THE GEN X WANDERER / Catalonia Costa Mujeres Review: An Honest Canadian Family Trip Report

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Catalonia Grand Costa Mujeres Reviews: A Full Family Trip Report From a Family of Four

If you are searching for Catalonia Grand Costa Mujeres All Suites & Spa reviews before you book your next Mexico getaway, this trip report should give you a clear and complete picture.

We are a Canadian family of four, two adults and two kids, and we recently spent a week at this resort just north of Cancun. Below is everything we experienced, the good, the frustrating, and the parts that made us laugh, so you can plan your own stay with confidence.

Getting Through Pearson with Nexus

Before we even landed in Mexico, our trip started with a lesson worth passing along to anyone flying out of Toronto (YYZ). If you are travelling around a busy period, apply for a Nexus Card pass well in advance. I honestly don’t know how anyone can travel without one! We were fortunate to have purchased this for only $50 (valid for 5 years!) but now the prices have been raised to $120. But still if you factor in that yearly cost, that’s only $24 per year and that can save you HOURS of waiting in line. Not to mention, the America Express Platinum covers this fee for you.

Our flight departed at 9:10 am and we arrived at Pearson at 5:45 am, expecting plenty of time to spare. Instead, we found a security line so long we could not even see where it ended. Based on how slowly it was moving, we estimated at least a three hour wait for anyone in the regular line.

But because we had Nexus, there were only about 20 people ahead of us and we were sitting at our gate by 6:30 am, a full two hours before boarding. One tip worth noting: security did not even glance at our Nexus cards, so we are not entirely sure how much of a difference it made beyond the shorter line itself. Either way, it saved our morning.

The Transfer From Cancun Airport

Our package included a complimentary shuttle to the resort, but we chose to pay roughly $130 CAD round trip for a private transfer through www.canadatransfers.com instead. Our driver, Fernando, was friendly and professional the entire ride. The drive from Cancun airport takes about 40 minutes, and while it can get bumpy if you are sitting in the back seats, having the whole van to yourselves made the extra cost worth it for a family with young kids.

That also saved us from multiple stops at other resorts letting people off.

First Impressions of the Resort

Catalonia Grand Costa Mujeres sits in a fairly remote area, with Planet Hollywood right next door. We actually snuck over to check it out, and it has a completely different atmosphere and vibe compared to Catalonia.

The resort itself is large but manageable. You are not walking miles between areas, and it is split into three separate sections connected by outdoor tunnels, which make getting around much easier. If you want a visual sense of the layout before booking, check out their map at Resort Maps or search YouTube for resort walkthrough videos is a great way to get oriented.

We upgraded to the swim up family suite with privileged access, and here is what that actually gets you. You can eat at the Bloved restaurant, you get a private section of the beach, you receive 10 percent off at the gift shops (which are well stocked with everything from sunscreen to goggles to basic medication), and you can order room service.

As for the staff, we found everyone we encountered, from wait staff to housekeeping to the people behind the bar, to be genuinely warm and welcoming. We are not sure what other Catalonia Grand Costa Mujeres reviews were referring to when they mentioned unfriendly service, because our experience was the opposite from start to finish.

The Timeshare Pitch

This was our fourth trip to Mexico, so we knew a timeshare pitch was coming. After check in, someone approached us under the guise of showing us to our room. About 15 minutes into a detailed walkthrough of the resort map, I realized what was actually happening.

Since we had been awake since 4 am, I politely declined and asked to just get to our room. We have sat through enough of these presentations over the years, and even bought into the Disney Vacation Club (and later sold it), so our answer now is a firm NO THANK YOU every time!. If you are not interested, be direct early on and you will save yourself loads of time.

The Privileged Family Swim Up Suite

We decided to splurge and upgrade to the Family Privileged The room itself was beautiful and modern, with everything spotlessly clean. This was honestly one of the best family resort rooms that I have ever been in.

Privileged Family Swim Up Suite | Our room was on the main level and was close to almost everything

Having a swim up pool attached to the room was a wonderful feature for our family, and we noticed maintenance staff regularly checking the water quality, which gave us peace of mind with young kids around. The layout included a love seat, a single chair, and a few patio chairs, so there was plenty of room to relax outside our room.

On previous trips we usually tipped housekeeping at the end of the stay, but this time we started tipping daily once we realized staff can rotate shifts throughout the week. In return, our youngest was greeted with animal shaped towels almost every day, which he absolutely loved.

The bathroom was beyond spacious enough for a family of four without anyone feeling cramped, and the bunk bed setup worked well for the kids to share. There were two televisions in the room, though we barely used either one.

Bloved Restaurant (Dress Code), for privileged guests only | Aromes, a coffee and tea shop

One thing worth knowing before you book: if your room falls along the section near the entertainment strip, expect noise from loud music and heavy bass until around 1 am. This is not ideal if you have young children or babies who need an early bedtime, so it is worth double checking your room location when booking. This may be part of the reason family suites tend to be placed on the quieter side of the resort.

Pools and Beach Access

There are two main pool areas plus a dedicated kids pool. One area leans more toward a relaxed family atmosphere, while the other hosts music, activities, and exercise programming throughout the day.

Catalonia Grand Costa Mujeres All Suits & Spa

Our room happened to be right across from one of the main pools, and by 7 am, chair hogging had begun. Unless you are out saving a spot the night before or up extremely early, chairs and cabanas fill up fast and families tend to camp out for the entire day. It is a bit of a game you will likely have to play no matter which resort you choose.

