Hyatt Vivid Grand Island Review
When a new Hyatt brand pops up on my Brand Explorer, I get a little excited. The Hyatt Vivid brand is an adults-only all-inclusive one, with three locations in Mexico and the Dominican Republic. In Brand Explorer terms, it's a hard one to check off the list due to the brand's limited footprint. I chose the Hyatt Vivid Grand Island in the main Hotel Zone of Cancun for logistical reasons, but it's also the flagship of the brand. As a Hyatt loyalist, I was keen to check it out! Here is my Hyatt Vivid Grand Island review, with all the good and the bad from my stay.
Location
The Hyatt Vivid Grand Island is located about 20 minutes by taxi from the Cancún Airport. One immediate drawback you should know about the Hyatt Vivid is that it's not located on the beach side of the Hotel Zone. Rather, it's located on the Nichupté Lagoon. This could be an immediate dealbreaker for some. However, know that the hotel does have a beach club located about a 10-minute shuttle away, which is included in your visit.
For my visits to Cancún, I rarely rent a car anymore, as I've come across one too many corrupt police officers preying on tourists for a bribe. Instead, stick with a transfer company like USA Transfers or Lomas Travel, which have offered great experiences during my travels. You can also find plenty of options on Viator. [EDITOR NOTE: Viator has an affiliate program, if you're not already in it!]
Hyatt Vivid Grand Island Review: Typical Booking Cost
The good news for travelers looking for a deal is that the Hyatt Vivid Grand Island is reasonably priced, especially considering it only opened in April 2024. Cash rates hovered around $300 for my visit, but as a Category B All-Inclusive in the World of Hyatt program, standard room award nights cost the following:
- 17,000 points for off-peak
- 20,000 points for standard
- 23,000 points for peak
Check In
Pulling off Kukulcan Boulevard, the Hyatt Vivid complex has a manned security gate, as is typically found in Mexico. A five-minute drive along the fairways of the Iberostar Cancún Golf Club led me to the open air lobby of the resort, which is connected to the yet-to-open Dreams Grand Island.
Bellmen greeted me with a welcome margarita and cool towel as I exited the van. As a Globalist, I was invited to check in at the Vantage Club, which is tucked away behind the main check-in desk. A quick check of my passport and credit card, and I was escorted to the elevators, where I learned I had been upgraded to a suite, thanks to my Globalist status.
Hyatt Vivid Grand Island Review: Rooms
Every one of Hyatt Vivid's 400 rooms are located in the 15-story hotel tower. I had a corner suite on the 13th floor, which appears to be one of the larger suites available at the resort.
Stepping into the entry area, to the left is the spacious bathroom. An oversized bathtub is located to one side of the space, complete with some amenities to make bath time more enjoyable. Beyond that, there's an oversized vanity with two sinks, complete with every toiletry you might've forgotten at home. I've found that Hyatts are fairly consistent with having mouthwash, toothbrushes, and other handy items available already in the room when I arrive.
Since this is an adults-only resort aimed at couples, there are two rainfall shower heads in the shower stall. Separate from that was the toilet as well.
In the main bedroom, an oversized King bed takes up most of the space, with end tables on either side to store items and charge electronics. A small couch sits at the end of the bed, making getting ready for the day super convenient. What's most notable about the suite are the ample windows that cover two of the four walls, which have amazing views of the lagoon, golf course, and ocean beyond.
A small desk area sits beneath a gigantic flat screen, and connected to that is the main closet, mini fridge, wine fridge, and coffee station. The mini fridge comes stocked with beer, soft drinks, and waters, while the wine fridge had a Chilean Red waiting for me. The coffee brand in the room was Lavazza, one of my favorites.
The room featured an absolutely massive balcony as well. It was so large, it felt like there needed more furniture out there! Part of the balcony stretched around underneath the pool deck, facing the Dreams side of the resort. So, if you're looking for privacy, this might not be the side of the hotel for you.
Property/Amenities
Being a resort in Cancún, there are tons of activities at the resort. Typically, a Mexican resort is sprawling. The Hyatt Vivid packed a lot on a limited footprint (for Mexico, at least). As always, there's a whole schedule of group activities that you can participate in at Hyatt Vivid, like dancing, poolside exercise classes, guided meditations, and nightly entertainment. On the evening of my stay, there was an excellent fire dancing show. If you're staying for the week, the entertainment should be different each evening.
