When are you going? The Grand just opened and is not yet running at 100% . The honemoon "villages" at the Grand are secluded and will give you privacy. Right now, the few people who have been there are saying the beach right in front of the reosrt is a bit rocky. The beach at the rest of the IB Paraiso complex is great.

The Grand has a heated indoor/outdoor pool and other pools. They also have things like butler service, etc. It is a place for pampering. Here is a link to a trip report:

www.iberostar-board.com/boards/index.php…

Here is a link to some pictures:

www.iberostar-board.com/boards/index.php…

And here is a link to a map of the Grand:

www.iberostar-board.com/boards/index.php…

Going in June '07

I think I would choose the Royal. It gets great reviews here and also on Playa.info another great message board. It is adults only, on a great beach, and is just steps away from the town of Playa so you could go out and play each night!

The IB Grand is not fully up and running yet, and for that reason alone I would choose something else. I would rather go to a resort that has it's stuff together. I know the Grand is also really expensive.

By June the Grand will have been open for three months and should be functioning 100%. It depends on what you want. The Grand seems much more luxorious than the Royal (although the Royal is great). The Grand will have transportation into Playa del Carmen while if you stay at the Royal you are right there and can just walk down the street to shops and bars, etc. Grand may have more ocean view rooms, although looking at the map, I'm not sure the honeymoon villas will have ocean views.

You probably can't go wrong with either one. The Royal has great reviews and hopefully, when more people return from the Grand, we'll learn more.

Help im also stuck trying to decide between these two resorts. We are staying at Le Blanc for 1 week then want to stay our second week in a tranquil, spacious resort and just cant decide which one. We have previously stayed at Aventura spa, moon palace, secrets excellence (SERC)and want to find a resprt that encourporates all the good thing without the bad...can anyone compare these to the Grand or Royal. essential is a large landscaped resort with a wide sandy beach and calm clear water for snorkeling, Good gym facilities, Great choice of al la cart restaurants and BIG free form pools. Plus points would include in room licour dispensers, double sinks in bathroom, snacks in fridge, butler service, pillow menu, free golf, ability to use other resorts facillities near by, comfy padded sun loungers. Bad points would be having to book reservations for dinner (do you have to book days ahead or queue at a certain time to make reservations?), wrist bands!, kids allowed on resort beach/ restaurants. HELP!

Since this post was started, the Grand has been up and running and sound WONDERFUL!!!

Great food, fantastic service, pools and beach. The only thing I've heard that was slightly negative is you have to walk slightly to the right or left of the resort to get ocean access without rocks. For so much info on the Grand, go to this site and scroll down to the section on the Grand:\\

www.iberostar-board.com/boards/index.php

I have been to both and the Grand by far is a much nicer resort. Yes, you have to walk to the left about 50 yards to access the water without any rocks but other than that the Grand is the resort to pick. Take a look at these links when you have time.

www.judyandmariastravel.com/Default.aspx…

tripadvisor.com/Hotel_Review-g663501-d647536…

I am honeymooning in May and am also trying to decide between the Grand and Royal Playa. I am reading about how Royal is convenient and you can walk into town which sounds favorable. I thought a plus for Grand was that we were able to visit other Iberostar resorts....but I haven't seen too many comments on that. Anyone else that can help with our decision would certainly be welcome!

Hmoonbound,

Yes, the Royal is convenient to Playa del Carmen - it is IN Playa. If you plan to hang out in Playa, that would be the place to stay.

The Grand is an amazing resort, and you can do whatever you like at the other 4 Iberostar resorts in the complex (eat, swim, drink, hang out), but I'm not sure why anyone would want to, since the Grand is so incredible. The pool at the Lindo/Maya is beautiful, with a lazy river and wave pool, and if you stay at the Grand, you can walk next door and use it. The beauty of the Grand is that there are plenty of beach and pool chairs, and beds, and they are not crammed in. Everything is private and spacious. I would think the Grand is a perfect for a honeymoon - champagne and roses all of the way!

Just got back from the Royal yesterday.....AMAZING resort. The rooms are beautiful, the beach is great, the food was extraordinary and the service was impeccible. I cannot say enough about this resort. Everything was perfect from the moment we got there until the moment we left. I would very HIGHLY recommend this resort to anyone seeking a five star vacation.