Originally Posted by lighthouse206

Frequent guest at both. For us (no kids) there's no question - the Ziva is better but that's not to say Zilara isn't great too.

However, to your points:

Location:

Ziva has the best location of ANY resort in Cancun. Ziva sits on a peninsula with gorgeous water on three sides. It has access to TWO fantastic beaches which are the best I've ever seen in Mexico. You'll see fish and other marine life on the north side beach (not likely anywhere else nearby). You'll also have CALM clear water to bob and swim in. At Zilara, you will front a single beach and there's a good chance it will be too rough to swim or even wade in (with lifeguards there to enforce keeping you out of the water). Beyond the gorgeous unbeatable location (tons of friendly Iguanas, too!), at Ziva you are also walking distance to the heart of Cancun (shops, clubs, etc...) BUT you will never know it because the Ziva remains quiet and gorgeous at all times. Hard to overstate the Ziva's location, as it's just amazing and unbeatable....

Food/Drink:

I really think the food situation is about the same at both resorts (they are owned and managed by the same people: Playa Resorts, and a Hyatt franchise). Bastille can be VERY good.... We also absolutely LOVE Habaneros at Ziva (it's like a beach shack restaurant on that GORGEOUS beach with fish and hammocks in the water.) You'll find awesome tacos, ceviche, shrimp cocktails, and a lot more there... and theres nothing really like Habaneros at Zilara. On the flipside, I think the Zilara buffet MIGHT be a tad better, but I didn't like the Chef's Table (highest end restaurant) there at all. Many many more options at Ziva, and quality is basically the same with perhaps a few exceptions...

Kids:

Yes there are kids at Ziva, but we've never found them to be a major problem. We were just there last week (at the PEAK of kid season) and I would call it a minor nuisance at worst. At other times of year when we've been there (non-summer or school breaks) the kids have been quite scarce, and no issue at all. If you really want to avoid them, try to score an upgrade to the Turquoize Tower (adults only) and you'll also have access to the spa (no kids) (and BOY is it gorgeous!!) and also an adults-only pool area which has crazy awesome views. My guess is your looking at $50-$100 more per night for Turquoize if you bargain with them a bit upon arrival. For us, Turquoize is fun, but it's not a deal breaker (I can frequently get it for free thanks to Globalist status)...

Final notes - I hear Zilara is under renovation and this is an issue for some people. It could use a renovation as some areas are a bit outdated. Ziva still feels brand new... I will say that the nighttime entertainment at Zilara IS better - but you'll also see more completely drunk red necky types in the pools, too, and you really don't see much of that at Ziva for some reason.

For us, it's no contest, even without kids, we strongly prefer the Ziva, and likely won't stay at Zilara again. Also, if you've never been to Playa Del Carmen, another option should be the Grand Hyatt there. It is also a WONDERFUL experience (but completely different) in a very very cool town where everything is within walking distance. Net cost is usually about the same...