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Occidental Costa Cancún

2.1 (35 reviews)

Occidental Costa Cancún Photos

Recommended Reviews - Occidental Costa Cancún

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The beach bar at night
JOanne A.

Arrived at the resort and initially I was excited bc it's an open lobby and you get a view of the pool and a sliver of the beach. Suddenly, I'm annoyed BECAUSE the check-in process is SO LONG and it was so aggravating the way things were handled. It's not the language barrier, it's NOT the fact that when you book through expedia it doesn't ask you how many people are in your party, it's that the check-in process took close to a damn hour bc the guy behind the counter kept chit-chatting w/his colleagues and helping them with THEIR guests, not the one HE is supposed to be helping. SO DAMN ANNOYING. The room itself is ok. Incredibly outdated, I'd say 2000's decor. The shower could have been cleaner and the AC... YIKES, smelled like mildew, mold, whichever and I'm almost positive that my sinus issues came from it. Same thing happened to me at other hotels but the smell from this one was especially strong. I would have kept the sliding door to the terrace/balcony open BUT the drawback to that was that we were facing the pool and we were located RIGHT BEHIND the stage where they had performances and it was LOUD AF never-mind being able to see into my room. Like any other all inclusive resorts, this place had food, drinks and activities. Alcohol is included but being a beer drinker, the only beer that they have is Corona and I could only have so much of that so I started ordering micheladas and that helped break things up on the drinking side. They had other alcoholic drinks that were not included with the all inclusive wristband but were an add'l cost. We stuck to what was included. Overall-- I'd rather try another resort.

Bar and beach front
Tameka A.

We had the best time for our honeymoon, I would definitely recommend staying here! The food is better at the restaurants but you have to make reservations!

Front desk
Mark M.

As one of four couples, my husband and I arrived at the property and we were checked in pretty quick and we were put in rm 622 which was billed as a "Sea Front view", but I would describe it more as a "pool view with a slice of water". **Atmosphere** Walking into the property, there is a large lobby dotted with people and luggage for. This is a relatively small which needs a dedicated storage area to de-clutter this area. There was some music, however, it was not overwhelmingly loud. We never saw anyone drunk/falling down, so if you are looking for a chill family atmosphere, stay here. **Food** I read many reviews prior to this booking about the food, so I knew exactly what I was getting into. I would give the food a C-, with glimmers of greatness. By far, breakfast was the most solid meal. We ate at the main buffet and La Trattoria for breakfast most days, with La Trattoria being the quieter environment and the staff was very attentive. I did not like about the breakfast at the main buffet is that after a certain hour (10:00am), refills on key items like fruit, pancakes, etc. seemed to not be replenished. The main buffet hall was a gamble with some indistinguishable proteins and a few sides. Again, La Trattoria was more intimate for lunch with some great grilled pork and fried chicken. They did a better job of keeping things stocked. We only tried one specialty restaurant (Claraboya) and it was decent alternative to the buffet. I like a medium steak and I received medium rare. I ate it but my friends picked at their steaks. **Drinks** If you are coming here to drink--let me restate that. Those of you who are GOING TO DRINK, please be prepared to not recognize 95% of the offerings. I saw Bacardi, Aperol and Jose Cuervo and that was about it. Luckily, I viewed other pictures before arriving and we decided to bring Tito's and Jack Daniels with us. After I ran out of my own stash, I stuck to beer, sparkling wine and the Bacardi mentioned earlier. The bartenders at the two bars were very fast and did a good job. **Room** In terms of A/C, this room scored high, so much so, my husband had to turn off the ceiling fan. When we arrived, there were no face cloths and we asked for others. They were replenished the next day. However, every day thereafter, they were not refilled, even after we asked for more. The bedding and mattress comfort was standard. The bathroom water pressure and water temp was excellent. The lighting in the restroom was terrible and too dark for my tastes. This room was also equipped with a small balcony which gave great light but there were no drying hooks to get that wet swimwear dry. We also always heard slamming doors, the icemaker right outside the door and there was a huge amount of light coming through the crack in the door. **Gym/Spa** It opens at 7am. If you want to run on the treadmill or do a weight workout, you are in luck! However, most of the cardio equipment is in poor. There are weights up to about 40 pounds and a large cage weight system. There was one cushioned mat for floor work. My biggest complaint was the fact that there were no sweat towels. The spa area with restrooms and sauna was roomy. **Pool** There is only one pool, which has a "kiddie pool" section and there is no hot tub. On one of the days, poolside servers seemed to disappear and we had to get out of the pool to grab our own drinks. The pool was always clean and warm, though at night, there were always kids running and splashing around and no parents in sight. The pool closes at 10pm and the hotel was strict about this time. **Beach** As noted in many reviews, the beach area is very small and has a bar area. This beach area is shared with the Puente Calinda docking area. It is a great place to catch the sunrise. It is rocky, though and most people avoid the area - the area is roped off with ball buoys. **Events/Activities** The "animation team" was very small but we interacted with several of them and everyone was very nice. Two in particular (Sheyla and Dany) were talkative and very friendly. **Staff** Not once did we encounter a staff member who was ill-tempered or rude. The complaint has to do with the follow-up, like the towel issue mentioned earlier. If you need an economical vacation, this is definitely the place to go and you should have a good time - no too fancy and it's somewhere in the middle. If you are a LGBTQ/queer/gay/lesbian traveler (as 75% of my group was), feel free to travel in peace and comfort. We never felt treated any differently than an average guest. We saw multiple travelers who we assume belong to our tribe (lol) and they seemed to be having a great time too. PROS: generally low-key, family vibe, friendly staff, close proximity to outside shopping/restaurants, LGBTQ FRIENDLY! CONS: no BACON at breakfast, generally lower quality of food/drinks, bad restroom lighting, one pool, no drying hooks in the room, missing towels in the rm & gym

