I recently returned from a 6-night stay at the Marriott Cancun All-Inclusive Resort with my wife and our two children (ages 8 and 6). It took a few days to sit down and write this because traveling with kids creates a lot of post-trip chaos, but I wanted to share our experience since recent reviews of the updated property were limited.
For context, this resort was originally the Marriott Cancun, which opened in 1990. It underwent a major renovation and reopened in September 2024 as the first Marriott-branded all-inclusive resort. Many older reviews online refer to the previous version of the property, so timing matters when reading feedback. We stayed at the start of summer for 6 nights.
The property feels completely new, with a modern minimalist design, terrazzo floors, light wood accents, and large glass areas showcasing ocean views. The layout is compact, making it easy to walk anywhere quickly. Our ocean-view room had two double beds, a balcony, and a modern bathroom with a large walk-in shower.
Food was a major highlight. We tried nearly all the restaurants and found the overall quality very good. Casa Madre stood out the most, especially for its Mexican breakfast buffet and evening atmosphere with live cultural performances. Hana (Polynesian) was also excellent, particularly the pork belly. Toscani (Italian) was a quieter standout with better-than-expected pasta. Mikado and Kasai offered Japanese options, including teppanyaki entertainment that was very popular with the kids. Other dining options included Mediterranean, Lebanese, buffet-style casual dining, burgers, sports bar plus arcade, and a ceviche-focused spot near the adults’ pool.
Dinner reservations are required for the sit-down restaurants and can be booked via the Marriott app starting five days before arrival. We planned ahead and had no issues securing times. Casual dining spots are walk-in.
For families, the kids’ facilities were excellent. The CAMP Club offered a wide range of activities including arts, music recording, outdoor play, climbing, and themed creative stations. Both children enjoyed it significantly, especially the younger one. There is also a separate teens’ area for older children.
The water park is modest in size but includes a lazy river, slides, and splash areas suitable for younger kids. The main pool has ocean views and a swim-up bar, and there is also an adults-only infinity pool with a hot tub.
The beach was a strong point, with clear turquoise water and clean sand. Chair availability was generally good, and drink service was available on the beach. The resort is located in a prime hotel zone area near La Isla shopping center, which is within walking distance.
There were a few downsides. Pool chairs get reserved early in the morning, mosquitoes can be an issue at outdoor restaurants, and the property includes some elevation changes that may be difficult for guests with mobility concerns. Evening entertainment ends relatively early, and Wi-Fi was inconsistent in some outdoor areas. Coffee quality at breakfast was average.
Overall, the experience was highly positive. At roughly 450 dollars per night, the value felt reasonable for a newly renovated, family-focused all-inclusive resort. I would return without hesitation, and my children also said they would like to go back.
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