Best Marriott Hotels In Cancun, Kempinski Vs. Westin Vs. JW Marriott
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Which are the best Marriott Bonvoy luxury hotels and Resorts in Cancun? Ritz-Carlton vs. Westin vs. JW Marriott? When we wrote this article a few years ago, there was a Ritz-Carlton hotel, but this has since changed to a Kempinski hotel, so we have amended this article to detail the differences between the Kempinski vs. Westin vs JW Marriott in Cancun.

The Marriott brand includes Luxury Collection, EDITION, St Regis, W Hotels, and JW Marriott, as well as mid-range brands like Autograph Collection, Renaissance, Sheraton, Le Meridien, Design Hotels, and Westin.

The Kempinski is a brilliant property with a gorgeous club lounge. Even though the brand has changed, the excellent club lounge remains. The JW Marriott is also fabulous, with an excellent and beautiful executive club lounge.

The JW Marriott and the Kempinski are better than the Westin but are more expensive. You get what you pay for! If you are a Marriott Bonvoy Platinum or Titanium elite member you will not get free club lounge access at the JW Marriott but will reportedly get free lounge access at the Cancun Westin Resort & Spa, which may sway your decision making.

To get club lounge access to Club 91 at the JW Marriott you have to pay additional supplements. For children age 6-12, the price is currently $75 plus tax daily. For those aged 13-17, the price is $100 plus tax daily. For those aged 18 plus, the price is $125 plus tax daily.

There are two Westins in Cancun. The Westin Lagunamar is reportedly the best of the two hotels. Both offer timeshares. Westin Lagunamar is a large property with great pools but no executive club lounge. The alternative is the Westin Resort & Spa, which is more dated but offers great value. This one does have a club lounge.

The JW Marriott and Kempinski club lounges are comparable. The Club 91 lounge at the JW has been recently upgraded lounge and is similarly good to the Kempinski lounge, with free alcohol, 5+ food presentations throughout the day, and so forth.

The best Marriott hotels in Cancun are listed below, with what was the Ritz-Carlton and is now the Kempinski listed at the top. Kempinski is not a Marriott brand but offers a useful comparison if you considering the best luxury hotels in Cancun.

1. Kempinski, Cancun

The Kempinski is an AAA Five Diamond resort that rests on the tip of the exotic Yucatan peninsula. This luxury resort offers an enticing stretch of white sand beach, indulgent amenities such as the full-service Spa and award-winning restaurants, and the intrigue of the ancient Mayan sites nearby.

Recreational facilities include a 1200-foot sand beach, two sculpted outdoor pools, an oceanfront whirlpool, two tennis courts, and Fitness Center. This used to be the best Marriott hotel in Cancun, and it also has the best club lounge in Cancun.

The resort has 363 guestrooms, including 50 suites with ocean views and private balconies or terraces. Each resort’s guestroom and suite is a sanctuary of comfort featuring sweeping ocean views and a wealth of welcome amenities. For families with infants, specially designed rooms offer all the comforts of a home nursery, including a crib, a changing table, and a menu of baby essentials that can be ordered prior to arrival.

Guestroom amenities include Egyptian cotton linen and duvet covers, television with international cable, CD Player, individual air conditioning controls, high speed, Wi-Fi Internet access, in-room safe, marble bath with double vanities, and separate tub and shower and plush terry bathrobes.

Whether sampling Five Diamond cuisine, dining al fresco under the stars, or attending a tequila tasting session featuring the finest and most exclusive varieties, guests of The Ritz-Carlton, Cancun, will experience innovative cuisine with unparalleled service.

The Kempinski Club Level provides guests with the highest level of personal service with five complimentary food presentations daily. Platinum and elite Marriott Bonvoy members don’t get free lounge access. Everyone who uses this lounge has paid for a club room.

This lounge is super smart, with double-height ceilings and intricately carved wall features and the whole lounge is designed in browns and olives with lots of wood and thick chunky marble. The meals are excellent and filling, you will not be disappointed, and you will leave full (both with food and alcohol if you want).

