TRS Yucatan Thanksgiving 2025

[Anne]

Printed with permission from Bonnie

13th Stay — And Definitely Not Bad Luck!

TRS / Grand Palladium Review

We’ve been fortunate to stay at many wonderful luxury resorts—boutique properties, adults-only escapes, and high-end all-inclusive brands. Yet we continue to return to this one. Counting our stays at White Sand and Family Select, this was our 13th visit to the Grand Palladium/TRS complex — and once again, this resort reminded us why it continues to be our favorite.
We enjoyed the beach every day and also spent time at La Terraza, the infinity pool, and the White Sand pools. The scenery is gorgeous everywhere you go, but it’s truly the staff who make this resort special.

A Special Shout-Out to Israel
We especially want to recognize Israel, the pool (and often beach) butler at Family Select. He consistently went above and beyond. Although we were staying at TRS, we love that TRS guests can enjoy the Family Select area — and Israel made us feel completely welcomed there. His care, warm personality, and attention to detail genuinely elevated our stay. He is a real standout and a tremendous asset to the resort.

Additional Staff Who Made Our Stay Wonderful
Mafer and Maykent (Butlers in Building 63) – exceptionally attentive and always one step ahead
Ariana at Niu and The Nest – her bright smile made every visit a pleasure
Ana at Capricho – consistently welcoming and kind
Alberto, the doorman – we have known him for over 20 years and he always greets us with a smile
(If you meet him, ask about his “28 sons” — a playful inside joke!)
Samuel, the daytime bartender – remembered my almond-milk coffee immediately and enjoyed discovering that I adore carajillos
Luna, Capricho hospitality intern – talented, professional, and a true rising star; we hope she is hired at the end of her program
Marcos at Tentazione – excellent service and delicious meals; we dined there three times and he remembered our preferences after the first visit
Iván, one of the drivers – friendly, helpful, and always enjoyable to speak Spanish with
There were many others whose names we didn’t catch, and their kindness was equally appreciated.

Nightlife & Entertainment
We often see mixed comments about the entertainment, but we found plenty to do every night — sometimes too much to choose from. There are options for different tastes, which we appreciate.
It’s also helpful to know that the Secret Pool and La Terraza stay open until midnight, offering extra choices for late-night swimming or relaxing by the bar.

A major highlight for us was the Beatles tribute band. We loved them so much on Saturday that when they mentioned they’d perform again at White Sand on Sunday, we made sure to go. It wasn’t listed anywhere, so we practically had a private concert — wonderful for us, though we hope they receive more promotion so other guests can enjoy them too.
Throughout the week, we also enjoyed several excellent Latin bands.

Balanced Feedback
In the past, I have been criticized for only sharing positive impressions. However, I truly see the glass as half full, especially when I am away from work, cleaning, cooking, and other responsibilities.

Although the resort was at 96% occupancy, we never felt crowded nor lacked attentive service until the Friday before we left. Even then, it wasn’t terrible — simply not as exceptional as the prior days. Some guests behaved inconsiderately, such as taking entire platters of food meant for everyone. We’ve noticed similar behavior when staying one week and one day past Thanksgiving, and we suspect there may be certain groups who return annually during this time.
There were weddings during our entire stay, with a few very large celebrations on the last day. But this can happen anywhere. We once visited Le Blanc and a loud group (ironically from a hair salon in my hometown) overshadowed a champagne brunch with a harpist. There is only so much a resort can do about guest behavior.

Final Thoughts
The natural beauty of the property keeps us coming back —
but it’s the people who make us feel at home.
Our 13th stay was another phenomenal trip, and we’re already planning visit number 14.

 

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