My g/f and I just got back from 6 days and 6 nights at the GR Solaris. Nov 8th – 14th. We’re both in our mid 30’s. We got there around 1pm and got a quick run down of the amenities. We were asked if we wanted to check out the time share option. We told them we wanted to think about it and were never asked again. Our room was ready early, so that’s how it started. We had the best time and really hated to leave. We’d go back in a heartbeat.

The positives:
The Service and staff-
The bartenders and wait staff knows what you want before you do. Every single person that works there is very friendly and extremely helpful. You are really treated as if you are the most important person there (unlike other larger resorts I’ve been to)
Upon arrival, we had an issue with the Air conditioner. We placed a call to the front desk and within 5 minutes, someone was there to fix it. Same day, we had to get the safe code cleared to use it. Again, someone was there within 5 minutes of calling.
Bartenders were always getting me new drinks before I was done. Once when I got some Ice cream in Café Solaris, I forgot a spoon. I turned around to go back to get one, and a waiter was bringing me one already! That’s the amazing service I’m talking about.
The entertainment staff was also great as they had the whole day planned out with great games to get everyone involved. My g/f joined the water aerobics session a couple times. We also participated in some trivia games. They made the days more enjoyable.
We saw 2 of the nightly shows and they were o.k. If you have any questions about anything or need something, don’t hesitate to ask. They go out of their way for you.

The Layout-
Our 2nd floor room faced the ocean and had a magnificent view. We kept the balcony door open a few nights and fell asleep to the waves crashing on the beach. We never heard any noise from other rooms or the hallway. It was always nice and peaceful. The coffee maker and mini bar were always stocked. The bathroom was a bit small though.
The resort and grounds are beautiful. The Adult pool and Jacuzzi are nice and quiet. After breakfast every morning, we’d get chairs by the adult pool and read or nap for a few hours. Then make our way to the main pool in the afternoon to watch the fun and games from the pool bar. The adult pool was on the chilly side, but the main pool warmed up by noon and was very pleasant. We went in the ocean once and that was colder than I thought. 5 out of 6 days the red flag was up because the surf was very rough. It’s true the beach area is thin, but that’s due to erosion and not the hotels fault. It didn’t matter to us though, the pools were perfect.
Some resorts may be larger but I believe that’s a negative. You don’t want to have to take a golf cart from your room to the lobby. It didn’t take us long to get to know where everything was. I used the gym a few times and it was adequate.

The restaurants-
3 Restaurants, 1 snack shack and 1 deli-
All three restaurants had enough choices. We ate at Cafe Solaris every morning and they always had a great variety of foods and drinks. We ate lunch at the restaurant by the pool most days. Some days the quality was pretty good, other days it was so-so. We ate at Marco Polo a few nights. (The lobster and filet mignon were great) We tried the Snack shack once. They have chicken fingers, wings, fries, burgers, hot dogs, chips and salsa. One night after coming back from the clubs I got a sandwich at the deli to bring up to our room. That was o.k.. We were both satisfied with the quality at all the places but felt some of the food was on the bland side. But that’s what you get in a buffet style atmosphere and we just added salt or pepper when needed. Also, you may need to make reservations at certain restaurants on given nights for dinner. They start taking them at 9am and fill up quickly.

The Negatives: Although my girlfriend and I had a great time, there were a few disappointments.
The beds – They were very hard. We didn’t notice until the 3rd day when our backs or hips were aching after waking up. By the 5th and 6th nights, we were sleeping on extra blankets and pillows.
1 more minor inconvenience was that there is no ATM on the resort.


Misc:
We took a ferry over the Isla Mejeres just to see what it was like. We wanted to rent a golf cart or ATV and go off on our own, but they wouldn’t let us. We did the glass bottom boat excursion and it was ok.
The bus system in Cancun is great. Cheap, fast, and consistent. (only 65 pesos to go anywhere) If you’re planning on hitting a flea market, bypass the one at the end of the hotel zone and head to the one downtown. It’s much better and you get a taste of real Mexico. Just tell the bus driver where you want to go and to get back, just walk across the street and the bus picks you up by Walmart.

I’ve been to Chichen Itza on a previous trip to Mexico and it was a great excursion. I highly recommend it.

Anyway, after getting a chance to see all the other hotels on the strip, we’re extremely happy we chose the GR Solaris. Let me know if you have any questions.

Tom

Our experience at the GR Solaris was exellent!!!