The beach follows a similar pattern. The rows closest to the water have no shade at all, and with enough guest feedback, hopefully the resort adds beds or umbrellas along that stretch eventually.

We noticed a few guests bringing their own pop up tents from Amazon, which seemed like a smart workaround. Privileged guests do get access to a shaded section with trees and umbrellas, though even that area can be difficult to claim. There is also a separate section reserved for Exclusive Travellers, which is tied to the timeshare program.

We were grateful we booked the swim up suite, since it meant we always had our own private pool to fall back on regardless of how busy the main areas got. Since were directly across from the main pool with a bunch of bushes in front of us, we will felt like we were part of the noise and weren’t too separated.

One small logistical note: towels are only available from one station, located at the activity pool on one side of the resort. A second station somewhere else on the property would save families from hauling a stack of heavy towels across the whole resort. Not sure if this has changed recently.

Food and Dining

Room service is reserved for privileged guests only and typically takes 35 to 45 minutes to arrive.

On the topic of water, we asked one of the servers where their drinking water and ice come from. They filter it through large 20kg containers, and each room receives four bottles per day in the mini fridge. To be safe, we also packed two bottles of water per suitcase for brushing teeth.

All the different pockets within the resort to relax and chill | Shot of the family swim up suite located directly across from one of the main pool areas

Breakfast is served buffet style, offering plenty of variety and comfort food, which worked well for our pickier eater. Unless you have privileged access to the Bloved restaurant, the buffet is your only breakfast option, though we found it more than satisfying on its own.

Lunch is flexible, with no reservations required anywhere on the resort. Some restaurants fill up quickly at peak times, but you can always take food to go or find a seat elsewhere, since there is no shortage of seating around the property. We often ended up at the lobby bar, which was a great casual option.

Ayami, Japanese Restaurant

For dinner, Ayami, the Japanese restaurant, stood out as a highlight, with chefs cooking right in front of guests at shared seating. Taocat was also excellent. Adelita, the Mexican restaurant, was not to our taste, though that comes down to personal preference. The grill restaurant offered a filling and satisfying dinner as well.

A Small Health Note: On our second last day, I was not feeling well and my stomach was not agreeing with something I had eaten. The staff at the buffet went above and beyond, packing me a small takeaway plate of toast and plain rice along with a pot of hot water for tea, exactly as I requested. That kind of attentiveness really stuck with us.

Booking Restaurants Through the App

This is where things got a little complicated. Everything at the resort runs through QR codes rather than paper menus. You receive a master QR code at check in that links to every restaurant, or you can scan individual codes at each restaurant’s reception desk.

The main issue we ran into was language. If Spanish is not your first language and you want the English version of the menu, the app can be unreliable and sometimes will not let you complete a booking in English at all. We ended up relying on Google Translate for several menu items and restaurant names.

The bigger frustration was timing. Reservations for the next night’s dinner only open at midnight. For families with young kids who are worn out from a full day in the sun, setting an alarm for midnight to book dinner is not exactly relaxing. Waiting until the next morning almost guarantees everything will already be booked up.

Dress Code Rules

Dress code enforcement, especially for men at dinner, is worth knowing ahead of time. Tank tops are generally not permitted for men, and we saw a few guests turned away from the buffet for wearing one. My husband ended up rationing his shirts carefully to make sure he had enough for each dinner.

Meanwhile, our youngest son wore a tank top without issue, and nearly every woman in the buffet was wearing one as well. At Bloved specifically, sandals are not allowed for men, though women and children can wear them freely.

The takeaway for anyone packing: bring plenty of shirts for the men in your group, plus at least one pair of closed toe shoes.

Final Thoughts

Overall, this is a beautiful resort with a lot to offer. There is strong entertainment, plenty of activities for kids, and our youngest son adored the entertainment staff, who made him feel truly special throughout the week.

One thing to plan around is the location. Since the resort sits about 20 minutes north of the main Cancun hotel strip, any excursions will require anywhere from a 30 minute to a three hour ride. We went in with the mindset that we would not leave the resort at all, and we were perfectly happy staying put the entire trip.

Pros

• Spacious layout without feeling overwhelming
• Tunnels connecting the three sections make getting around simple
• Excellent food across most restaurants
• Friendly, attentive staff throughout the resort
• Everything is easy to access
• Lovely decor throughout
• Plenty of space to sit and relax

Cons

• Restaurant booking system through the app is clunky and opens at midnight
• No umbrellas or cabanas along most of the beach
• Guests reserving cabanas and chairs early, though this happens at most resorts
• Only one towel station on one side of the property
• Timeshare representatives who are friendly but persistent if you cross paths again, we did have to avoid eye contact numerous times, particularly near the lobby area

So would we go back? We tend to love trying new resorts or cruises on each trip, so we are not sure if Catalonia Grand Costa Mujeres will be our next stop, but we would absolutely recommend it to anyone considering it for a family vacation. Perhaps in many years we will return and it is now considered a 5 star resort.

It was a wonderful trip overall. Just go in prepared for the timeshare pitch, be firm if you are not interested, and know that once the sales team recognizes you, they tend to leave you alone for the rest of the stay.

If you are still weighing your options after reading through these Catalonia Grand Costa Mujeres reviews, hopefully this gives you a realistic picture of what to expect, from the flight and transfer all the way through to the food, the pools, and everything in between.

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