Omni Cancun Resort & Villas

The salmon-colored stucco buildings of the Omni Cancun Hotel & Villas resort slope down on each end like a pyramid. Where the main building’s stepped sides finish, the villas begin, staggering out from each side and cupping the resort’s main area, a three-tiered pool that cascades down towards a beautiful, wide stretch of white-sand beach. The decades-old property is well-maintained, much of it feeling new thanks in part to near constant renovation in recent years, with the lobby and guest rooms rehabbed as late as our 2017 review. Though upscale materials like marble are used in guest rooms and common spaces like the lobby, decor can tend toward the generic, and pesky time-share reps in the lobby can make the whole thing feel a little less than luxe, though staff offer impeccable service. The real decorative flair is in the restaurants, such as the buffet where big, Mexican-themed murals are paired with brightly painted accent walls. In high season, the property bustles, but things always seem to run smoothly -- even if it can be hard to find a lounge chair. The property attracts plenty of couples, but kid-friendly features are a big draw for families.

The Omni Cancun Hotel & Villas is nestled between the Mexican Caribbean and secluded Nichupte Lagoon on Cancun Island. The hotel faces a pristine white-sand beach with turquoise waters on the eastern side, and a tranquil lagoon on the western side. Boating excursions depart from the area, but guests will need a rental car or taxi to get to central Cancun and other sites. While it’s technically in the Hotel Zone, those seeking a young party scene should look elsewhere; the immediate area is mostly beaches and other hotels, though several restaurants are in walking distance and the Maya Cancun Museum is right next door, a two-minute walk away. For local culture, head to the downtown area (known as Ciudad Cancun), reachable in a 35-minute drive. Cancun Airport is a 15-minute drive.

Accommodations at the Omni Cancun are split amongst guest rooms, suites, and villas, with most rooms and suites having undergone renovations between 2016 and 2017, and many of the villas still slated for renovation during our 2017 review. Overall, rooms are spacious with simple but tasteful decor featuring marble tiled floors (white and gray or rose-colored) and a neutral color palette of beige, burnt red, and sage green. Dark wood headboards and furnishings and framed art of tropical plants -- though generic -- lend a classic, homey feel. Sliding doors let in lots of natural light, and lead to balconies or terraces with views of the ocean or, less exciting, the lagoon. Bathrooms, included in a 2015 renovation, are fresh with lots of Italian marble details. In entry-level rooms, there are sinks with marble counter tops, plus walk-in rainfall showers with glass partitions (though these aren’t marble). In higher-category rooms, bathrooms feature full-on marble, with countertops and shower/tub combos all decked out in the elegant material.Rooms have flat-screen TVs, MP3 clock radios, coffeemakers, and minibars stocked with a couple of beers and non-alcoholic drinks, all free. Bathrooms have magnifying mirrors, hairdryers, and free Yucatan Herbal individual toiletries. Wi-Fi is free, too, though guests tend to find the coverage poor, with connections not always working in rooms or villas. Entry-level Deluxe Rooms are a spacious 483 square feet. Suites add more room and extras like sofas, wet bars, kitchens, and/or whirlpools. With more than 2,000 square feet of space, the three-story villas are a great option for families with fully stocked kitchens, dining and living areas, and three separate bedrooms with en-suite bathrooms. While villas were in the process of being renovated during our late 2017 review, some guest still noted dated digs with pealing paint and worn furnishings. 

Like other all-inclusive resorts, Omni Cancun offers a host of extra property features. Eating, drinking, and activities are all part of the plan, including meals, snacks, drinks by the glass, minibar drinks, and 24-hour room service (save the delivery fee). Note that guests are given different wristbands for different levels of membership; the standard all-inclusive package doesn’t include premium items (like certain brands of liquor).While there’s some half dozen dining options, not all restaurants are open for every meal or every day of the week. The bright, Mexican-themed main dining area, La Paloma, is almost always open, though, with buffet breakfast and lunches, themed dinners, and late-night snacks. For lunch, most guests favor the beachside Pina Colada, but the bright decor and casual mood at Viva Mexico is ideal for families, The Sushi Bar is a guest favorite as well. For dinner, guests can also choose to dine at the oriental-fusion restaurant La Deva or the Mediterranean restaurant Da Vinci, though it’s not open every night and requires reservations and dressed-up attire. There’s also a lobby bar, swim-up bar, and beach bar.Dining aside, the Omni's main draw is its beach, a pristine and wide stretch of white sand that meets impossibly blue water. Beach chairs and thatched umbrellas are free to use, though canopy beds must be booked in advance for extra fees. The other main hub on the property is the pool area, where three separate pool areas are situated on different tiers. Special pool features include a sloped entry, submerged chaise loungers, a water volleyball area, and a swim-up bar. A giant 35-person whirlpool is reserved for adults, and there’s a kiddy pool with a fountain. Pool and beach drink service are provided, and guests find staff friendly and helpful, remembering favorite cocktails or dishes. Loungers are dotted amongst the property, though guests find snagging one by the pool difficult in high season.The resort provides an array of entertainment: dance lessons, bingo, “Name that Tune,” trivia, Spanish lessons, plus extra fee water sports. Leisure Staff organize games like water volleyball and water polo. If you’re lucky, you might spot sea turtles hatch during nesting season as part of the Turtle Program. Kids get their own diversions, too. Young guests get backpacks filled with activities, games, and binoculars, and every Sunday there’s a big afternoon party designed for them in the main pool area. For kids 5 to 12, the bright kids' club offers supervised entertainment all day with art projects, play areas, and Wii. Extra-fee babysitting can also be arranged. Guests can also make use of tennis, basketball, and volleyball courts, which are lit up in the evening. Daytime court rental is free if you reserve in advance and balls and rackets are provided. Nighttime play and tennis lessons cost extra fees. For those that prefer the gym to a sports court, there's a huge fitness center (over 3,000 square feet) featuring a host of equipment, including treadmills with individual screens, weight machines, free weights, exercise balls, and mats. Gender-separated steam rooms are also free to use. The spa offers extra-fee treatments that range from haircuts to manicures, facials, massages, and other pampering. The hotel also sells souvenirs and has business, event, and wedding facilities that can host hundreds of guest, including the Grand Salon Maya, a massive ballroom. Parking is free. Wi-Fi is also free; it's fairly reliable in certain areas, such as the lobby, but spotty or nonexistent in some guest rooms or villas