Puerto Morelos Beach Independent hotels in Riviera Maya, Quintana Roo

This is our 2nd time here within the last 6 months and getting ready to book again for October. They are running a special stay 4 nights get 4th night free which we will definitely take advantage of. We love the fact that when we are here, Desire Pearl gives us an environment to reconnect as a couple in a upscale passionate setting. Your experience can be whatever you want it to be. We are not in the lifestyle and had no issues being approached or shunned. The other guests are great and in the 2 trips everyone makes you feel comfortable. Clothing optional, sand, water, sun, drinks, passion, great service...what is not to like? What a great vacation...again! A couple of shouts out to Jared & Victor to always finding us a pool/beach lounges, Jonathan & Graciano for being the best waiters there, Jose and Eduardo for great bar service and Jessica and Julienne for their nonstop energy as EC's.

The hotel is outstanding. Exceptionally clean. All the restaurants had very high quality, gourmet restaurant level food. Staff was very friendly and always very accommodating. We wanted to watch the Thursday football games in the bar (with English commentary) and they went out of their way to arrange it. Beach was very nice. There was a kayak to take out and they give catamaran tours and arranged a snorkeling trip to the reef, which was not too far from the hotel. The food and beverages manager, Ernesto was omnipresent, always making sure that you were satisfied and making suggestions for food and even making things that were not on the menu. He is a great ambassador for the hotel.

Checking in we had to move 3 times so next time we will be sure to check the room first to make sure it is the King we paid for and not right next to the noisy hot tub area. Everything else was great- the entertainment staff was fun, great activities available day and night, food was excellent, service excellent, hot tub after 4 is very fun.

I will definitely come here again! For an oceanfront room WITH a balcony and large windows you cant beat the price!...not to mention a 1 minute walk to the square. Sure there were little issues like, no towels when we arrived and a slightly broken toilet seat but really those little things are nothing compared to all the great aspects of the place! Showers had great pressure and were hot :) Room was clean, but obviously if you leave crumbs around you will get bugs - your in the tropics. I cant wait to return!!!

Hotel and grounds were very well kept. Service was excellent. Have had better food at other resorts but overall give the food a 6-7 on a scale of 10.

Absolutly the worst hotel experience I have had in over 60 years.

Grand Residences is as good as the Ritz or Four Seasons but without the snobbish nonsense. Staff is friendly and eager to make you comfortable. Rooms are exceptionally well appointed. My husband and I were travelling with three teenagers. We had a one bedroom master suite with a junior suite next door. Both rooms were ocean front with a glorious view. The junior suite balcony is a bit small but the 1-BR Master Suite had a very large balcony. It was big enough to accomodate two families comfortably for dinner (9 people)! The bathroom in the larger suite had an AMAZING shower with a torrential downpour of water. We found the food in the restaurant to be acceptable but not great. We got wise after a few meals and ordered a simple steak dinner and that was our best meal of all. This seems to be a problem throughout Mexico. The restaurants try very hard to replicate American gourmet but the food gets too complicated making it difficult to execute correctly. Best food was what we ordered on the beach: Chicken Quesadilla is exceptional, quacamole is fresh and perfectly seasoned, and the shrimp tempura tacos were awesome. Service on the beach was not consistent but everyone is so friendly it didn't bother us to wait. It would be helpful if the staff walked by more frequently. The servers who provide towels, water bottles and atomizers seemed to be very watchful. No need to "reserve" a chaise early in the morning, and no crowded areas at all.