All You Need to Know About Grand Fiesta Americana Coral Beach

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Grand Fiesta Americana Coral Beach Cancun, located on Cancun’s finest stretch of private beach, offers the best of both worlds, with award-winning luxury that transports the soul to pure relaxation while also stimulating the senses with its proximity to the area’s vibrant culture and entertainment. All of their suites have ocean views and are equipped with the highest level of service. They are located on a secluded beautiful white-sand beach with spectacular views of the Caribbean Sea in all of its colors. Boasting an award winning spa and an AAA Five Diamond restaurant, it’s easy to see why Grand Fiesta American Coral Beach is a guest favorite.

This resort is just steps away from Cancun’s exciting nightlife, entertainment, and luxury shopping, as well as the high-speed ferry to the colorful and gorgeous Isla Mujeres. Cultural excursions to local Mayan historical sites such as Tulum and Chichen Itzá, the Xcaret amusement park, world-class diving at the Great Mesoamerican Reef, and a boat ride to Cozumel are also conveniently accessible.

I’ve had the pleasure of spending two vacations at this resort. The first one was with just a friend and the most recent one (May 2021) was with my kids, aunt, cousins and some friends. Whether you’re traveling with just adults or as a family, there is truly something for everyone at this resort.

ACCOMMODATIONS

While this resort offers oceanview and oceanfront rooms, there’s not a bad seat in the house, so to speak. I’ve stayed in both types and honestly, the view looked very much the same from both. I wouldn’t spend much extra to get an “oceanfront” room. There are two levels of service here. You have your regular oceanview, oceanfront and two bedroom friends and family suites and then you have Infinite level rooms ranging from oceanview to a four bedroom penthouse. Check out my other post where I go into more detail on what extra perks you’ll receive when you book an Infinite Level room.

As a guest of Grand Fiesta Americana Coral Beach, you are entitled to the following inclusions with the price of your vacation.

Well-appointed and spacious ocean view or ocean front suite accommodations
All meals plus theme parties
High-end and casual delectable snack experiences throughout the resort.
Premium a la carte restaurants for the AAA Five Diamond Award Le Basilic a surcharge of 1000.00 pesos p/p applies
Unlimited beverages including, but not limited to, soft drinks, juice and domestic and imported beer, wine and spirits (alcohol severed from 11:00 AM until 03:00 AM)
Minibar with water, soda, beer, and snacks (restocked daily)
24-hour in suite dinning
Beach and poolside wait staff for beverages and full meals
Non-motorized sports
Afternoon sport and fitness activities
Daily entertainment experiences and activities throughout the resort
Access the State-of-the-Art fitness center with breathtaking views of the Caribbean Sea
Access to interactive Coral KidZ Club Cancun (evening use with surcharge)
Reliable WiFi throughout the resort and beach
Bathrobe and slippers in Suite
Nightly turn down service upon request
All applicable taxes, fees, and tips

I will add that while this does say tips are included, it is very much appreciated by the staff if you do offer tips. I have found only Sandals Resorts staff as the only ones where tipping is prohibited and staff will actually return your money. That being said, here is what I recommend as far as tipping:

Bellman/Porter $1 per bag
Maid $3 to $5 per day
Minibar Restock $2 per day
Room Service $2-$3 per delivery
Beach/Pool Butlers $1 per drink/food delivery
Beach Chair/Umbrella Set Up $3-$5
Wait Staff $5-$10 per table

Again, this is completely optional but VERY appreciated. When we tipped, you could tell how sincere the staff were in their thanks. COVID-19 hit these areas hard and the resorts were shut down for a long time.

ACTIVITIES

Gem Spa: The 40,000-square-foot Gem Spa features a dramatic 90-minute 10-step hydrotherapy routine, new treatments inspired by gemstone therapy, and a gorgeous sophisticated design. The dynamic design, which includes 26 treatment rooms, incorporates rich woods, dazzling Italian mosaics, sand marble, and vast water elements that flow over black granite.

Beach and Pool. On Cancun’s most exclusive beach, seemingly endless stretches of sand embrace the Caribbean. The large swimming pool is surrounded by swaying trees and includes three palapa-covered swim-up bars. The center area of the pool is what I consider the “activity” pool. It has music during the day and some fun entertainment. The areas on either side of that are more the “quiet” areas.

Coral Kidz Club. The newly designed Coral KidZ Club (40,000 sq. ft.) provides a variety of exciting activities for families traveling with children. Designed for children aged 3 to 12, it cranks up the dial on pretend play and takes the playground concept to new heights. Interior spaces feature customized technology and custom, hand-painted artwork, as well as uniquely planned zones for various age groups. A Mayan-themed playground with a “sprayground,” a kiddie pool, water slides, and a sandpit can be found in the outdoor zone.

Fitness Center. A state-of-the-art fitness center is specially designed to allow all the guests, spectacular views of
the ocean while exercising. Also featuring private changing areas with showers.

The Coral Beach Marina. Located directly in front of the resort, the marina provides guests with a one-stop shop for fun, including access to boat and coach tours of the nearby islands and attractions. The marina offers everything from waverunners, parasailing, paddle boards, and kayaks to snorkeling, scuba diving, and more. The marina can make arrangements for guests to enjoy their beach vacation to the fullest. We took advantage of our included jetski passes as Infinite Guests and had a blast.

