WOW This is our…read morefirst resort in Cancun and I don't think we will ever choose another one. FOOD Wow. We did our homework before our trip and saw Zilara Cancun had good/decent reviews about their food. Let me tell you, this is probably the best food I've had in a long long time. Top dishes for me are the octopus with mole and lobster tostada from Maria Marie. If you like/can eat seafood, trust me on this. The drinks are phenomenal as well. There are signature drinks at all the restaurants. Those are mostly hits but some are misses (depends on your taste buds) PRO TIP: sign up for alcohol tastings at The Den first day you get there. We did tequila and wine tasting. It was quite a unique experience. SERVICE I've never gotten treated like this in any hotel I've been at. Chef's kiss for sure. The bellhop/front desk usually can break your 20s/100s into 1s so don't feel the need to exchange pesos (unless you want to of course). The workers at the hotel (and around Cancun overall) takes USD PRO TIP: there are a lot of activities hosted by the hotel. Morning exercise classes are really fun and the night shows are just okay. The crowd is definitely on the older side that just want to come to Cancun and chill not party. From hearing the reviews, Zilara had the most amount of activities from various first hand reviews from our friends All in all, solid resort. You won't regret it!

We typically go to the excellence Cancun, but they didn't have two club rooms the weeks we wanted…read moreto go so we picked the Zilara and overall I'm glad we did. FOOD- I overall liked the food. I wish they would have advertised/told us the buffet had different theme dinners. They were our favorite for dinner. There were good dishes at each, but nothing phenomenal. I really liked the lunches they had set up by the pool. It was overall good and on par with my expectations for an all inclusive. BEACH- this is honestly one of the highlights. The resort had one of the best beaches and ability to get in the ocean. If you want to get in the ocean, this is the spot. SERVICE - this was the most disappointing. At Excellence you cannot breathe without someone asking if you need something. It took a long time for people to check on us and we tip well. Day 4 we finally found Humberto who was THE BEST! Find him and tip him well. ROOMS- they were good and I was happy with them! POOLS- the pools were fine. A little shaded. The most annoying part was the cabana situation. Some are free, some are always paid, and some are paid on certain days. I get up at like 6AM every day anyways so I got good cabanas but if you're not an early riser you're screwed. Overall, I'd return!!

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.

Visited at the end of March to attend a wedding at the resort property. We scheduled local…read moretransportation which was a breeze coming from the airport to the resort. Our luggage was immediately checked in and we were able to check in even arriving early around 11 am. Our particular room was ready and we checked and our luggage was promptly dropped off. We stayed in an oceanfront room which had a beautiful view with a seating area inside and on the balcony. The room and bathroom were very clean and well stocked. I like the aromatherapy touch in the resort and in our rooms being able to choose which scent you wanted was very nice. I loved the separation of the toilet and shower by a wall and doors for privacy when using either. The water pressure and water temperature in the shower was great although there was some water draining from the shower during use. We would generally put a foot towel down to contain the water. The room was serviced twice daily so we were never without towels, etc. I also utilized the laundry service which was reasonably priced for three pieces of clothing and it was returned the next day. The staff was generally very courteous and helpful (we only had one less than courteous experience with a waiter at the Hidden Garden on our last evening). The food at the restaurants and by the beach and pool area was great - I cannot say enough about the fresh fruit and the grilled ribs and chicken so well seasoned and cooked with flavor. We ate daily in Siete for breakfast (the smoothie station you will need to go to first because it fills up because the smoothies are sooo good). We also dined at Hidden Garden where I enjoyed Indian cuisine which was delicious (but a small portion). All inclusive so it was nice not having to continually carry payment and only the gratuity needed for the staff. The last two mornings of our stay there appeared to be construction in the room next door or our floor which was disturbing - we did alert the front desk staff and it would generally stop around a certain time. Getting beds and chairs at the beach was generally easy but for the pool it was the hunger games usually having to place towels or bags on chairs early to 'reserve' them (there are no reservations for chairs only for the larger cabanas for an additional fee) We also experienced the spa which was amazing. Highly recommend visiting during your stay. The spa ritual is so relaxing and the couples massage in a combined room was great. Would definitely stay again. $$$

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.

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.

