Cancun with Igor 2024

For our family's first Mexican all-inclusive experience, we were debating between Puerto Vallarta and Cancun. After some research, Cancun has slightly edged out for us and it's exactly where we decided to spend our 4-night tropical all-inclusive vacation! Next up on our list was to decide where to stay. With dozens of family-friendly resorts in Cancun itself and in the Riviera Maya area south of it, there's no shortage of places to choose from, so probably doing some research is in order, especially if you are planning to stay at the same resort for a week or more. I won't get too much into details about how exactly we pinpointed the resort that matched our needs (which ended up being Hilton Cancun), suffice it to say we were looking for one with high-quality dining, family-friendly amenities, upscale, contemporary rooms, unique setting, and, of course, the service, and let me tell you this: Hilton Cancun did not disappoint in any of these! There is a lot to say about this resort, so before I proceed with my full experience at Hilton Cancun, let me start by getting a few (but, trust me, very important) things out of the way first. 

Early vs Late Arrival 

We decided to take a red-eye flight to arrive in Cancun early in the morning (instead of taking a morning flight that wouldn't get us in Cancun until late afternoon). This may seem counterintuitive at first, but when you really think about it, there are a number of advantages to this. 

First, suppose you choose to arrive sometime between late morning and late afternoon/early evening. In that case, this timeframe aligns perfectly with the peak arrival times for the bulk of major international flights from the U.S., Canada, and Europe, so don't be surprised by potentially long lines at the immigration (although there were some improvements lately, which I'll talk more about later), especially if you're traveling during the peak season, over the holidays, or even just arriving on weekends). Once you are finally done with that, a ride to your hotel still awaits. If you've arranged for a private shuttle and your hotel is within Cancun's "hotel zone", chances are you may be able to reach it in 20 to 40 minutes (if everything works out perfectly), but if you decided to reserve a shared shuttle and/or staying somewhere around Tulum, be prepared that you may not be able to reach your room for at least another few hours or so (yes, even if you have private transportation!) One tip I could provide here is that if your resort is somewhere around the Tulum area, I'd highly recommend considering flying into the brand-new Tulum International Airport - yes, it's actually a thing, believe it or not, and even Air Canada flies there from four(!) Canadian cities (at least for the 2024-25 winter season). So, before you book your hotel, make sure you actually know where exactly it's located and how far (at least on the map) it is from the airport you'll be flying into. And don't be surprised it may take longer than you think to reach your hotel, just be prepared for it! 

Second, if your arrival is not until late afternoon or evening, this means that you're going to miss out on most of the daytime activities and dining. Considering that you may use all the resort's facilities the minute you get there, morning arrivals will allow you to maximize the benefits early on and if you're paying, say, $500 p/person p/night, you do your math! My advice to those who, for whatever reason, arrive later in the day, but still want to take full advantage of what you're paying for, is to stay the very first night at one of the hotels near the airport, have a good night sleep there (at a fraction of the per night cost of your all-inclusive accommodation) and then head to your resort in the morning for breakfast! This may be a better option for those who are not fans of red-eye flights. 

Third, arriving early gives you more time to unpack, and explore the property (and get familiar with its layout) without feeling rushed. This will make your very first day feel more like a vacation rather than a travel day! 

(Airport) Transportation

You may have noticed that when I was talking about airport transportation earlier, I only mentioned shuttles and this is because, in my humble opinion, it's the only way to go if you're just staying within a resort area in Mexico. Here's a tip for you: try to avoid taxis or take it at your own risk. Taxi scams in Mexico are common. Here's how just one of them works: you have negotiated a price and are patting yourself on the shoulder thinking you got yourself a "good deal". You arrive at your destination, and hand over the cash, but the driver demands payment by credit card instead and won't let you out until you hand it over. You punch your security code, but the driver claims the charge didn't go through and would then accept your cash. Here's the deal: your credit card most likely did go through not only for the negotiated amount but for something significantly higher. There were reports of people getting charged thousands of dollars when it was supposed to be a mere single-digit charge! Such a level of overcharging exceeds similar scams in other major tourist destinations around the world by many magnitudes. So, there you have it! If the only reason you want to get into a taxi in Mexico is because you think you're going to save money that way, I'd suggest thinking again. Use your own judgment if you intend to use taxis in Mexico, but my advice specifically when it comes to airport transportation is that if you don't want to get your long-awaited vacation off on the wrong footing, just save yourself some trouble (and money) by arranging (and, better yet, pre-paying) transportation from a reputable operator in advance. Just a few minutes of research will do a trick. For us, we chose USA Transfers and I think an operator with over 25,000 5-star reviews on Tripadvisor (at the time of writing) deserves some mentioning! Clear and concise written instructions (on where exactly to go on arrival) upon booking, easy changes/cancellations (that can be done through multiple channels), and friendly and efficient ground staff, so will recommend them! Other recommended companies are Project Expedition and Viator. Or when booking your all-inclusive hotel, look for a rate that includes transfers. 

