When it comes to visiting Mexico with your family, an all-inclusive resort is a fantastic option for convenience. Staying at an all-inclusive resort can help make budgeting so much easier, and it can really help you relax while on vacation.
In 2024, the Marriott in Cancun became an all-inclusive resort, combining the convenience of all-inclusive service with the trustworthiness of the Marriott brand. But even beyond the convenience is a whole variety of fun activities and amenities specifically for families.
If you like the consistency of Marriott, but want the ease of an all-inclusive vacation, the Marriott Cancun is an excellent option. I had the opportunity to visit for a three-night stay, and would love to return with my family for a longer visit.
Disclosure: My trip to the Marriott Cancun All-Inclusive was complimentary for purposes of this review. This post may contain affiliate links, and a purchase through one of these links may result in a commission paid to me at no additional cost to you. All opinions are my own.
Review of the Marriott Cancun All-Inclusive Resort in Mexico
The Marriott Cancun All-Inclusive Resort is located in the Cancun Hotel Zone, about 20 minutes from the Cancun International Airport (CUN). Transportation to and from the airport can be purchased separately (with reservations required). I'd recommend booking the transportation because arrival in Cancun can be very hectic if you don't have it.
Who This Resort is Good For
While I enjoyed my visit to the resort without kids, it really shines as a family-friendly resort for kids of all ages.
Rooms at the Marriott Cancun All-Inclusive
The Marriott Cancun All-Inclusive offers 450 rooms. The majority of the rooms have a standard layout with one king bed or two double beds, and some of the king-bed rooms connect to a double-bed room. This is a great option for a family that wants a little more space.
Because of the resort's layout, most have gorgeous views of the beach and/or the resort. View types are selected when you book your room, and include:
- Resort view room
- Ocean view room
- Partial ocean-view room
- Oceanfront view room
The room I had, a king bed room, was extremely comfortable. It offered a large shower, a separate toilet area, a mini bar, a private balcony, a safe, a small table, deluxe amenities, and more.
Suites and ADA-compliant rooms are also available.
Amenities and Activities at the Resort
When you book an all-inclusive resort, you should plan to spend most of your time at the resort to take advantage of the price you've already paid. The Marriott Cancun offers so many activities and amenities for families that you can stay busy no matter what you enjoy.
Camp Club
Camp Club is the kids' club at Marriott Cancun. It's offered for kids ages 4-12, and is included in your stay. Meals aren't served at the club, and an event schedule is available so your kids can stay for specific activities.
Although Camp Club isn't open to adults, we had the chance to experience it after hours. It is a great spot for kids, offering an outdoor area with a mini zip line, playset, and climbing wall, as well as many indoor activities, such as a painting area and books.
Each day, Camp Club has a specific kid-friendly theme, such as pirates, dinosaurs, or space. The activities of the day, which can include crafts, music, and sports, are all themed for that day's theme.
Camp Club is a great option if you want to take some time for yourself, perhaps for a gym workout or a massage. Or, it's great if your kids want to spend some time with other kids. The staff is very enthusiastic, and the overall vibe is exciting and fun.
Pool Area at the Resort
While I really loved everything at the resort, I spent most of my free time at the pool area. It's an expansive space offering a large family pool (with lots of activities throughout the day and a swim-up bar), and an adult-only infinity pool (also with a swim-up bar).
I visited the resort during a quiet time and found plenty of chairs and umbrellas. That may vary depending on the time of year. Servers walk around the area offering food and drinks, or you can visit one of the surrounding snack bars (a pizza place and a cevichería) for other food options. Cabanas are available to rent, and there's also a large hot tub.
In addition to the two pools, the resort offers a small waterpark area, complete with a splash pad, a lazy river, and two water slides. The splash pad has a tipping bucket, and I saw many kids of all ages (and adults) enjoying it, while I preferred the lazy river.
Beach Access
The resort is located along the beach, and beach chairs are available. During my visit, the red flag was up, and the water was choppy, so most guests enjoyed the pool. Cabanas are also available to rent along the beach for an additional fee. There was some seaweed, but not as much as I've seen at other Yucatan beaches.
Fitness Center
A newly renovated fitness center is offered to all guests. It's large, with plenty of equipment if you want to stay active on your vacation.
Fitness classes are also offered throughout the day. You can see a schedule of activities rotating on the large screens in the lobby. Options include yoga, box fit, hyrox, HIIT, stretching, and tabata.
Spa Treatments
Want to relax even more on vacation? The Ka-Lai Beach Retreat at Marriott Cancun offers a variety of treatments, with a focus on rituals and massages. Beachfront massages are available and can be booked online or at the spa kiosk in the lobby upon arrival.
Daily Activities at the Marriott Cancun
From fitness activities to pool-front activities, there's no shortage of organized things to do at the resort. During my stay, activities by the pool included the following:
- Spanish lessons
- Trivia
- Stretching
- Water polo
- Aquablackjack
- Water basketball
- Water volleyball
- Soccer
- Zumba
- Beer pong
- Bocceball
- Guessing game
- Mexican Bingo
- Horseshoes
- And more...