The staff all around was phenomenal, they welcome us upon arrival with a smile and a welcome drink during the check in, wich was a great thing afther a long flight we had, the check in was pretty fast and we just wait for our room only for 30min; afther we receive our all inclusive band, the concierge explained all the important things we needed to know about the hotel and places to go; he answer all our questions and help us to get our money back that we leave at the airport for a timeshared promo (we didn´t know ) but anyways, we stay at the GR and they show us around the propety next door (sister hotel, the royal solaris, not bad :) they offer us their frecuent traveles membership with a bunch of benefiths that we culdn´t take advantage now, who knows, maybe next time... we where able to visit the ruins a cross the street, so easy to get there, (the travel agent preffer you to go to the expensive ones). also we whent to the xelha wather park (i love it, so many fishes and natural), get confortable shoes to go there.
the rest of our stay was lovely, our room was all clean and ready afther we came back from the beach every day, our maid name Esperanza was so sweet and hard worker, just like everyone, mexicans are very funny and full of energy, the staff by the pool organize activities where you have fun and meet other nice people from other places, we are planning to go back there and meet with two other couples we meet there, i can´t wait to go back!!!!

no complains, just the beach is to small, but if you walk 3 min. next to the hotel, there is a public beach we discovered where is very nice and big enough to laydown and take the sun.

if you have the chance to go, don´t think twice, go and have lots of fun!!!!!!!! just like us!! Matt & Tina

My wife and I stayed at the GR Solaris from November 2 to Nov 9. Overall this was a very fun trip, and the staff at GR Solaris were great.

We had no pressure to do timeshares, and were only asked about it one time. When we first got to the resort, as soon as we got through the doors, someone directed us to the desk, and even went to get us drinks while we checked in. The only down side was that the rooms are not available until 3pm, and we arrived at noon, so we had about a 3 hour wait before we got our room.

The rooms were pretty standard, but still nice. We had an ocean view, and the balcony off of our room was great to sit on evenings and relax.

The food was pretty decent, and had an adequate selection I thought. My wife who doesn't eat seafood, thought the selection was a little lacking. So keep that in mind if you aren't into seafood. There were usually a few chicken and beef or pork items, as well as a number of vegetarian choices also. The food at Marco Polo is by far the best in the resort, but the other restaurants have good quality too.

The pool is where all the action happens during the day, and the entertainment staff does an amazing job keeping everybody happy and entertained. Events started at 10am and went until 5pm, with everything from Bocci ball to cocktail lessons, to beer drinking contests.

The shows each night were amazing. Each night of the week has a different show, and we went to each one. After the nightly show, there is live music in the lobby with dancing, limbo contests, and salsa contests sometimes.

All in all, this trip was really a great time. The food was good, the booze was better, and the staff as a whole group are awesome.

My wife and I (age 49) just returned from GR Solaris November 5th thruthe 9th, 2007. This was my 3rd trip to Cancun and this hotel was the best. 5 stars all the way. Plus, this hotel caters to Americans and Canadians. The entire staff, right down to the maid spoke English very well, unlike other Cancun hotels we have stayed in the past.

Our room #314 overlooked the pool and the beach full front. The airconditioner worked so good that we had to open the storm door just to let warm air inside!! Our room shared a balcony with rooms #316, 318 & 320. Although we were by ourselves this year, we thought how wonderful to bring other couples with us next year and get these rooms. We would be able to sit out all together in the evening or mornings.

The hotel provided entertainment every night in their theater at 8:45 pm. Each one well worth it, so don't miss them. The Cirque show on Friday was the best and if you are a fan of Circque de Soleil, then thisa is a live mini version of one.

The drinks at any of the three bars were never skimpy. In fact, I had to ask the bartender to make mine not so strong because I didn't want to get wasted in the first few hours at the pool!!

Ah Yes, the pool... dont expect a typical blue water pool like most hotels. Expect it dark. That is because the pool is stone pebbles mixed with grey plaster. The water in the pool picks up the grey plaster and our first impression of the water was..."Yuk". But when we saw what it was, the water is super clean!!. It's just the grey morter they ysed when constructing the pool.

The only bad thing is the beach. It is not the Hotels fault. Apparently, mother nature took out the the new sand that the Mexican government put back after Hurricane Dean. What is left is a very narrow strip of sand up against the retaining wall and where the sea water breaks onto the ground is littered with sharp razor rocks that will cut your feet all up. I know, mine got cut, friends we made from New York City while there, got their feet cut just before returning home. Most of the time the lifeguard will not let you go in the Carribean because of this. Safety First!

The gym on the lower level is real nice with 3 treadmills, 3 elytiptical, bikes, free weights, all around weight machine, and other pieces of equipment. Fully manned by Hotel staff.

The snack bar at the pool during the day had everything. And the menu offered changed every day. They have a huge salad bar, chips & hot cheese, hot dogs & Hamburgers, usually 2 or 3 hot chicken dishes, side dishes, soda dispenser and cold water bottle, too!

No pressure from the front girl at check in for time share or premium member services. They made their pitch and I said no and that was that. No one ever asked us again.

There is so much more to tell you, please email me with any questions. My wife and I would be happy to help.

tom Hewitt
tahewitt@comcast.net