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    Occidental Costa

    2.3 (81 reviews)
    ModerateHotels
    Open Open 24 hours

    Occidental Costa Photos

    Recommended Reviews - Occidental Costa

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    View from table at buffet breakfast
    Sadeka H.

    The high point of this place is Cesar in concierge. This is definitely not a 4-star as rated. I would give it 3.0 at best. The food leaves much to be desired. The bars closed by midnight. I don't drink much alcohol, but when on vacation I enjoy the bar atmosphere and music. I ended up walking a few doors down and paid for one night in a different all-inclusive resort in order to have a better night life and better food/drinks. I did get an 80-minute aromatherapy massage. They followed all COVID-19 guidelines. They actually exceeded the safety measures of any place I have ever seen. The massage was awesome. I have a few more cons; however, the public hall areas had a bad aroma. They should use a long lasting cleaner with a better scent. There were tables around the pool. I was told I could not bring any food to the pool area at all. At checkout, they tried to charge us for room service and a gift shop purchase for the day we stayed at the other resort. I was able to shut that down and get the charges removed. I had seen other reviews of incorrect charges. I hoped that would have been corrected. I will not stay here again.

    Hotel pool games
    Amber L.

    I am giving it four stars total. The service was amazing and crew members were super helpful. crew memebers were the best part in my opinion. So great with my kids and us. I also loved the bay area. Though small, it was amazing and my kids snorkeled around while I sat on the beach. The pool was clean and nice as well. The kiddos loved volleyball and the pool games. My room was two conjoined rooms for me and my kids with beach views. It was lovely and clean. Showers are big and nice and they are stocked with shampoo and conditioner, so no need to bring it. Loved the food and beverages available in rooms as well. The only downside was that they say there are 4 restaurants but you have to get down and reserve early in the morning. I was told to get in line at 7AM. I had no desire to do that on vacation. That being the case, we were able to go to one restaurant in the morning clarboya (sp?) And then the rest of the time we ate at the buffet. My kids were unimpressed with the buffet. I found the food okay.

    Swim in slimy green water & the black fumes of the UltraMar ferry! All that separates you from the docking point is a rope & 10 ft of water.
    Tony J.

    Terrible, with a Capital T. - Where do I even start? Our experience was so utterly terrible, I don't even know where to start. Buckle up, because I'm passionate about this review, and it's going to be a wild ride. I'll break it down into ROOMS, FOOD, & THE PROPERTY, since those are the three main things people look for when selecting an all-inclusive resort. --------------- Some context: we traveled here with a party of 10 for our first adult family trip in almost 15 years. Many of the people in the group had previously traveled to Cancun and the surrounding area, and had stayed at other all-inclusive resorts nearby, so they had a good baseline against which to compare our experience here at Occidental Costa Cancun. --------------- THE ROOMS // We had booked our package expecting as least some of us - though not all of us - to get ocean views. The best of us in the group had views of the parking lot, and the worst of us had trash views. Literally, I am not kidding, my room had a view of the trash alley of the resort (SEE PHOTOS). The joys of the room didn't stop there. Upon arriving, we noticed that the bathroom had been cleaned very poorly, which resulted in the sides of the toilet and top of the trash can being coated in the bright yellow glow of a previous guest's urine (SEE PHOTOS). We stayed there for a total of 5 or 6 days, and this issue was not addressed during our entire time there. On top of this, when we arrived, we noticed that there was a strange access door that kept flopping open in our bathroom. Turns out that it was a pipe and plumbing access door that would not stay shut, and I'm not kidding when I tell you that I don't think it had been cleaned back there in probably 50 years (SEE PHOTOS). I have full faith that cockroaches or worse live back there, given that members of our party saw cockroaches in the main areas of the property. Our room was also near/above the resort's kitchen area, which meant we heard dishes being done until 2 AM. Not fun. Last, but not least, during our time there, there were doing some HVAC work... which meant that we woke up to a man squatting, eating his breakfast, and smoking a cigarette right outside our other, smaller balcony door. How's that for ocean view? We asked for a new room early on, but were instantly declined since the resort was at capacity. FOOD // I have a personal claim to fame as a human trash can, which is to say, I'll eat pretty much anything. The food at this resort at the main buffet, was worse than anything I could have ever imagined. The New Year's dinner was a passable 2 star meal, but every other meal (I think we had 15 over the course of our trip?) was atrocious. I literally saw ants crawling over and under the desserts on the dessert platter. Another example: someone in our group waited 20 minutes to get pasta from the custom 'pasta bar', and the chef literally took noodles without draining the water, sloshed them into a bowl, and poured premade, curdled alfredo sauce into the water. Everything else was either overcooked, undercooked, or seafood that was left out for hours. It was like there were almost trying to make people get food poisoning (we got away with just diarrhea, we were 'lucky'). The food at the "specialty" restaurants is half passable.... But, you have to make a reservation on the day of, and the reservation desk opened up at 7 AM every morning. The main buffet food was so bad, that people started lining up for this reservation desk at 6 AM. Imagine that! Having to wake up at 6 AM, during your hard-earned rest & relaxation time, to stand in line for 60 minutes plus, just to eat edible food! We took turns playing "Not It", to decide who had to wake up in the morning. Finally, other than the host at the main buffet (whose name, was Pepe, I believe), every single one of the employees at this resort were either rude, or would really obviously give you poor service, unless you gave them a tip early on. I'm happy to tip, but keep in mind, we'd already paid almost $2000 per person, across 10 people, to be here! PROPERTY // The property gets a solid 1.5 stars. Where to start here? One of the members of our party used the stairwell to get up to her room, and had a cockroach run across her feet. The half star was for two small facts. Firstly, the fact that there was nightly entertainment (which heads up, VERY LOUDLY runs until 10 PM, so good luck getting any sleep before a 6 AM tour pickup). Secondly, the fact that this hotel was located very close to the UltraMar ferry, which you can easily take to Isla. That's great, but when I say it's close, I mean that it's so close that all that separates the hotel's beach from the docking point for the ferry is a rope and 10 feet of water... which means that you have the option to swim in the black fumes and green water of the ferry! (SEE PHOTO.) We didn't take advantage of this option. Stay away from this property, unless you want to come away with some war stories.

