Jun 15, 2019, 5:32 pm
JW Marriott Cancun, Mexico [Master Thread]
Dec 20, 2020, 10:58 am
#346
Join Date: Apr 2017
Posts: 222
True, but they actually deliver on the Elite recognition. As a Titanium, I am eligible for suite upgrades and I was given one without having to ask for it (despite the hotel being close to it’s allowed capacity). Breakfast here is USD25 for the buffet, so only marginally more than the upgrade fee at the JW Marriott. Service is on another level, as you say, and I much prefer the pool area.
Also, not being able to use SNA, also makes me lean towards not staying at RC
Dec 20, 2020, 11:03 am
#347
Join Date: Nov 2012
Location: UK
Programs: BA GGL, Marriott Ambassador
Posts: 371
Just watch out with the SNAs at the JW Marriott: I could only select Premium Ocean View rooms for upgrades with SNAs three days ago. No suites were available for selection. Earlier reports suggest that they should be available so this may be a recent change.
Dec 20, 2020, 11:09 am
#348
Join Date: Apr 2017
Posts: 222
True - it’s definitely hit and miss with the RCs and suites.
Just watch out with the SNAs at the JW Marriott: I could only select Premium Ocean View rooms for upgrades with SNAs three days ago. No suites were available for selection. Earlier reports suggest that they should be available so this may be a recent change.
Just watch out with the SNAs at the JW Marriott: I could only select Premium Ocean View rooms for upgrades with SNAs three days ago. No suites were available for selection. Earlier reports suggest that they should be available so this may be a recent change.
Dec 20, 2020, 11:22 am
#349
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: Washington, DC
Programs: DL PM; IHG PlatAmb; Hilton Dia; Marriott Plat; Hyatt Discoverist
Posts: 7,309
Dec 20, 2020, 11:56 am
#350
Join Date: Nov 2012
Location: UK
Programs: BA GGL, Marriott Ambassador
Posts: 371
Very odd - maybe it is date specific over the 2020 holiday period? I don’t think I have seen that before.
I took a screenshot so I can share that later. Either way, worth checking (perhaps by booking a flexible rate) before anyone who wants to use SNAs commits.
I took a screenshot so I can share that later. Either way, worth checking (perhaps by booking a flexible rate) before anyone who wants to use SNAs commits.
Dec 23, 2020, 9:25 am
#351
Join Date: Aug 2017
Programs: Hyatt Globalist, SPG/Marriott Plat, Hilton Diamond, UA silver, Jetblue Mosaic
Posts: 161
You guys are making me think I should choose the Ritz over the JW.... Is the JW really that bad? I chose the JW because it looks more updated and modern compared to the Ritz and the pool look better as well. Am I mistaken?
Dec 23, 2020, 9:46 am
#352
Join Date: Nov 2012
Location: UK
Programs: BA GGL, Marriott Ambassador
Posts: 371
- Rooms: RC is a little more dated, but I found the JW's new furnishings cheap and already displaying significant wear and tear. My room at the RC was spotless.
- Lobby/public areas: RC is more dated (more so than the rooms), but both were well maintained.
- Service: I thought the RC was much better in this department. Staff were eager to help, chatty, far more polished and generally excellent at the RC. The same could not be said about the level of service I experienced at the JW.
- Pool area: RC felt more spacious, I could always easily order food/drink and I thought it also looked nicer (the JW pool area looks onto quite a worn-down wall of the hotel next door while the pool area of the RC just looks over the RC). The JW deckchairs are nicer and newer.
- Beach: Both are equally nice.
- Elite recognition: Better at the RC - I was given everything I was entitled to and some free drinks on top without asking for it. The same could not be said about the JW, which skimped on upgrades (and arguably breakfast, but let's not go there again).
Dec 23, 2020, 11:34 am
#353
Join Date: Mar 2019
Location: Mexico City
Programs: Hyatt Explorist, Hilton Gold, Marriot Gold, IHG Silver, Choice Platinum, Wyndham Gold
Posts: 3,842
I was considering all the luxury hotels including JW Marriot. And to save myself disappointment and grief over celebrating my birthday for a week, I decided to just go with the westin on the far southside of the strip. Less people, still have view of the beach and get a $50 daily credit, which will cover a good dinner and drinks for one. And half the price. With the extra money saved I'll go down to Playa del Carmen for additional days.
Jan 3, 2021, 11:11 am
#354
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: ELP
Programs: AA EXP/LT PLAT, Marriott Titanium/LT PLAT
Posts: 4,120
Just finished another 5 night (Dec 29-Jan 3) stay at this resort. Paid with points and tried to use SNA’s which didn’t go thru. They did offer an upgrade to Caribbean suite for $100/night since I had used that option before. I took it since we were traveling with another family and used the living area as a place to chill at night with drinks and also as our New Years Eve celebration.
Breakfast — continental given and we upgraded to buffet every morning for $15 per person. They charged us 6 upgraded everyday and the kids under 12 were not charged. They had someone controlling the flow and servers handing out items from the buffet from Dec 31 - Jan 3. I think the hotel capacity drops after that date so they will open the buffet like normal.
They did not charge the resort fee since reservation was made before Jan 1, 2021. Any reservations made after Jan 1, 2021 will have the resort fee. Since members get free Internet already they offer ice cream or coffee at the store downstairs. Don’t know if that is daily or once only per room.
