After a long flight to Cancun from Paris, we pick up the car rented from Hertz and are on our way to the Cancun hotel area.
As a reminder, here is the itinerary followed:
Booking
So many difficulties and hesitations to make this choice!
Indeed, I wanted to book first at the JW Marriott Cancun, hotelin which I had previously stayed in August 2021.
Unfortunately, a group booked the entire hotel for 1 week, straining availability for individual guests. Even through the general manager,there was no way to book the 5 nights we had to spend in Cancun. Same thing at the nearby Marriott and Ritz-Carlton.
Other Bonvoy properties operate in the vicinity. For the most part, without direct access to the beach. For others, with limited or no participation in the Bonvoy program (both Westins).
So it was a no-brainer tobook at this property that is newly part of the Marriott family, despite the fact that I was put off by its All-Inclusive nature.
Beware, the bill is quite high: nearly $500 a night for a suite with sea view.
Arrival
We arrive shortly after 21h at the hotel.
Our car and luggage are taken care of by the valet and we are directed to the Diamond Club reception.
Indeed, because of my Ambassador status, we have been upgraded to a room of this category which allows access to a range of services including a private area on the beach and a dedicated pool, premium spirits for cocktails, and a butler who organizes your days and evenings for you.
Unfortunately, despite my request well in advance, no room with a king bed was available, and we were assigned a room with two double beds. Too bad, as I had explicitly sent an email about it.
The total payment of the stay is made as well as an imprint of card for the possible extras.
Our receptionist then takes us to the elevator.
Room
Our junior suite was located on the 10th floor of the property, high enough to have a great view and low enough to not hear the noise from the rooftop club.
The corridors are rather plain, and some room doors are decorated according to the event celebrated by the guests.
From the entrance, we find a hallway with a large closet, which faces the bathroom, very open. No problem if you travel as a couple, more if you are with friends.
The latter is equipped with two beautiful basins of toilet, separate toilet and a beautiful and large shower.
The toiletries are branded Royalton and will be of pretty good quality.
Then comes the bedroom, equipped with these two double beds, comfortable even if we would have preferred a comforter a little more cozy, a large television and a storage unit facing them, then in the extension, a small desk facing a lounge area.
The whole, before a beautiful balcony equipped with armchairs and a coffee table and, obviously, the view on the sea, magnificent.
The decoration is quite successful and everything is in a good state of maintenance.
Finally, the video tour:
Hotel facilities
Like any good resort, the hotel’s facilities are numerous.
Fitness room
A fitness room is available on the hotel’s mezzanine. We will not use it during our stay.
Rooftop pool
A rooftop pool, Level 18, is open day and night. We won’t use it, but it offers themed parties on alternate days.
Main pool
The main pool is located on the first floor of the hotel, near the reception. We will not use it and would prefer the pool reserved for the Diamond Club
Diamond Club Pool
The Diamond Club pool is located on the right side of the hotel. It is smaller, but the service is more attentive. This is where we will settle for the two days we will spend relaxing.
Cocktails are flowing all day long, so watch out for abuse!
Restaurants
There is an abundance of food and beverage options in the hotel. Nearly 7 restaurants operate so you don’t have to eat the same food every day. Pretty smart.
Breakfast is served as a buffet on the second floor, but the other restaurants operate as table service by reservation for the evening. Throughout the day, various snack options are available.
Breakfast service
Breakfast is served daily from 7:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. at the hotel’s buffet restaurant, located on the 2nd floor.
The dining room is quite large, and the buffet huge, probably one of the best hotel buffets ever, especially for a resort.
The table service for drinks is very attentive. A cocktail cart passes between the tables to offer mojitos and Bloody Mary.
The hot and cold offer is very extensive and many items are prepared at the minute.
Lunch Service – Diamond Club Grill
On our first relaxing day at the beach,we had lunch near our loungers and the Diamond bar. A barbecue was set up with grilled food and fresh vegetables. A treat.
Lunch service – Buffet
On our last day at the hotel, we had lunch at the buffet, the same place as breakfast.
And the buffet is of excellent quality, with obviously a local selection but also Italian, Asian, and grilled meat and fish. Excellent.
Dinner service – Agave
On our first night, we dined at the Agave restaurant, the Mexican option of the Resort. It was the option I was least tempted by but I was quite pleasantly surprised.
Before dinner, some tortillas with sauces are brought to us. It was excellent
As an appetizer, I would choose the melted cheese: very good but a little heavy
For the main course, I would choose the crispy shrimp, excellent but a little light this time.
And for dessert, I will finish with the tres leches, a little disappointing.
Dinner service – Grazie
For our second evening, we will dine at the restaurant Grazie, the Italian option of the Resort. The reception was good and we were quickly placed inside.
Before dinner, a ciabatta bread with olive oil and parmesan is brought to us. Decadent but good
As a starter I will choose the Antipasti: we will not choke. But it was good, maybe lacked a little salt.
In pasta I will choose the gnocchi. Same : we will not choke but it was super good. Maybe a little too creamy for the purists
For the main course, I will take the pork tenderloin: good in taste but overcooked
For dessert, the panna cotta will be very disappointing
Dinner Service – Hunter’s
For our third evening, we choose the steakhouse located on the 3rd floor of the property.
The reception will be cold and the service mediocre.
Before the meal, onion bread with butter is brought to us: good, but too little.
As an appetizer, I chose the Cesar salad: the sauce was good but 2 leaves of salad, that’s a joke!
For the main course, I’ll have the rare beef tenderloin. Good, but the side dishes were very basic, a bit like a canteen. And the sauce given in homeopathic doses.
For dessert, we will share a kind of revisited cheesecake. And failed.…
Dinner service – Sky
On our fourth and last night at the hotel, we chose to dine at the hotel’s fish restaurant, Sky, located on the rooftop of the hotel.
Before dinner, we were brought onion bread with red wine butter. It was disgusting.
As an appetizer, I will take the lobster bisque, it was rather ordinary, not very tasty. My wife will take the lobster tacos, hard to eat and also with little taste.
For the main course, we will take both the roasted sea bass, risotto supposedly with truffle (but we did not feel it), too cheesy without doubt. The sea bass was overcooked, rubbery and burnt on top. The vegetables were undercooked and tasteless.
For dessert, I will take the pistachio brownie, and it will be a huge failure,you will judge by the picture. I couldn’t finish it because it is indescribably sweet and really not good.
Room-service
The room service can be ordered directly from the television set.
Hummus was hardly identifiable by texture or taste. We won’t touch it.
The cheese board was of low quality, and served without bread.
The smoked salmon was also of low quality.
Big failure again.
Departure
Despite the relative simplicity of the situation, the departure formalities took some time, for no particular reason. The tourist taxes were charged, as well as the purchase made at the store a few days earlier.
A few minutes later, we will be on our way to the airport in our rental car.
Bottom line
In summary, a good stay. But the All-Inclusive restaurant offer, even with all the efforts made, did not convince us. Maybe next time we’ll return to the Ritz-Carlton.
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