A view of the pool & the sea from a 12th floor balcony at the JW Marriott Cancun
It was the color of the water in Cancun that left a group of travel writers on a press trip last weekend at a loss for descriptive words. Electric blue, fluorescent, neon, the color of Kool Aid. We checked into the JW Marriott in the heart of the Hotel Zone and marveled at the Caribbean Sea–from our balconies, with our toes dug into the powder soft sand, suspended 300 feet in the air while parasailing–for five days.
Design
There’s something about walking into a grand, luxurious resort lobby with large picture windows showcasing glittering views of the sea that signals relaxation. This is the experience at the JW Marriott Cancun. With marble interiors, gilt statuettes, and a lobby bar warmly lit with red and black Oriental decor, the resort is all space and expanse.
The Room
This feeling of roominess extends to the guest rooms. With a plush king size bed, ample closet and drawer space, a desk, couch, and oversized marble bathroom with separate shower and bath, the first feature you rush to is the private oceanfront balcony for more views of that electric blue sea. Each of the resort’s 450 rooms on 14 floors boasts an oceanfront balcony.
Amenities
Where to begin? There are three restaurants, including the elegant Gustino, a fine dining option serving delectable Mediterranean and Italian fare, like pan-seared sea scallops and greenstone squash risotto, spiny lobster cooked with saffron, baked mushrooms, and a chickpea puree, along with wine from the Valle de San Vicente region of Mexico. A center table arranged with dozens of white pillar candles adds to the romantic ambiance. With an army of waiters repeating that “it’s a pleasure to serve you,” we were all swooning–and this was long before our Baileys and Frangelico coffees arrived (to accompany dessert) with a heart shape drawn with chocolate syrup onto the milk foam.
That feeling of relaxation? We really took advantage of it. From luxuriating at the 35,000 square-foot spa, featuring a whirlpool, cold plunge, steam room, dry sauna, and lap pool, to spending a morning drinking mimosas–followed by margaritas, of course–atop the brand new daybeds overlooking the ocean, we were six happy gals.
Other amenities include, a state of the art gym with gorgeous views of the ocean and the lagoon, ample conference space, and a sprawling pool deck with infinity pools galore!
Hospitality
You caught the “it’s a pleasure to serve you” line at Gustino, right? From the bellman to the concierge to housekeeping to the pool attendants, that felt like the overall attitude. Above that, everyone was genuinely happy to work in paradise, call Cancun home, and share it with those visiting.
Overall
Overall, the JW Marriott was the bomb! I’d highly recommend a stay here for anyone Cancun-bound. The only drawback I can think of is that it’s so nice and relaxing, you might not want to leave the resort, which might not be a drawback at all. I have to say, a four night stay was ample time to relax resort-side and do some exploring off property.
Blvd. Kukulcan, Km 14.5, Lote 40-A, Cancun, Mexico 1-888-813-2776