    Pool
    Michael C.

    Pros (1) Relatively inexpensive at $144 per night during September (2) Amazing view of the beach and ocean (3) Kayaks, pool, open bar and other activities available (4) Waiters and other staff are very friendly Cons (1) Repetitive buffet (2) Absolutely nothing to do when it rains (3) Liquor seems watered down (4) Cockroaches and other insects crawl up sewage pipes into bathrooms

    hotel and pool
    Tiffany B.

    Lets start off with this...nice-ish resort, its near the ferry to Isla Mujeres, pool is nice, entertainment isn't too bad, drinks were good, BUT.... small beach, NO HOT TUBS!, you need reservations for the specialty restaurants (which were half empty when we went). Since I got up before my husband I went to make reservations for the italian place for one night and the mexican place the other night (I went at 7:30 am) Overall I'm glad we only stayed 3 nights/4 days.. My favorite part was the timeshare presentation to Occidental Tucancun which was on the strip of Cancun-beautiful beach and way nicer resort. The buffet there was OK. I wish we stayed there or the Riu. Please do your research and stay at a better hotel. This hotel isn't even on the main strip of hotels in Cancun.. its on a small bay.

    My room shower
    Erica M.

    I came here to celebrate my girlfriends bday. The room was clean and we'll kept. Very nice and the shower was the best.m part. Beds comfy. Love the hammock on the balcony. Things that need improvement the Drinks! For an all inclusive resort the alcoholic drinks were down right nasty. There is something about the syrups they use that leave an after taste. Every margarita was gross, and trust me I tried. I even tried just a rum and coke but the rum used was so low grade it tasted like an ash tray. The food was just okay. The spa was good. Now the beach was very nice with calm waters. Its small but large enough. They always have enough chairs for everyone. The pool was nice and warm. This is not a party resort. There is no night life....or club atmosphere. No "turn up"! They barely play music. TV in English dont work....sigh Excellent staff....no problems with customer service. Check in/out easy.

    Elaina R.

    If I had paid the normal rate of $344 per night for this, I would have been very disappointed. At $191 per night for two guests, though, I can't complain (too much). My main complaint is with the customer service hotline. I booked the hotel on Hotwire and then called the hotel hotline, only to discover that they couldn't find my reservation. I had to call Hotwire, who called the hotel and got a special confirmation number. Then I called the hotline again, but even with the confirmation number they weren't helpful. The rep gave me inaccurate information about the price of airport shuttles ($24 one way instead of $12 one way) and said that I would be charged double for a later shuttle, then failed to charge my credit card at all. I had to pay for the shuttle at the hotel. Then there was the fact that, at a "4-star resort," I had to pay for a shuttle at all. Even internet wasn't included! The hostel I booked in Playa del Carmen, for $10/night, had free wifi. Ridiculous. That being said, my friend and I had a nice time at the resort. Our room was odd (small, but with a giant balcony next to a utility area)--I'm pretty sure it's reserved for deals like Hotwire. The food was nothing to write home about and some of the staff was grouchy, but the setting was lovely and the overall experience was positive.

    Pool Area / Alberca
    Erin H.

