Adults looking for more luxurious, upscale allinclusive options in Cancun and the surrounding area should check out TRS Coral Hotel, part of the brand new Grand Palladium Costa Mujeres resort complex located north of downtown Cancun.  TRS Coral is already a member of The Leading Hotels of the World which is quite rare for a new hotel.  The resort is comprised of three sections including the general Grand Palladium section, Family Selections section, and the TRS Coral Hotel (adults-only).  TRS guests can choose to spend their entire vacation in their adults-only section, or they can explore the entire Grand Palladium property.  While TRS guests have access to the entire resort, adult guests staying at the Grand Palladium section cannot access the TRS section.  Adults staying at the upgraded Family Selections section also have access to TRS Coral Hotel amenities including complimentary Chic shows. The current resort is just Phase 1 of construction, look for an even larger resort when it is fully completed.

Since I have already been to the Costa Mujeres area (I stayed at Riu Dunamar spring 2018), I knew the private shuttle from the airport to the resort would only take around 45 min. with minimal traffic–turns out it was a good guess since the ride took 40 min.  My husband and I were checked in immediately and each given a glass of sparkling wine along with a refreshing “towel” which was not quite a towel.  I’ve never seen anything like it during check-in so I took a picture of it–the staff added liquid to a small compartment which contained some sort of material which, upon absorption, was large enough to wipe one’s face and hands (instead of the requisite face towel).  Truth to tell, at first I didn’t know whether to drink it or what to do with it!!

We were escorted to our Loft Suite and told that our butler would be with us shortly to explain all room amenities so we got busy unpacking and waited for our official room introduction.  The Loft Suite was gorgeous with two floors, large spaces in which to move around and store our things, two mini-bars (one upstairs and one downstairs), wine fridge (a standard amenity at this resort, I believe), a full bathroom on the upper floor and a half bath on the main floor, large shower, and the roomiest balcony I’ve ever had at a resort.  We were given a wonderful view of the ocean and the TRS pool in Building 1 (I did not email in advance to request anything specific).

Meanwhile, we were still waiting for our butler to show up 90 minutes later.  We eventually went looking for him/her and ran into someone we thought might be “butlerish” having a chat with another guest.  While he was not the butler assigned to our room (it turns out our original butler had to go home early), he eventually gave us the room “tour” and a very good explanation of its amenities.  For you “techies”, the flat screens can be a marvel for smart phone syncing if you are comfortable with how that works.  Speaking for myself, I am lucky I can retrieve email and very fortunate I know the basics of how to post info to this blog, thank you very much, so we did not really use that feature.  Light feature wall buttons can be hand swept to turn off, and there are plenty of plugs around the entire space with which to recharge devices.  What I appreciated most was the wristband which was also used as a room key.

My husband and I decided to go to the main Grand Palladium buffet after our room introduction, and we were very pleasantly surprised at the variety and quality of food selection.  There were several live show cooking stations including freshly made pasta dishes and meats cooked to order along with different sections (Mexican, Asian, American, and Italian); side areas included fresh green and prepared salads, desserts, breads, and sushi selection.  We also ate at the buffet during several breakfast and lunch times and were impressed with the food every time we went.  The only buffet disappointment was a total lack of guacamole during any meal.  FYI, while restaurant greeters inquired about food allergies, there was no real follow-up by the waiters–a potential disaster in the making if one relies on the waiters to give suggestions based on one’s allergy.  My suggestion would be to write down your food allergy in Spanish, of course, and present it to your waiter to get an idea of what to avoid.  Palladium is supposed to have a dietary card program which allows you to present a card specific to your food allergies at every restaurant.  My husband’s food allergy is not specific to the typical ones, so he could not use this program.

