Not every traveler can afford a $5k+ vacation for two for a week at a luxury 5-star resort.  So I’ve decided to do a series of suite reviews in Cancun/Riviera Maya all-inclusive resorts (or all-inclusive optional resorts) which will give you the most “bang for your buck” (vacation dollar/euro/peso, etc.).

Based on my personal travel experience, the Riu resort chain in this area of Mexico is by far the overall winner in giving vacationers value for their money spent.  With this in mind, there are other resorts here that give them a run for their money.

This review will focus on the newly renovated, family-friendly resort situated next to the Hyatt Zilara in the Hotel Zone.  The Flamingo Cancun Resort has been in operation for 30 years; it recently finished a much needed renovation which also included the addition of brand new swim-up suites.  FYI:  This is an all-inclusive optional resort; make sure when booking that you have chosen the all-inclusive plan.  The Flamingo Cancun is a smaller resort with only 260 guest rooms, two separate pool areas (the swim-up bar is located in the middle of the resort complex with courtyard views), an adults-only Jacuzzi, two restaurants, a snack bar, pizzeria, three bars (there’s a lobby bar which looks quite stunning at night, a pool bar with three swings for seats, and a swim-up bar), kid’s club and kid’s beach playground, hammock areas, spa with separate Temazcal service (“sweat lodge”), and small fitness center.  There is occasional evening entertainment as well, which is a surprise with a smaller resort; also, it is only a 10-15 min. walk to Cancun clubs and a shopping mall.  The resort offers free WiFi, but room service is an extra charge with limited hours.  Be aware that this resort offers domestic alcohol at its bars; upgraded booze will cost you extra.

There are two categories of swim-up suites–the Jr. Suite and the regular swim-up suite.  The primary difference between the two is that the Jr. Suites are all beachfront while the regular swim-up category has a “resort view” which can be blocked by various flora and resort structures.  There are many shade palms on the beach, so your beachfront swim-up may have obstructed views as well (at least you can hear the ocean from the Jr. Suite).  Reportedly, there is also butler service in the Jr. Suite, but the website doesn’t specifically state this.  Both swim-up suite categories have several shared, in-pool Jacuzzis.

While I didn’t find a specific video of the Jr. Suite, (see room photos on the resort’s website), here is a pretty good video of what the whole resort looks like.  Views of the swim-up terraces and swim-up pools can be found at 1:32 and 7:03 as well.

What do you think?  Would you stay here?