Check your charges at end of stay — they charged me for continental breakfast but took it off when I questioned it.
Pool area was like before COVID and even most restaurants in Cancun were packed. I am surprised my family didn’t get COVID after this trip. But all of us are in very good shape and have no underlying conditions so not too worried about it.
Beach was pretty much back to pre-COVID time with people enjoying and playing in the water.
Breakfast — continental given and we upgraded to buffet every morning for $15 per person. They charged us 6 upgraded everyday and the kids under 12 were not charged. They had someone controlling the flow and servers handing out items from the buffet from Dec 31 - Jan 3. I think the hotel capacity drops after that date so they will open the buffet like normal.
They did not charge the resort fee since reservation was made before Jan 1, 2021. Any reservations made after Jan 1, 2021 will have the resort fee. Since members get free Internet already they offer ice cream or coffee at the store downstairs. Don’t know if that is daily or once only per room.
Check your charges at end of stay — they charged me for continental breakfast but took it off when I questioned it.
Pool area was like before COVID and even most restaurants in Cancun were packed. I am surprised my family didn’t get COVID after this trip. But all of us are in very good shape and have no underlying conditions so not too worried about it.
Beach was pretty much back to pre-COVID time with people enjoying and playing in the water.
Jan 3, 2021, 4:40 pm
#355
Join Date: Mar 2019
Location: Mexico City
Programs: Hyatt Explorist, Hilton Gold, Marriot Gold, IHG Silver, Choice Platinum, Wyndham Gold
Posts: 3,842
"I am surprised my family didn’t get COVID after this trip."
It takes about 7 days (usually 3-5) for symptoms to show up.
It takes about 7 days (usually 3-5) for symptoms to show up.
Jan 3, 2021, 5:08 pm
#356
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: Washington, DC
Programs: DL PM; IHG PlatAmb; Hilton Dia; Marriott Plat; Hyatt Discoverist
Posts: 7,309
(Please quarantine and get tested; plenty of people in good shape have ended up in hospitals and morgues, and certainly have transmitted the disease to others. This comes off as super out-of-touch, even if you didn't mean it that way.)
Jan 3, 2021, 5:41 pm
#357
Join Date: Mar 2019
Location: Mexico City
Programs: Hyatt Explorist, Hilton Gold, Marriot Gold, IHG Silver, Choice Platinum, Wyndham Gold
Posts: 3,842
I just got back from the Yucatan after spending Christmas there and also New Years at a different location. I have been quarantining since and will be, which is easy since Mexico City is on lockdown. I've been using delivery service for food. I was kind of worried when I returned because all of of sudden I got some really bad chills and was scared to death I caught the virus. I took 4 elderberry capsules and whatever it was went away within that hour. But, yep, I was spooked for awhile. I'm done traveling for a long time.
Jan 3, 2021, 7:33 pm
#358
Join Date: Apr 2017
Posts: 222
Just finished another 5 night (Dec 29-Jan 3) stay at this resort. Paid with points and tried to use SNA’s which didn’t go thru. They did offer an upgrade to Caribbean suite for $100/night since I had used that option before. I took it since we were traveling with another family and used the living area as a place to chill at night with drinks and also as our New Years Eve celebration.
Breakfast — continental given and we upgraded to buffet every morning for $15 per person. They charged us 6 upgraded everyday and the kids under 12 were not charged. They had someone controlling the flow and servers handing out items from the buffet from Dec 31 - Jan 3. I think the hotel capacity drops after that date so they will open the buffet like normal.
They did not charge the resort fee since reservation was made before Jan 1, 2021. Any reservations made after Jan 1, 2021 will have the resort fee. Since members get free Internet already they offer ice cream or coffee at the store downstairs. Don’t know if that is daily or once only per room.
Check your charges at end of stay — they charged me for continental breakfast but took it off when I questioned it.
Pool area was like before COVID and even most restaurants in Cancun were packed. I am surprised my family didn’t get COVID after this trip. But all of us are in very good shape and have no underlying conditions so not too worried about it.
Beach was pretty much back to pre-COVID time with people enjoying and playing in the water.
Breakfast — continental given and we upgraded to buffet every morning for $15 per person. They charged us 6 upgraded everyday and the kids under 12 were not charged. They had someone controlling the flow and servers handing out items from the buffet from Dec 31 - Jan 3. I think the hotel capacity drops after that date so they will open the buffet like normal.
They did not charge the resort fee since reservation was made before Jan 1, 2021. Any reservations made after Jan 1, 2021 will have the resort fee. Since members get free Internet already they offer ice cream or coffee at the store downstairs. Don’t know if that is daily or once only per room.
Check your charges at end of stay — they charged me for continental breakfast but took it off when I questioned it.
Pool area was like before COVID and even most restaurants in Cancun were packed. I am surprised my family didn’t get COVID after this trip. But all of us are in very good shape and have no underlying conditions so not too worried about it.
Beach was pretty much back to pre-COVID time with people enjoying and playing in the water.
Jan 4, 2021, 9:37 am
#360
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: ELP
Programs: AA EXP/LT PLAT, Marriott Titanium/LT PLAT
Posts: 4,120
I was sure we had caught it being so close to that many people.