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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!!!

    Sean H.

    Decided to take a last minute early summer vacation down to cancun! Checked Expedia and this place came up as a more inexpensive resort than some of the others! I admit I was a bit skeptical but I said if it saves $300-400 dollars off the other resorts than it's worth a shot! I flew all night and half the next day, and ended up at the Barcelo Costa cancun! The employees were fairly nice, I just wish I wouldn't have had to have waited 3 hours for check in. (My fault not theirs) I say my bags down, and headed for the bar ( it's Mexico, don't judge!!) It takes getting used to, to go with the all inclusive thing, but let me tell you, it's amazing! More alcohol, food, and activities than I should've but it made for a great trip! Yes, this is a more budget family style resort, yes it's not super intimate, yes come with an open mind and a less than four seasons expectation and you'll have a great stay! The activities are super close, they have jet skis for rent on the beach at the hotel! (Fairly cheap and super fun). Go sit by the beach bar in the evening, after sunset, the people are great down there, and it's so relaxing and quite intimate! 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!! The hotel is very pretty, the drinks are great, the food is well, the buffet wasn't super great. I suggest making dinner reservations for the restaurants early, they had good food! Overall, I definitely recommend it, the people are nice, and so is the resort! Go check this place out! It's definitely a great stay! I hope to be back!!!

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    Page 1 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

    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

    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!

    Temptation Resort - Business cards

    Temptation Resort

    (182 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...

    I can't rate on the actual resort but I booked a room with a cancellable deposit. I was lied to…read morethem that I'd get the refund in 40 days. I ended up having to filing a dispute with my credit card to get my money back. I'd stay away.

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

    Live Aqua Resort

    (463 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.

    3 stars for overall experience. 5 stars for the staff. 1 star for the spa…read moreThis is a small, all inclusive resort in the hotel zone. It's across the street from a shopping mall. This is not a party resort. When we were there, there was a karaoke night and a DJ in one of their lounges, but it was never crowded and the events ended early or people just left early. The 1st room we stayed in was HORRIBLE! We couldn't sleep. There was a loud rumbling sound coming from the huge air conditioning units right outside balcony. Ear plugs did not help. We talked to 3 other people also complaining about the noise from their rooms also. We were so thankful to Eileen/Aileen at the front desk for moving us. She let us view 3 rooms that were available. We went from a partial ocean view room with a king bed on the 2nd floor to a garden view (actually just the alley with trees) with 2 queen beds on the 1st floor. There was no noise whatsoever! Yaaaay! The person booking excursions could be more friendly. He seemed uninterested and looked bored. Whenever we saw him speaking to other guests, he really looked bored or tired. ONE STAR for the spa. We arrived 15 minutes early for a couples massage. My husband was led to the men's side and I was taken to the women's side. The young lady leading the way, paused at the locker room but led me directly to the quiet room. I was fully dressed and had all my belongings with me. Everyone else was in robes. Why wasn't I given a locker to store my things and a robe to change into??? I was so upset and felt so out of place. When my husband met me in the quiet room he was as confused as I was as to why I was still fully dressed. We were led to the massage room and I asked AGAIN about changing into a robe and storing my things. One of the masseuses said I didn't need to. WTF? So I undressed and piled my clothes onto an ottoman. I could not relax. The music was too loud and inappropriate. Why are you playing music with someone singing loudly? When it was over, it took me a while to calm down. We paid for shit service?! We came back and spoke to Jessica at the desk. She was also confused and concerned about the whole lock and robe ordeal. She offered a discounted spa treatment the next day but we were leaving. I wouldn't have taken it anyway. Overall, the staff was AMAZING! Please recognize them! They worked really hard to make our stay enjoyable. Get to know the staff and tip them well. Thank you to Jose at Egos who made sure our hands always had a drink in them; Carlos at Varenna for the house special cocktails; Miguel who took care of us while we relaxed on the beachside cabana. He was so attentive, personable and funny. Alejandro at the poolside bar made us laugh, Israel at Azur for the honest feedback when we had questions about the dinner menu, and Cesar at Hidden Garden who helped us figure out what was what in the darkness of the dining area. One that note, why is it so dark at Hidden Garden during the dinner service? We had to use the flashlights on our phones to read the menu and see our food. Fernando at the Siete breakfast buffet was awesome! We watched him smoothly take care of so many tables. We never felt neglected despite all the tables and people he was tending to. Lulu (Lou Lou?) is AMAZING, FUNNY and ENTERTAINING! We were lost the 1st night we arrived. He stopped what he was doing to personally escorted us to Azur in the darkness, around all the pools. We ran into him several times during our stay. He always made sure we were ok and having a good time. His energy is unmatched! Thank you to Omar, from the Concierge desk. He welcomed us when we arrived and gave us so much information about the resort. It seemed like he works everywhere. We saw him at different places in the resort. Maryam from the Concierge Desk! She was an angel. She really listened to all of our concerns. She was so friendly and funny. Even when our stay was over and we were waiting for our ride, she offered drinks and food to take with us to the airport. She definitely put a smile back on my face.

    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.

    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!

    Update: My husband and I traveled back to the Riu Palace…read morePeninsula and just arrived home 2 days ago. We asked for and were given the same adult villa as on our last trip. We had a wonderful time and would return again and again. The adult pool is our favourite place to be and Marcelo is a gem! He remembered our drink order after day 1. Also, special shout out to Mendez in the lobby bar, who was so friendly and always had a big smile for us. The staff make this resort! They are so kind, friendly and gracious. We will be back!!

    Grand Oasis Palm

    Grand Oasis Palm

    (160 reviews)

    $$

    Zona Hotelera

    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.

    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.

    Occidental Costa Cancún - Room with terrace

    Occidental Costa Cancún

    (38 reviews)

    Zona Hotelera

    Food sucks here.. what's the point of all inclusive if you only give people buffet.. all nice…read morerestaurants are buffet until dinner.. we are staying 5 nights but they only gave us 2 nights of dinner at the nice restaurant.. I thought this was all inclusive.. I tried to change dinner days but you can only cancel.. so we have only been eating at the buffet.. 3 days so far and only buffet.. should have checked Yelp before booking.. this place sucks.. also the concierge is useless.. called to confirm our one and only dinner reservation time.. she made me walk to the lobby because they are too busy to give me the answer on the phone.. that's such crappy concierge service.. they also try and sign you up for a time share.. so not cool ..

    I was very disappointed with my stay. The room was dirty when I arrived, and its overall condition…read morewas poor. The bathroom was especially horrible--it was not clean and clearly not maintained. The hotel's common areas were also very uncomfortable because there was no air conditioning in the lobby or the restaurants. The beach was extremely dirty, which took away from the overall experience. It was also concerning to see staff serving food while sweating heavily due to the heat, creating an unpleasant dining environment. Overall, this hotel fell far below my expectations for cleanliness, comfort, and maintenance. I would not recommend staying here based on my experience

    JW Marriott Cancun Resort & Spa - smoothie

    JW Marriott Cancun Resort & Spa

    (330 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 August 2026

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