Car Rental in Mexico

If you plan to rent a car in Mexico, you must be aware that it can be a risky proposition, and that various and sundry scams do exist. Third-party liability insurance is not included, your car insurance from your home country and/or credit card insurance will not be accepted, and the mandatory additional cost can often equal or even exceed the daily rental rates. Multiple other scams, too numerous to mention, have been reported, so it’s important to be informed and wary.  Do proper research into your chosen rental company and take pictures and videos of everything before you even leave the parking garage, so you have visual evidence if something unexpectedly comes up/goes wrong upon the return of the vehicle. Another suggestion would be to book and prepay for an all-inclusive car rental through a Canadian supplier, along the lines of Air Canada Vacations, before embarking on your trip.  

Immigration and Visitax

You've probably read about (and may have even experienced it yourself in the past) just how chaotic and disorganized the process of going through immigration at Cancun International Airport has been, especially during the busiest times of the year. Those dreaded lines where people had to stand for hours on end with no place to sit down (other than their carry-on luggage). I mentioned earlier there have been some improvements lately that were meant to simplify and, more importantly, speed up the process of going through immigration. One such improvement is the elimination of the traditional paper Forma Migratoria Multiple (FMM) customs forms. Remember the good ol’ days when we were all given those "Tourist Cards" just before landing to fill out and then carrying them around until our departure? Well, for travellers not requiring a visa to enter Mexico, those days are gone! Instead, you'll receive a stamp in your passport, on which the number of days you may stay in Mexico will be specified. At least this is the case right now at Cancun as well as a few other major airports across the country. The second improvement is the introduction of automated passport machines (or E-Gates) in Terminals 3 & 4. The biggest caveat is that you have to be a citizen of specified countries, have a biometric passport that is valid for at least 6 months, and be at least 18 years of age to use them, meaning that families with children will still have to go through the traditional immigration line, but nevertheless, this new option is designed to streamline the process of going through immigration and will hopefully reduce the wait times significantly. 

Visitax is a new Quintana Roo (a state where Cancun is located) tourist tax aimed at international visitors traveling to the state. It came into effect in April 2021 and became mandatory for all international visitors regardless of age in December 2022. It's currently not included with your airline tickets even if you purchased a package that includes flights, accommodation, and transfers. It needs to be paid separately before you leave the state. The price for the Visitax, at least as of February 2024, is MXN 271 and the only two ways to pay it (as of this moment) are via the TravelKore (https://www.travelkore.app/) or the Mexican government (https://www.visitax.gob.mx/sitio/) websites. 

Hilton Cancun 

Intro 

Finally, on to the actual resort where we spent our fabulous 5-day 4-night tropical vacation! First off, Hilton Cancun is not within Cancun's "hotel zone". It's a somewhat secluded resort sprawled across 100 acres of Mayan coastline amid the serene beauty of a mangrove preserve. Despite sounding very isolated, it's actually only about a 20-minute drive from the airport (almost as close to the airport as the beginning of the hotel zone!), including an 8-minute scenic drive through the mangroves once you pass through the security gate. This was already a big plus for us since we only had four nights and just wanted complete relaxation away from the hustle and bustle of the hotel zone, but didn't want to be too far from the airport either. However, for those of you looking to being closer to all the bars, restaurants, and nightclubs, or simply being in the centre of the action, Hilton Cancun may not be the right choice for you. 

Hilton Cancun is a relatively new resort that opened at the end of 2021, which was also a very appealing feature to us. It's worth mentioning that Hilton has expanded its all-inclusive collection considerably, opening 4 all-inclusive resorts (including Hilton Cancun) over the past 3 years in the Cancun-Riviera Maya area alone. In fact, Mexico is one of Hilton's largest and fastest-growing markets globally, so definitely worth exploring their Mexican portfolio, especially if you're a Hilton Honors member or are looking to become one.

Accommodation and Common Areas 

Hilton Cancun offers a wide range of accommodation options for every taste and budget: there are over 700 guestrooms and suites across a dozen room categories, ranging from 430 sq ft guestrooms to 860 sq ft family suites to a whopping 2098 sq ft presidential suite. Most of the rooms and suites have a furnished balcony, while those on the ground level feature private mini swimming pools. All rooms and suites would have a "Tropical" view, a "Sunset" view (both these are facing the mangroves), and an "Oceanfront (facing the swimming pools and the ocean). We chose an Ocean Front guestroom for our stay and despite being only 430 sq ft, it felt larger and more spacious than it was thanks to its minimalist design. These types of rooms can be found between the 1st and 4th floors of the resort. Being a new 5-star property, our room did look and feel fresh, clean, modern and well-appointed, with wood finishes throughout adding an extra luxurious touch. In addition to two queen-size beds, it had a sitting/dining area (with a table and cushioned chairs), a furnished balcony with two chairs and a table, and a spacious well-appointed bathroom that had a vanity, a toilet, and a large walk-in shower (featuring a rain shower head and a hand shower). Both the toilet and the shower were separated by the frosted-glass doors. 

