Hyatt Ziva Cancun — Hotel Review
Set the scene
Once through the elegant entrance way, set back from the street via a private road, a dazzling Cancun panorama of cabana- and lounger-framed pools dance their glittery way across your eye line. The salty ocean air and lively music that's piped out over the airwaves creates a low-key party ambiance, leaving you in absolutely no doubt that you are very much On Vacation. The sprawling, airy complex has been designed with personal space in mind, and even though there are 547 rooms and suites, moving between the various buildings with their amenities and pools never feels cramped.
The backstory
This resort replaced its predecessor (Dreams Cancun) in 2015, so they're just coming up on a decade of operations. Some $85 million was spent on renovations and remodeling, and you can see that money right there in front of you. The Turquoize Tower—a premium, adults-only set of accommodations—was newly added, and the aesthetics were completely modernized and upgraded.
The rooms
I stayed in a Turquoize Sky Oceanfront Master King, high up on the 11th floor and overlooking one of the swimming pool complexes and further out, the beach and crystalline ocean. There are 15 room and suite variations (including a breathtakingly-large Presidential suite), with options for various budgets, families and couples alike. Almost all of them have sea views, or look out over the locally-famous Punta Cancun with its rocky promontory and lighthouse. I had 700 square feet of space to luxuriate into, the highlight of which was a private, ocean-facing terrace, complete with hot tub. The interior neutral, earthy tones reflect the coastal sands, and there's naturally every modern convenience and a personal butler service in case you're in need of suggestions or advice. A huge, walk-in rain shower and his-and-hers vanities add to the premium experience.
Food and drink
There are 20 dining and drinking options, including everything from relaxed cafes and juice bars to 50s-themed diners (complete with Instagram-worthy full-sized vintage cars) and swim-up cocktail spots. There's enough variety to satisfy any palate, and definitely an ambiance for any occasion. For a high-end, gourmet experience that would grace an anniversary or landmark birthday, there's La Bastille French Brasserie. I dined there on my last night at the resort, and it was an idyllic topper to my stay, with authentic Gallic dishes, a great wine list and the serenity afforded by a child-free policy. The spacious nature of the complex means that even the more casual options don't feel noisy or crowded, though, even when there are kids around. I loved the up-close teppanyaki work of the Asian chefs at Moongate, and the fresh, in-house made pasta at Italian spot Lorenzos. You could eat at the buffet at Mercado for a month and not get bored (with everything from sushi to classic Mexican cuisine), and a breakfast of chilaquiles on the terrace at Tradewinds in the warm morning sun was nothing but memorable.
The neighborhood/area
One of Cancun's main tourist areas—the so-named Hotel Zone—is just a couple of minutes' walk away. There you'll find restaurants, nightclubs, gift shops, tequila tasting bars, and the like. You can also walk onto the resort's own stretch of beach and dip your toes in the sands and sea if you want to venture beyond the pools.
The service
It's a seamless operation from start to finish. The Turquoize Tower has its own private check-desk, and your assigned butlers work in shifts throughout the day. You can keep in touch with them via a WhatsApp chat, and they're incredibly responsive. They'll also send you suggestions and the daily schedules for the constantly-changing, near-endless amount of activities and shows that are on offer every day. I took a couple of beginner-level, morning exercise classes (pilates and yoga), and had a signature massage in their palatial Zen Spa—the entire staff was on point, informative, professional, and approachable. Everyone—from the managers to the baristas to the housekeepers—greets you with a hand-on-heart salute, which feels immediately intimate and sincere. Gratuities are included in the room rate.
For families
The resort couldn't be more welcoming for families and kids of all ages. The resort has a choice of shallow swimming pools with enough room to splash around, all without annoying anyone, and there's even a mini waterpark. The official onsite Kidz Club has a rotating daily roster of supervised activities, and I saw mixed-age groups of kids giddily throwing themselves into whatever games the staff were directing. There's also a teens' lounge for adolescents who have evolved beyond musical chairs, with more mature amenities such as pool tables and foosball.
Accessibility
The resort complies with Hyatt's ADA standards; there are ramps and elevators for access to all of the floors that host public spaces, as well as the guest rooms.
Anything left to mention?
This is among the properties that are setting the standard for premium, all-inclusive stays in Cancun. It can go toe-to-toe with any of the high-end names in the region and has all the amenities, activities, and on-site entertainment options that you could really wish for.
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