Club Level food includes breakfast, lunch, light snacks, cocktails, hors d’oeuvre, and chocolates with cordials. Beyond the free food, complimentary wines, liqueurs, beers, spirits, and non-alcoholic beverages are available, complimentary wireless, in-room internet access, and two garments are pressed daily.

2. JW Marriott Resort & Spa Cancun

JW Marriott Resort & Spa Cancun is a Marriott Bonvoy hotel with upscale amenities, including spacious, sand-toned accommodations and on-site dining. Explore the historic Mayan ruins and experience the area’s lively clubs and bars. Relax in the family-friendly freeform pools or adult-only infinity pools, or work out at the fitness center, featuring cardio equipment and free weights. The beach here is white sand with a glorious blue sea. Wonderful! There’s an indoor pool and arcade-style game machines for rainy days for the kids.

Be aware of the extra charges at this hotel. Private cabanas cost $250 USD a day, and you can reserve lounge chairs with prime ocean views for $180 USD a day. Ouch! Reports suggest that you are also meant to tip the staff for the free drinks in the club lounge.

The JW Marriott, like The Ritz-Carlton and other big hotels in Cancun, is in the Hotel Zone, around half an hour by car from Cancun Airport (CUN). The JW Marriott is around a kilometer south of The Ritz-Carlton. The foyer is beautiful, with lots of marble, pillars, and huge flower arrangements.

The Club and Club level rooms have been renovated. Club rooms are modern with tiled floors, pine headboards with Mayan patterning, and blue and tan hues bringing the beach inside. Bathrooms are large and stylish with a really nice rough stone tiling on the walls and Aromatherapy amenities.

The look of the lounge is equally appealing, with the same tan and blue hues and wonderful windows looking out towards the ocean. This is a nice and stylish place to hang out.

Inspired by the great pyramid of Kukulcán, the executive club lounge labeled Club 91 is an exclusive haven of luxury. Located on the 14th and 12th floors of the JW Marriott Cancun Resort & Spa, Club 91 guests experience exclusive privileges and a lavish array of world-class amenities.

Is this JW Marriott “Club 91” Lounge worth paying the extra for (usually around $20 USD per person per room)? This is a common question as Platinum and elite Marriott Bonvoy members don’t get free lounge access. Like the process at Ritz-Carlton hotels, even elites need to pay for access. They say: “A rate with Club 91 access must be booked in order to take advantage of Club 91 benefits. It is not included in Reward Member benefits.”

If you have club lounge access, you get free breakfast and free evening snacks, and alcoholic drinks. Throughout the day, you have snacks and soft drinks. If you like a few evening alcoholic drinks, then yes, the lounge is worth paying for, as you get free breakfast, free evening nibbles, and those valuable free drinks. If you only drink soft drinks, this lounge may not be as valuable to you as the hotel is in an area that feels safe, with plenty of local restaurants nearby that offer good value for money, so you may prefer to do this.

If you decide to book into the lounge, expect five decent food events daily with rotating hot dishes and cold cuts, cheeses, smoked salmon, and veggies. An open bar is made available in the evening.

3. The Westin Lagunamar Ocean Resort Villas & Spa Cancun

The Westin Lagunamar Ocean Resort Villas & Spa, Cancun, is a Marriott Bonvoy hotel, the same as JW Marriott and Ritz-Carlton above. If all 3 have availability, I would always choose the Ritz-Carlton or the JW Marriott over either Westin hotel in Cancun. However, if you are paying with cash, both of these Westins are likely to be cheaper than the Ritz-Carlton and the JW Marriott, in which case they are worth considering.

The Westin Lagunamar Ocean Resort Villas & Spa, Cancun, is widely considered the best Westin in Cancun, although the Cancun Westin Resort and Spa have a club lounge, and this Westin doesn’t.

