Sun Palace, a member of the Palace Resorts family, is situated at the bottom of the “7” in Cancun’s Hotel Zone.  With only 252 guest rooms, it is a smaller resort with clean, contemporary lines and furnishings.  With its use of neutral colors and minimalist design, it lacks the “wow” factor that many other luxury Cancun resorts have.  Although there isn’t much of a tropical or Mexican ambiance, don’t let that fool you.  The Sun Palace has a loyal guest following who return not only year after year, but sometimes several times a year to take advantage of the wonderful amenities this resort has to offer.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Amenities which are particularly appealing include the three outdoor infinity pools and the fabulous beach.  All three pools are on the small side, but the lengthy infinity edge on each gives guests plenty of room to gaze out at the sparkling turquoise Caribbean Sea.  The main pool has a swim-up bar, while all three sundeck areas have loungers and the occasional shade umbrella.  There is a small fourth pool flanked by a Jacuzzi (non-heated) behind the main pool; this pool is situated under an overhang just in case inclement weather tries to cancel the party.

A short ramp or flight of stairs below the pools leads to the wide and lengthy white sand beach.  Double and single padded loungers are available along with shade umbrellas which staff will happily set up when needed.  A big plus is the ability to have lunch on the beach–wait staff come by frequently to take drink and food orders.  Ocean entry is relatively free of rocks which makes water shoes unnecessary; however, the strong undertow common along this Hotel Zone stretch of beach creates a bit of a sand ledge at the shoreline.

When guests are finished with outdoor activities, they can relax in a double Jacuzzi in the privacy of their own room.  Depending on room category, these Jacuzzis are situated either close to the bathroom or the balcony (Presidential Suites offer a balcony Jacuzzi as well).  All guest rooms have an espresso maker, mini-bar, and liquor dispensers with rum, tequila, whiskey, and vodka.  Some guests may not like the bathroom’s “open concept”–two mirrors above the double vessel sinks are all that separate the bathroom from the bedroom area.  Since this is a couples-only resort, most guests are not too bothered by the concept.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This is a quiet resort which tries to foster romance and togetherness.  There are large quantities of double loungers, candlelit beach dinners can be had without breaking the bank, and in-room double Jacuzzis are all part of this master plan.  As a result, there aren’t as many evening activities at Sun Palace as there are at other all-inclusive resorts.  Guests are able to enjoy casino night, karaoke, and the beach fire show, while the local bus (which stops on the street in front of the resort) will take guests to Plaza Forum for nighttime fun for USD $1.

Guests of Sun Palace are free to visit Beach Palace, Cozumel Palace, Isla Mujeres Palace, Moon Palace, and Playacar Palace.  Those who wish to visit Le Blanc must purchase a day pass.  There is a complimentary shuttle from Sun Palace to Moon Palace–guests need to sign up for this service.  In regards to the other Palace resorts, guests are responsible for their own transportation to/from these locations.  Traveling from Sun Palace to Beach Palace is easy via local bus–it only costs USD $1.

Palace Resorts is continuing to offer resort credits from USD $500 to $1,500, depending on length of stay.  These credits can be applied towards tours, golfing at Moon Palace, spa treatments, and certain items bought at the resort’s stores.  Credits can no longer be used for room upgrades; unused credits can now be saved and applied towards the next Palace Resort vacation or “gifted” to friends/family for their future Palace Resort vacation.  Resort credit usage is subject to 16% tax of the item’s purchase price, so this means using resort credits typically amounts to an out-of-pocket expense.

Type of Resort:  Couples-only

Pro:  Stay at one play at six, beach, no dining reservations, free WiFi, small covered pool

Con:  Small pools, open bathroom area, some areas need cosmetic refurbishment

Best Suited For:  Couples in age range from 28-65

No. of Rooms:  252

Room Amenities:  King bed, A/C, balcony/terrace, in-room dbl Jacuzzi, liquor dispenser and welcome bottle of red wine, mini-bar, in-room safe, flat screen TV, two telephones (complimentary long-distance calls to the USA and Canada), alarm clock, espresso coffee maker, iron/ironing board, robe and slippers, hair dryer, CHI hair straightener, dbl vessel sinks, shower, toiletries, 24-hr. room service, and free WiFi.  Here is a brief rundown of guest room categories:

• Deluxe Resort View:  Jacuzzi is near the bathroom.  Views are limited and could be partially obstructed.
• Superior Deluxe Ocean View:  Jacuzzi is near the bathroom.
• Jr. Suite Ocean View:  Sunken sitting room area with Jacuzzi, table and two chairs.
• Grand Level:  Sunken sitting room area with Jacuzzi, table and two chairs, upgraded liquor dispenser, upgraded toiletries, in-room snacks, special room service menu with select restaurant items.
• Concierge Level:  Sunken sitting room area with Jacuzzi, table and two chairs, larger balcony with a dbl lounger, table and two chairs, and the following amenities:  private check-in/out, exclusive concierge service, special room service menu with select restaurant items, upgraded liquor dispenser, upgraded toiletries, CD/DVD player, iPod dock, beach bag, two 25-min. back massages, candlelit beach dinner, nightly petit fours, and aromatherapy.
• One Bedroom Presidential Suite:  Located on floors 1-5 with lagoon or ocean view.  Includes separate living room, dining area with table and chairs, and balcony Jacuzzi.  These rooms are typically given to Palace Resort members.

Physically Challenged Rooms:  Available

Resort Amenities:  Three outdoor infinity pools (main pool with swim-up bar), one covered pool with Jacuzzi, spa, sauna, steam room, beauty salon, fitness center, pool and beach wait service, business center, concierge, tour desk, gift shop, jewelry shop, car rental, and ATM.

Restaurants/Bars:  There is one restaurant which serves a breakfast/lunch buffet and also serves as a Mexican a la carte for dinner (El Alamo), and three additional a la cartes including Italian (La Tratto), Thai (Oriental Lounge–includes a sushi bar but no teppanyaki show tables), and a steakhouse (The Steak); reservations are not required.  There are two snack areas–snacks and sandwiches are available in the lobby bar area from 5-7 p.m. along with “tea time”, while coffee, tea, and pastries are available 24-hrs. a day.  The second snack area is the poolside snack bar which delivers light fare during the hours of 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.  Those leaving early for excursions will be excited to know the resort serves an early continental breakfast along with lunch boxes to go.  There are three bars including the swim-up bar in the main pool, the pool bar, and the lobby bar.

Entertainment:  Live music in the lobby bar including karaoke, casino games, beach fire show.

Website:  http://www.palaceresorts.com/sunpalace/en/home