    Gorgeous and hospitable resort to stay - especially if you want to go the All-Inclusive route! I spent 7 nights here last week on Vacay and would return. In a heartbeat. Staff was consistently friendly (without pestering) and got to know me and my family so well, we were doing the traditional Latin kiss-cheek greeting and are Facebook friends! True Story. Grounds are simply amazing. Lush greenery, well-manicured Bermuda grass, and tropical flowers. Every-where! Ashtray sand is white coral sand from the sea with a freshly stamped "Barcelo" mark made every morning. Nice touch as I recently picked up the nasty nicotine habit again. Sigh... Rates were fair but included a lot! Of course, free dining, drinks (alcohol included), as well as 24/7 access to concessions. It also included access to water sports (limited) like kayaks, intro to SNUBA lessons. Also, resort had FUN nightly events such as Michael Jackson show (he was actually quite good - excellent dancers!) and Casino Night, etc. Food quality? Frickin off the chain for a buffet style, folks. Truly. We ate at Albatross a lot and they are rad. Servers were all peaches. Shout out to Carlos!! Loved him! Also, resort had full service gym. I did work out 4 of 7 days too! Equipment was fairly up-to-date and in good condition. They had a spa but I didn't use. I did surprise my mom and sent her to 30 min facial and 30 min massage. She reported back happy and limp like a noodle - good sign! :) Aracely was so cool at the spa too! Room was a tad on smaller side but clean and nice decor. Cleaning staff did great job, but didn't consistently stock our free mini-fridge. We called and resolved, but still... :) I was a tad crestfallen to learn we had to pay for WiFi. Shouldn't this be free and included?! I dunno - no biggie. Overall - excellent stay and would definitely be plugging this hotel to my friends/family. Great job/buen trabajo!!!

    Jeff P.

    Beautiful place. Very nice and pool setting. Beach was small, but clean and plenty of chair, along with a Beach Bar. Overall the facility is clean. Excellent food and service all around. Staff was great, BUT really did not like the hassle of the timeshare people. This property is not downtown...this means it quiet and likley safer, but too far to walk to a lot of the fun of Cancun. Enjoyed our stay.

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    Was fun but small resort.. Food was good but to get in any of the 3 on grounds restaurant you have to pull teeth.

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    Page 2 of 3

    Occidental Costa Reviews in Other Languages

    Review Highlights - Occidental Costa

    I also quite suggest taking the Ultamar ferry, to Isla Mujeres, it's an amazing island, lots of activities, great and super cheap day trip!!

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    Hyatt Zilara - Guest Room

    Hyatt Zilara

    (281 reviews)

    $$$

    Zona Hotelera

    I cannot recommend this hotel more highly. It's the best experience I've ever had at an all…read moreinclusive hotel. At the end of my stay, I did not want to leave. Sometimes all inclusive hotels can feel gimmicky, like being on a cruise ship or something. This was not that at all. This was a high end experience from start to finish. The hotel service and facilities are impeccable. I was blown away by the care they take to tend to each guest. I was only there for a few days and people took the effort to learn my name and my personal preferences. To start, the room was incredible. I stayed in a suite and it had a juccuzi right inside the room and an ocean view with a hammock. The room also came with a mini bar which was restocked daily (although you could also call and request anything at any time). Every day they had a different schedule of activities for guests with quality entertainment (not tacky acts). They had all all white party with a circus one day which was fun, a foam party, bull riding and more. The food deserves its own review. It exceed my expectations by a lot. They had several food options to choose from, including an Asian restaurant, a Mediterranean restaurant, a mexican restaurant a cafe and a global buffet. The restaurants were all open extended hours until 10 or 10:30 so there were always food options available. The global buffet did different themed dinners every night. Of the restaurants, I liked all but I'd say the Mediterranean was the most high quality. The preparation and taste was on par with any top NYC restaurant. The octopus dish was especially memorable. Second favorite was probably the Mexican restaurant. They have a chef from Oaxaca who makes a great mole. At each restaurant, the managers always made an effort to stop by my table to make sure I had what I needed. The employees genuinely care about serving you and they do it gladly. Sometimes you go to places where the employees are disgruntled or have a bad attitude. Not the case here at all. Everyone seemed generally happy and in a good mood. It felt like most of the people here were celebrating something, whether a bachelorette party or birthday, but it didn't feel overall raucous or anything. They had a silent disco one night and I think that also helped with any potential late night noise issues. I was really impressed with how well curated the schedule of activities was. Additionally, the hotel was very clean. When I first got in, people were mopping. They're constantly changing pool towels that are left out. Everything was spotless. The sheets were crisp and white. My room was changed to my liking. No complaints. One of the better places I've stayed. I would definitely come back in a heart beat. I loved it here!

