I think the consensus on this hotel is a very mixed one. And, what delights one person can tremendously disappoint the next person.
My two cents:
A solid hotel, but one that was built very early on as Cancun was in its earliest development. This hotel was built as a Conrad hotel and operated as such for some years before converting to the Westin flag. But, the standards and expectations for resort hotels more than a generation ago vs what's being constructed today are quite different. As such, this hotel has small, boxy pools and very compact lounge chair areas. Most of the rooms in this hotel do NOT have balconies, which should be a federal crime. Additionally, room decor is very sparse.
On the plus side, the staff I encountered there have always been exceedingly helpful and pleasant. I like the Royal Beach Club (RBC) offerings and that's a real plus. With that said, I have always opted to take breakfast in the dining room, which is a wonderful option for RBC guests.
When I've been upgraded to a suite, I've frankly wished that I hadn't been. Suites have a definite 1979 feel to them -- cavernous rooms with nothing in them except for oddly placed furniture and the occasional lamp. For my money, the RBC balcony rooms are probably the best bet here.
Some like the location of this hotel, but it really REALLY is at the very end of the line. If this is a weekend getaway and the plan is to simply unplug, then that's probably not a factor that would be problematic. However, if one is here for a week and looking to investigate all that Cancun has to offer (downtown, shopping, Isla Mujeres, etc), you'll find that this location really is just about as far from the "action" as one can get and still be in Cancun.
I'll have to give them credit for stepping up to the plate a few years ago and sinking big $$s into some long overdue renovations and replacements. The lobby area is significantly more inviting now than it was 5 years ago and, in many ways, that sets the tone for the overall stay.
My go to place for *wood hotels in Cancun is absolutely the Westin Lagunamar. I find it to be consistently excellent in really every possible way. The location is as perfect as one could hope for and it gleams as if it's opening day every time I've been there.