Hard Rock Hotel Cancun

Cancun’s Hotel Zone is known for its party-oriented hotels, and the Hard Rock Cancun is one of the best ones for those who want to have some fun in the sun. As most Hard Rock properties, it is a lively and busy place, with music, free drinks served 24 hours a day, and two popular swim-up bars. Daytime activities and nightly entertainment add to the somewhat rowdy environment, though there are also some quieter areas for those who want to relax in the sun and be pampered.

The resort is very popular with couples and groups, but the hotel is surprisingly family-friendly, offering a ton of amenities great for kids of all ages, such as a wonderful kids’ club, family rooms, a children’s pool, a teen-oriented nightclub, and kid-friendly menus at the restaurants.

Everything here has the rock-inspired twist, from the rotunda (which has a guitar shape that can be seen from the higher floors) to the hundreds of memorabilia items displayed throughout the property, to the small guitars embroidered on pillows. Even room service has its own rocker touch: guests can borrow one of the hotel’s Fender guitars and learn the basics with one of the video lessons that can be ordered to be delivered to the room at no extra charge.

Ocean-view rooms are the most popular of all the room types offered here, but for killer sunset views guests might want to book a lagoon view unit.

The Hard Rock Cancun Riviera Maya sits on a stunning white-sand beach with turquoise waters in the heart of the hopping Hotel Zone, close to shops, restaurants, and its tourist-oriented nightlife.

Mostly all-inclusive, self-contained resorts make up the Hotel Zone -- as do the area's most popular bars and nightclubs, making this more a "party zone" than a hotel zone. Visitors don't come to this part of Cancun for the sights -- there are none other than the popular beaches and the nightlife. The Hotel Zone is one long stretch of white sand lined with hotels and businesses that cater exclusively to tourists -- the locals live and play in the more culture-rich downtown area (known as Ciudad Cancun), which is a 20-minute drive away.

• 20-minute drive to Cancun International Airport
• 20-minute drive to Downtown Cancun
• 30-minute drive to Puerto Morelos, with quiet beaches and great snorkeling spots
• 50-minute drive to Playa del Carmen, with great shopping and a well-heeled crowd
• One-hour drive to Xcaret
• One-hour-and-20-minute drive to Xel-Ha
• 90-minute drive to Tulum ruins
• Two-hour-and-10-minute drive to Coba ruins
• Two-hour-and-20-minute drive to Chichen Itza ruins

The Hard Rock Cancun’s 601 contemporary rooms have attractive, bright decor that varies by category -- think blue accent walls, large textured headboards in light-pink shades, lounge-style lamps, and music-inspired artwork on walls. Great standard amenities include flat-screen LCD TVs, iPod docks, free minibars with water, soda, juice, and beer, coffeemakers, free Wi-Fi, and double jetted tubs, plus separate showers. Bathrobes, slippers, hairdryers, and quality toiletries are provided. All rooms have furnished balconies, with either stellar ocean views or views of the lagoon, which also offers great sunset views.

There are several room types to choose from, and a few subcategories within each type, depending on views and extra perks. For families, the hotel features several Deluxe Family rooms, which are two Deluxe Gold rooms connected through an in-room door. These rooms feature a ton of kid-friendly perks, including Xbox 360s, L’Oreal kids’ toiletries, beach kits, and games. Rock Royalty-level rooms feature a few extras, including upgraded liquor brands in the room, DVD players, aromatherapy and pillow menus, beach bags, two 25-minute massages at the spa, espresso machines, special room service menus, and ocean views.

Deluxe Rooms have limited or partially obstructed views (but Deluxe Gold, Platinum, Family and Diamond have great views).

Note that rooms no longer have liquor dispensers.

Deluxe Family rooms feature two connected Deluxe Gold rooms -- one with a king bed and one with two queens -- as well as plenty of perks for kids, including welcome gifts, Xbox 360 with DVD players, a selection of Xbox games and DVDs, a beach bucket with toys, a special kids’ room service menu, L’Oreal kids’ toiletries, kid-friendly snacks in the minibars, and kid-sized robes and slippers. These rooms all have lagoon views and can sleep up to six guests.