Other features include a mini fridge (filled with beer, water, juices and sodas, all of which were being replenished daily), a wall-mounted 65-inch HDTV, a safe large enough to fit a 16" laptop, and a coffee maker (although I personally preferred to get my coffee from Azulinda Café in the lobby but more about that later). There was also ample closet space and plenty of power sockets (including USB ports), while their (locally branded) bathroom toiletries were scented and full size (not those tiny little bottles that you will find in many hotels these days), which was appreciated and added an extra touch. Overall, we were satisfied with our room which looked more beautiful and upscale than your typical Hilton. In fact, we were really impressed by the overall look of the common areas of the resort starting from its modern design and welcoming atmosphere, moving on to its two large aesthetically beautiful infinity pools with plenty of lounging space (complete with sunbeds, umbrellas, and side tables) surrounded by lush landscaping, which creates a relaxing, tropical ambiance throughout, and each of its stylish and thoroughly designed restaurants has a distinct atmosphere that aligns with its cuisine, making the dining experience feel immersive. I would also like to give a special shout-out to the resort's lobby. Its open design featuring high ceilings, expansive windows, and contemporary furnishings makes the space feel airy and welcoming while creating an immediate sense of luxury and relaxation. Its elegant decor, including thoughtfully selected artwork, comfortable seating areas, and tasteful lighting all add to the overall ambiance. 

Pools and the Beach 

As mentioned earlier, Hilton Cancun has two large infinity-style pools, each stretching longitudinally along the northern and southern sections of the resort almost from one end of the respective section to another and they are essentially identical. I liked that setup since no matter which section of the resort you're staying in, you'll always be just steps away from one of these pools. And there are plenty of loungers and umbrellas around those pools, so we never had a problem finding space there. Granted, we travelled in late October, so not exactly the peak tourist season yet, but considering the number of sunbeds we saw there, I have a feeling this won't be too much of an issue even during the busiest times of the year. Being a family-friendly resort, Hilton Cancun also has a large kids' pool with a splash playground complete with multiple water slides, a massive water bucket, and many other water features - a paradise for younger children! The kid's pool stretches along the northern section of the resort parallel to the northern infinity pool and this is the area where all of the resort's pool activities (such as water volleyball, aqua fit classes, and pool games) are happening, so it may get a bit loud in that area during the day, so if you're looking for a quieter place, I'd recommend going to the southern pool or, better yet, right upon arrival, request a room in the southern section of the resort. But if those activities are exactly what you're after and/or have kids (especially smaller ones), or just don't mind some noise, then the northern pool area is the place to be! 

As for the beach, honestly, their beach is not the best one I've seen in my life ... by far. Don't get me wrong though: it's not too bad, it's just if crystal-clear turquoise water along a wide white-sand beach is important to you, you'll most likely be disappointed. The beach here is small, very narrow and you'll even have to go down the wooden stairs to get to it, so something to keep in mind, especially if you have some mobility issues. And the ocean water is not clear. A combination of sand, sediment, and seaweed all affect the water clarity. It's worth pointing out though that the issue with the seaweed is not localized to the area where Hilton Cancun is situated: it's a common problem along much of the coastline around Cancun and the Riviera Maya. Sargassum can appear along that coast at any time of the year, however, its accumulation typically peaks in the summer months (from April through August, sometimes even into October). The hotel staff is doing their best to try to clean up the beach, but this doesn't solve the problem at all. For clearer ocean waters, nearby areas such as those around Isla Mujeres and some parts of the Riviera Maya coast (around Tulum) would be a better choice, especially if you go there during the winter months. For us, however, the beach wasn't much of a priority, so were fine with that. 

Restaurants 

Food was one of the most important factors for us to decide where to stay and at Hilton Cancun it ended up being a highlight of our entire vacation! No, seriously, if we were to return to Hilton Cancun again, the food (and service) would be the primary reason for us to do so. It was simply delicious. Period. At every venue that we visited, which is pretty much every single one of them. Hilton Cancun features a total of 12 unique dining experiences, including five specialty restaurants (Maxal, Auma, La Luce, Sunan, and Vela) with three of them (Maxal, Auma, and La Luce) requiring advance reservations. 