TRS guests have the pleasure of an additional breakfast option (besides the main buffet) which I would heartily recommend.  Capricho is located adjacent to the TRS lobby and offers guests one menu with two possible general breakfast selections–a la carte breakfast items and items readily available in the small buffet which is near the restaurant entrance (the menu lists both, but the items are not designated as to whether they are a la carte or buffet).  My suggestion would be to take a look at what the small buffet has to offer prior to ordering any a la cartes; you will be surprised at the buffet choices including a variety of cheeses, meat carving station (I believe it is Serrano ham), breads/muffins/donuts, fruits, yogurt, cereals, and my personal favorite the made to order crepe station (I had strawberries and chocolate, yum).  I also ordered the Ranchero Eggs a la carte dish and it was an amazing and filling breakfast.

There are several other restaurants located on TRS grounds including La Boheme (french), Tapeo (Spanish tapas), Helios beachfront restaurant (Mediterranean a la carte for dinner and separate lunch menu), and El Gaucho steakhouse (located a floor up from Helios).  While TRS Coral guests don’t necessarily have to have a reservation at onsite dinner a la cartes, the wait time can be significant at peak dinner hours (we never got to eat at the french restaurant because of wait times exceeding an hour).  Don’t miss Tapeo, almost every small plate was delicious–we thought it was an underrated restaurant, while the best thing about lunch at Helios was the view.  I much preferred the poolside BBQ’s offered both at the TRS and Grand Palladium pools.  Typical TRS BBQ items included crab legs, ceviche salads, hamburgers, and ribs.  The paella at the Grand Palladium pool BBQ was also very good (paella was served on Sunday).  We also loved the buffet lunch at the Poseidon which was located at the other (north) end of the resort.

In addition to dining onsite at TRS, we also ate at Grand Palladium restaurants like Sumptuori (teppanyaki show table) and Portofino.  The teppanyaki at Sumptuori was very good as far as food quality but lacked somewhat in the overall typical presentation.  If you don’t like teppanyaki prepared foods, there is a sushi “conveyor belt” at Sumptuori which I’ve heard is very good.  FYI if you like having saké with your teppanyaki be sure to come a bit early and order it from the restaurant bar prior to being seated–the waiters will tell you you cannot get it if you order it at the show table (my husband ordered it just the night before while walking around the grounds but couldn’t get it at dinner the next day).  All resort guests can access the sports bar (open 24-hrs.) and its food offerings; there is a general buffet, popcorn machine, and ice cream machine in addition to a sit down menu which is very good.  The atmosphere in there can either be completely dead or pretty exciting depending on the sports venue being shown on the flat screens (be aware that children can access the sports bar and have been known to be in there rather late playing numerous games including foosball, pool, and at the XBox One stations).  Sports bar staff at times found it difficult to tune into specific American sports, so be sure to check in advance if there is something you are dying to watch.

TRS guests (and adult Family Selections guests) are also entitled to one complimentary Chic dinner/show–Grand Palladium adult guests pay around $100 p/person to get the same Chic experience.  This dinner/show consists of numerous singing and dancing performances all done while you are being served multiple course from a pre-set menu.  This is the only resort restaurant which actually paid attention to my husband’s food allergy–they provided him with another food option when appropriate. There is a pre-Chic “show” outside of the Chic dinner theater which is supposed to start around 7:30 p.m. with live music, dancers, and drinks; we arrived around 7:50 p.m. and had a drink and watched the enjoyable entertainment prior to entering the venue at around 8:15 p.m.  Overall I loved the show but the amount of food was never ending–unless you haven’t eaten for a week there is more food than you can comfortably handle, so choose wisely.

For those who enjoy an extensive selection of resort bars from which to choose, you will be a very happy vacationer at this Grand Palladium.  You cannot go far without experiencing a bar whether it’s in a lobby, restaurant, pool, outdoor theater, beach (there are several beach bars here), or strategically placed elsewhere around the resort.  My husband especially liked the fact he could enter any restaurant and order a drink from its bar without feeling like he had to eat there.  While servers are everywhere taking orders (including poolside and the beach), I found this service to be somewhat slow but could always walk up to the nearest bar and place the same order without much of a wait to get my drink.

