Barefoot Luxury in a Beautiful Beachfront Setting
Grand Residences, the latest luxury beachfront property developed by Royal Resorts opened on December 7. Affiliated with The Leading Hotels of the World®, Grand Residences sets new standards of vacation comfort and style in the Mexican Caribbean. Nestled on one of the world’s finest beaches, it is a short stroll to the south of the picturesque fishing village of Puerto Morelos in Riviera Cancun and is ideally situated for visitors who want the best of both worlds: to relax in an oasis of barefoot luxury and gracious living and yet still be close to Cancún and the Riviera Maya.
Mexican Inspiration in a Spectacular Location
Inspired by the classic Mexican hacienda or estate house, Grand Residences is an exclusive vacation hideaway in a breathtaking natural setting. It is surrounded by tropical gardens full of native trees and shrubs, including two varieties of protected mangroves, and has incredible views of the white-sand beach and the turquoise waters of the Caribbean. A coral reef that is part of the Mesoamerican Reef, the world’s second longest, lies offshore, and a wetland and jungle nature reserve teeming with wildlife is behind the property. A full-service marina is close by, and for shopping, dining and nightlife Cancún and Playa del Carmen are just 20 minutes away. Championship golf courses, nature parks, more beaches, snorkeling spots and the famous archaeological sites of the Riviera Maya and the Yucatán are also easily accessible.
Incredibly Spacious Vacation Homes
Grand Residences offers spacious and luxurious ocean-view or beachfront residences with two, three or four bedrooms. They all have a gourmet kitchen, extensive living and dining area, large master bedrooms and bathrooms and guest bedrooms that are Jr. Suites with their own kitchenette, terrace and separate entrance. The three and four-bedroom suites are perfect for larger gatherings of family and friends.
All the units have spectacular views of the ocean or the beach and feature Jacuzzis, extensive terraces or balconies for open-air living and every comfort, including signature bedding with 300 thread linens, Bulgari® bath goodies, high speed Wi-Fi, 47” LED-1080p-HDTV, BluRay® DVD players, a laundry center and espresso coffee machines, among other amenities.
Deluxe one-bedroom Suites for four people and Jr. Suites for two are also available for an unforgettable vacation. The one-bedroom Suites have the kitchen, living/dining area, bedroom and bathroom, laundry center and a terrace. The Jr. Suites have a spacious bedroom with a seating area, full bathroom, a kitchenette and their own private terrace.
Beautifully appointed with the finest fittings, artwork and custom furnishings in rich colors, the residences reveal touches of luxury at every turn, from high-end appliances and cookware in the gourmet kitchen to granite countertops and handcrafted tropical hardwood cabinets. Some of the two, three and four-bedroom units also have private pools, gardens or even roof terraces with a larger pool, whirlpool tub, grill and bar for entertaining.
World-Class Resort Services
Grand Residences offers an impressive collection of resort services and activities. Guests can cool off in the magnificent pools, including a lap pool and a children’s pool, enjoy the Jacuzzis and hammocks on the deck or relax on a sunbed reserved in their name for the duration of their stay as a pool butler serves them a cocktail from the bar. The activity-minded can work out in the fitness center or play tennis. Snorkeling gear is available at the Sports Desk and there are sailboats and kayaks for those who wish to take to the waves.
The Grand Residences Activity Center offers a varied program of beach and pool games, aerobics, yoga, Spanish, Latin dance and cocktail classes and craft workshops for all ages. There is a supervised Kids Club for children aged between four and 12 years and a Teens Club for the older ones. Guests may also be able to take part in other activities organized during the year such as wine or tequila tastings, boat trips and nature and community initiatives.
After a busy morning, guests can ease tired muscles with a relaxing massage or indulge with a luxury facial or body treatment at the Spa.
El Faro Grill delights diners with tempting dishes prepared by a top French chef, a wine list with over 100 fine wines from all over the world, sterling service and a spectacular view. The Heaven Beach Bar offers guests a front row seat in paradise. For something light, guests can order sandwiches, cakes, coffees and juices at the All-Day Café in the lobby and the extensive Room Service menu is ideal for a casual lunch or supper on the terrace. There is also a Gourmet Market on site where guests can pick up freshly baked pastries, deli goods, snacks, wines and much more to prepare in their residence. For guests celebrating a special occasion, private chef and catering services are available on demand.
The Grand Residences Concierges are on call round the clock to handle golf, restaurant, fishing, water sports and day trip reservations for guests. They will arrange yacht cruises, deluxe transport and take care of requests for additional resort services such as pre-arrival shopping and butler, babysitting and nanny services (additional fees apply).
A Leading Hotel of the World®
Grand Residences is affiliated with The Leading Hotels of the World®. Founded in 1928, it is the largest international luxury hospitality collection of its kind and includes some of the most famous city hotels, romantic beach lodges, historic palazzos and country homes around the globe. To join the ranks of such distinguished properties is an honor indeed and in order to be accepted, a hotel must offer excellent accommodation and amenities, outstanding service and it must exceed the five-star expectations of guests. As a Leading Hotel, Grand Residences will be on the world stage and will attract guests with a passion for quality.
Attention to Detail
The General Manager at Grand Residences is Carlo Bicaci, a hospitality industry veteran who has more than 35 years of experience managing luxury hotel properties. During his illustrious career, Mr. Bicaci has overseen operations at 20 leading international hotels in the United States, Mexico and Latin America, and launched more than 100 restaurants, including 15 signature restaurant concepts and franchises. Mr. Bicaci was born in Milan, Italy and raised in California and the first hotel he worked at was the famous Hotel Bel-Air. He then joined the Hilton Corporation and over the years also worked for Amfac Group, Ritz-Carlton, Boca Raton Resort and most recently for InterContinental Hotels & Resorts as vice president of operations for Latin America, including five beach resorts and seven city hotels in Mexico.
Mr. Bicaci brings a concept of personalized European service and warm Mexican hospitality to the resort. Some of the unique details that guests can expect at the resort include daily afternoon tea, a welcome cocktail, a weekly sunset cruise and evening turndown service with an orchid and a local artisanal gift.
Welcoming the First Guests
Carlo and his team of 300 staff greeted the first Grand Residences guests on December 7 as they arrived to enjoy their first vacation in their new vacation hideaway. For many of them it will be the first of many magical moments that they will spend here with family and friends.
William and Joleen S. had this to say about Grand Residences, “It has exceeded our expectations. Everyone is just going out of their way to make us welcome. The service is wonderful… We are excited to be here, to relax and to live… this is something we can enjoy with our family. We love Puerto Morelos. The people are really friendly.”