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Great Parnassus Resort & Spa

- All-inclusive Resort, Cancun

By Teresa Plowright, About.com

- all about families; waterpark and other fun; good price point.

Great Parnassus Resort & Spa: Background

This resort, new in 2007, is not to be confused with adults-only sister resort Grand Parnassus! Great Parnassus is specifically designed for families, with baby care, kids clubs, teen clubs, water park, and rooms that can accommodate families of five.

Location is at the south end of the Hotel Zone, fifteen minutes from the airport. Beach conditions in Cancun are changeable, due to hurricanes, erosion, and reconstruction; always check current conditions ( - see how, below.) At time of writing, the beach had some rocks.

This resort has 12 stories and 500 rooms including Family Rooms and several classes of suites; giant atrium lobby, movie theater, multiple restaurants.

Great Parnassus: Features

  • five pools, including adults-only, three-tiered main pool, sports pool, and one heated pool (rare, in Cancun).
  • five gourmet restaurants, five buffet restaurants, seven themed bars
  • free shuttle to marina for watersports: sailing, windsurfing, kayaks, pedal boats, snorkeling
  • day and nighttime tennis and basketball courts
  • activities include aerobics, bicycles, volleyball, Tai Chi, bingo...
  • nightly entertainment

For families:

  • indoor minigolf
  • family movies at the 400-seat movie theater
  • Treasure Island waterpark with pirate ships and (medium-size) water slides
  • stroller-friendly layout
  • Baby Club for ages 18 months to 3 years old; Kids Club for ages 4 to 12; Teen's Club for ages 13 18 years old, Teen Disco too. Kids club hours extend to 9 p.m.*
  • rooms designed to accommodate families of five, and up to three kids 15 and under can share a room with parents. (Most resorts set maximum age at 12, if they have "family-of-five" rooms at all.)

Keep in mind about the Great Parnassus

  • reasonable price point
  • kids club is downstairs and shaded but not air conditioned; baby club is air-conditioned
  • Pirate ship kids' pool is inside the kids' club
  • waves can be rough; watch for red flags on the beach
  • no trees or grassy areas; this is a fun-packed resort in the Cancun Hotel Zone.

Find out more:

This brief profile is meant to introduce this resort to family vacationers; please note that the writer has not visited in person.
*Always check resort sites for updates!

*photo courtesy of VacationKids.com

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