My first all-inclusive resort experience, and it's so good that I think it would be hard to top…read more Six days and 5 nights is a good length to stay with children. Besides the price (extra $127/night for a toddler), we had a wonderful experience - the food (both quality and variety), the well-kepted grounds, the amenities (Kid's Club, gym, pools) and the service are all top-notch. Food: there are food available from 6AM to 11PM. Some places I visited multiple times are: The cafe (opens from 6AM to 11PM) - coffee, tea and Frappe available all day. I usually stopped by after the gym (yoga near the beach at 7AM) to grab a iced latte and freshly baked pastires (dulce de leches cruffin is my favorite). Habaneros (opens from 12-6PM) - this is a casual spot serving tacos and ceviche on the beach. Even my toddler enjoyed the mixed ceviche with octupus. I enjoyed the ceviche, salmon toastada, and octopus tacos, while my toddler playyed with sand on the beach next to the table. Moongate (opens after 5PM) - the only restaurant that requires reservation, but for Teppanyaki ONLY. We were able to make a reservation for 5PM about 3 days in advance. The Teppanyaki chefs are all super energetic and made the experience fun for both kids and adults. We went back for dinner, and enjoyed some Asian Fusion dinner of ramen and sushi/rolls. My favorites include Short-rib, Teriyaki Salmon and the Omakase Nigiri. Trade Winds (opens for breakfast and dinner) - best steak in the resort. Last but not least, it took me 3 days to find my non-alcoholic drink of choice - strawberry mojito. I'm not a fan of the pina colada here, just FYI. One thing I don't like is the dolphins in captivity. I know it's a major attraction of the resort, and my kids honestly enjoyed watching the dolphins swim around and being trained. But it still makes me sad to see them contained in such a limited area.

One of the best vacations I've ever taken. 6 days here and it flew by so quickly. Everyone in my…read moregroup said the same thing. The property is MASSIVE. There are about 7-8 different restaurants and they all have their own theme/specialty. For the most part, the food here is amazing.. Like, I would come back as a regular paying customer. The people who work here appear to have a lot of pride and certainly make you feel well cared for. The service has been nothing but amazing. Highly recommend renting a cabana for a day or more. It comes with its own food/drink service (although sometimes we didn't see them for long stretches of time). You also get a free 5 minute facial for two people and two complimentary coconuts. Highly recommend because the bench chairs get taken up early in the day with people who simply put towels on them and walk away. The views here are amazing. The water is warm and blue. Everything I learned about cancun was real lol. I'd definitely come back here again in the future!

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.

I booked my trip through Costco Travel and ended up getting an unbelievable deal, so I already…read morearrived feeling good -- and the resort definitely delivered. The staff is genuinely friendly, always smiling, and quick to help with anything. Casa Madre became my go‑to spot for breakfast. Tons of options, fresh food, and something for every mood. After that, I'd swing by the coffee shop, which surprised me in the best way. They don't have the fancy frappes or over-the-top drinks, but their "Special Coffee" (fresh coffee mixed with cinnamon and honey) is perfect. Simple, warm, and honestly better than anything blended. For lunch, the taco stand and the Mediterranean spot right next to it were both solid choices. The chicken was super soft and flavorful -- exactly what you want when you're grabbing something quick between pool time. Dinner was where the resort really shined. Delphini had an incredible ocean view that made the whole meal feel special. And the Japanese hibachi night was a blast -- great food, fun show, and it totally hit the spot. Overall, I loved my stay. Great value, great food, great people. Would absolutely come back.

Stayed here for a short stay of 3 nights. Plenty of time to experience most of the restaurants,…read morepool and beach area. Been to several other resorts so a bit of comparison there. In general very friendly staff, and got to know several employees. Many will also remember your name. David by the adult pool was great. Definitely need to take stake on pool side chairs in the morning. We reserved cabana before we arrived. Online Marriott Experience app makes it easy reserve dinner and other things! They have several options of the usual themed restaurants. Casa Madra is the Mexican one and probably the least interesting, there were was an odd lack of salt on the chips and food :-) The Japanese combo restaurant (sushi and hibachi) appears confusing to customers and staff :-) Much of the sushi related menu appears to have an additional cost. I was told that the California Roll roll was extra, but the sashimi platter had a roll? The Diakon Maki was great. No chopsticks available for some reason close to closing? Hibachi was okay but I was missing the "yum yum sauce" :-) The unique beach side Delphina restaurant is probably the best and have some good dishes. Had a great red snapper catch of the day at the Hana restaurant. Two restaurants double for buffet style breakfast serving. The one at the Mexican restaurant is open to the outdoors, but they have hawk trainers to keep the birds away :-) The Champions sport bar is out by the main entrance door to the left. Open 12m to 12am. Damien is great. Pro tip: get a latte from the main lobby and top off with Bailey from the sports bar before the lobby bar opens at 4pm : Janssen has some cool tricks and drinks at the lobby bar :-) Very clean, staff of all levels picking up things everywhere. There is turn down service here, which I wasn't expecting. Large number families with kids, which didn't brother us. Count on a destination wedding party over a weekend stay :-) Coming here between the two US holidays (Thanksgiving & Xmas) there is a dip of occupancy to around 50% it appears. All in all positive and not a bad place to burn your Marriott points in my mind. It may not be a high-end all inclusive resort but will fit many just fine :-)

