LEANING IN
Grand Residences Riviera Cancun emerges from the pandemic as the flagship resort for Wyndham's Registry Collection Hotels. Written by Bridget Williams / Photography by Shelby Bourne Technology is both a bane and boon when traveling with children. While I can fully appreciate its usefulness during long flights or car rides, I am dismayed when I see both children and adults mindlessly scrolling rather than being present in the moment while vacationing. So it was a striking absence of screen fixation that struck me while strolling the grounds at Grand Residences Riviera Cancun. With the resort ideally positioned to face the east, sleepy-eyed guests filed onto their balcony or the beachfront each morning for a front-row seat to the sunrise. By mid-morning, children lined up outside the activity center. Anticipating the arrival of their favorite staff members, they bounced with the same enthusiasm as though Santa and his elves were on their way. Staff reciprocates this eagerness in spades, as I discovered while watching an energetic instructor leading a morning poolside Zumba class. Although only one guest opted in, the instructor was strutting his stuff with the energy of opening night on Broadway. Overall, there's an aura of relaxed energy; by afternoon, many of the youngsters I spied in the morning were napping under the shade of a poolside cabana, worn out from a full day of fun. 58 slmag.net
Thoughtful service begins upon arrival as all guests receive complimentary private transportation to the resort from the airport in Cancun. During the 30-minute trip, our driver asked what we'd like for a welcome drink—it was a spicy margarita for me! The 144 all-suite Grand Residences Riviera Cancun, a flagship resort for Wyndham's Registry Collection Hotels, is located at the terminus of a long stretch of roadway lined with resorts near the sleepy fishing area village of Puerto Morelos. With accommodations ranging in size from a 635 square-foot junior suite up to an 8,762 square-foot penthouse presidential suite, the resort is an ideal destination for family and group travel. At nearly 1,800-square-feet, our well-appointed onebedroom oceanfront room boasted a fully equipped kitchen and large dining area. Walking past his and her closets and into the full bath, I was quick to note the Bulgari toiletries and an indoor soaking tub located under a gilded dome ceiling that could have doubled as a kiddie pool. A furnished balcony with a jacuzzi runs the suite's length and is accessible from the bedroom or living area. Suites located on the ground floor are notable for their private plunge pools.
