Grand Sirenis Riviera Maya Resort and Spa, located several miles north of Akumal, is actually part of the Grand Sirenis resort complex consisting of this resort and its sister resort, Grand Sirenis Mayan Beach Hotel and Spa.  Both have full exchange privileges with one another.  Although it’s not marketed as a mega-resort, it is a large property with approximately 1,000 guest rooms, four pools, eight a la cartes, a sports court, tennis courts, archery range, spa, fitness center, dolphinarium, and an on-site disco.  Have no fear, there is a resort shuttle service available for those who may not wish to walk around the beautiful but vast grounds.  The resort complex is not far from the highway (it’s approximately a ten minute walk from the lobby) which provides great accessibility for guests wishing to take the inexpensive colectivo to cities along the Riviera Maya beachfront, including Akumal, Tulum, or Playa del Carmen.

Those who like futuristic, minimalist contemporary design will enjoy the overall look of the resort.  There are lots of clean, simple lines with a Mayan-inspired flair, such as the angled guest room buildings.  Both Grand Sirenis lobbies are cavernous with very high ceilings, glass paned wall, modern furniture, and sculpture pieces.  The lobbies are located in the same general vicinity at the resort and are connected via a walkway generated from the lobby bars.

Spacious guest rooms also have a contemporary feel with their unique entertainment center, simple furniture pieces, and trapezoid window with frosted glass between the bedroom and bathroom areas.  Although a unique room feature, it may pose a privacy issue for families traveling with older children or friends traveling together.  Bathrooms routinely include a Jacuzzi tub and separate jetted shower.  While vacation club/timeshare owners have access to all room types, those who don’t own a piece of Sirenis Resorts only have access to the standard Jr. Suites; guests may upgrade at the resort for a price if there is availability.

The Grand Sirenis resort is situated around a series of protected coves with the reef approximately 20 yards offshore which makes this a great location for snorkelers.  Guests can see fish, squid, turtles, and even rays and barracudas, especially if venturing a little further out.  Snorkeling equipment use is complimentary; however, guests are only allowed to use the resort’s equipment for one hour per day–bring your own gear for unlimited fun.  Although a good location for snorkeling, it isn’t as great a location for ocean swimmers or those who enjoy long beach walks.  This is a rocky section of coastline; getting into the water is a challenge in certain sections, so be sure to bring your water shoes.  Although all guests may enjoy the beach bar, the roped-off section with the cabanas is for vacation club/timeshare owners.  Be sure to see the small Mayan ruin which sits at the edge of the cove right at waters’ edge–it’s a popular background for wedding photos.

Pool lovers will enjoy this Sirenis complex since it has a total of five pools.  The Riviera Maya side has a main pool with double-sided swim-up bar, and a separate “quiet” pool which is situated between both resorts (part of the lazy river is not too far away from the quiet pool, but most of it winds its way onto the sister resort’s grounds).  The Kid’s Club has its own shallow children’s pool with accompanying splash fountain; both kids and parents will enjoy the smoothie bar which lies between the children’s pool and the quiet pool.

Those who can’t live without spa treatments while on vacation may want to stay on this side of the resort since the spa is located on the far north corner of the resort complex.  It is a distance from most amenities and guest rooms, so be prepared to take a shuttle.  Besides offering the traditional massage and facial treatment rooms, the spa offers a Temazcal area (basically a steam bath in a round hut), a hydrotherapy circuit, Turkish baths, sauna, an outdoor pool area with currents, waterfalls, and cervical jets. Those who book spa treatments are entitled to lunch at the spa restaurant.

The Grand Sirenis complex recently introduced several walking paths–the coastal trail, jungle/scrub trail, jungle/mangrove trail, and the pre-existing nursery trail.  For additional opportunities to explore the resort, there is a bicycle tour as well.  Guests looking for more on-site activities may want to check out the new dolphinarium; there is one daily performance free of charge, while interacting with the dolphins is an extra charge.

Those wishing to know more information about the Grand Sirenis complex can visit the following web site:  www.grand-sirenis.com (go to the forum section for Q and A).  The primary Grand Sirenis web site is a decent introduction to the resort but may not be detailed enough for those wanting more specific information.

This resort complex often has reduced rates which makes it a bargain given all its amenities, so look around prior to booking for the best deal.

NOTE:  This write-up is primarily for amenities at the Grand Sirenis Riviera Maya Resort and Spa; visit the Grand Sirenis Mayan Beach Hotel and Spa page for specifics on that resort’s on-site amenities.

Type of Resort:  Family-friendly

Pro:  Snorkeling off the beach, lazy river

Con:  Rocky shoreline, ocean swimming, WiFi $, in-room safe $

Best Suited For:  Families with children ages 4-8

No. of Rooms:  408 Jr. Suites, extra suites for Sirenis Resorts vacation club/timeshare owners

Room Amenities:  King or two dbl beds, A/C, balcony/terrace, mini-bar, in-room safe, TV, sofa bed, armchair, desk and chair, ceiling fan, two telephones, coffee maker, radio alarm clock, iron/ironing board, robe and slippers, hair dryer, jetted shower, Jacuzzi tub, and toiletries.  Room service is from 11 a.m. until 11 p.m.  WiFi is an additional charge (per device); in-room signal tends to be weak while the strongest signal occurs in the lobby.  The Jr. Suite is the only room type available to those who don’t own a Sirenis Resort timeshare.

• Jr. Suite:  King or two dbl beds
• Jr. Suite Partial Ocean View:  King or two dbl beds

Physically Challenged Rooms:  Available

Resort Amenities:  Main pool (with swim-up bar), “quiet” pool, children’s beachfront pool, spa, beauty salon, fitness center, sports court, tennis courts, archery range, dolphinarium, theater, Kid’s Club (ages 4-12), playground, smoothie bar, pool and beach wait service, resort shuttle, guest room building concierge, tour desk, car rental, and ATM.  (See Grand Sirenis Maya Beach Hotel and Spa for a list of amenities on the other side of the resort).

Restaurants/Bars:  There are two buffet restaurants, one adjacent to each lobby area; six a la cartes are grouped together midway between the two resorts.  A la cartes include Mexican (El Patio), Italian (Cinecitta), Brazilian (La Gira Rodizio), Japanese (Ikebana–teppanyaki show tables), and Mediterranean (Las Barcas).  The French a la carte, Le Relais Gourmand (age 12+), is an additional cost and not part of the all-inclusive package.  The only a la carte directly on-site is the steakhouse (El Rancho), while the Cajon/Creole a la carte (Bayou) is over at the sister resort.  There is a limit to the number of a la cartes–three for every seven nights stay at the resort.  Reservations can be made upon arrival with your guest room building concierge.  Other meal/snack options include a daily beach BBQ, lunch at the spa restaurant only for those guests receiving spa treatments, snacks by the beach bar during the day and by the lobby at night.  Bars include the lobby bar, swim-up bar, beach bar, theater bar, and the smoothie bar.

Entertainment:  The theater hosts nightly shows, while live music occurs both at the lobby and on the beach.  The disco over at the sister resort stays open until 2 a.m.

Website:  http://www.sirenishotels.com/en/info/hotel/grand_sirenis_riviera_maya_resort_spa/