The Little Big Club offers activities and entertainment for children ages 4 to 12. There is a kiddy pool with slides, and a dining room where kids can have lunch and dinner. It features a movie theater, several rooms decorated after different cartoon characters -- including Angelina Ballerina, Bob the Builder and Thomas the Tank Engine -- and outdoor spaces.

The Cavern is the hotel’s teen nightclub, featuring a pool table, a few tables, booths and TV screens.

• The Market is the hotel’s international buffet restaurant that’s open for all three meals.
• Zen is a pan-Asian restaurant open for breakfast (buffet) and dinner (a la carte and teppanyaki).
• Frida serves Mexican food, and features a brick oven for pizzas; open for lunch and dinner.
• Ciao is the most upscale of all the restaurants, offering Italian fare for dinner and an international buffet for breakfast.
• Ipanema offers breakfast and snacks during the day, and Brazilian specialties and steaks at night. It turns into the hotel’s popular nightclub after the dinner service.
• Room service is available 24/7 and included in the all-inclusive rate.
• All bars (except Smash Bar, located in the lobby) offer snacks from after breakfast until before dinner.

• Smash Bar is located in the lobby and features pool tables and live music every night.
• Dive, Bunker, and Splash bars offer snacks during the day.
• The two swim-up bars feature music and drinks, as well as snacks.
• The amphitheater has bar service during the shows.
• Bar service is available at the pool, the terrace plunge pools, and the beach.
• Rooms have minibars stocked with water, sodas, juice, and beer.

• All meals and snacks
• Top-shelf liquor and non-alcoholic beverages
• 24-hour room service
• Non-motorized water sports
• All taxes and tips
• All activities and entertainment (except golf and motorized water sports)
• Unlimited long-distance phones to the continental USA, Canada and Mexico
• Free Wi-Fi
• Use of Fender guitars and video lessons
• 30 minutes of free use of the business center
• Credits can be used for rounds of golf or spa treatments

The Hard Rock Cancun’s beach is a stunning stretch of fine, white sand and turquoise waters. There are plenty of loungers and a few cabanas, as well as a beach volleyball court, non-motorized water sports, and bar service.

The Hard Rock Cancun offers a stunning freeform infinity pool overlooking the beach, with tons of loungers, bar service, a couple of whirlpools, and two swim-up bars. The pool is the busiest area in the hotel during the day, but only one side of it has loud music and entertainment. Those who want to relax might want to get a lounger on the southern side of the pool, which also features a swim-up bar, but is somewhat quieter.

For an even more relaxing day, the hotel offers two large round plunge pools on the terraces overlooking the main pool area and the beach. They’re not deep or big enough for swimming laps -- and it’s the first part of the hotel that is covered by the shadow of the building in the afternoon -- but they are great for a dip while sunbathing, and also offer bar service. An adults-only jetted whirlpool is available.

The Rock Spa is a peaceful, trendy space with walls painted the color of the Caribbean, and stylish decor in different blue, white, and brown hues.

• 16 treatment rooms, plus three cabins for couples (one with a whirlpool)
• Outdoor, air-conditioned palapa with either one of two treatment beds
• Relaxation area with candles and soothing scents
• Posh Salon is the Hard Rock’s signature beauty salon, offering hair and nail services and facials in a stylish room with ocean views.

Additional features at Hard Rock Cancun include a nice fitness center with a wide range of machines, both cardio and strength-training. It is housed in a separate building with huge wall-to-wall, floor-to-ceiling windows, located adjacent to the two tennis courts. There is a personal trainer on-site, as well as free weights, flat-screen TVs, free bottled water, free use of towels, and fresh fruit.

Daytime activities for kids and adults are offered, including yoga, beach volleyball, trivia, and aqua Zumba. Nightly entertainment is also offered, with options such as a Michael Jackson show, Mexican show, and fire show. Casino nights and bingo nights are put on, but there’s no full casino here.

Weddings and events are popular here, and there are wedding planners available. Honeymoon packages are also appealing.

Travelers that upgrade to Rock Royalty level will get added perks such as a personal assistant, free 25-minute couples’ massage, and upgraded toiletries.