Wyndham Grand Bay Hotel-Isla Navidad Resort Manzanillo - Reviews - Manzanillo

As an 18 year old at the time, this was a dream com true. Here I am in one of the most beautiful, eloquently decorated resorts I had ever seen in my life. If there has ever been motivation in my life to succeed financially, this would be it. The resort itself is something that has to be seen to understand fully. I’m sure many reviews claim what was just written, but this resort truly is unbelievable.
You first might notice the secluded location which this resort is located at. There really is no large town nearby, and really only the adventurous traveler would be the one who might take a taxi cab or bus to one of the popular beaches a ways away. I believe that most people will find that when they arrive at this resort and settle in, there really is no urge to leave. The Resort has been designed in a very authentic manner with a very authentic Spanish feel. When I say that, I don’t mean what many, more touristy resorts often claim to offer. This resort is different. It is different in the sense that it doesn’t seem to try and cater to the same typical expectations of a Mexican resort. One truly feels that this is Mexican luxury at its best. The employees at this resort are people who seem to truly like their jobs, and are some of the most friendly and personal people I have had the pleasure of being around. They have no problem with starting up a game of soccer, or say a game of croquet (I never played that, but watched it), even if it is only a small group of people. The pool itself is in a very peaceful setting, with plenty of palm shade around the lounging area and an adequate number of poolside chairs, though one should try and claim a chair in the early afternoon just to be sure. In my experience, it has everything that one would want from a resort, except that this resort has one feature that not many other places can offer. By this, I am talking about the neighboring local town of Barra de Navidad
In all honesty, I never physically slept a night in the Grand Bay Resort. All of the above testimonial is my experiences during the day, and some times relaxing at night. It was my parents who were spending their nights in the resort, and one day I might be able to convince them to write a review of their experience. This fact should not diminish from my review, as every word of it the truth. I had actually spent my nights a short 3 minute motor boat ride away in the local town of Barra de Navidad. My parents said that it was because they thought we would have a better time there, and as an 18 year old that was probably true, but I figured they probably simply didn’t want us hanging around.
As I had said before, in my opinion it is the town of Barra de Navidad which makes the Grand Bay Resort something special and unique, different than most other resorts. The town is not your typical tourist-based town. There is no real in-your-face tourist aspect of this town at all. Of course, there are the hand made help necklace and ornament stands, but it is my understanding that these items are as much for the locals as much as they are for tourists. I had been told that this town is a very popular location for the local population in the area to come and take a day off. With a huge, beautiful (but steep) beach, you will see that when the Siesta starts mid afternoon, the entire local population seems to some out and relax on the beach. And it is this characteristic of the Resort and the town that gives it a very unique experience. One can walk through the town during the day and feel as though they are actually walking through a Mexican town amongst the local population. The few tourists you might see are likely from the resort and are lightly dispersed through the town. Grab a drink at one of the local bars, which most have open walls that offer spectacular views of the ocean, especially during sunset. Make sure to check out the street market which happens twice a week, and you are guaranteed to find an interesting souvenir (I recommend an authentic knock-off Rolex). If you are really feeling adventurous, be sure to check out the local dance club, which has a small but lively dance floor which the locals seem particularly enthusiastic about (be sure to pay the cover charge as you walk in, or else you will have the bouncers chase you in to demand payment!).
What I am mostly trying to convey is the true authentic experience that the Grand Bay Resort has to offer, whether with its spectacular resort or the local life. It can be hard to find a holiday that is not tainted by the typical tourist experiences, but in my opinion this place did just that. I can’t think of a better introduction to Mexico than spending a week here.