La Luce is an Italian-inspired trattoria-style restaurant offering a blend of authentic Italian flavors with a modern, vibrant ambience. The centerpiece of the restaurant is its wood-fired oven used to prepare its signature pizzas right in front of your eyes. In addition to wood-fired pizza, La Luce also serves other Italian classics like handmade pasta, salads, and Italian-style plates of seafood. The restaurant decor is inspired by a cozy, Italian trattoria, but with a stylish modern twist, creating a warm and inviting atmosphere. We thoroughly enjoyed our first supper at La Luce and would have returned there again and again if only time permitted. 

Auma is Hilton Cancun's signature steakhouse specializing in a variety of high-quality meats (such as steaks (of course!) and BBQ ribs) and a range of mouthwatering grilled seafood options. The centerpiece of Auma is its open-fire grill, where chefs prepare prime cuts of meats and seafood right in front of your eyes. This arrangement adds an interactive and visually engaging element to the overall dining experience. The restaurant has a modern and elegant design, featuring warm tones, cozy lighting, and an inviting atmosphere that complements its gourmet offerings. Despite our relatively short stay at Hilton Cancun, we managed to visit the steakhouse twice! 

Maxal at Hilton Cancun is its signature Mexican restaurant, offering an elevated dining experience that highlights traditional flavors and dishes from various regions of Mexico, prepared with fresh, local ingredients. The restaurant features a warm, rustic design with modern touches, creating an inviting atmosphere that reflects Mexican culture. 

It's also worth mentioning here that all the restaurants I mentioned above offer separate kids’ menus as well as vegan menus, yes, even the steakhouse! 

Just steps from the beach, Sunan is the Asia-inspired open-air dining venue at Hilton Cancun. Open for both lunch and dinner (with no reservations needed), it serves a diverse menu that blends the flavours from across Southeast Asia, including Japanese, Chinese, Thai, and Vietnamese. As was the case for us at all other dining venues at Hilton Cancun, the food at Sunan was scrumptious! 

Finally, Vela (Hilton Cancun's buffet) is open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. With several live cooking stations that vary from day to day and a wide selection of dishes changing daily, there was no shortage of food choices here and, of course, you may come and go as you please, as many times as your heart (and stomach!) desires. Despite being a buffet, we were impressed by the quality and variety of food options at Vela and because reservations were not needed, we just kept returning for some appetizers and desserts. I particularly enjoyed ceviche here. 

In addition to the above dining options, here are a few honorable mentions. Azulinda Café (offering made-to-order sandwiches, salads, pizzas, pastries, and, of course, a wide variety of coffee); the poolside food carts serving some fresh (and tasty) burgers and hot dogs; and La Churrería - Hilton Cancun's kid-friendly (duh!) all-you-can-eat soft serve ice cream and churro shop. Do I need to add more? Yes, please! Throw in some cupcakes, doughnuts, cookies and candies. I guess a visit to a dentist will be in order after a trip to La Churrería! 

Kid’s and Teen’s Clubs 

Being a kid-friendly property, you'd expect them to have some activities specifically designed for children and they definitely do - in the form of their kid’s/teen’s clubs. The kids’ club is designed for children aged 4 to 12, while the teens’ club is for those aged 13 to 17. Both kids and teens' clubs are actually in the same physical space (which is fairly large, to be honest) divided into separate sections. The way it works is that parents would drop their kids off for a specific activity (or a few back-to-back ones) and would pick them up after. This will allow parents to have some free time while knowing their children are safe (since all activities are supervised). What I also like about the club is that in addition to the timed activities designed exclusively for kids, they also have some family time, where kids can be joined by their parents to do whatever, which we especially enjoyed (and appreciated) in the afternoon as the club offers a nice respite from the heat of the day. We particularly enjoyed table tennis and foosball. In addition to the indoor activities, they also have a nice outdoor playground just outside of the club that one could access at any time of the day regardless of the scheduled activities, which we also appreciated and took advantage of. 

Nightly Entertainment

Just like other all-inclusive resorts, Hilton Cancun offers lively entertainment every night, but unlike some other resorts that use some makeshift structures or venues that are used for something else during daytime for their nightly shows, Hilton Cancun has a purpose-built amphitheatre that comes alive with some amazing performances as the sun goes down. Although these are not exactly your Las Vegas-style productions, the resort staff does go out of the way to put on some fabulous live shows, musical acts, and much more for the entertainment of the entire family. The amphitheatre also has a massive TV screen on which the movies are played before the main shows. And yes, both the shows and the movies are certainly kid-friendly, so really great for those travelling with children.

After spending 5 amazing days in a tropical paradise, it wasn't without some sadness that we had to admit the time had come for us to leave. There's an idiom that says people get used to good things very quickly and it's actually true, especially when the only thing you have to decide is which restaurant to go next! And whichever place you go, you'll always encounter the hard-working folks who make it all happen. Yes, I am talking about the staff at the Hilton Cancun. The level of service we received was outstanding and that is another reason (in addition to food) why we'd potentially consider returning there in future.