    Of course. I only added Eddie into the service section and left everything else the same…read more I have gone back and forth on writing this review because there are so many things this resort does well, but overall my experience did not quite match the expectations I had from previous Hyatt stays. This was not my first visit to Hyatt Zilara Cancun and it was actually my amazing experience here in 2019 that started my loyalty to Hyatt. I am currently a World of Hyatt Discoverist member, and after my first visit to Zilara, we loved the Hyatt experience so much that we chose Hyatt Ziva for our vow renewal in 2022. Because of that, returning to Zilara was something I had looked forward to for years. First, the staff at this resort deserves so much recognition. My concerns are not a reflection of the employees because the service was consistently excellent throughout our stay. From before we even arrived to our final day, everyone we interacted with was friendly, welcoming, and genuinely wanted guests to have a great experience. Before our trip, Eddie reached out as our concierge and was extremely helpful in making sure we were prepared for our stay. He helped coordinate our spa services ahead of time and assisted us with securing a late checkout, which made our trip much smoother and more relaxing. At check-in, Luis helped us on the World of Hyatt side and was wonderful. He explained the changes and additions to the resort, helped us understand reservations, and made sure we had the information we needed. Throughout the resort, the service remained consistent. Even when I had a meal I didn't enjoy, a staff member at the teppanyaki restaurant was genuinely concerned, offered alternatives, and wanted to make it right. That level of care stood out. Our room was excellent. We stayed on the fifth floor in a corner room and it was clean, spacious, and comfortable. The bed was fantastic, and I loved the pillows so much I am actually trying to find out what kind they are so I can buy them for home. The bathroom was great, especially the mirror with multiple lighting options. The shower had great water pressure and plenty of hot water, which I always appreciate. The only thing I personally missed was having a bathtub, but overall I had no complaints about the room. The resort itself is beautiful and extremely clean. The pool area is relaxing with comfortable chairs, and it was never difficult to find a place to sit. The atmosphere is definitely more quiet and relaxing rather than a party environment, which can be a positive depending on the type of trip you want. The beach was well maintained, especially considering the seaweed situation during our visit. The staff worked hard to keep it cleaned up, and the things outside of the resort's control, like weather and ocean conditions, did not impact my opinion. The spa was absolutely phenomenal and I wrote a separate review specifically for that experience because it deserves its own recognition. The gym was also impressive for a resort gym. There was plenty of equipment, treadmills, a stretching/yoga space, and even a Pilates studio. I was hoping to participate in Pilates, but the class filled up quickly. I thought the fitness offerings were a nice addition. Where this stay fell short for me was the food. At an all-inclusive resort, the food experience is such a huge part of the overall value because you are eating every meal on property. When we visited in 2019, one of our favorite memories was eating at Pelicanos by the pool, so we were excited to return there first. We knew things had changed since our last visit, but unfortunately the quality and options did not feel the same. We tried several restaurants, and while the service was always great, the food itself was disappointing. The Italian restaurant felt very bland overall, although the bread service and tiramisu were enjoyable. The cacio e pepe and pasta dishes did not meet expectations. The teppanyaki experience also was not what I expected. I was hoping for more of a traditional hibachi-style experience, and the meat quality was disappointing. The buffet was fine, especially breakfast, but nothing really stood out. Room service was quick and the staff was friendly, but again the food itself was not something we loved. My favorite treat on property ended up being the ice cream at the coffee shop. The biggest thing I missed was having easy poolside food options. When I'm at an all-inclusive, I love being able to relax by the pool and grab things like quesadillas, ceviche, or small bites without stopping the pool day. The lack of that type of experience was probably my biggest disappointment. Drinks and pool service were great, and the staff did a wonderful job checking on guests. I personally don't drink alcohol, but it was clear they were attentive with beverages. Entertainment was limited compared to some other all-inclusive resorts. There were some activities and a few performances, but not the larger

    Temptation Resort - Business cards

    Temptation Resort

    (180 reviews)

    $$

    Zona Hotelera

    Service was excellent, friendly staff, activities were energetic and fun, and funny…read more.. The most important mention here is that , I have traveled alot, I know Service industry very well.... ***** WENDY ******at the main pool, might be the single BEST WAITRESS i have had ANTWHERE....her connection to customers is excellent, she quickly becomes in tune with exactly WHAT ,and WHEN the customer needs something, she becomes completely intune to this to the extent,WENDYS customers NEVER have to look for her or wait more than a moment...it was absolutely 100% A+ Customer service...WENDY was friendly, with a smile, engaging,and makes her Customers look for her assigned service area... If I was starting a business, I would want everyone to have her skill set, attitude, and instincts for customers needs....Give WENDY a raise and make her a trainer of wait staff...it'd be an investment that shows profit! Now...the food...bfast and lunch buffet was not good, bland, low quality meats...burgers at this resort are ALL CRAP...doesn't matter if u order room service or burger bar near pool...ALL BURGERS A CHEAP GRADE, and taste so bland it MIGHT NOT BE BEEF...(NO EXAGGERATION) restaurants on resort are better quality, small portions...

    Absolute Scam Disguised as a Resort…read more Temptation Resort Cancun is hands down one of the worst hotel experiences I've ever had. Let's start with the food, atrocious. Everything tastes like it was molded out of Play-Doh and seasoned with Crayola wax. The so-called "fine dining" restaurants are a complete joke, serving Costco-sized samples and calling them entrées. The much-hyped She restaurant is especially laughable: terrible food paired with a cringe-inducing striptease show that's more uncomfortable than entertaining. The property itself looks like a glorified Motel 6--and that's not even my opinion. One of their own sales managers used those exact words. That alone should tell you everything. Apparently, this hotel was recently bought out while on the brink of bankruptcy, and it shows. They stripped benefits even from beneficiaries and replaced them with aggressive, nonstop upselling. They relentlessly push a "membership" that costs $70,000 for 80 nights, plus $500 every 7 days you stay. You'd have to be completely out of your mind to spend that kind of money on this dump. The crowd is extremely mixed, nothing curated, nothing upscale. Many guests are there to swing (not all, but many), which may appeal to some, but it's not my scene. No offense to the guests--just calling it what it is. Despite being a beneficiary, the only tequila they'd serve was Jose Cuervo and Hornitos. That says everything about how cheap and greedy this place is. Service is equally bad, room service is basically nonexistent. To make matters worse, this resort sits on the north side of the beach, where the water is murky, dirty, and completely uninviting. Definitely not the Cancun postcard experience you'd expect. This place is a total rip-off. If you enjoy hospital food, terrible service, aggressive sales tactics, nonexistent amenities, and being hustled constantly, then maybe this is the resort for you. Otherwise, save your money, your sanity and stay literally anywhere else.

