Hyatt Ziva Cancun All Inclusive

It’s an older hotel, but it’s been refreshed nicely and has everything you need. We found pool and beach chairs without having to get up at dawn, and there were plenty of activities. The service was excellent, better than what we’ve had at other places. Great resort on Cancun’s Hotel row, and I’d highly recommend it.

I’m still staying at Hyatt Ziva Cancun, and so far this has felt more like a 3-star place than the 5-star resort advertised. For the price and the expectations set by Costco Travel, Booking, and Expedia, the experience has been a huge letdown. I wouldn’t come back or recommend it. The room feels old, with worn cupboards and dated furniture. The shower keeps changing from hot to cold, and the shampoo and other toiletries seem diluted and cheap. Hallways often have room service trays sitting around for hours, and the floors get slippery. I nearly fell more than once. The beach is tiny compared with the online photos, and there was a lot of seaweed. It didn’t feel like a proper beach visit. I was also uncomfortable about security: guests don’t get wristbands or clear identification. When I brought that up at check-in, the receptionist brushed me off. I saw people coming from nearby areas without security stopping or questioning them, including at night. The staff are around, but generally don’t seem attentive or proactive. On our first night, after our flight was delayed, room service took two hours to arrive. My daughter was asleep by then, and no one answered the phone when I called to check on the order.

Habaneros was a favorite for lunch, especially the fried fish, and we really liked the tender, flavorful veal at Lorenzo’s for dinner. The breakfast buffet’s omelet and crepe stations were great too, though having more than one crepe station would help. We also looked forward to the mango and churro carts. The pools never felt crowded, especially the one closest to the public beach. Our room had a lovely view of both the resort and beach, the shower pressure was great, and housekeeping timed the cleaning well so our baby could nap. The staff were warm and friendly, and service was better than I expected. My main gripe was people saving pool and beach chairs. Signs say not to reserve them, but it isn’t enforced. On the way to breakfast we’d see towels and personal things left on chairs with nobody around, sometimes for hours.

The beds were comfortable, though the room itself was just okay and not the best I’ve stayed in. The resort’s employees were the best part of the week, with one exception at the sports bar. My daughter asked for a virgin Pina Colada and showed her arm band, but the bartender definitely put alcohol in it. Luckily she tasted it and handed it to us to check. We had a great time bringing my wife and our three kids. It was a really good experience, though the price might keep us from going back.