Pools
There are many pools to choose from at the Hyatt Vivid. The obvious ones are the activity pools located off the main lobby, directly beneath the main pool tower. One side of the pool was for lounging and hanging out, with a swim-up bar attached. The other side was quieter unless there was a water spin class going on. Each side of the pool had whirpools built into the larger outline of the infinity edge, which I liked.
In addition to those pools, all guests have access to the smaller pools located at the Beach Club, which we'll dig into more in a later section. Finally, there's the rooftop Vantage Pool, which is the longest rooftop pool in Mexico. It's stunning, but only accessible to those with Vantage Club access. Globalists receive this complimentary, which is a huge perk in my opinion.
Activities
If you're looking for something other than a pool, there are several other options available at the Hyatt Vivid. There's a sand volleyball court, pickleball, and even a padel court down the stairs from the main pools. On the top floor, all guests can use the fitness center, which has some of the finest views from any hotel gym I've stepped foot in.
Inside, there are pool tables, reading nooks, and board games to pass the time during a break from the heat or on a rainy day.
Beach Club
A perk of the Hyatt Vivid Grand Island is the Ennea Beach Club. Located ten minutes by free shuttle from the main resort complex, it's a very impressive-looking property. It was designed with Tulum in mind, for sure. Once you arrive, you're greeted by a shaded, sandy entrance to the main pool and lounge complex, which is set up like stadium seating facing the ocean.
Two small pools are located on either side of a staircase leading you down to the main beach of Cancún. There a bar down here, and on the second story of the club there's a sitting area and restaurant (and another bar).
The problem with the beach club is its location. It's next door to a massive new hotel development that's creating construction noise all day. So, in a year or so, that may not be an issue. Unfortunately, it was quite hot during my summer visit, making sitting out and doing some light reading impossible. And, if you wanted to take a dip in the ocean, the waves were too strong for that, if you could even make it past the massive layer of seaweed.
The Hyatt Vivid Grand Island is for pool people, not for ocean people.
Dining
Being an all-inclusive, there are plenty of dining options at the Hyatt Vivid Grand Island. I found the food quality to be excellent throughout the resort, a common concern with all-inclusives.
There's the main buffet on the second level of the resort, open for breakast, lunch, and dinner. At breakfast, there are an endless amount of food stations. I particularly liked the taco station, and thought the mimosa and bloody mary station a nice touch.
On the same level are two of the resorts sit-down restaurants, available for dinner. Aglio is the resort's Italian restaurant, and Le Lys offers French dining. There's also a Mediterranean restaurant, Mexican restaurant, and rooftop Japanese option available for dinner. The rooftop restaurant is open for Vantage Club guests for breakfast, another great perk.
Other than that, there are quicker eateries located on the ground floor and the main pools. A 24-hour coffee shop also serves pastries and sandwiches all day and night. I particularly liked the ceviche restaurant open near the back of the pool complex.
And of course, there are dozens of places to grab an adult beverage. For me, the Amber bar was my favorite, with swings for chairs and great people watching.
Elite Perks & Status Recognition
I feel spoiled by all of the perks and amenities provided to me as a Globalist. For one, Vantage Club is the way to go at this resort. The rooftop pool alone makes this resort a winner in my book. For a longer trip, I don't see myself hanging out anywhere else. The Vantage Club lounge on the main level served up delicious cocktails, and offered concierge-level service as well.
For example, the Japanese restaurant was all reserved when I arrived for my one-night stay, but the Vantage Club desk staff were able to squeeze me in. If you were looking to go on an excursion off-property one day, the Vantage Club team could arrange all of that for you as well. Four PM late check out was also proactively offered to me.
Hyatt Vivid Grand Island Review: ToP Thoughts
Overall, I can say that the Hyatt Vivid Grand Island provides solid value for your Hyatt points, especially if you're a Globalist. I'd caution anyone who is on the fence about its location away from the ocean, though. Beachgoers will surely be disappointed in this hotel, as its beach club is a distance away and a miss in my book. Food and beverage were excellent, as I've found with all my all-inclusive stays at Hyatt brands. And, at the end of the day, you're in Mexico, how bad could your day possibly be?
Have you stayed at the Hyatt Vivid Grand Island? Come over to our Facebook group and let us know your thoughts.