    Live Aqua Resort - View from one of the cabanas facing the ocean

    Live Aqua Resort

    (462 reviews)

    Zona Hotelera

    My spouse and I had an absolutely wonderful stay at Live Aqua. The property is stunning, the staff…read morewas exceptionally attentive, and the food was delicious. The spa was fantastic, offering step-by-step guidance through the dry sauna, steam room, and both warm and cool pools-such a relaxing and rejuvenating experience. The hotel sits right on the beach with breathtaking views and features several pools, including one with a fun swim-up bar. Dining options were excellent, with several restaurants to choose from, including Mediterranean, Mexican, buffet, Asian, sushi, steakhouse, and American cuisine. Our room was fantastic, with a rainfall shower, comfortable beds, prompt housekeeping, 24-hour room service, and turn-down service. We also enjoyed live entertainment and a night club on the property, yet it remained wonderfully quiet when we wanted to relax. We loved the aromatherapy --it was such a thoughtful touch. The location is very convenient: close to a pharmacy, just across the street from a shopping mall with a mix of upscale and casual dining and shops, and only 10-15 minutes from Cancun's vibrant club zone. We couldn't have asked for a better experience.

    Live Aqua Cancun was a really nice all-inclusive overall. Not perfect, but definitely a relaxing…read moreresort and a place I'd still give four stars. We checked in on a Sunday around 4:30, and the room was already cleaned up and ready. We stayed in one of the terrace rooms on the fourth floor, and the room was well maintained the whole trip. Housekeeping was really good, and the lady who seemed to consistently clean our room was super friendly. They also do evening turndown service between about 6 and 9, which I liked more than I thought I would. The food was hit or miss. Sea Corner was easily the biggest disappointment. You really have to like ceviche to enjoy that spot. I tried the battered fish taco, which was a really small rolled fried fish taco and honestly tasted kind of stale. The red snapper tostada was okay, but still pretty subpar. Overall, Sea Corner is one I would skip. Ciete's breakfast buffet was decent, but still very buffet. Some of the food had that stale, been-sitting-out-too-long taste, but the omelet bar and fresh juice/smoothie bar helped a lot. They have two omelet bars, which spreads people out, and Marco at the smoothie bar was awesome. He remembered me after my first smoothie and was friendly the rest of the trip. Azure was pretty good. We split hummus and pita, and I got the chicken in red wine. The chicken was cooked perfectly and came on a bed of mashed potatoes that were really good. Dessert was just okay. The baklava was very cinnamon-heavy and almost tasted like a churro. MB was good and definitely felt like their "dress up" restaurant. I had the stuffed chicken, my girlfriend had the veal cheek, and we also tried the filet mignon. The filet was cooked perfectly medium rare, and the meal overall was good. Not amazing, but one of the better dinners there. Hidden Garden was probably our favorite restaurant. We went there twice because it was that good compared to the other options. The samosas, gyoza, chicken satay, shrimp fried rice, and desserts were all really good. The Thao, basically their version of orange chicken, was also really good. The pad Thai was okay, but sweeter than I prefer. Their signature cocktails were also really good. The Thursday night show was a nice part of the trip. They had a buffet by the pool, with a mariachi band from 7 to 8 and traditional Mexican dancing from 8 to 9. The dancing was almost like a theater-style show, and that part was great. The buffet was on par or slightly below par. They had a crepe bar, a grill with pretty good steak and chicken, and a couple decent soups, but a lot of it still had that left-out-too-long, slightly stale buffet taste. The entertainment and activities were a big highlight. Trivia every night was great, and karaoke was a blast once people started getting into it. Pablo hosted trivia and karaoke with Jorge as the DJ, and Pablo brought a lot of energy. Jorge also DJs at Egos later at night, and they played a good mix of American dance music and Latin dance music. During the day, we tried archery, water aerobics, bingo, the guacamole class, casino night, and a self-facial class. Archery was a blast, and aqua aerobics in the infinity pool was really fun. Ricky was a ball of energy, and Jocelyn was really cool too. The activities did not feel like boring resort filler, which was a nice surprise. A few things could be better. Pool towel service closes at 6, even though people are still in the pool later. There is also basically no shade in most of the pools, so you get crispy pretty fast. They also need to be clearer about which pool beds are first-come, first-serve and which ones are paid or for Club Aqua. I saw multiple people get moved because it was not explained well. Communication could be better too. Some restaurants are closed on certain days, probably because the resort was around 50% capacity, but they should give you a schedule at check-in. We planned to try Verana, their Italian restaurant, and then found out it was closed that day. The humidity is something to think about. Obviously it is Cancun, but the indoor areas and hallways do not have much air circulation. Our fourth-floor hallway also had a broken water feature with sitting water, and I think that made the hallway smell more humid and musky than the rest of the resort. The drinks were decent, but I would not go in expecting strong resort cocktails. I drank margaritas and pina coladas most of the trip and never really felt much from them. For stronger drinks, shots are probably the better route. Overall, Live Aqua Cancun was a really nice, relaxing trip. The staff was friendly, the room was clean, the activities were way more fun than expected, and Hidden Garden was a nice surprise. The food is not amazing across the board, the pool setup could be better, and communication could use work, but I still had a really good time. Good resort, not perfect, but definitely worth checking out.