Stayed at the resort for ten days. May 11th 2026 through the 21st. It is a bit of an older decor…read morebut it is very clean and there are workers always cleaning. The staff was very friendly and tried to help with our request. The room was a junior suite with an ocean view. It was comfortable and our room attendant did a great job. The king bed was two beds pushed together, but with some magic by the wife we made it more like one and were very comfortable. You can get a single king bed in some of the rooms. We were there with friends and didn't want be separated so we stayed with that configuration. I would try and get a room on the west wing. It actually looks to the east and you don't get the extreme heat in the late afternoon that the east wing does. We ate at all of the restaurants and our favs were the Black and White Steak house and Krystal. The Italian restaurant off of the lobby was good for a quick slice of pizza at lunch time. The buffet is like it is on a cruise ship and was good for most of our breakfast seatings. After a few days gets a little old. The staff was super friendly and hard workers. There is a 24 hour refreshment spot, but the food is only so so. Just for a quick sandwich or fruit. They do have a beer tap and a few selections of liquor available there for self service as well. The pool and beach area had plenty of chairs and umbrellas. If you don't see any available just ask and they will make it happen if possible. My complaint about the pool would be they close at 7:00. One small pool stay open until 8:00. Way too early for an adult only. I suggest if you want to do excursions to go straight across the street to one of the stands. If you know what you want to do they are a much better deal, but be certain you know where you want to go. make sure and get transportation included in your excursion. Also in that area there is the Bamboo Spa. You can get a massage for less than half at the resort spa. They did a very good job and were very professional. Not a "happy endings" type of place. Tell them you will do the massage if they throw in the fish foot treatment. Sounds weird but it was pretty nice. This is all inclusive for food and drink. The drinks are pretty light and when you ask for something other than the house liquor I'm pretty sure it didn't happen all the time. The best is to ask for the drink with a shot on the side, or better yet go to the bar yourself and watch them make the drink. It was definitely better and i was assured to get the name brand. Over all I would recommend this RIU.

What an incredible trip!! Hands down my favorite place to stay in Cancun!…read more The hotel was stunning. We got the jacuzzi room and it felt like we had a palace! The views were insane and we felt like royalty! Our friends got the Jr Suite rooms and their rooms were equally just as nice (in case you are looking to save money, no matter what, get that frontal sea view room!!!!) The hotel is a palace and we were able to explore other hotels around (Caribe night party was super fun! And the Cancún next door was more lively at night and had better social life!) The staff were super friendly and made sure our cups were ALWAYS full and we were happy!! It's also NO KIDS, so you never had to worry about crying babies or kids running over your stuff at the pool/beach! The food: The buffet was great (not like normal hotels cheep buffets) this place had amazing staff and the quality of the fresh food was so shocking! There were endless options each day. There are also other restaurants at the hotel, our favorite was the Japanese one, the food was so good (we got multiple dumpling orders TO-GO back to our room. The steak house was good as well, just it gets BUSY and you need to book in advance to ensure you'll get a table. The Italian one was very American Average, nothing crazy stood out, but again the venue vibes were great! The 4th one, we never went to cuz the menu didn't fit our desire, but it looked cool from the outside! Cons of this hotel: The 24hr snack lounge had this kinda funky cleaning smell? I don't know how to describe it but my clothes coming home had that odor on it. Also The beach was kinda small/narrow so there wasn't much room if you came down around lunch. Chairs/loungers were also a VERY hot item and it was hard to find chairs after 10am most days. If you like to drink, there isn't that "top shelf" quality of liquor here, it's kinda average... but the bartenders were able to make virtually any drink and we never had a single bad drink! Transportation: No one (not a single person) told us that you need to confirm your return transpiration the day after you arrive (and the travel people can be found out at the stage lounge are most mornings). Riu had messed up and booked 2 out of 6 of our party on a VERY early pick up instead of having us all travel together. We had to rebook through the agent outside but I was able to get a refund when I go back home) ------------------ Overall, BOOK this hotel. The location, the perks, the quality of life here can't be beat! We are already booing our next 2 trips here LOL

