Last Updated on June 17, 2022
Heading to Cancun for some sunshine and shopping? The Renaissance Cancun Resort & Marina is one of the new hotels anchoring the developing Marina Puerto Cancun project which is a mega complex with a shopping mall, restaurants, entertainment, and of course the Cancun Marina. The Renaissance Cancun is a beautiful resort in a different location compared to most of the typical Cancun resorts.
We spent 3 days here and put together this Renaissance Cancun review to help you decide whether this Marriott family resort is a good choice for your next trip to sunny Cancun, Mexico!
Disclaimer: Our stay at the Renaissance Cancun Resort & Marina was provided courtesy of the hotel. We thoroughly enjoyed our stay and as always, all our opinions on this Renaissance Cancun Resort review and what to do while 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
Renaissance Cancun Location
The Renaissance Cancun is located in the relatively new Marina Puerto Cancun project located between the town of Cancun and the popular Hotel Zone. The resort is a 25 minute drive from Cancun International Airport. This location means that it is not located on the Cancun beach, but what it lacks in sand it more than makes up with a beautiful setting and much more convenience to great shopping, dining, and entertainment.
The Renaissance Cancun Resort does not provide shuttle service. You can book a transfer to your hotel from Cancun Airport Round-Trip Transfer as a private or luxury transport or as a shared shuttle service.
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.
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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 Renaissance Cancun Resort, self-parking and valet parking are both available and complimentary with your stay.
Renaissance Cancun Arrival
When arriving at the Renaissance Cancun Resort, you will see the towering building from far away, and as you get closer you will first pass by the large shopping mall at Marina Puerto Cancun before driving up to the beautiful entrance area of the Renaissance Cancun. Entering the hotel you will be greeted by the bellman who can assist you with your luggage. The lobby at the Renaissance Cancun Resort is bright, open, and modern. Here you will be provided the keys for your room, given an explanation of the resort facilities, and then you’ll be off to your room!
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.
Renaissance Cancun Rooms
The Renaissance Cancun has a variety of rooms and suites available depending on your needs. As the Renaissance Cancun is a high-rise building set on the marina, you have great views from all rooms, and the higher the floor, the better the view! During our time at the Renaissance Cancun, we stayed in one of the King Guest Rooms with a Marina View.
The Marina View room had a beautiful and uninterrupted view of the Cancun Marina, which was easy to enjoy from the full-length balcony. The vibes of this new area of Cancun remind us of something similar to Miami or Dubai. The balcony includes a small seating area, perfect for that first morning coffee.
Overall, the design of the room is clean and modern, with all of the expected amenities provided, including in-room coffee, plenty of storage, a large desk to work from, and comfortable seating area. As the hotel is still relatively new, everything has a fresh, modern, and clean feeling. The bed was incredibly comfortable and the room was so enjoyable to be in, we almost didn’t want to leave!
Renaissance Cancun Amenities
The Renaissance Cancun Resort is one large tower, with the entrance, lobby, restaurants, and pool, all located on the main ground level. When you enter the building, the check-in area is to your immediate left, as are the elevators to the higher floors and the hallway that leads directly into the Marina Puerto Cancun shopping and entertainment area. Directly ahead is the main restaurant and café, a large seating area, and views out over the resort pool to the marina. On the right-hand side is more seating, as well as the resort bar.
The outdoor pool area on this level seems smaller than your typical Cancun resort, and indeed it is, however we never found the area to be too crowded. This is a great place to take in the Cancun sunset, which is a rarity among all Cancun Resorts. All of the typical Cancun resorts located in the famous Hotel Zone are primarily facing East, meaning they do not have a view of the sunset. Here at the Renaissance Cancun Resort, you have a direct view of the setting sun over the water across the marina which you can easily enjoy from your room balcony, or down at the pool.
The pool area also has a large hot tub, and a number of lounge chairs to relax in and drink service is available at the pool throughout the day.
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One level above the ground floor you will find the business center as well as a number of meeting rooms.
The resort also includes a large fitness center which has incredible views of the Cancun Marina, owing to its location on a high floor. You can run on the treadmill or bike on the bike all the while taking in the incredible views of this hotel.
Renaissance Cancun Dining
The Renaissance Cancun has a fairly limited selection of restaurants immediately on-property, however that’s not really an issue at all as you are connected to the Marina Puerto Cancun which has so many restaurants to choose from. Whether you are looking for something quick to eat, or to dine in style and enjoy the marina views, there is a large diversity in the restaurants on offer.
At the Renaissance Cancun Resort the main restaurant is Kaajal, which serves a diverse international cuisine for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. The restaurant is located just off of the lobby of the hotel and features a large outdoor terrace, which is the perfect place to enjoy some great food and start your day.
All of the choices were quite good, but we were pleasantly surprised by the high quality of the pastries at this breakfast buffet, which were some of the best we had had in Mexico. There is also a large station for omelets, a complete Western breakfast, or a Mexican style breakfast.
If you’re looking for a drink at the Renaissance Cancun, Zek Bar, located on the opposite end of the lobby as Kaajal, is the place to go. They serve hand-crafted cocktails all day and well into the night either indoors at the bar or outdoors on the pool terrace. There are also some small bites available.
Lastly, MeroToro is a popular restaurant for dinner and serves a sophisticated menu inspired by the cuisine of Baja California.
Overall, the breakfast buffet at the Renaissance Cancun Resort was delicious, beating our expectations with great food and a great view. For all other meals, there is so much to choose from in the immediate walking area that you are sure to find something to your tastes.
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Renaissance Cancun Conclusion
The Renaissance Cancun Resort & Marina is a unique new hotel in Cancun located right on the new Marina Puerto Cancun complex. We recommend the Renaissance Cancun Resort for anyone looking to spend their vacation in Cancun out exploring all the city has to offer, as opposed to staying at the pool/beach. The Renaissance Cancun offers an amazing location to explore Cancun, beautiful marina views from modern rooms, and is connected to limitless shopping, dining, and entertainment at Marina Puerto Cancun.
Check availability at the Renaissance Cancun Resort & Marina for your vacation!
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