch them. Great if you want to see these gentle giants in their natural habitat. Older children would love this!

ihatethecold · 30/06/2015 12:53

when you say that you cant swim in the sea due to jellyfish, is that all along the mayan coast or just by the moon palace hotel?

Heels99 · 30/06/2015 14:01

We swam in the sea lots around tulum area never saw a jellyfish

ihatethecold · 30/06/2015 15:47

What time of year was that heels?

Heels99 · 30/06/2015 17:04

May-june

ihateminecraft · 31/07/2015 14:25

Anyone know what the dress code at Moon Palace in evenings? Can you get away with shorts or is it posher?!!

ihatethecold · 08/09/2015 12:10

Where did you go in the end Op?
I looking at Occidental Excaret for next july

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