    Kempinski Hotel Cancún - Fuzeball and ping pong

    Kempinski Hotel Cancún

    (209 reviews)

    $$$$

    Zona Hotelera

    Prior to our arrival, we emailed the concierge for transportation to the hotel from Tulum. The…read moreemails were responded to in a timely manner and everything was as promised. Check in with Diego was a breeze. Although they did not offer us an upgrade, which could have been possible through our credit card partnership, he did let us pick a room from what was available. We picked 5044. The view was good, not a full ocean view but we did have a partial ocean view. The hotel and room were very clean. The staff was very attentive and anticipated our needs. I was very please with the hotel. It exceeded my expectations. If I ever return to Cancun, I would stay here again.

    We recently stayed at Kempinski Hotel Cancun for six days. We have been coming to this property for…read moreyears, back when it was The Ritz-Carlton Cancun, and it has always held sentimental value for us. That history is the main reason we kept returning. Unfortunately, for the past two years, our experiences have declined significantly. The hotel no longer maintains the level of service and standards we once loved. The atmosphere feels different, the staff are not as welcoming, and there is a noticeable lack of attentiveness and care. During this stay, we had a particularly unpleasant two-day experience at the beach regarding the setup of lounge chairs and umbrellas. Rather than going into every detail, I will simply say the situation was handled poorly and left us very disappointed. What was most upsetting was that no meaningful effort was made to resolve the issue or make up for the inconvenience. Even after speaking with Guest Relations, who mentioned contacting the General Manager, nothing improved the following day. No accommodation or gesture was offered, which was surprising given the hotel's luxury positioning. It is also noticeable that the property feels quite empty during weekdays, except on special occasions or long weekends. Even then, the warmth and hospitality we once associated with this hotel seem to be missing. That said, I want to sincerely recognize Valenzo, who served us daily. He was professional, kind, and incredibly attentive. We never had to ask for anything, he would notice small details, like refilling ice before we even realized it was melting. His service was outstanding and he truly tried to make our stay better. Thank you, Valenzo. You made a difference. It is genuinely sad to see a place that once meant so much to us lose its standard. We hope management takes guest feedback seriously and invests in retraining staff to restore the level of service this property was once known for.

    Grand Fiesta Americana - Our hotel room

    Grand Fiesta Americana

    (256 reviews)

    $$$

    Zona Hotelera

    Excellent staff & service! From the greetings received upon arrival to the prompt handling of our…read morebags yo our room to the nightly turn down of our bedding. These folks do it all and with a smile! All-inclusive resort located right on the beach. Heated pools, various restaurants, spacious rooms. Would definitely iteitbstay here again!

    Grand Fiesta Americana Cancun completely exceed my expectations. From the moment we arrived, the…read moreservice was warm, professional, and truly top tier. The staff was always nearby, attentively anticipating our needs and checking in seamlessly to ensure we have everything we could possibly want, creating a refined and personalized luxury experience throughout out stay. The property itself is stunning- beautiful ocean views, though it is an old property but is well maintained. Our room was spacious and had breathtaking views of the turquoise Caribbean Sea. The food was another highlight. With multiple onsite restaurants. Vina del Mar was perfect for starting the day- it serves breakfast lunch and dinner and offers mexican and international cuisine . Outdoor sitting was beautiful. All other restaurants would need reservations- and we tried Chianti Trattoria Italiana - serving Italian cuisine and had elegant atmosphere. La Joya- serving authentic Mexican cuisine with incredible presentation. With its prime beachfront location, relaxing pools, outstanding dining options, and exceptional service, Grand Fiesta Americana Cancun delivers a truly luxurious experience. I would absolutely recommend this resort and would love to stay here again.

