The Marriott Casa Magna is worth the trip! We are actually still here in our beautiful room as I write this review.

I'll start by saying that this is my first TripAdvisor review but I have put so much value in the advice I have found here from others that I wanted to return the favor.

As this was our first trip to Cancun (with two children, ages 10 and 7) I wanted to be sure it would be perfect. I can not say enough great things about our visit. Of course, Cancun and surrounding experiences are great, beautiful, relaxing etc. but you'd expect that. My review is about the hotel experience in the hopes that it will assist you in making a choice.

First of all, getting to Cancun and the hotels is a breeze. Call ahead, or email the concierge - ask for Artemio! Use the private transport through the hotel "Prestige" is the name. They will take you and your family in a private, air-conditioned van from the airport directly to the Marriott.

We checked in without a problem and were happy to have received a free upgrade (again - ask). The rooms are very nice. Marble flooring, wood and leather accents, single vanity, separate tub area. I will say that I found the rooms on the small side but still very comfortable. We asked for a second, connecting room for our boys and were accommodated. If you are traveling with kids, get a suite or connecting room as you will be on top of each other.

I am picky about my bed and shower - they are top notch at the Marriott Casa Magna. Pillows are soft with sateen sheets - changed every 3rd day to protect the environment. Shower has a modern head and although not a powerful force, easy to get all the shampoo out. There is a shower curtain and not a door but did not find this annoying.

After reading the other reviews about just one pool - it did not bother us. There is an in-pool volleyball area and swim up bar and plenty of chairs - what else do you need? The chairs are comfortable but not as luxurious as the JW pool chairs which have padded cushions.

During our stay - October - the winds were strong most days but the weather was still sunny and hot.

We spent some time at the JW taking a SCUBA class and then relaxed at the pool - very nice, lots of families and excellent service at both properties. We ate at the JW Seafood buffet and it was fine but truly not spectacular as we had previously read.

Food overall in Cancun is good - not great! Set your expectations early. You must try Laguna Grill just South of the Marriott - very quaint on a small marina with beautiful view, lots of candles, romantic but casual atmosphere and great food. Ask for Gabrielle as your waiter.

We also enjoyed the daily breakfast buffet - lots of choices for the whole family. Champions is O.K. with service on the slow side. Food and beverages by the pool are great and staff is attentive and friendly - smiling and wanting to please.

I also had a massage while there and it was up to standards of any US spa. The facilities are a bit under-whelming and need to be upgraded ie: better lockers, amenities in bathroom etc.

Overall, the Marriott Casa Magna has an excellent location - easy to get to all the tourist sites. Great, attentive staff, quality amenities and wonderful time. Set your expectations especially regarding time of year. We were there is the slow season so I can't imagine the holidays or Spring Break - yikes.

Enjoy! We will be back!

Me and my wife spent our honeymoon in cancun at the Marriot Casamagna
from May 20th - 28th. It was amazing!!! Everybody in the hotel is always in a good mood, smiling, and willing to help in anything possible. And we felt that the minute we entered the hotel and were amazed by the size of the lobby. It is incredible. We stayed at the Carribean Suite I believe, and despite the room that is incredible as all rooms at the marriot are, we liked the service provided daily.

We had the chance to meet the assistant to the manager which was so very helpful in everything, she was great!! I have no words to express our gratitude to her for meeting our every need. For sure that is the detail that will make us go back.

The person that helped us out on room service was Consuelo, and we treated her well ($) because we are from Brazil and know how it is important to value people for their good work and effort, for we see that is not always the case in our country, so we would leave 2-5 dollars every day and 10 dollars at our last day as our "thank you" for all the nights that we arrived after a full and tiring day of activities and would enter our room and the TV would be on, tuned on the music channel, the air conditioner was on giving a good "cool" sensation and a very nice note by her assuring that everything was ok.

We purchased the room with Breaskfast included and we have traveled quite a bit, specially throughout the resorts in Brazil and we have never seen a breakfast like the marriots. INCREDIBLE. We wouldnt be hungry until around 8 o clock at night. We chose to purchase only breakfast because we love Mexican food and prior to our trip, I read a bunch of reviews and made my list of possible restaurants (not all in the hotel zone). These are the restaurants we ate at during the evenings:

La Destilleria: Nice restaurant, located at a near spot in the hotel zone. I got a free Pinacolada glass which was nice. The food wasnt all that. It was actually kind of pricey for what they offered. But we enjoyed 2 guys playing local instruments while we ate.

Los Pericos: EXCELENT, good food, great pinacolada. I think this restaurant in earlier times was more famous and maybe is losing it a little, but is still is worth it. We took a customized mexican picture in the entrance and it is in our living room here in Brazil.

El Cejas (Located at Market 28) - Needless to say that market 28 is a MUST, but be aware, you can get ripped off by the local vendors if they see you are "fragile". It is good to know a little bit of spanish so at least they dont think your just one more gringo with a bunch of money to spend. Bargain with them, theyll take more than 50%
off the original price sometimes. El Cejas has great local Mexican food, and a really good price.

Lorenzillos - we chose lorenzillos because we wanted to eat lobster and we liked this restaurant very much. It was pricey, but worth it. A Romantic meal and my wife and I loved it.

La Parilla - I liked this restaurant very much, it is out of the hotel zone like Los Pericos, but the food was superbly original and at a good price. It was packed and it was fun to be there.

The activities that we did that are MUSTS if you go to Cancun: If you dont have a travel agent, we used BEST DAY and it was really good, the guy even spoke portuguese ahaha.

Xcaret (we rented a car to go, really easy to get there), we did this
because for sure you need a whole day there to enjoy the park. Tulum and Xel Ha, Chichen Itza (Very Interesting) and Cozumel. We also did the Party Hopper and loved it, especially the coco bongo. If you like a good show and some noise MAN you have to go to the coco bongo or heck, do the party hopper!

Hope this helps. If youre unsure, the marriot is guaranteed an excelent stay for a good price.

This hotel was outstanding!! I have never slept on more comfortable beds and linens. We had on ocean front room with a large balcony-I definitely suggest paying extra for the ocean front. This hotel adjoins with the JW Marriot so you can also use their facilities, but the Casa Magna was nicer. We tried the lobster buffet at J.W.. It was pricey, but we felt it was worth it-concierge had %15 discount coupons-ALL the lobster you can eat, plus sooooo much other food. We had breakfast buffet in the Steakhouse in the Hotel. $20 well spent. They even had a full Japanese breakfast included in the buffet.
The staff was EXTREMELY accomodating to our every need, and the bartenders was fun and creative coming up with interesting drinks for us (Green Iguanas hehe). This place is a bit of a cab ride from places like Carlos and Charlies and other nightlife, but it is peaceful and relaxing and gorgeous! We will go back!

Tip: Across the street (on the Lagoon) is "El Shrimp Bucket". Good cheap shrimp dinner and a fun place! There were crocodiles swimming in the lagoon when we were there. WOoo Hoooo Fun!

This was our third stay at the Casa Magna. The last one was cut short by Wilma. This resort never disappoints. While this will be our last trip to Cancun, just two commericial. The Marriott is great. A wonderfu pool, Great breakfast, and exceptional staff.
Also go eat at the La Destillaria down the street on the left. Not so touristy and great food.

We had the first floor minisuite with the extra large deck. What a room. Champions bar is also nice to watch the games for us gringos. We are Marriott Platinum members and just love this hotel.

thanks