The Westin Resort & Spa, Cancun is a beachfront property in Cancun, Mexico. I admittedly chose this property almost as a “connection” on my way to the Almare, a Luxury Collection Resort, as I was arriving in Cancun late via WestJet and wanted a full day to relax before hopping across to Isla Mujeres by boat.
The Westin was a convenient property on the south end of the Cancun hotel zone, located less than 20 minutes from the Cancun International Airport (CUN). Admittedly, I got a very good industry rate at this hotel which was a good way to offset the costs of my luxury stay in Isla Mujeres.
Read on for my review of the Westin Resort & Spa, Cancun.
Booking & Check-in
I booked the Westin Resort & Spa, Cancun at a very affordable industry rate. Nonetheless, the regular rate was only around $200 CAD or 30,000 Marriott Bonvoy points per night which isn’t outrageous at all for a Westin property.
About 1 month before our stay I emailed the hotel using the Marriott contact form and requested an upgrade. They made a note on the reservation. At the time of checking in, I was informed I’d been upgraded to the highest floor. A bit of a pacifying upgrade, but I wasn’t too surprised or disappointed, especially given I rolled into the hotel quite late at around 10:30 PM.
Related: Hotel Room Upgrades: Asking For What You Want


Check in went otherwise smoothly. As this was a Westin Vacation Club property, and not a Westin Hotel, I was sadly not entitled to any Marriott Bonvoy breakfast benefit. I did receive 1,000 Marriott Bonvoy points complimentary as a welcome amenity at least.
Timeshare Presentations
This resort is a Westin Vacation Club property which really means it’s a timeshare hotel. I knew this going into my stay but didn’t know exactly what to expect. Timeshare presentations can be notoriously annoying but they can also be an opportunity for free points or hotel credit for those willing to endure pushy sales pitches.
The timeshare meeting room was located directly across from the lobby and the various concierge staff members were obviously all associated with the timeshare team. I didn’t seem to be on the radar until I asked about the run club at the concierge on the second day of my stay. Sure enough, I received a call to my room about 30 minutes later inviting me to the timeshare presentation.
They offered $200 USD towards food, beverage, and other hotel charges excluding the room rate. The presentation would be 90 minutes. I politely declined but this seemed to be a generous offer and I actually might have considered attending if I’d had more time left at the property.
Location
The Westin Resort & Spa Cancun is located on Boulevard Kukulcan at kilometer 20.5 in Cancun’s Hotel Zone, Quintana Roo, Mexico. It’s located on a prime spot on the narrow stretch of land between the Caribbean Sea and the tranquil Nichupté Lagoon, offering direct beachfront access on both sides.
The resort is approximately 8.7 miles from Cancun’s downtown area and a short drive from Cancun International Airport, making it convenient for tourists seeking both isolation and accessibility.
Transportation
A small note to be aware of. Transfers from the Cancun airport are a nightmare. This is one of those places that has a “taxi mafia” and is rife with fraudulent actors. My advice is to not rely on arranging shuttle transportation at the airport. Additionally, Uber does not operate at the airport, unlike the rest of Cancun.
Instead, you should pre-arrange a shuttle via the hotel concierge in advance, or using a reputable transfer company. I have heard good things about “USA Transfers” and “Canada Transfers”.
Alternatively, you can take an ADO bus from the airport to downtown Cancun and then take an Uber from there to the hotel zone.
Parking
Complimentary onsite parking is available at this property.
Room – Guest Room, 1 King, Ocean View
The Marriott Bonvoy app didn’t make it especially clear that the room had a balcony, but I was pleasantly surprised upon entering my room to see a fantastic front-and-center view of the beach and ocean.

The room was clean and minimal, with the same white and faded blue-themed coloring as the hotel was present throughout. Upon entering, the bathroom was on the left, while the closet was on the right-hand side.



Overall, the room was a little bit dated, but did have some charm to go with the great view, such as the vaulted ceilings and upgraded smart LCD TV. The bed was standard Marriott quality and I found it to be quite comfortable. The room had AC, but it was quite noisy and I didn’t find it was needed in November. I much preferred to listen to the sounds of the waves crashing ashore as I drifted to sleep both nights.



Along with the bed, there was a very large desk which I appreciated. Additionally, there was a small table with two chairs which was a great spot to throw all my luggage and clothes bags.


The television was directly across from the bed on top of a large credenza that had ample counter space.

My chief complaint with this room was that the lighting was only small lamps, with no central lighting. This made it quite dark in the evenings.
On the other hand, the balcony was a highlight and offered a great spot to enjoy the view each morning. I enjoyed coffee here multiple times. There was two large window coverings that could be pulled to completely cover the balcony for sleeping.



Speaking of coffee, the coffee provided was actually very good. It was brewed with a small drip machine, which was no trouble to use. There was also a fridge below, but no minibar.


The bathroom at the Westin was above average. There was lots of counterspace and the quartz countertops were of premium quality. There was generally lots of space throughout the bathroom and everything was well organized and easy to find.



The large pseudo-waterfall shower was good, although the temperature was a bit inconsistent and would fluctuate a little without changing the separate hot and cold knobs. This was only a minor inconvenience but I did notice it.
On the other hand, the bathtub drain plug didn’t block the drain fully, so the tub wasn’t really fillable without emptying itself. That is a problem for anyone who cares about taking baths during their stay.


