Here’s a swim-up option for those vacationers on a budget. You can still go to Cancun and stay in a swim-up suite without paying a fortune or going into debt. Cancun’s Hotel Zone has a great budget vacation option, Flamingo Cancun Resort. This family-friendly resort is located about a 20-min. drive north of the Cancun airport, and slightly over a mile from the popular La Isla Mall in the Hotel Zone. I put this resort in my “outstanding swim-up” list because most of these swim-ups are right on the beach, have ocean views (some room’s ocean views are partially obstructed by thick vegetation and palm/coconut trees), plus you have easy access to malls and the Party Zone in Cancun’s Hotel Zone.
There are two types of swim-up suites at this resort. The less expensive is the Swim-Up Room, while the more expensive is the Swim-Up Jr. Suite. Basically, a Jr. Suite in any hotel or resort means there is some kind of sitting area; how large or small it is depends on the hotel or resort in question. Paying more for your room will most likely also get you better views–if you want to have a better chance at seeing unobstructed ocean views from your swim-up terrace or swim-up pool’s infinity edge, book the Jr. Suite. A better option and one to make it even more likely you will get a nicer room view is to book your stay on the resort’s website. I’ve found over the years that booking on a resort’s website has gotten me better room locations overall.
Here’s the basic room amenities for the swim-ups:
- a King bed in the Jr. Suite, a king bed or two double beds in the regular Swim-Up Room.
- sitting room area with large sofa, coffee table, and second flat screen TV in the Jr. Suite.
- table and two chairs in both room types.
- mini-bar in both room types (Coke products)
- Nespresso coffee maker in the Jr. Suite, regular coffee maker in the Swim-Up Room
- digital safe in both room types.
- iron and ironing board in both room types.
- single bathroom sink in both room types.
- shower-only in both room types.
- room service available in both room types but it is an extra charge.
- terrace with two full loungers and direct swim-up pool access in both room types.
This property is an all-inclusive optional resort. That means you have to pay special attention when booking in order to make sure you have chosen the all-inclusive option, not the room alone or breakfast plan options. Here’s what the property offers no matter what meal plan you get:
- two pools; one is in an interior courtyard while the second is beachfront. These pools are fairly small with not a lot of poolside furniture.
- a Jacuzzi
- two restaurants–a buffet and a beachfront restaurant offering primarily seafood options
- Don Roberto’s Bar and Pizza with its ocean views and delightful swings for seats option
- poolside snack bar with typical hamburger, etc. options
- pool bar and lobby bar
- Kid’s Club
- small gym
- Temazcal hut (this is a surprise, even most expensive resorts generally don’t have these on-site)
- beachfront massage tables
I did a dummy booking and found a seven night stay in a regular Swim-Up Room in mid Sept. for two adults would be $1,964 USD, while the Swim-Up Jr. Suite would be $2,181 USD. If you book online on their website and sign up for their free loyalty program, you can get an even cheaper price. Not bad considering all you get in the all-inclusive plan (room, all meals, snacks, domestic alcohol, non-alcoholic drinks, digital safe, gratuities, free WiFi, free mini-bar, free parking–room service is extra, however).
Below is a short video highlighting both the Swim-Up Jr. Suite and, if you are interested enough to check-out what the resort looks like, a video highlighting the resort in general. What do you think? Would you stay at this budget option resort?