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Cancun & Cozumel Hotel, Resort & Villa Reviews Reviews
Omni Cancun Hotel & Villas
04/15/2004
Reviewers Rating:  Great
We stayed at the Omni on a $80 Priceline bid from 27 Mar '04 - 2 Apr '04.
LOCATION
The location was very good. Easy access to the bus-stop that takes you up & down the Hotel Zone. Right across the street from the hotel, there were quick American lunch options (McD's, Subway, Domino's) as well as an ATM and a currency exchange. The Hotel Zone's Sewage Treatment plant is also across the street, but I never smelled it unless you were walking on the sidewalk right next to it.
CHECK-IN
I had read reviews that check-in was slow and that you'd probably get a TimeShare pitch. Both were the case. We are Omni Select Guest members, and I presented my Select Guest card upon arrival and I felt it helped things move a little more quickly. Prior to our arrival, I e-mailed the hotel and asked them to add our Select Guest membership # to the reservation. I also requested a King size bed, a room on a higher floor, a balcony and an oceanfront view. They replied to my email saying they were able to accommodate all of my requests, except for the oceanfront room. They indicated that since I booked my trip through Priceline, the oceanfront room would cost an addt'l $25 + tax per night. Upon arrival, they asked for our credit card for incidentals, brought us the pre-programmed keys to a room with a King-size bed, a balcony and an oceanfront view, but asked us to sign some paperwork agreeing to the $25 per night addt'l fee. I told them we weren't interested in paying the addt'l...and that they could just put us in a room with a balcony and a King size bed on the lagoon view side. There was some discussion in Spanish, but they returned with the same keys and said there wouldn't be a charge. They then told us the room wasn't ready, but that they'd give us a tour of the lobby area. She did that quickly (pointing out the concierge desk, the lobby bar, etc.) and then seated us a table for what I figured would be the time share pitch (as well as a pitch for tour/activities sales). We listened briefly and then told her we were there to scuba dive only and that this was our 2nd trip; so we weren't interested in the tours and we had no interest in the timeshare either. She was polite, and offered us a chance to do the All-Inclusive package for $79 + tax per person per night. We declined that as well. She wasn't high pressure and didn't seem mad that we said No to everything. She gave us a coupon for 2 free drinks during our stay and then said, "Your room is probably ready now".
THE ROOM
I was very pleased with the room. It was very spacious, with rose marble floors, a K bed, small throw rugs on either side of the bed, a balcony overlooking the pool area with the gorgeous ocean in the distance. The bathroom was a little tiny, but well-appointed and had a strong shower head and hot water during our entire stay. It housed the tub/shower, a toilet, and a wall phone (!) behind closed doors. Outside of it, there was a large open sink area with a lot of counter space, a wall blowdryer and the biggest dressing mirror I had ever seen. It must have been 10' x 10' and covered an entire wall, which was great! The towels were also of a better quality than I normally find in hotels. And there were plenty of them. There were thin, waffle cotton robes (2 of them) on the bed with a note saying they could be used during our stay or could be purchased in the giftshop downstairs to take home. There was a mini-fridge that wasn't jam-packed with items; so that we could fit our store-bought juices and waters in there. There was a tiny coffee maker, a luggage stand, a good sized armoire with lots of hangers, an iron, and ironing board. There was a chest of drawers done in bamboo and dark woods that had a TV in it with doors that closed. The TV had HBO, HBO plus, Cinemax and various U.S. stations (all with subtitles in Spanish). There was an extra pillow and blanket in the closet, too, which is nice. The mattress was very firm; but we slept like babies on it. I don't know if all of these amenities are in the normal rooms or if we got some extras because of our Select Guest membership. I think the robes were Select Guest amenities. And perhaps the iron & ironing board ('cuz I read multiple reviews that this property had no irons....so I brought my own travel iron). I was surprised to find an iron in the room. As Select Guest members, we also got a free carafe of coffee (with sugars, nice teacups, and even a small pitcher of hot milk on an elegant tray) via Room service each morning. They'd also include two cold beverages of your choice (juice, cans of soda, bottle of water, etc.) We took advantage of that every day. On the one day I made coffee from the packet in the mini coffee-maker instead, I was sorry. They charged us $5US for that darn packet of coffee! Beware, since that item is not on the mini-bar price list. I thought it was free!
THE PROPERTY/GROUNDS
Lovely. There must have been 3 pools, water volleyball games everyday, several swim up bars, shaded seating areas, nice lounge chairs, nicely manicured lawns, pretty landscaping, a 20+-person hot tub that was actually warm (Mexican hotels usually keep their hot tubs at air temperature), even a swim-up hot-tub (although that one was lukewarm most days).
THE LOBBY/RESTAURANTS/BARS
The lobby was a little dated, but still pretty. The doormen at the lobby entrance were very polite and friendly. The concierge in the lobby was also pleasant and very informative. Sometime the lobby area near the bank of elevators was musty-smelling; but probably because people in wet bathing suits were always standing in that area. The smell was sometimes very strong...but just in that area. Never anywhere else that I noticed. There was a little sundries shop with good prices (65c for a little bag of Dorito's) right of the lobby. The majority of the lobby space was taked up by the Lobby Bar, which had friendly and efficient servers, big comfy chairs, a perfectly central location that allowed you to people-watch, and a great 2 for 1 Happy Hour from 5-7, which we took advantage of most days before heading off property for dinner. There are other bars throughough the pool area (I think I saw 4 bars total outside). The Swim-Up Jacuzzi bar is also fun and offers 2 for 1 Happy Hour from 3-5pm. It took us a day to find it. You have to walk all the way down toward the ocean and it's oceanfront. It's called Kuku's. I cannot comment on the restaurants since we never ate there. We did have drinks at the oceanfront restaurant called Pina Colada's which seemed neat because some of the tables were actually in the sand and you could bury your feet while eating. The one thing I have to say about the on-property restaurant menus we looked at is that the prices are high. I was charged $3.10US for a Coke one day. Lunch prices at Pina Colada's for instance ranged from $9 - $18. I read in another review that the prices are steep so that All-Inclusive guests feel like they are getting more of their monies worth since they don't have to pay menu prices. The hotel really caters to All-Inclusive guests and I think we were in the minority for going EP (European plan = no meals).
FINAL COMMENTS
Overall a good stay. I'd give it a 8 out of 10. We were very pleased with the room, the hotel amenities, the hotel grounds, the nice wide Beachfront and the pleasant staff. My complaints, though minor, were the slow check-in process, the unavoidable time-share "schpiel", the smell near the elevators, the restaurant prices for those not going All-Inclusive, and the slightly dated decor. If paying full-price I wouldn't stay there again...only cuz the newer properties have more to offer. If I got this on Priceline again, that would be fine...although I'd prefer to get the Sheraton or the Hilton, just to try something new.
Chris Brandt
Omni Cancun Hotel & Villas
Hotel Details |
Book Hotel |
Book With Air
Unique "swim-up" beach bar bordered by huge spa
- In a quiet locale away from Cancún’s nightlife, yet within 15 minutes by public bus of shopping, dining, and clubs, this family-friendly beach resort offers a good-time atmosphere for every type of vacation-goer.
- Guestrooms deliver authentic Mexican ambience, views of Cancún's spectacular Caribbean setting, and modern conveniences such as as data ports for Internet access and two telephones in each room.
- A rustic, casual beachfront including lots of palapas, two bars, a beachwear shop, a recreation center, and lively music distinguishes the Omni Cancún from more stately resorts.
- Guests can choose from an All-Inclusive Plan or a European Plan (no meals); see room section for details.
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