Cancun is a popular vacation destination in Mexico for good reason. The beaches are gorgeous, the weather is perfect, and it’s easily accessible from many parts of the United States.

For this family vacation, we chose the JW Marriott Resort & Spa in the Hotel Zone of Cancun.

In this JW Marriott Cancun review, I’ll show you everything you need to know to decide if this resort is right for your vacation including:

• Location and basic information
• Amenities
• Dining
• Rooms
• Beach and Pool
• How to use Marriott Points for your stay
• Activities near the resort

Legal Stuff: This post may contain affiliate links and/or credit card referral links.  Also, we are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.

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JW Marriott Cancun Resort & Spa: At a Glance

Location: Blvd. Kukulcan, Km 14.5, Lote 40-A, Zona Hotelera, Cancun 77500 Mexico

Type of Resort: Luxury, family-friendly

Price Range: $150-$400 per night

Marriott Rewards: Category 6 (40,000-60,000 points per night)

Resort Fee: $25 per night

Parking Fee: Complimentary self-parking and valet

Amenities: Infinity pool, adults-only pool, dive pool, Mayan inspired spa with indoor pool and hot tub, fitness center, tennis courts, event space

Dining: 8 dining and bar options

Distance from Cancun (CUN) airport: 20 minutes (The hotel no longer provides shuttle service. You’ll need to arrange a private airport transfer or airport shuttle)

JW Marriott Cancun Review

The JW Marriott Resort and Spa is located right in the heart of Cancun’s Hotel Zone. This popular area is home to lots of resorts, great beaches, and tons of activities. Plus, it’s just a quick drive from the airport, so you’ll be on vacation as soon as you land.

Located next door to the JW Marriott Cancun is the Marriott Cancun Resort (formerly Casa Magna Marriott). This sister property is a step down from the JW in terms of luxury but is still a great option. The 2 hotels are connected and share some restaurants.

JW Marriott Cancun Pool and Beach

We chose this hotel for a few reasons.  But, mainly the pool. Just look at it — it’s big and beautiful. The pool is heated which is very important to me as I am a giant wuss about water temperature. While it wasn’t bathwater, I was able to walk in without a problem.

The pool area had nice big cushy lounge chairs and plenty of shade. I loved that the resort never felt crowded, and you could always find a chair at the pool any time of day. We stayed at the large main pool, but there was also an adults-only section with an infinity pool and swim-up bar.

The other thing I loved about this pool was that there was no music playing. I can’t stand it when I am trying to zen out and there’s loud party music playing.

There are also beach beds and cabanas that you can rent. We rented one of the beds between the beach and the pool. It was only $100 USD for the day and worth.every.penny!! (Prices are subject to change and may have increased).

The JW Marriott Cancun is right on the white-sand beach. The water is beautiful in this area, but it can get very wavy so it can be intimidating for young children.

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Pro Tip: Don’t forget these summer travel essentials for your vacation at the JW Marriott Cancun!

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Rooms at the JW Marriott Cancun

All 447 ocean-facing guest rooms at the JW Marriott Cancun underwent a renovation that was completed in 2019.

No matter what type of room you book at the JW Marriott Cancun Resort and Spa, you’ll enjoy these basic amenities:

• An ocean view with private balcony
• Modern decor and plush linens
• Air conditioning
• Workstations
• Flat-screen TV
• 24-hour room service
• Coffee maker
• Safe

Dining at JW Marriott Cancun

I thought the food at JW Marriott Cancun was really good. Our room price included buffet breakfast at Sedona. I’m usually not a fan of buffets, but this one was awesome. They had everything you could think of from made to order omelets and eggs to oatmeal, fruit, cereal, pancakes, and pastries. You could also get Mexican specialties like plantains, beans, and salsas as well as a selection of exotic juices like honeydew, watermelon, guava, and pineapple.