The Westin Lagunamar Ocean Resort Villas & Spa, Cancun, is beautifully situated on the sparkling Caribbean Sea and boasts endless amenities to make your stay here exceptional. Settle into your homelike villa with a fully-equipped kitchen, a balcony with ocean views, or a comfortable studio with a kitchenette.

Go for a swim in the infinity pool, spend the day on the white sand beach, indulge at the spa, or play a round of mini-golf. Satisfy your cravings at the restaurants, or relax on the beach or poolside.

4. The Westin Resort & Spa, Cancun

The Westin Resort & Spa, Cancun is perched between the Caribbean Sea and a tranquil lagoon. This beachfront vacation ownership resort has a fabulous beach with plenty of lounge chairs, palapas and umbrellas, along with some excellent pools.

This Westin hotel is fairly poor compared to the Westin Laguna Mar, which is the better of these two Westins in Cancun. Of course, this may be considered with the price, but if they are the same price, go for the Laguna Mar, a better property that does not have an executive club lounge.

At the Westin Resort & Spa, Cancun, you can rent a beach villa with a fully equipped kitchen or select one of the spacious guest rooms or suites. Accommodations include incredible water views, signature Westin Heavenly® Beds, and free Wi-Fi, with zero resort or per-person fees.

Unwind in sparkling pools or on white-sand beaches. Schedule a personalized beauty or healing treatment at The Spa or experience one of many adventures without leaving the resort. These activities include the FlowRider® surfing simulator, snorkeling on the coral reef, tennis, and other daily activities. You can snorkel right off the beach. At the end of the day, savor delicious cuisine and libations at restaurants or sports bars.

Reports suggest that the hotel tries to upgrade all Marriott Bonvoy Gold and Platinum guests to their Royal Beach Club rooms, so if you can bear a lagoon view room or a deluxe sea view room, it is worth booking one of these and trying for an upgrade. Platinum members should get access to the Royal Beach Club even if there isn’t the capacity to upgrade the room itself.

The Royal Beach Club is the executive club lounge at this property and offers breakfast, day-long soft drinks and snacks, and a happy hour. You are given wristbands for club access. The lounge also has a pool with slightly nicer palapas and free happy hour in the early evening. The breakfast is decent, with cereal and plenty of cold cuts, cheeses, and bread. Happy hour includes two hot appetizers, usually a fried chicken on a stick or a skewer-type affair or chicken wings, and some desserts. You also get free alcoholic drinks in the lounge. Both food presentations are of decent quality and are filling, enough to fill you up for breakfast, and there are nice canapes in the evening, although perhaps not quite enough for a full meal.

Other tips at this hotel include avoiding the high-pressure timeshare presentation. It is also worth noting that this hotel is close to the airport, so you should be the first stop if you book a shared minibus airport service.

5. Renaissance Cancun Resort & Marina

Renaissance Cancun Resort & Marina is a nice, new hotel but with little Marriott Bonvoy elite recognition and this hotel is not on the beach. It is located on a marina with just a small pool.

This Mariott Bonvoy hotel can be found in an exclusive area in Zona Hotelera and offers waterfront accommodations with inspiring views of the city and shimmering bay, along with a small pool and fitness center. The beach is a short walk away.

Renaissance Cancun Resort & Marina is in the Cancun entertainment zone near Marina Town Center Mall, Isla Mujeres, popular shops, restaurants, and pubs downtown. It has two stylish restaurants, a cafe, and a bar but no executive club lounge.

6. Armar House, All-Inclusive

Armar House, All-Inclusive, is one of the very few Marriott Bonvoy hotels that is All-Inclusive. They say: “Armar House is a new All-Inclusive Resort located in the ever-vibrant beaches of Cancun and close to some of the most alluring and exciting destinations in the area.

