This ecologically minded resort midway between Xcaret and Xel Há eco-parks shares facilities, restaurants, and beach with a twin resort and features flamingos, orchids, and a crocodile compound. http://www.caribbeanmag.com/search/hotels/Puerto_Aventuras/palladium_grand/hotel/1862/44/ en-us Copyright 1998 e-TravelMedia.com/CaribbeanMag.com Wed, 25 Nov 2009 22:28:40 EST Grand Palladium Colonial Resort and Spa is located on a spectacular estate of over 700,000 m2, surrounded by lush gardens with tropical vegetation and a private beach front of 800 metres of white fine sand running into the turquoise waters of the Caribbean. All guests are also invited to use the facilities provided by the Grand Palladium White Sand Resort and Spa, the Grand Palladium Kantenah Resort and Spa and the Grand Palladium Riviera Resort and Spa, except for the neighbouring “Royal Suite” facilities. The hotel is decorated in Spanish Colonial style and offers its guests the ideal place to spend relaxing holidays in the company of family and/or friends. What to expect: Popular with couples and families, the ecological-oriented resort shares 173 acres with the resort next door, Kantenah Palladium Grand Resort and Spa, and mainly consists of rainforest with wood bridges and thatched-roof pathways. Each resort includes a flamingo pond and orchid garden. Guests enjoy full access to both resorts' facilities, including restaurants and bars. Amenity highlights: The resort's beachfront measures 800 meters (875 yards), with snorkeling off shore. A freeform pool includes jetted sections, as do two geometric pools, one reserved for adults (topless sunbathing permitted). Water sports include snorkeling, kayaking, sailing, windsurfing, and pedal boating. A water-sports center offers personal watercraft, scuba-diving instruction, and scuba-diving/snorkeling excursions for surcharges. The hotel offers its guests 414 luxurious and spacious rooms with two double beds or a King-Size bed, all of them with a fully-fitted bathroom complete with shower or bath and a hairdryer, air conditioning, ceiling fan, telephone, satellite TV, safety deposit box, internal information channel, internal movie channel, minibar, terrace, coffee- and tea-making equipment and iron. The ‘Junior Suites' rooms also have a sofa bed and hydro massage bath: the ‘Mayan' rooms have their own individual entrances, a Mayan-style outdoor shower and hydro massage bath. ‘Suites' are characterised by their spacious lounges provided with a sofa bed, wide bedroom with a corner for use as a living room and bathroom with separate hydro massage bath and shower. Facilities: Guests of the Grand Palladium Colonial Resort and Spa will be able to choose between the seven restaurants at their disposal. Three of these restaurants are buffet-type cooking with show-cooking where the guests are able to enjoy the most exclusive international cuisine and choose from a wide and varied selection of hot, cold or cooked to order dishes. There are four theme restaurants where they can enjoy Mexican, Mediterranean, Japanese and Steak house cooking. Previous booking requested. Limited dinners (please respect the dress code when using the theme restaurants). Four marvellous pools, outstanding among which is the 3,224 square metre lagoon pool, all including a jacuzzi (4 in lagoon pool) and wide sun terraces with deck chairs and sunshades for relaxing in the sun. Free towel service for the beach and swimming pool. All guests may use the 5 swimming pools at the Grand Palladium White Sand Resort and Spa and the Grand Palladium Riviera Resort and Spa. Thirteen bars, of which we emphasise on: the one by the entertainment theatre, the reading and table games lounge bar (non-smoking), where guests may enjoy “Superior” quality international beverages and air-conditioning. Various table games and books available. All guests may use the 13 bars at the Grand Palladium White Sand Resort and Spa and the Grand Palladium Riviera Resort and Spa. Discotheque. Spa with complete gym, jacuzzi, sauna and steam baths (beauty treatment and massages available on payment). Orchid grove. Marvellous walkways surrounded by vegetation and ecological trails for strolling and getting to know the flora of the area. Shopping arcade. Tequila shop. Logo shop. Internet centre. Tennis courts. Minigolf course integrated into the vegetation. Archery. Multi-purpose sports area. Beach volleyball. Possibilities to do water sports. Three lagoons, two with beautiful flamingos and one with crocodiles. Great ‘El Ranchito' Miniclub for the little ones (4 to 12 years) and complete children's playground. Plaza Artesanal (3 times-a-week) where local craftsmen sell their products and local ornamental