Let’s move on to the pools.  While there are five resort pools (plus one water park area for young children), not all are meant to be used by all resort guests.  Here is a short list of the pools and their amenities:

(TRS Pool) Located in the TRS Coral Hotel section

• only for TRS and adult Family Selections guests
• heated
• swim-up bar (no in-pool bar seats), additional bar in back of the swim-up bar for those outside of the water
• poolside wait service
• padded loungers, shade umbrellas, multiple day beds (first come first served)
• towels available nearby
• lunch BBQ
• infrequent in-pool activities; aqua cycling is offered several times per week though.  I did not see any Palladium activities staff milling with guests on this side of the resort.
• recorded music, live music, and DJ offerings poolside.  Live music not as frequent as at the main Grand Palladium pool.  I was not a fan of this pool’s music–it was snooze worthy.
• no gradual entry
• no adjacent steps leading to the swim-up bar like there are at most other allinclusives.  In fact, there are not many entry/exit steps at this pool.  Many people use the pool shelving to get in/out.
• no foam party

(Grand Palladium Main Pool) Located in the Grand Palladium section.

• for use by all resort guests
• heated
• swim-up bar (no in-pool bar seats), additional bar in back of the swim-up bar for those outside of the water
• poolside wait service
• loungers, shade umbrellas, day beds (first come first served)
• towels available nearby
• lunch BBQ
• some in-pool/poolside activities including aqua cycling
• lots of live music during the afternoon–minimum of two rock and roll bands play during the week/weekend.  I liked the band which played on Sunday.
• Palladium activities staff roam around being friendly with guests and promoting activities
• one gradual entry
• no adjacent steps leading to the swim-up bar
• if there is a foam party here I missed it

(Family Selections Pool) This is a small pool located in the Family Selections section across from the spa

• for use by Family Selections and TRS guests
• heated
• no swim-up bar, but there is a nearby bar which also has an ice cream machine at the end of the bar top
• poolside wait service
• waterfall at the north end of the pool
• padded loungers and shade umbrellas
• towels available nearby
• adjacent restaurant “The Nest”
• no gradual entry

(Beach Pool) This is a small pool located beachfront next to the Family Selections guest room building

• for use by everyone at the resort
• heated
• no swim-up bar, but there is an adjacent bar facing the pool
• poolside wait service
• padded loungers and shade umbrellas
• towels available nearby
• quiet atmosphere

(PTC Pool)  This is the Palladium Travel Club pool for members only.  Located beachfront next to TRS Coral Hotel guest room building #2.  I don’t know much about this pool because non-Club members are not allowed access to the pool area.

• I would assume this pool is heated because it is for members.
• no swim-up bar.  It does have a bar facing the pool, however.
• poolside wait service
• padded loungers and shade umbrellas
• towels available nearby
• the only pool with a Jacuzzi.  This Jacuzzi is beachfront.

(Kids Water Park) While this isn’t officially a pool, it does get an honorable mention since small children may certainly think it feels like a pool to them!  Located next to the Grand Palladium main pool.

• offers lots of slides, emptying bucket, small fountains
• loungers and shade umbrellas

Now on to the beach.  While the sand is not as white and the water color is not as brilliantly turquoise as Cancun, this is a great stretch of coastline to put your toes in the sand or work on your tan.  Wave action is on the gentler side as long as the wind is not too strong.  This is the area’s biggest negative–the winds here can be gusty at times resulting in red flagged beaches and grounded water sports (definitely not as bad as the Hotel Zone in Cancun, though).  The resort itself has left the beach looking fairly natural with dunes and existing vegetation; I sat on the beach and walked extensively on the beach with no evidence of “no see ums”/biting bugs which was a definite plus.  Loungers were divided into several sections; while the TRS and PTC sections were easily identifiable (located on the southern side of the beach area), other sections were not.  There is supposed to be a separate section for Family Selections guests and another for Grand Palladium guests as well, but these areas did not appear to have clear signage.  There are two beach bars, one is for TRS guests while the other, I am assuming, is for the remainder of resort guests (I could be wrong about the second beach bar since I did not order from that one–if you know please inform me!!).  Water sports equipment is available including paddle boards, kayaks, and hobie cats (inquire at the building below Poseidon restaurant along the beach boardwalk), while Parasailing at an extra cost is available on the south end of the resort just in front of Secrets Playa Mujeres.  There was a volleyball net set up towards the southern end of the beach and soccer goal nets to the north.