Hit the scene and experience Mayan culture by exploring nearby archaeological sites or cenotes – underground swimming holes – full of mystery and fascination. An alternate escape route is found by nighttime when epic parties come alive at lively clubs and bars. Indulge yourself in expertly-curated meals, therapeutic Spa treatments, and top workouts…”

The hotel is 4.7 km away from Museo Maya de Cancun. Restaurants, nightclubs, and golf courses are a stroll from the hotel. There are shops, bookstores, and chemists nearby.

Every day a hot breakfast is served in the dining room. Guests can savor tea and coffee in the beach bar. MB offers an assortment of dishes within 700 meters of the property. 20-minute drive will take guests to Cancun International airport. Facilities include a swimming pool, tennis court, gym, and jogging track, although reviews are sparse on the quality of this resort and the food available.

7. Marriott Cancun Resort

Marriott Cancun Resort is a large U-shaped resort on the soft sands of the Atlantic. This Marriott Resort. The ocean is constantly there, and the hotel is also near La Isla Mall, Coco Bongo, and downtown Cancun.

Every room has floor-to-ceiling windows and a balcony. Dine at any one of 11 on-site restaurants, although bear in mind that this Marriott does not have a club lounge, so there are no free drinks or meals for Platinum and Titanium elite loyalty members. For a moment of quiet, drop your children off at the kid’s club and enjoy fine dining. Afterward, head to the spa for a massage.

8. Four Points by Sheraton Cancun Centro

Four Points by Sheraton Cancun Centro is a Marriott Bonvoy hotel and one of the cheapest Marriotts in Cancun. It offers free Wi-Fi, soothing accommodations, and an on-site fitness center.

Retreat to modern rooms with plush bedding. Enjoy a delicious meal or luxuriate with room service, or enjoy tempting dishes at one of the restaurants. During downtime, feel renewed at the on-site spa and take a dip in the rooftop pool while sipping on cocktails.

9. Aloft Cancun

Aloft Cancun is a modern hotel in a premier location connected to the convention center so business travelers can easily attend events, while families will love being close to La Isla Shopping Village.

Mandala Beach Club is just steps away, so you can dance and have fun all day. When you return, grab a drink from the hotel bar, stop by the 24-hour gourmet pantry, or enjoy a superb meal at Nook.

The 24-hour fitness center and scenic rooftop pool with beautiful views of the whole city are great places to get fit and relax, respectively. Stay connected with complimentary Wi-Fi while lounging in plush beds.

10. Fairfield Inn & Suites Cancun Airport

There are two Marriott hotels at Cancun Airport, Fairfield Inn & Suites Cancun Airport and Courtyard Cancun Airport. Neither is ideal for your entire holiday, although they are considerably cheaper than the beachfront resorts. Both offer a good place to sleep for your last night if you have an early flight out, and if you are on a budget, the new Fairfield Inn & Suites Cancun Airport is a Marriott Bonvoy hotel and cheap for cash too.

This contemporary hotel in Quintana Roo, Mexico, offers complimentary Wi-Fi and ergonomic work desks. Fuel up for a day of exploration with a free breakfast of omelets, bacon, mini waffles, and fresh fruit. Usefully, there is also a sparkling pool and a fitness center.

11. Courtyard Cancun Airport

Courtyard Cancun Airport is another Marriott airport just 3 miles from Cancun International Airport. Usefully it offers a complimentary shuttle to and from the transportation hub. Spacious rooms featuring luxury bedding, free high-speed Wi-Fi, and an ergonomic workstation. El Henequen is the onsite international restaurant or relaxe with an evening cocktail in the lobby bar. During downtime, get fit in the fitness center and relax in the outdoor pool. Again, this is a cheap option for exploring Cancun.

Image © Arthur / Adobe Stock.

Note: Benefits & upgrades subject to availability. Benefits offered correct at the time of writing. Terms & conditions apply. Enquire for more information. Benefits offered correct at the time of writing but may be amended at discretion of the vendor. Posts may be sponsored by the proprietor or brand being appraised. All opinions remain our own & are in no way influenced.