    Riu Palace Peninsula - Dessert

    Riu Palace Peninsula

    (297 reviews)

    $$

    Zona Hotelera

    Hey Ya'll! So I wasn't impressed with this resort…read more Amenities (3.5/5)Overall, the amenities were decent. I really enjoyed the beach and the pools for swimming. They were clean and I had no reaction after. Pools that are not properly maintained give my skin the itchies after. Food (2/5)Breakfast buffet and the Mexican restaurant were the meals I mostly enjoyed. I did love the buffet, but let's be honest, that's probably because all I ate was avocado, fruit, eggs, and bacon anyway, lol. So that part worked in my favor. The Italian spot had good apps. The mussels were what I should have eaten for my meal. The rest was meh. Room and Cleanliness (3.5/5)The room view was absolutely beautiful and made me happy. That said, I cleaned the room well myself upon checking in. I had only one cleaning so my roomie would have the new room clean experience when she checked in. Room Decor and Structure (2/5)Not up to my personal standards in any way. The minibar is why a two and not a one. There was no headboard. The sinks had no drain covers. I was petrified and spent most of the week taking jewelry on and off so I wouldn't drop anything. I really enjoyed the view from the balcony, which is where i spent most of my waking time when in the room. I also thought this was an adults-only resort. It wasn't. No bueno! The staff was a solid 5/5, especially after the mishap with my dry cleaning. They were accommodating, kind, and appreciative of tips and our patience. I almost lost it about my clothes, but they handled it well and I appreciated that. I do wonder if the floor that we stayed on was an older floor we were on the fifth floor in rooms 545, 547 and 548. So I wonder if rooms on that floor were in worse condition than some of the other others they seem to have not been slept in for a while because when I cleaned there were lots of dust as if no one had been in there for a while . The beach was great and very almost private. The vendors weren't too pushy and they had decent pricing. Dollars go further...don't exchange to Mexican pesos!

    I'll try to review this as objectively as I can, as maybe people in different situations might have…read morea better experience. First, we traveled to this hotel as a family with 2 toddlers. There are absolutely no activities outside of the pool, other than a couple of hour arts/crafts place called "riuland" during the day. We traveled in January and the weather was pretty cool, the problem is the pools aren't heated. There are 3 main pools, 2 are absolutely ice cold, and the middle "heated" one is still cold. We were at this hotel for a full week and only used the pool for 2 of the days. Even those days we forced it and were shivering in the pool. The second main issue we had was with the food. At the end of the day we decided to go to an all inclusive so we can spend all day at the pool and eat a bunch of food. The pool was a no go, and the food was worse... My wife saw molding mushrooms in the breakfast omelet bar. The quality and taste of everything was just the lowest possible. Everything looks and feels rubbery. We tried out the individual restaurants and each one was worse than the last. The lobster in the steak restaurant feels like plastic and the butter is like watered down dirt, I kid you not. Our experience was so bad that we would Uber out of the hotel everyday to try and find some activity to do with the kids, and to eat out for all of our meals. We wasted a lot of money coming to this hotel and so far it doesn't seem like we will get any back. If you travel to this hotel in the Summer, and you have no small children and want to party all day, then this hotel would be just fine. However it doesn't change the fact that the food is still terrible and that is a huge portion of the cost of an all inclusive. I just recommend spending a tad bit more money and having a much better experience elsewhere. We have been to Cancun tons of times, so this is not a typical experience.

    Grand Oasis Palm

    Grand Oasis Palm

    (160 reviews)

    $$

    Zona Hotelera

    Ignoring the beach sea algae and stomach bugs we got, there were so many issues with our stay…read more Buffet food was dry and low quality, restaurants require reservations but were all full regardless, broken elevators, showers with damaged plumbing, drinks were all watered down (both regular and alcoholic, you can taste it and watch them pour water into the OJ, for example), they aggressively sell you excursions and addons at check in like a pirate ship outing, pool towels are constantly unavailable and waiting on being washed, the gift shop only had minimal medicines in case you get sick, the required wristband to wear have sharp edges and it's easy for you and your kids to cut each other while playing at the pool, the bedroom drawers aren't secured properly and can easily slide out and fall on your kids feet, etc. They're helpful with bringing drinks at the meals and things like the swim up bar at the pool are handy, the beach hammocks are nice, and they did a good job picking up our bags at check in, but there's still so many issues and so I don't plan on coming back.

    OMG I would say the worst, but it was some pleasant moments…read more We were he for a little under a week, and had to change our rooms 3 times; due to the air conditioners not working properly. The first night our room was like an oven. We changed the room and it was the same thing. The last room safe did not work or lock at all, so we had to lock our valuables in our luggage. While we were out on an excursion Items from our room was appeared to been searched, and missing. One thing that was the obvious was the my eyeglasses cleaning cloth, which was on the floor, that i always keep folded with the tiny spray, in its Velcro satin case. That's the moment when I discovered my son's Ray Ban's were missing. ( a birthday gift from his Nana) The best thing that about the resort was the coffee and me shop, and one restaurant that was RSVP only, that was still inclusive with the price of the room. I appreciate that excursion could be purchased on the venue. It's so unorganized when your purchases tour come to pick you up. We are informed to be in the lobby, there's so many people in the lobby, on different tours, that we were overlooked. Not only did our tour bus leave us, and we discovered within the SAME MINUTE, I'm talking seconds! They can not call them back to pick us up theirs no return or discounts, I had to pay another $120 for transportation ONLY to get to the park states over, otherwise I would have lost my money for two people. We manage to get there and rode our tour bus back to the resort afterwards. Mexico tours will definitely leave you at your hotel, jungle, or desert. And theirs no much phone reception. So have your ass outside on the curbs with a sign or your purchase records. I met a lady who always visit Mexico and was told that she always travel with her own fan. Like she brings a Carryon just for her fan only. This was a lesson learned. Service was friendly. They want to discord all your wristbands when you checking out. There was a cool night club on the venue that offered drinks as well. Overall I felt safe and irritated. I would selected a different resort on my next visit to Mexico.

