Every year my girlfriends and I plan a long weekend getaway to reconnect and a take a much needed break from our adult lives. This year we decided to visit the Riviera Maya, Mexico.

Our group fell in love with the Grand Palladium Riviera Maya for all it had to offer. Multiple pools, nine specialty restaurants, just as many buffets and bars, daily activities, and connecting rooms. The Grand Palladium is made up of 4 resorts in one: Kantenah, Colonial, White Sands, and TRS (adult only area). We selected the Colonial resort for their villas with junior suite connecting rooms.

Colonial and Kantenah are laid out similarly and share one centralized area for lobbies, restaurants and bars. The villas surround the left and right sides of this centralized area with Kantenah on the left and Colonial on the right. Both have the same accommodations with different color schemes; deluxe, junior suites, romance villa suites, and ambassador suites. It is important to note that these villas do not have elevators.

We were within perfect walking distance to the beach, pool, and central dining area. The whole resort had covered walkways to protect from the sun and rain and also had bridge “shortcuts” that led right into the resort. It was a perfect layout.

The service was great throughout the resort. We never waited for a table for any meal. The bartenders were attentive and a great time. Guest Services was more than happy to make recommendations and secure dinner reservations at the Teppanyaki restaurant. Golf cart transfers to the other resorts were simple and quick.

The three resorts (TRS is adults only and is not open to the guests in the three resorts, but TRS guests can visit the three Grand Palladium resorts) had multiple pools. Colonial and Kantenah shared a large pool area with a swim up bar, dining, in pool loungers, and more sun chairs than I could count. White sands had an even larger pool with the same amenities. We checked out both pools while there and never had any issues finding six chairs together with ample sun and shade. Each resort also had its own smaller more quiet pools and an adults only pool.

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There was plenty of activities going on at the resort throughout the day. There was always some sort of fitness class in and out of the pool area. We joined a spin class and a dancing class. The resort also had a variety of other activities like tequila tasting, ping pong, shuffleboard, mini golf…..the list goes on and on. White Sands has a boat ride that you could take that followed the river that outlines the resort. It is a fun way to see the resort.

The food options were endless. There were multiple buffets to choose from for each meal and nine speciality restaurants for dinner. The buffets had mexican food at every meal. I had tostadas for breakfast each day. Specialty coffees, mimosas, and bloody mary bar were also enjoyed by the group.

For dinner we checked out Sumptuori- Japanese cuisine, Bahia E Brasa- Brazilian cuisine, and Chang Thai- Asian Cuisine. We enjoyed the experience at all three restaurants. I loved eating all the passion fruit desserts.

Overall, the six of us had a great time. We relaxed, drank, ate, swam, and had plenty of time to recharge our batteries. If you and your friends talk about doing a trip together, now is the time to book something. Don’t put it off. Time with friends is a must for your health and well being.