The resort also offers evening entertainment. Each night, there are two different evening activities, including a salsa band, casino, Mexican carnival, movie night, silent disco, a magic show, and a pop show.
Excursions to Book From the Resort
If you want to explore beyond the resort, you can book an excursion right from the lobby. All excursions are offered by a third party for an additional fee.
Aquaworld Cancun, which offers a variety of water activities, is located across the street and has a desk in the Marriott Cancun lobby. Options include a trip to Isla Mujeres, fishing tours, and a submarine excursion.
Our group did the Jungle Snorkel Tour, which I'd highly recommend. To start the tour, you'll board a 2-person speedboat and drive it to the snorkeling spot. The tour generally includes 10 guests along with the guide.
After about a 20-30 minute boat ride, you'll arrive at the snorkel location at Punta Nizuc. Fins, masks, life vests, and snorkels are provided. Your guide will show you the best areas to snorkel. Then, after about 20-30 minutes snorkeling, you'll drive back to Aquaworld.
I'd highly recommend this tour for families with slightly older kids. I know my young adults would absolutely love to drive the boats and go snorkeling. The snorkeling location was excellent, with lots of fish to see along with some underwater statues.
Food at the Marriott Cancun
Overall, I found the variety of dining options to be one of the resort’s biggest strengths, especially for families who may want different options throughout the day.
There are so many great food options at the Marriott Cancun that I wasn't able to enjoy them all on my vacation. It's so nice to have an all-inclusive resort with lots of choices, because you'll likely eat all of your meals at the hotel. Reservations are required for dinner.
While I was there, I tried the following places:
Cevicheria by La Isla
Located by the adult pool bar is the Cevicheria by La Isla, which offers several tables by the waterfront. I ate there twice and enjoyed the selection of ceviche and tostadas.
Pizzeria by La Isla
Pizzeria by La Isla is a pizza restaurant located by the family pool. It offers a huge variety of single-serve pizzas along with a selection of ice cream and ice pops.
Organic and Co/750 Pizzeria
Organic and Co is where I got my morning coffee each day. In addition to coffee specialties, they also have pastries, breakfast sandwiches, and freshly squeezed juices. In the afternoon, Organic and Co transforms into 750 Pizzeria, where you can get a quick slice of pizza.
Casa Madre
Casa Madre is my favorite restaurant on the property. Located under a collection of palapas, Casa Madre offers Mexican cuisine. In the morning, it's home to one of the two resort breakfast buffets.
I especially loved the breakfast here, because in addition to standard American breakfast options like made-to-order eggs, bacon, sausage, and fruit, they also have Mexican breakfast specialties. I loved the empanadas, tostadas, and chilaquiles.
Casa Madre also offers dinner on some evenings. I ate there one night and loved everything I tried.
Mikado Teppanyaki
Mikado Teppanyaki is the resort's teppanyaki restaurant. We dined there for the first time, and were so impressed with the huge amount of delicious food served. Guests can choose from a selection of proteins, including shrimp, chicken, salmon, and steak.
In addition to the proteins, you'll get soup or salad, fried rice, vegetables, and dessert. It's a lot of food, and all of it was excellent.
Toscanni
Toscanni, with both indoor and outdoor seating, is the Italian restaurant at the Marriott Cancun. We dined there on our last evening, and I enjoyed a tuna tartare appetizer, a delicious cheese-wheel pasta dish as my entree, and tiramisu for dessert. We ate outside, with a great view of the pool.
In addition to the restaurants I personally experienced, the Marriott Cancun All-Inclusive offers additional restaurants. These include the following:
- Mo's: A nostalgic restaurant offering burgers and milkshakes
- Champions Sports Bar: A traditional sports bar that was especially busy during game time
- Kasai: A table-service Japanese restaurant located adjacent to Mikado
- Delphina: Mediterranean-style restaurant with more casual options at lunch
- Hana Polynesian Grill: Polynesian restaurant with a more American-style breakfast buffet in the morning
There's also a lobby bar and other food options, including room service. On my first evening there, the resort offered a tamale cart in the lobby.
Why Stay Here
The Marriott Cancun All-Inclusive is an excellent resort option for families with kids of all ages. Between the fantastic kids' club and the exciting water park/pool area, there's so much for kids to do. They also offer delicious food with many restaurant options. I’d especially recommend it for families who want a Cancun resort with strong kids’ amenities, lots of dining options, and the familiarity of Marriott.
Things to Know Before Booking
- Reservations are required for dinner.
- Airport transportation is separate and should be booked in advance.
- Beach conditions may vary.
- Cabanas cost extra and can be reserved.
- Excursions are third-party and cost extra. They can be booked at the resort.
To learn more about the Marriott Cancun All-Inclusive, visit their website.
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