We enjoyed their slightly fancier (but still casual) Italian restaurant, Gustino as well as the pizza from 750 Pizzaria. Next door at the Marriott Cancun Resort, you’ll find SaSi Thai. The food and service were excellent and the atmosphere was perfect — open-air with a sophisticated tiki hut vibe.

Dining and Bar Options at JW Marriott Cancun

• Gustino Italian Grill
• Sedona Grill
• Kasai
• Sasi Thai
• 750 Pizzaria
• Beachwalk
• Lobby Bar

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>>Need some help packing? Use this family beach vacation packing list printable for some guidance.

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JW Marriott Cancun Spa

The Mayan inspired spa at JW Marriott Cancun is fantastic. Once inside, you’ll find a large indoor pool and hot tub that you can use free of charge.

Treatment options include massages, facials, manicures, and pedicures. Plus there are separate men’s and women’s lounges, a spa restaurant, steam room, and fitness classes available.

How to use Marriott Rewards at JW Marriott Cancun

One of the great things about the JW Marriott Cancun Resort and Spa is that you can use Marriott Rewards points to stay there!

This resort is a Marriott Rewards Category 6 hotel which costs 50,000 points for a standard night. However, during peak season, you’ll pay 60,000 points per night and during off-peak times you’ll only pay 40,000 points.

While that might sound like a lot of points, there are ways to earn Marriott points fast so you can plan your vacation asap!

If you’ve got American Express Membership Rewards Points or Chase Ultimate Rewards Points, you can transfer those directly to Marriott.

To book the JW Marriott Cancun Resort and Spa using Marriott Rewards points all you need to do is check the box that says Use Points/Certificates. Then you’ll be able to see the room prices in points instead of dollars.

5th Night Free

Booking at least 5 nights will increase the value of your points because when you book any Marriott hotel using points, you’ll get the 5th night free!

 

JW Marriott Customer Service

I was impressed with the level of customer service we received during our stay.  The waitstaff and bartenders all seemed genuinely interested in doing whatever they could to make my stay enjoyable.

We had 2 minor problems (one concerning a room and one concerning a problem with a booked excursion) and the Guest Experience Supervisor, Edouard, went out of his way to correct the issues. Any hotel/restaurant/business can have problems, it’s how they handle them that’s important to me, and the JW Marriott Cancun Resort and Spa gets an A+.

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Things To Do in Cancun

There are lots of things to do in Cancun if you’re looking for a day away from the resort. Check out these fun things to do that include hotel pick-up and drop-off:

• Chichen Itza Day Trip
• Xcaret Park Day Trip
• Reef and Shipwreck Snorkeling Tour
• Isla Mujeres Sailing and Snorkeling
• ATV, Ziplining, and Cenotes
• Horseback Riding and Cenote Swim
• Speedboat and Snorkeling Tour
• Isla Mujeres Luxury Yacht and Snorkeling

Scuba Diving in Cancun

There’s also great scuba diving in Cancun! The number one scuba diving attraction is the MUSA Underwater Museum. This incredible underwater sculpture museum is breathtaking and shouldn’t be missed.

MUSA is the largest underwater museum in the world with over 500 statues!

Diving at MUSA is shallow so it’s great for beginners. You can even find tours that include a quick diving lesson and dive without needing scuba certification.

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 Pro Tip: If you are planning to get in the water, be sure to use reef-safe sunscreen. Many tourist destinations, including parts of Mexico, have banned the use and sale of certain types of sunscreen that are damaging the coral reefs.

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Final Thoughts

I hope this review of the JW Marriott Cancun Resort & Spa helped you decide if this is the right resort for your vacation. The beach is beautiful, there’s always a chair available at the pool and the staff is friendly. I wouldn’t hesitate to return to this property or recommend it to anyone looking for some relaxation in Cancun.

Cancun is great if you’re looking for a “lay around by the pool with a pina colada” kind of trip (sometimes you just gotta lay on the beach for a week, ya know?). But, if you’re looking for more activities, there are so many things to do in Cancun with kids plus tons of adults-only activities. It’s just an all-around great vacation spot!

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