8-Day trip as a solo traveler. I had an amazing time from the second I got there until the second I…read moreleft. I felt safe, cared for, valued and respected. 2 days of treatments at the spa were top notch. Amazing service by Eduardo, Juan, Leslie, Carmen, Denise, and Alberto. Some people say the treatments are expensive but I found that they were comparable to any nice, luxurious and exclusive day spa I have ever been to. It was worth every penny. Tons of pools and activities. I did not have to worry about finding seating. Moises at the Excellence Club pool was absolutely outstanding. He is legend around here and I can see why. Most days were spent at the beach, meditating and relaxing. I have never been taken care of better than I was by Ivan and Jorge. They were outstanding gentlemen and treated me very well and ensured I had a great week. Hibachi dinner was excellent. Rosy and Gerardo were so much fun. Food was fantastic. Erika at Aroma was a pleasure to see each night as I got a warm drink and tea to settle down for the evening. Overall, an absolutely great experience. I will definitely be booking another trip for next year.

This place is amazing! We will absolutely be back. Clean, friendly service, anything we asked for…read morethey would do their best to accommodate. Loved the pools, especially the lazy river. All of the restaurants are great, my favorites were Basmati and Spice. The only room for improvement: I wish there were healthier options available by the pools do lunch. The taco truck is great but doesn't open until 4pm.. a little late for lunch. I don't want fries/hotdog/burger/nachos for lunch. The Linux buffet was great, but it would've been nice to have a salad or tacos by the pool. Loved the shows and trivia every night! Can't wait to go back.

The rooms at the pyramid are great -- clean, spacious, and really comfortable. The outside pool is…read moreamazing and definitely one of the highlights of the resort. The overall location is fantastic, and the views are absolutely stunning. The only reason I'm giving 4 stars instead of 5 is the restaurant situation. Most of the good restaurants require reservations, and they fill up quickly, so you don't always get the chance to use them. Other than that, it's a wonderful experience!

I honestly don't know how this hotel has any positive reviews. I stayed here for just one night,…read moreand it was horrible from start to finish. Room condition: The moment we entered, I noticed mold on the floor, which is completely unacceptable for any hotel, let alone one advertised as all-inclusive in Cancún. The room felt dirty and outdated, and I honestly didn't want to touch anything on the floor. Sharing a small bed with my sister made the night even more miserable, and the furniture barely felt usable. Cleanliness: Absolutely terrible. Not only was there mold, but the general vibe of the hotel made it feel uncared for. I wouldn't trust anything in the room that might touch my skin or clothes. Environment: Outside the room, there were ants crawling everywhere, which is gross and completely avoidable. The hotel clearly doesn't maintain its property properly. Food & Amenities: The food was honestly mid at best--nothing to write home about. Limited options, bland taste, and completely underwhelming for a resort that calls itself all-inclusive. After seeing the room and the unsanitary conditions, I honestly didn't even bother trying much. Overall experience: This place is not worth your money. One night here feels like a lifetime of discomfort. If you're expecting a clean, comfortable, all-inclusive resort, stay far away. The beach might be okay, but that's not enough to make up for moldy floors, tiny beds, mid-tier food, and ant infestations. Rating: 1/5 stars--maybe even 0 if Yelp allowed it. This hotel deserves the low reviews it gets. I can't stress enough: don't stay here unless you want to ruin your vacation. Update: This place somehow got even worse overnight. People were blasting random music at full volume outside until 1 AM, and the hotel did absolutely nothing--no control, no quiet hours, nothing. Sleeping here was basically impossible. On top of that, the bedsheets were so bad they made my skin irritation significantly worse, and I woke up in actual pain. Between the noise, disgusting conditions, and zero management, this was easily one of the worst nights I've ever had anywhere. Avoid this place at all costs.