If you’re looking for a non-stop party scene, this is definitely not your resort.  Neither is this resort for singles looking to meet other singles. Sure, there are opportunities for fun but this Grand Palladium doesn’t have as many general entertainment options as I’ve experienced at other resorts.  There were not as many poolside fun times–no pool volleyball or crazy games, trivia, etc., which added to the calmer atmosphere (I only heard one announcement for bingo at the main pool).  Here is a short list of what I experienced if you’re looking to have some fun:

• outdoor theater which has various shows every evening (don’t miss the Rock ‘n Roll show, it was outstanding!)  Listening to live music and dancing follows at the adjacent area–look for the giant LOVE sign in the Village resort section near the church.
• I already previously mentioned Chic dinner/show
• Gravity Sky Lounge bar a floor above El Gaucho a la carte for after dinner drinks and DJ until 2 a.m. (for TRS/adult Family Selections guests)
• live music at the main GP pool in the afternoons
• games at the sports bar (open 24-hrs.)
• this resort just finished its tennis center, so tennis enthusiasts should be ecstatic!  Lessons are an extra cost.

If you want to really Zen out, visit Zentropia spa.  The hydrotherapy circuit is complimentary for TRS and adult Family Selections guests.  Although I’m not typically a spa person, I tried the hydrotherapy circuit on one occasion and it was an interesting experience.  I can’t say it was a calming experience since the spa was filled with people (it was a rainy day), but some of the pools and rooms were interesting, especially the Ice Room and the Salt Room.  The rooftop infinity pool was very pleasant and I even had the staff make me a banana smoothie at the Habits Health Bar–yummy!

While this was a large resort, my husband and I (both within our 60’s) walked everywhere without the aid of the golf carts or electric boats which were available to take guests around the entire resort.  If you want to take a golf cart you can request one from the TRS lobby or hope to catch one at one of the guest room buildings (also try calling from your room to request one), while the boats have docks at numerous places around the resort.  You just have to wait for one.

Here’s what my husband and I loved most about staying at TRS Coral Hotel:

• overall friendliness of the staff
• overall food quality
• many restaurants and bars to choose from
• beautiful contemporary decor
• extra large Loft Suite balcony with its double Jacuzzi and double day bed
• no resort cards to keep track of
• lively music at the GP main pool
• daily poolside BBQ’s

Here’s what we didn’t like:

• butler service inconsistency–some are really good, some are not yet well trained
• bottles of complimentary liquor should already be in the suite upon arrival (I’ve noticed that the website now has an “ebutler” service which allows guests to request services ahead of arrival–great idea!!)
• not being able to switch out one of the complimentary bottles of alcohol for a bottle of house wine.  This did not make sense to us since a bottle of house white is cheaper than a bottle of alcohol.
• some areas of the resort are poorly lit at night; this is particularly bothersome where there are steps involved.
• slow draining shower in our suite
• while the mini-bar wasn’t restocked until day four of our vacation, I’ve read that this amenity has improved since our visit.

Would I recommend this resort?  Absolutely!  Would I return to this resort? Only if I got a fantastic deal which I’m assuming will be unlikely since this resort is a member of LHW–I am anticipating that future rates would be out of my financial comfort zone.  Those who don’t have a smart phone which has a built-in “flashlight” feature should consider bringing a small flashlight from home to prevent accidents in poorly-lit walking areas.

Take a moment or two and enjoy the photo gallery below–just click on any of the thumbnails to get a larger view of the picture.

The comments in this review are those of the author/reviewer.  This trip was paid for in its entirety by the author; at no time were any monies or services exchanged for this review.

Location:  40 min. north of the Cancun airport

Telephone:  52-998-868-5200

email:  info.costamujeres@palladiumhotelgroup.com, room requests for TRS Coral Hotel is recepcion.coral@trshotels.com