My waiter Alfredo Gil at The Occidental Costa Resort Cancun was absolutely amazing. He was very friendly and attentive to our needs.
Tunga G.

Alfredo Gil our waiter was absolutely amazing! He was friendly and very attentive to our needs! He even remembered our favorite drinks and had them for us before we asked. I requested to sit in Alfredo area our entire stay. He is an awesome guy! He helped make our stay even more enjoyable. Our room was surprisingly nice clean and big. After reading the reviews I was kinda skeptical but our room was very nice. Check in went smoothly. We arrived around 1pm and our room was ready. The drinks were good. The bartenders in the lobby/pool area worked very hard to keep the drinks slowly pretty quickly. No complaints. They were fast and friendly as well. What I didn't like was the ppl trying to get you to sign up for the time share presentation. I did sign up but I didn't get everything I was promised for going. Now they want to ignore me when I ask about what I was promised. Overall the hotel is small ( I like that) the beach is small the pool is very nice. I enjoyed my stay because I was looking for a nice quiet getaway and this resort delivered.

Parole soup

Terrible service, bussers at buffet clear your plate away as you are at another station getting something else. Drinks watered down, juice watered down, everything watered down, has little flavor. Same bland food all week. Entertainment very lackluster.

The beach and the pool

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1 year ago

food poisoning and extra charges for cleaning the bedding my daughter threw up on. not happy and disappointed I chose this place.

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3 years ago

Service is good, decent beach, and the rooms are nice. Wasn't too impressed with the food or the slow check in process

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Review Highlights - Occidental Costa Cancún

Had such an amazing time thanks to all the lovely and helpful staff members.

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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.

Occidental Costa - Chicken Breast from the Seafood Restaurant

Occidental Costa

(81 reviews)

$$

Zona Hotelera

This is a AMAZING value all-inclusive resort…read more We arrived in the evening around 9:15pm, the check in process took about 40 minutes and we were able to hit the dinner buffet before it closed at 10:30pm. We got a ground level room with a deck facing the pool, it was clean and the mini fridge was stocked, it is restocked every 24hrs with water, snacks, beers and soda. The room did have a watery smell to it, but nothing that was a bother. The room's air conditioning worked great and there is a ceiling fan. There was shampoo and body wash in the shower. The shower head is adjustable so you are able to change the water pressure. The shower gets hot and stays hot. We used the gym all 6 days we were there, it has great equipment, 3 treadmills, 3 bikes, 3 ellipticals and weights. The only thing is the air conditioning doesn't work very well so be prepared to sweat! There were 3 restaurants on the property, Mexico Lindo, a seafood and an Italian restaurant. They all had amazing food, we ate at each one twice. You can also choose to eat at the buffet for dinner which doesn't need a reservation and there is a 24hr snack bar. The reason why I gave this resort 4 starts instead of 5 is the fact that you do have to be up at 6:45am if you want a reservation. However, when we were there, Mexico Lindo wasn't requiring a reservation. You also have to be up early if you want to reserve a spot at the pool or beach. Each guest receives one towel that you can exchange at the end of the day for a new towel or a towel card. If you lose your towel or towel card it is a $25 fee. There is a ferry right by the beach that you can take to Isla Mujeres which we did, it was $29USD per person which makes for a beautiful day trip. A lot of reviews say there is a gasoline smell at the beach, that was not the case. At times when the ferry left to Isla Mujeres it would linger for about 5 seconds then it'd be gone. It is a great beach. There is also free WiFi at this resort. The workers are AMAZING!! We had great service at the restaurants, bars, everywhere. They were all friendly and helpful. We never had an issue getting drinks at the bar and we went during Spring Break season.

Everything is terrible. Food is so bad. So so so bad. The attitudes of the staff suck. This place…read moreis better for Mexican natives because they don't speak English hardly at all and it's honestly more suited for people from here. The beach is terrible. I would rather sleep in my car.

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.

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 Cancún - hotels - Updated June 2026

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