Located about midway down the beach from Cancun proper, this place is still looking fresh from its painstaking post-Wilma makeover—it closed for more than a year to make repairs, devastated after hurricane broke out much of the hotel's glass. Thanks in part to the owners' well-padded insurance policy, this is one of Cancun's most stylish hotels. Much like before, it is a chic contemporary powerhouse that competes directly with the equally contemporaneous ME Melia, a few hundred meters to the north. The sleeker, smaller, and more service-oriented Blanc Resort is a better overall operation for travelers looking for an all-inclusive format. However, this is one of Fiesta Americana's snappier siblings.
Guests arrive via a steep ramp that provides better views than some of the neighboring hotels. The building's facade gets right to the point, proffering an ultra-modern profile with glass and steel beams that are reflected off the ocean-view infinity-edge fountain pool. Indeed, with its plethora of pools and trickling fountains, the hotel's water theme is carried beyond the name. Along the strip, the grounds are spread out more than at some resorts, allowing the property to breathe a little without requiring a map for guests to find their rooms.
The hotel's three signature restaurants provide a library of culinary wealth, with a celebrity chef to back up each of the offerings. Siete serves a buffet breakfast and reopens for dinner with a Mexican menu designed by one of Mexico's most celebrated chefs, Martha Ortiz. MB takes its name from Michelle Bernstein, who has created a distinguished New American menu that blends Asian and regional influences. Azur provides a Mediterranean a la carte lunch. Dinner requires reservations and proper attire (nice shorts, collared shirts and no sandals). The three revamped bars keep the style quotient high and drinks flowing. Locals and guests alike crowd the trendy bar at the Shore Club.
The eight pools are an impressive sight—especially at night when they create a shimmering mote. But unlike hotels elsewhere, the problem here isn't keeping the pools warm, but keeping the pools cool, though they all seem to hold their own idea of an ideal temperature. One pool curves along the length of the beach. Two whirlpools are also available. The beach is one of the nicest on the strip, long and sandy, with plenty of chairs. The luxurious spa has a dozen treatment rooms and offers various options including a Mayan sauna Termazcalli. The hotel works with Aquaworld, a large local operator, to provide watersports. A gym, children's club and two lighted tennis courts are on-site.
The reworked meeting facilities accommodate groups of up to 750 people. The business center offers Internet access, and wireless Internet access is available throughout the property.
The restyled rooms share similarities with units at stateside W Hotels, offering crisply contrasting dark-stained modern appointments and bleached white soft goods. The units' bold modern art and cream-color marble floors lend further modern elan. An amended amenity roster includes new flat-screen TVs, cloud-like, pillowtop king or paired double beds, air conditioning, cordless phones with data ports and voice mail, DVD, CD and MP3 players, alarm clocks, irons, safes and minibars. Coffeemakers are now complimentary, and the updated baths show separate tubs and showers with marble vanities, hair dryers, phones and magnifying mirrors and Molton Brown toiletries.
All suites have large sitting areas and sound wired throughout—guests can listen to music in the bath—and the presidential and fuego suites add whirlpools. A pillow menu features six different fillings. The vastly improved concierge level is a hotel-within-a-hotel, offering a private lounge, superior accommodations and services.
Room service operates around the clock. Two rooms are handicapped-accessible, and all are designed with eco-friendly automatic shut-off electricity and variable flush toilets.
This is one of the best of the new generation of style hotels that is slowly taking Cancun by storm. It may be a sizeable hotel but its warm brand of modern style, friendly service and notable dining make it a distinct choice in the heart of the hotel Zone. This isn't as upscale as the Ritz-Carlton, but it isn't as pretentious or expensive either.