Aside from these aforementioned hiccups, I thought the room was decent enough and was happy with what I got for my money. The view was fantastic and made for a nice experience almost all by itself.
Restaurants & Bars
Sea & Stones Restaurant

Sea & Stones is the fine dining option available at the Westin Cancun. The restaurant is located right on the beachfront with covered and uncovered seating. The views from this spot at sunset are remarkable.



You can view the full menu for Sea & Stones online here. I didn’t eat here during my stay so I can’t comment on the restaurant’s food quality.
Sabor Casual Kitchen


I had breakfast at Sabor Casual Kitchen on the last day of my stay. Sabor is open only for breakfast, from 6:30 AM to 11:00 AM.
Sabor had both a paid buffet and a menu. It looked like most people opted for the buffet. However, I wasn’t as hungry this morning and after asking to be given a menu, I decided on a simple breakfast consisting of a salmon omelette, with hashbrowns.


You can view the full menu for Sabor online here.
Arena Sports Bar

The Arena Sports Bar is a unique sports bar situated with a view of the beachfront. I enjoyed a beer here during one evening of my stay and they did indeed play a wide variety of sports across the ample number of televisions in the space. Unsurprisingly there seemed to be a preference for soccer games.
The menu had a pretty wide selection of dishes. You can view a digital version of the menu here.

On the final day of my stay, just after checking out, I stopped for a quick beer and fries. Both were tasty.


Arena Sports Bar is open from 11:00 AM to 11:00 PM every day.
Palmar Market

Palmar Market is a little souvenir shop located close to Sea & Stone Restaurant with an exterior and interior entrance at ground level.
They had a variety of deli items, meats, wine, quick bites, and more. I had a coffee here a few times during my stay.
Palmar Market is open every day from 6:30 AM to 11:00 PM.
Brisas Bar
Brisas Bar is the poolfront bar. It is well arranged with bar seating accessible from both the poolside and also separate table seating on the opposite side.

Open from 11:00 AM to 6:00 PM every day, they offer beer, cocktails, other beverages, and light snacks with a tranquil ocean backdrop.
Room Service
On the evening of my very late arrival, which occurred due to WestJet’s shenanigans, I had pretty much no option but to order room service. Room service was open 24/7 and served from the Arena Sports Bar.
The room service menu was accessed via a QR code link available in the room. I tried to place an order on the website but it glitched and reset me back to the main page with the cart empty. Instead, I used the phone to call room service to place my order instead…
I ordered the Parmesan Chicken Alfredo, Quesadillas, and Cheesecake.



The chicken alfredo was really excellent and was a huge portion size. The quesadillas were decent. On the other hand, the cheesecake was frankly terrible. I didn’t finish it, and I am not one to ever leave a dessert unfinished…
Facilities
Pools
As one would expect, the resort had a number of outdoor pools available for guests. The primary pool was the Ocean Pool with a swim-up bar.

This pool was a centerpiece of the beachfront property available to guests, and there was always some activity in there. It’s also where several activities and games were run throughout the day. For example, there was a music trivia that happened here. Winners got points towards free beverages from the bar.

Notably, this whole area got shaded quite early around 15:30-16:00 each day. This is due to the location of the hotel in the corner of the bay. For better or for worse depending on your preference and how much sun exposure you want.
There were two other ‘groups’ of outdoor pools available to guests. These included the triangular pools which were also on the beachfront. These were always rather quiet and I was often the only guest making use of them, which was nice.


Finally, there was a small pool located on an elevated terrace in Building D of the hotel. I didn’t make use of this pool but it is always good to have options available.


Beach



Although Cancun isn’t known for having the calmest beaches, I found the beachfront setup at this resort made the most of it. There was lots of seating with both shaded and sunny options. Even during the busiest hours of sun, I was still able to secure a lounging spot without issue.
WestinWORKOUT Fitness Studio
The gym, or WestinWORKOUT Fitness Studio as it’s known, was nicely appointed with all the essentials as far as equipment.



Westin properties tend to brand themselves as fitness-oriented and this was apparent with a focus on running at this property.


However, I asked the fitness center staff about the runWestin run clubs and they were rather clueless. I had to instead talk to the concierge who provided me with a run map that had a single route.

There was also a schedule of fitness activities posted which provided quite a few options for guests.

The Heavenly Spa

The Heavenly Spa is open every day from 9:00 AM to 9:00 PM, and offers the following services/treatments/amenities:
- Body Scrub
- Body Wrap
- Couples Massages
- Eye Treatment
- Facials
- Foot Bath
- Lip Treatment
- Makeup Services
- Manicures/Pedicures
- Massages
- Separate Men & Women’s Lounges
Appointments are required. The spa is located right next to the fitness studio.
Tennis Courts


It was a nice little surprise to stumble upon an outdoor tennis court located close to the fitness facility. I assume equipment was available complimentary or at a low cost to guests.
Computer Center


Located on the lobby level, just outside the lobby was the computer center. It was a small room with a couple of computers and one printer.
Conclusion
The Westin Resort & Spa, Cancun provides good value for those seeking a beachfront escape close to Cancun International Airport. The property has great ocean views and a large variety of amenities, including multiple dining options and pools. While the rooms were slightly dated and poorly illuminated, features like the spacious balcony, ocean view, and comfortable bedding enhanced the overall experience for me.
Though the timeshare aspect may not appeal to everyone, the offers associated with it could be worthwhile for those with extra time. In my opinion, the Westin Resort & Spa, Cancun is a solid option for those looking to enjoy the beauty of Cancun without breaking the bank.
Reed Sutton
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