pieces. Rent a car, 24 hr. Medical Service (not included), Customer Service desks, Hospitality desks. A "natural" beach that includes plants, palms, and other trees extends 800 meters (875 yards) along the turquoise Caribbean Sea. Snorkeling is popular among coral heads and rocks in front of the resort. Thatched-roof palapas provide beach shade in addition to trees. The main swimming pool is freeform, measures approximately 400 meters (437 yards) in circumference, and features four jetted sections marked by pillars. Adjacent is an oblong 32-meter (35-yard) children's pool. Hedges and thatched-roof palapas provide shade on sundecks around the pool. Adjacent to the health spa on the resort's Kantenah side is a geometric pool measuring approximately 20 meters (22 yards) square and includes a jetted section marked by pillars. An identical pool reserved for adults (topless sunbathing permitted) lies on this side of resort. Water-sports equipment includes snorkeling gear, kayaks, sailboats, windsurfers, pedal boats, and boogie boards. An independent water-sports center provides an introductory scuba-diving lesson in the main pool and offers personal watercraft, scuba-diving instruction, and scuba-diving/snorkeling excursions for surcharges. Independent operators nearby sometimes offer parasailing for surcharges. Resort facilities include a miniature-golf course surrounded by jungle and six lighted tennis courts. (Surcharge for night tennis.) The nearest golf facility is the 9-hole Puerto Aventuras course 10 km (6.25 miles) away. The majority of meals and beverages, plus all gratuities, at the following restaurants, snack spots, and bars on both the Kantenah and Colonial sides of the resort are included in the room rate for this resort. El Dorado - Glass-walled, air-conditioned, fine-dining, a la carte restaurant located in central dining area. Flanked by ponds with goldfish and fountains. Open for dinner only. Steakhouse. Dress code: Long pants, sleeved shirts for men. La Adelita - Glass-walled, air-conditioned, fine-dining, a la carte restaurant located in central dining area. Flanked by ponds with goldfish and fountains. Open for dinner only. Mexican cuisine. Dress code: Long pants, sleeved shirts for men. Sumptuori - Glass-walled, air-conditioned, fine-dining, a la carte restaurant located on Kantenah side of central dining area. Flanked by ponds with goldfish and fountains. Open for dinner only. Japanese cuisine. Includes teppanyaki tables, tatami area, and sushi bar. Dress code: Long pants, sleeved shirts for men. Il Vaticano - Glass-walled, air-conditioned, fine-dining, a la carte restaurant located on Kantenah side of central dining area. Flanked by ponds with goldfish and fountains. Open for dinner only. Mediterranean cuisine. Dress code: Long pants, sleeved shirts for men. La Hacienda - Air-conditioned restaurant under thatched roof in central dining area. Open for buffet breakfast, lunch, dinner. Tikal - Air-conditioned restaurant under thatched roof on Kantenah side of central dining area. Open for buffet breakfast, lunch, dinner. El Gran Azul - Centrally located open-air restaurant under thatched roof overlooking main pool. Open for late-morning Continental breakfast, buffet lunch, and afternoon tea. El Gran Azul Bar - Located in El Gran Azul open-air restaurant overlooking main pool. Open from mid-morning to after midnight. Beach Bar - Located on beach near main pool. Open 24 hours for snack foods. Alcoholic beverages served early morning to late night. Churchill Bar - Located in Kantenah lobby. Air-conditioned. Smoking permitted. Open early evening to midnight. Hemingway Bar - Located in Kantenah lobby. Air-conditioned. Smoking not permitted. Open early evening to midnight. Reading room. Table games. International premium-brand liquor. Disco Bar - Sunset Boulevard Discotheque bar located in lobby. Air-conditioned. Open late night to after midnight. Minimum age 18. La Plaza - Located outside disco in lobby. Open mid-morning until discotheque opens at night. Secret Bar - Located adjacent to adult pool. Open mid-morning to midnight. Spa Bar - Located adjacent to spa pool on Kantenah side of resort. Open mid-morning to early evening. Swim-up Bar - Located in main pool. Open from mid-morning to early evening. Bar Teatro - Located in theater on Kantenah side of resort. Open late night. Kantenah Lobby Bar - Open mid-morning to midnight. Colonial Lobby Bar - Open mid-morning to midnight. Type: All Inclusive No. of Rooms: 414 Diving: Dive Resort/Dive Operator Beach Location: Beach Front (Directly on Beach/Water Front) http://www.caribbeanmag.com/search/hotels/Puerto_Aventuras/palladium_grand/hotel/1862/44/ Wed, 25 Nov 2009 22:28:40 EST