Last Updated on June 17, 2022
Heading to Cancun for a quick dose of sunshine and the beach? The JW Marriott Cancun is a large resort in the Cancun Hotel Zone which has you covered for your next vacation. The rooms are new and fresh, and the resort has multiple pools, lounge chairs, and amenities for a great vacation to Cancun.
We spent 3 days here and put together this JW Marriott Cancun review to help you decide whether this Marriott family resort is the right fit for your next vacation to the beautiful Cancun, Mexico!
Disclaimer: Our stay at the JW Marriott Cancun Resort was provided courtesy of the hotel. We thoroughly enjoyed our stay and as always, all our opinions on this JW Marriott Cancun Resort & Spa review and what to do in Cancun Mexico are our own. Please note that some of the links in the below article are affiliate links, and at no additional cost to you, we earn a commission if you make a purchase. Click here for the full disclosure statement. Thank you for supporting the businesses that support us!
Table of Contents
JW Marriott Cancun Location
The JW Marriott Cancun is located approximately in the middle of the popular Hotel Zone just outside the town of Cancun. The resort is a twenty-minute drive from Cancun International Airport. This area of the Cancun Hotel Zone is a little bit quieter, and less busy compared to the northern end, however it is still busier than the quiet and relaxing southern end.
The JW Marriott Cancun Resort does not provide shuttle service. You can book a transfer to your hotel from Cancun Airport Round-Trip Transfer as a shared shuttle or private airport transfer.
Taxis are readily available at Cancun airport, but can be $45 USD plus, due to the strong taxi union. Uber is illegal in Cancun and is not allowed to operate at the airport. That being said, Uber does operate in Cancun, and you can use the service at your own risk, just not from the airport.
We used Uber to get around Cancun, however the service was spotty at best. Sometimes we opened the app to get a ride and there were no cars for over 20 minutes. It’s best to always have a plan B if you want to use Uber to get around Cancun. Even though Uber is considered illegal, we consider it a much safer option than taking a taxi, and we also prefer having a clear upfront price, and our location being tracked; all Uber drivers we had were super friendly, and the service is surprisingly inexpensive.
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If you don’t have any private transportation organized, a rental car is also a great option. All major brands are located at Cancun International Airport, and having a rental car is a great way to explore on your own and visit the area around Cancun. RentalCars.com is a great site to use to compare all of the different rental cars available at Cancun International Airport to find the best deal. At the JW Marriott Cancun Resort, self-parking and valet parking are both available and complimentary with your stay.
JW Marriott Cancun Arrival
When arriving at the JW Marriott Cancun Resort, you will see the large and grand white resort building as you drive along the Cancun Hotel Zone road. Entering the grounds of the resort you will first be asked for your name so that the guard at the gate can confirm your reservation before you are allowed to enter. Shortly you will be driving up the beautiful tree-lined driveway to the entrance of the resort.
The lobby at the JW Marriott Cancun Resort is large and luxurious, with plenty of staff available to assist with the check-in experience. Here you will be provided the keys for your room, given an explanation of the resort facilities, and then you’ll be off to get your vacation started!
As we arrived during COVID-19 times, safety precautions were in place such as hand sanitizers and all of the staff were wearing face masks throughout our stay, as were most guests except when at the pool or dining at one of the restaurants.
JW Marriott Cancun Rooms
The JW Marriott Cancun has a variety of rooms and suites available depending on your needs. The rooms at the resort have undergone recent renovations and feel fresh and bright. They are also designed to maximize the views of the stunning turquoise waters in Cancun with all rooms have balconies facing the ocean. Nearly all rooms at the JW Marriott Cancun are located on the floors above the main entrance level, with a small selection of rooms located on the ground level, near the pool and beach. During our time at the JW Marriott Cancun, we stayed in one of the JW Luxury Suites directly facing the ocean.
The JW Luxury Suite is a large 785 sq feet (71 sq m) and we were immediately impressed by the design of the room which was simple, but felt fresh, clean, and modern. Immediately as you enter the room you have a sitting area with chairs and a sofa bed, as well as the mini bar. There is also a closet for storage, and the entrance to the bathroom, which is large and includes a wonderful rainfall shower. The king bed is incredibly comfortable, and also provides direct seaside views.
Out on the balcony, there are chairs to sit and watch the day go by and spot your favorite poolside lounge chair. Due to the design and location of the JW Marriott Cancun Resort, all rooms will feature some form of ocean view. The majority of rooms face the north or east and look out over the JW Marriott pools, restaurants, and beach area, whereas the rooms that face the south look over a smaller resort area, and the nearby Marriott Cancun Resort.