    Occidental Costa Cancún - Room with terrace

    Occidental Costa Cancún

    (35 reviews)

    Zona Hotelera

    I stayed at Occidental Costa Cancun - All Inclusive for a week with my daughter and friends, and…read moresadly, this resort did not meet expectations at all. We booked an oceanfront room with balcony, but the balcony was so small a chair couldn't fit. We later found out larger balconies are available for the same price, but you have to request them. Throughout our stay, we had to change rooms three times due to poor maintenance--even the suite we paid extra for had issues, including a stained jacuzzi on the balcony that took over 20 hours to fill. The beach is tiny, and the food was subpar across the board. The only decent meals were the fried fish at lunch and the Mexican restaurant. The Italian restaurant lacked basic dishes like spaghetti/meatballs and the steakhouse was disappointing. Drinks stop being served at 11 PM (even if you order room service)which is unheard of at an all-inclusive. There's no night entertainment or club, and room service is not included--if you do order it, it can take over 3 hours to arrive. The worst part was the constant noise at night. The resort is filled with rowdy, drunk college-aged guests, shouting and partying in the halls until 3 or 4 AM. Many of them would fill water bottles with alcohol before 11 PM to keep drinking all night, which created a wild, chaotic atmosphere--not relaxing at all. The staff experience was mixed--the bellboys and a couple of front desk male staff were polite, and some male restaurant servers were kind. But the female staff were often rude and dismissive. One refused to let us sit by the window in an empty restaurant, and another nearly denied us dinner because we arrived at 10:30 PM when the buffet closed at 11. This resort might look affordable, but you truly get what you pay for. If you're looking for a relaxing, clean, and enjoyable vacation experience, look elsewhere. Not recommended.

    Total disappointment. 0/0!!…read more We checked into this hotel for a week. When we were having problems with the AC not working properly we called maintenance. We had the gentleman come into our room on three different occasions. After the third visit from maintenance we were offered to move rooms for the night. This was at 1:00 AM! The next morning I voiced my concerns to the supervisor Dariana and all I was offered was an apology and a late check out for the inconvenience. Worst all inclusive that Cancun has.

    JW Marriott Cancun Resort & Spa - The view

    JW Marriott Cancun Resort & Spa

    (328 reviews)

    $$$

    Zona Hotelera

    If you visit this place it is easy to see why we need closed borders. It is nicer than ANY hotel…read moreI've ever been to. And what used to be "the world's largest telephone booth" would dominate ANY hotel in the USA. The people are overly friendly as long as you are not doing shady things. And with billboards offering services directly to your room and a hospital system where you only go if you're sick. The "grey area" is a pretty loose term. The entire hotel is illuminated with L.E.D.'s. The space is immaculate. It was 1/4 mile from the room to the lobby. The ballrooms and convention spaces are like a stadium. (Indoors or outdoors). The public bus arrives every (2) minutes and are often full. It is approximately .50 US to go 30 miles downtown. Just looking at the creative ideas a child could write a book . "This ain't Tijuana". The malls and beaches are protected by federal soldiers and the streets have checkpoints every mile. They obtain your information and destination. If something is off a militia is on alert. In NOLA people go missing all the time. They get discovered weeks later. Would never happen in Mexico . A drunk guy might get out the box, but it is very controlled. These citizens are: smart, efficient, implemented, hard working, drive excellent, fast, diligent, and gracious. It's like walking through a museum. Being from a popular tourist town known for food, this place is VERY advanced. Instead of lounging and hiding these citizens WORK to pass the time. If you need anything just ask a bartender. "Tip and pay, you'll be OK!" LOOK at the photos!

    Wonderful hotel! We stayed twice, three years apart and both times were fantastic!…read moreWe came here when my fiancé and I first started dating then again for our anniversary. Every single person that works at this property is out of this world! Kind, helpful and always going above and beyond to make things memorable! There's always a little bit of construction because they're renovating, so plan accordingly by calling with them to make sure the areas you want open, are open. The new speakeasy is super cute. We visited there one evening and have the best time and service! This isn't the same restaurant where you go to breakfast but at night is a Spanish tapas restaurant. Everything was fantastic but all the food on the property is really great! We especially loved to order lunch by the pool. All the cocktails are fantastic, even poolside! Rooms are standard JW with some of them recently updated with the others on their way to being updated. Yes, there is a sort of a musty smell in the air, but that's in most hotels. It's a very hard to keep those highly humid rooms from smelling a little musty. You just have to get over it and enjoy the time outside the room. Pools are super cute and the beach area is nice. There is an adult pool that is open during the day but wish it was open later! Lots of places in walking distance if you decide to venture out of the property but why would you need to! Easy drive from the airport and to the downtown or for departure to Isla Mujeres. We did not go to the island this time but last time we booked everything through the hotel and they made it super easy.

    Occidental Costa - hotels - Updated June 2026

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