DINING

Vina Del Mar: From the white-and-gold design to the exquisite menu selection of foreign and Mexican cuisine, everything about Via del Mar is stunning. From the outdoor terrace or the stunning bi-level inside dining area, diners can enjoy amazing views of the Caribbean. The setting takes on a dramatic tone at night, when famous sopranos and tenors’ beautiful operatic voices bring bel canto to life and convert dinner into an amazing event. Vina Del Mar is the resort’s buffet restaurant. It currently rotates from international cuisine to steak every other day. Dress Code: Smart Casual
Hours: 6:30 AM to 12:00 Noon daily / 6:00 PM to 10:00 PM

Coral Cafe: Coral Café is a European-style patisserie and bistro that serves coffee, as well as a variety of hot and cold drinks and a tantalizing assortment of sweet desserts. Light lunch and informal dinner meals are also available on the savory side. Each morning they have out some breakfast favorites like eggs, potatoes, sausage, bacon, cereals to sit down and eat or for grab and go. In the afternoon and evenings, you’ll find pre-wrapped mini sandwiches which make for convenient snacks between meals or to toss into your beach bag as you head to the pool. There’s an ice cream machine with all the “fixins” as well. Inside you’ll find a center table with boxes of cookies, candies and pastries available. The best part is inside in the “case”. You’ll see a wide variety of sandwiches, salads and desserts available. My personal favorite is the opera cake. I may or may not have had a piece of this nightly. My kids loved the cupcakes and chocolate bombs.
Dress Code: Smart Casual
Hours: 7:30 AM to 10:30 PM daily

Bikini Beach and Pool Bar A casual spot that serves drinks and tasty light bites poolside. You can also order from this menu from the beach butlers. I ordered these amazing tacos. My kids were fans of the pizza, hotdogs and french fries. My aunt got an amazing salad she raved about. I wondered how you could get excited over a salad, but she managed it. We also got little cups of cashews as snacks from the bar if it was before they started their lunch service.
Dress Code: Casual
Hours: 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM daily

Isla Contoy: This casual beachside restaurant offers fresh seafood and Mexican classics, as well as spectacular seaside views and is shaded by a huge palapa. If you’re not quite as cultured as some (like us – being from WV), you may be in for a shock when you order the “whole fish”. Because I’ll be damned if they didn’t bring out a whole fried fish — eyeballs and all. This look on my cousin’s face says it all. I did enjoy my dishes though!

This view makes the whole fish fiasco better though!

Havanna Club This Argentinian Grill & Latin Lounge is Coral Beach’s hottest new after dark destination, serving the finest cuts of beef from Argentina and Brazil, a selection of authentic tapas options, and Latin American favorites like Empanadas and Black Bean Soup, along with Salsa lessons and live Tango shows. The Club morphs into a fiery Latin Lounge with a DJ, dancing, and live entertainment after supper until 1:00 a.m.

Tuscany Trattoria & Terrace Tuscan paintings and antiques adorn the walls leading to a traditional Trattoria ambiance in Tuscany that is ideal for any dining occasion. The menu is a celebration of classic Italian cuisine, offering perennial favorites such as smoked beef carpaccio and caprese salad, a selection of delectable ‘Primi’s’ such as risottos and fresh pastas, and classic savory ‘Secondi’s’ such as Braised Veal Ossco Bucco. The Terrace’s, located just outside the Trattoria, serves all of the classic Italian favorites in a more relaxed setting. Guests can order individual or family-size pizzas, handcrafted pastas, and Chicken Parmigiana without making a reservation, as well as the Trattoria’s cuisine. This was probably one of our favorite meals during our trip. Everyone loved what they ordered. We also enjoyed live music during our dinner.
Dress Code: Smart Casual (RESERVATIONS ARE REQUIRED FOR THE TRATTORIA).

La Joya La Joya, offers an authentic taste of Mexico and serves award-winning, upscale Mexican food in a welcoming and beautiful setting that honors the country’s traditions and people. A real 10-piece Mariachi band performs weekly, coupled with traditional singing and tequila tastings, to offer a lively, immersive cultural experience. We really enjoyed our dining experience here — even the kids — and that’s saying something for the picky eaters in our group!
Dress Code: Casual Elegant (reservations required)
Hours: 6:00 PM to 10:00 PM daily Tuesday through Sunday

Le Basilic Le Basilic, one of only a few restaurants in Mexico to be awarded AAA Five Diamonds, serves a French-Mediterranean food under the direction of Paris-based Chef Henri Charvet, who also bears the title of Maître Cuisine de France. Chef Charvet combines the freshness of local ingredients with French cooking methods. Guests’ dining experiences are filmed in real time by a local Mexican artist who has “art to come alive” against a live piano accompaniment. I have not had the pleasure of dining here yet but have heard that it is phenomenal. (With surcharge unless chosen from the Infinite Experiences Menu)
Dress Code: Smart Elegant (reservations required)
Hours: 6:00 PM to 10:00 PM Monday through Saturday

The Table This cutting-edge culinary experience takes diners on a 360º interactive culinary journey through Mexico’s history. The twelve-course dinner with pairings is served on custom-built tables with vivid film showing the country’s fascinating heritage, as well as narration and music to enhance the multi-sensory gourmet experience. This experience is currently unavailable as it is under construction as I was informed in May 2021. (With surcharge unless chosen from the Infinite Experiences Menu)
Dress Code: Smart Elegant

Sports Lounge Guests can keep up with their favorite teams and catch major events while enjoying an international open bar, snacks, and stadium-inspired finger food.

Tequila Bar at La Joya While listening to traditional Mexican music, experience a cultural immersion while sipping the greatest tequilas, Margaritas, and locally brewed beer.
Dress Code: Casual
Hours: 6:00 PM to 11:00 PM

Dinner Shows These are not posted on their website currently, but during our recent visit, we had the opportunity to book reservations for one of two shows — one offered on Friday night and one offered on Saturday night. They are available for a surcharge of $25 per person with children under 12 admitted for free. We did the Saturday night show called Coral Fire. It featured performers using the four elements (earth, air, fire and water) for the show as well as a plated dinner and open bar.