JW Marriott Cancun Amenities
The JW Marriott Cancun Resort is primarily one large tower, shaped in a ‘Y’, with the ground level extending on the northern side which includes the restaurant and shopping areas. When you enter the large lobby area of the JW Marriott Cancun, you will find the JW Lobby Bar directly ahead, with the shopping area to your left. This area also includes access to the main outdoor resort area and the Gustino Italian Grill restaurant.
Turning right from the JW Lobby Bar, you will first find the ballroom and meeting rooms of the resort, and a little further you will find the Deli gift shop, convenience store, and pizzeria. This area also includes the main elevators to take you up to the room floors.
The multiple pools are located directly outside, as are more restaurants. The resort gardens have a number of water features and nicely manicured gardens, which are a nice touch to make the area feel a little bit more special. There are lounge chairs surrounding all of the pools, as well as a special area that reaches into the main pool right in front of the infinity edge. This is definitely the best seat in the house if you’re looking for lounge chairs, although it is a bit exposed as it is surrounded by the pool on three sides, with everyone facing towards you.
The beach access is in the center of the resort and is gated. The beach area outside the JW Marriott Cancun Resort has a large area of sand as well as a lot more lounge chairs and cabanas if you prefer spending time at the beach over the pool.
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If lounge chairs are important to you, it pays to head down to the pool area early in the morning. Out of all the resorts we stayed at in Mexico, the JW Marriott Cancun had the most aggressive guests in terms of reserving lounge chairs; even well before the sun was up! The lounge chairs on the beach seemed to be less popular, so if you don’t find somewhere near the pool to your liking, head down to the beach instead.
If you’re looking for a bit more relaxation during your stay, be sure to check out the Spa, which offers all the services expected at a large resort. In addition, the resort includes a large fitness center open from 6:00 AM to 11:00 PM with free weights, treadmills and bikes available throughout the day.
JW Marriott Cancun Dining
The JW Marriott Cancun has a fairly limited selection of restaurants immediately on-property, however that’s not really an issue as you also have the ability to dine at the restaurants at the Marriott Cancun, which is located just next door.
The main restaurant at the JW Marriott Cancun is the Sedona Grill, which is located in the center of the resort grounds and features a large buffet breakfast as well as being open for an a la carte dinner. The breakfast buffet spread is large, with all of the typical American cuisine offerings, as well as an extensive selection of local Mexican breakfast options. A great way to start your day is heading to the Sedona Grill early to watch the sunrise and enjoy your breakfast on the outdoor terrace.
The second primary restaurant at the JW Marriott Cancun is Gustino Italian Grill, open for dinner, and accessed from the northern end of the lobby. They serve all types of Italian food from pizza to pasta to popular meat dishes.
During the day, the BeachWalk restaurant is open for lunch and light snacks, located near the pool and beach area. Alternatively, you can grab a quick bite from the Gift Shop and 750 Pizzeria which serves freshly baked pizza throughout the day, as well as custom coffee beverages, gelato, and other snacks.
If you walk through the ballroom area of the JW Marriott Cancun, you will quickly reach the Marriott Cancun Resort along a fully covered pathway. Here you can dine in the evening at Kasai Izakaya & Ramen Noodle Bar, Sasi Thai, Champions Sports Bar, or Mikado for a fun teppanyaki experience.
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Like many of the Cancun resorts, you can also dine in your room or on your balcony with the 24-hour room service.
Overall, the food at the JW Marriott Cancun Resort was in line with what you can expect for a large resort.
JW Marriott Cancun Conclusion
The JW Marriott Cancun Resort is conveniently located for your next Mexico beach vacation. The resort features freshly renovated rooms with a luxurious feel, a number of restaurant options and multiple pools as well as a large beach area to work on your tan and relax. We recommend the JW Marriott Cancun Resort as a great sun vacation destination for Marriott loyalists, and anyone looking for a trip to a Cancun resort that has everything you need for a great vacation.
Check availability at the JW Marriott Cancun Resort & Spa for your vacation!
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Great review! The J.W. Marriott Cancun should be enthused that others, such as myself, will want to visit their wonderful resort due to your efforts. Glad they hosted you so you could inform us…
Thank you Dana for the nice note! The JW Marriott Cancun is a great choice for a wonderful vacation in Cancun!
Just returned from here!! We found our experience excellent in every way! Service was exceptional! The resort itself was beautifully redone, rooms very comfortable, view wonderful! Walking distance to 3 also excellent restaurants, Freds, Puerto Madira and Harry’s ! The Italian Restaurant in JW Marriott also excellent.
Thank you for your comment! So glad to hear that you had a wonderful time at the JW Marriott Cancun – I agree that the remodel has really transformed it into a beautiful resort!