Emporio Cancun

With daily activities, amenities for children, and plenty of public space, Emporio Hotel & Suites has broad appeal. There are a lot of families here, but nearly as many couples, and we didn’t find the property to be overrun with kids -- other guests include retired folks and groups of friends hanging out by the popular pool bar. Emporio has a well-staffed kids' club, a large pool play area, and a wide, scenic beach, all of which help make it appealing to those traveling with kids.

The eight-story buildings are set up in a U-shape with the pool, Condimento Restaurant, and sundecks in the center of the hotel. The lobby is located up an elevator on the second floor. Mayan decor that incorporates statues and carvings is found throughout; the doors to the rooms are especially prominent, with large imposing wood carved with Mayan symbols. 

The hotel used to be a Royal Mayan property and became Emporio Hotel & Suites in spring 2014. At around 30 years old, this property was one of the first hotels along the Cancun strip. Emporio has big changes planned for the long-term -- a complete room renovation, new conference rooms and meeting spaces, a new spa, and a change in decor throughout the property. However, due to the sheer size of the hotel, some of these renovations are pretty far off (think 2020 or beyond). The decor is currently a tad dated and some areas could use a facelift, but the hotel is on its way to becoming a modern, upscale property.

Emporio is located a bit south of the main drag of the Hotel Zone around KM 17. There’s not much within walking distance, but those who want to hire a car or jump in a taxi will find the all of the shops, restaurants, bars, and attractions the Hotel Zone has to offer within a 25-minute drive. There are also plenty of buses along the strip. The beaches have bigger waves here than in the northern part of the Hotel Zone, but are more spacious.

The hotel is set back from the main road down a side street, in between the Omni Cancun Hotel and Royal Caribbean resorts. There is a large sign on the main road and the hotel is easy to find.

• 12-minute drive to the heart of the Hotel Zone
• 17-minute drive to Cancun International Airport
• 25-minute drive to downtown Cancun
• 31-minute drive to Puerto Morelos, with quiet beaches and great snorkeling spots
• 50-minute drive to Playa del Carmen, a laid-back and bustling town
• One- hour drive to XCaret eco-archaeological park
• One- hour 20-minute drive to Xel-Ha, a popular aquatic theme park
• One-hour-35 minute drive to Tulum ruins
• Two-hour-10-minute drive to Chichen Itza ruins
• Two-hour-15-minute drive to Coba ruins    

The first thing you notice about Emporio’s rooms are the beautiful, imposing wood doors carved with Mayan symbols in the entranceway to each pair of rooms. The hallways and entryways are a bit dark, but the artistry in the woodwork adds to the hotel’s theme and ambience.

The rooms have shiny, clean tile floors, neutral tan walls, light wood furniture, and large closets with heavy wooden doors. The beds are comfortable with white comforters and sheets, and blue-green accents in the way of bed skirts (and also the pillows and throws in most rooms). The rooms come with robes, slippers, and upscale toiletries including toothpaste and a sewing kit. The bathrooms have a separate toilet and shower room, with the sink on the outside. They are small, dark, and in need of an upgrade with dated brown tile, tan showers and toilets, and white shower curtains.

The hotel’s predecessor, the Royal Mayan, was a time-share property, so it's unsurprising that all but the Superior Rooms here come with kitchens. The rooms come in three categories: Superior Rooms, Junior Suites, and Master Suites (which join the other two). The Junior Suites are extremely spacious, sleeping up to six people, and each has an open-concept kitchen equipped with pots, pans, dishes, and utensils, a living room that's separate from the bedroom, bathrooms with double sinks and plenty of counter space, and a balcony or terrace. The Superior Room has a king or two double beds, and comes with a small kitchenette that includes a microwave, fridge, and a few dishes. 

The decor in the rooms, especially in the suites, is dated -- think wicker furniture with dated prints, '70s-style wood veneer cabinets in the kitchens, and white laminate counters. The rooms, while dated, don’t typically have maintenance issues and are a good value for the rates. Rooms at the CasaMagna Marriott Cancun Resort are often similarly priced and more upscale, but they lack kitchens. 

Emporio’s large pool area is situated in the heart of the hotel and is enormous. The pool is broken off into two circular sections and is separated by Condimento Restaurant. The left side has a fun children’s play area with a pirate ship and three slides and is, not surprisingly, popular with families. The right side is for the adults and is quiet and peaceful. The pool has an attractive, winding design and plenty of space for loungers. The pool bar is located just outside of Condimento Restaurant and serves light food as well as drinks during the day. The bar has a deck with tables and chairs and is a popular spot for guests to hang out. Emporio has a number of multi-level sundecks around the pool area, and though these are astroturf and not especially attractive, a few offer terrific ocean views. Guests use these to sunbathe or hold events. 

The beach is huge as well and is both wide and long. There can be big waves, but swimming is still possible and there is a lifeguard on duty during the day. (Swimming conditions are not suited to young children, however.) The water is a beautiful turquoise blue and the sand is white and powdery. With over 1,000 lounge chairs and lots of straw umbrellas, it's a safe bet that guests will manage to snag space. The beach also has a bar.

There are two restaurants on-site. Condimento, the buffet eatery, is located in the pool area and is open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. The buffet is quite large compared to other hotels in the area and serves a variety of cuisines. The space is large and open-air with plenty of tables. 

Bacoli Trattoria is the hotel’s Italian restaurant and is open for dinner only. It is modern and attractively decorated with plaid tables, red accent walls, and a large pizza oven. However, the restaurant requires reservations and has three seatings per night, which requires guests to preplan their meal. Pizza is available for take-out up to your room, which is a nice touch considering the dining tables available in the suites. 

In addition to the two restaurants, there is a large and convenient on-site deli and coffee shop. The deli has a variety of packaged food and even some fresh produce, as well as a variety of coffee drinks. The deli also has a small movie rental center and oddly, a small business center with three computers.

The well-staffed kids' club located by the pool is open daily. Children's activities include swimming races, sandcastle building, water polo, and cinema days.

There is currently no spa on-site, but one is slated to be added in the future, and an outside company provides massages in small cabanas near the beach. 

Emporio offers an all-inclusive plan, which includes three meals a day, snacks, and alcoholic drinks. Do note that there are only two full restaurants, and one requires reservations and is only open for dinner. Flamingo Resort down the road has more restaurant options in its all-inclusive plan.

Emporio offers six ceremony and reception spots to host your event, including a lovely terrace overlooking the beach and the entire coast. Packages can include banquets, music, decoration, flower arrangements, hair and makeup, guest accommodations, and honeymoons.