This past weekend Mike, Mazzy, Harlow and I had the awesome opportunity to spend a long weekend at the all-inclusive Hyatt Ziva Cancun resort for their grand opening.
If you told me six years ago that blogging incessantly about my nine-month old’s sleep and poop habits would eventually get me a free family vacation in Cancun, I would have thought you had lost your mind… but MY GOD, I feel pretty lucky I had the foresight to overshare diaper changes.
Mike and I have been to Mexico a couple of times before but neither of us had been to Cancun. I thought of it primarily as a Spring Break location, so honestly it never even entered our consideration set as a vacation destination.
Well, that proved to be a huge mistake.
You see, there is a reason that Cancun is so popular and that reason is because the beaches are INSANE. And by insane, I mean stunningly gorgeous. Bright white soft sand and water in all directions in every shade of blue and green.
Hyatt Ziva Cancun is located on the tip of Punta Cancun so there is ocean on almost all sides. When you arrive into the grand lobby, you are met with an impressive main pool with two tiers and the ocean behind it.
The beach feels private and exclusive to Hyatt Ziva Cancun since the tip of the Peninsula puts you around the corner from the main Cancun hotel strip. When it wasn’t windy, the waves on this stretch of beach were tame and the water was pretty shallow.
This was the first beach I have been to where I wasn’t afraid for Mazzy and Harlow to play in the surf while I sat and watched. On Long Island, I am always afraid a big wave will come and whisk them away if I’m not holding their hands. In Jamaica and Turks & Caicos, there seemed to be more of a current and steep drops in the ocean floor when you didn’t expect them.
It also helped that the sand was soft and white and you could see exactly what you were stepping into.
I do not know if all of Cancun is like this. I imagine a lot of the mildness came from where the hotel was situated.
But just like at any beach, Mazzy and Harlow spent a large amount of time covering my legs with sand.
From our hotel room, we faced the beach on the opposite side of the peninsula. Equally beautiful but not much bigger in scale with other hotels lining the distance.
Down on the beach, there is a little dam built with big blocks of concrete. There is ocean on one side and a little pool of sea water creeping through the rocks on the other.
I spotted it from our window and it proved to be an excellent place to play in the water for kids.
Harlow loved it there in particular.
Hyatt Ziva Cancun property is truly spectacular. And I say this as someone who was really spoiled travel wise back when I worked in advertising. Every area is designed impeccably from the lobby to the restaurants to the coffee shop to random seating areas throughout the hotel.
Clearly, someone thought very long and hard about how to deck out the space in a way that would blow an Instagrammer’s mind. There were so many cool backdrops to photograph, I wasn’t quite sure what to do with myself. Every time we turned a corner or entered a bathroom, I was like— Ooooooooooooh. What I could do with that yellow patterned wall behind the sinks…..
Mazzy noticed the design too which was pretty cool. She would point out interesting chairs and choices of color, asking me to take a picture of things she found interesting.
In Lorenzo’s the Italian restaurant, she asked to come over to the fancy tables in the back to take a picture of her.
“It so pretty, Mommy. You should put this on Snapchat.”
The decor prompted a long conversation about how there are different ways for artists to earn a living— you can paint pictures, but you can also decorate a room or design a piece of furniture.
Our room was very comfortable with cozy white beds, modern bathrooms and furnishings.
The highlight being the view, course.
I’m not sure if all the bathrooms are the same but ours only had a shower so something to consider if you are thinking of bringing kids. I actually relished the opportunity to force the girls into the shower with me— it’s so much easier and I feel like they get so much cleaner!
The KidZ Club is another huge selling point. It’s for kids four and up which used to piss me off when Mazzy was younger but now I totally understand. In order for the older kids to want to go, it has to be geared towards them.
The KidZ Club is designed beautifully so it doesn’t feel like you are throwing your kids in daycare while you have fun at the beach.
Plus (and this is the most genius part), the KidZ Club has it’s own little water park that kids only have access to if they are staying in the club.
This meant that Mazzy ASKED TO GO. When we picked her up for lunch, she was sad to leave and even though we were planning on spending the afternoon with her, she asked to go back. This was HUGE considering she totally rejected the kid’s club in Jamaica.
The staff at the KidZ Club is lovely and they hand out beepers to alert you if your kid is having an issue and wants you to pick them up, which is pretty great for peace of mind.
Hyatt Ziva Cancun is all-inclusive which means all food and drinks were included and unlimited. Mike and I aren’t really all-inclusive hotel people because to us, this usually means the food is not that great, but the Hyatt really has their restaurant situation figured out.
Our favorite was Moongate which is their Asian fusion restaurant. There is a hibachi grill set up on one side, there are dumplings delivered by carts and there is a Thai menu at the regular tables. We went twice to try both menus and everything was great.
Also, the hibachi chef had way more tricks up his sleeve than I have ever seen at Benihana. The kids were incredibly impressed.
Chevy’s was great for kid-friendly hamburgers and hotdogs, not to mention the restaurant centerpiece— a convertible with a booth inside. Very Pulp Fiction.
Mazzy and Harlow loved the breakfast buffet obviously (as many bread products as they could eat!) and Mike had fun teaching them his famous breakfast buffet strategy.
We also loved all the snack options during the day. Mike and I got coffee religiously at their impeccably designed coffee shop (with really good coffee!) and could count on a place called 24 hours for extra pancakes in the morning and chicken nuggets during the day.
Also, much to Mazzy and Harlow’s appreciation, there were various pastries and dinner rolls available for the taking all over the hotel.
Pastelles is the Hyatt Ziva Cancun’s dessert bar with assorted candy, cookies, chocolate fountains for fondue, gelato and cotton candy.
Let’s just say we visited Pastelles a few times and might have lied to Mazzy and Harlow about how much candy and cookies we were allowed to consume.
At 8pm each night, they have a show in the main lobby by the pool. On the last night, we were treated to some circus performers which was really fun. We mainly kept the kids out late but the first night, when the kids were dead tired, we used their babysitting service which worked out great.
In the mornings we watched the sunrise and ordered room service (when we weren’t at the buffet).
Harlow approved of the waffles.
During the day, we played at the beach and swam with the kids in the pool.
The girls could have spent all day in there if we let them, especially since they could swim up to the pool bar for free virgin strawberry daiquiris.
I also got a massage at the Spa Zen which was out of this world. The relaxation room alone is worth the price of admission.
Meanwhile, Mike spent a lot of time going for runs and taking advantage of their sizeable and brand new fitness center. (I have no pictures of the fitness center because I only glanced in briefly, said “wow,” and never went back once.)
In the afternoons, Mike or I would walk Harlow around in her stroller until she fell asleep.
On the rare moments that Harlow was asleep and Mazzy was in the KidZ club, I actually was able to sit and read a book.
Do you know how long it’s been since a read a book?
That alone was worth the trip.
Thank you Hyatt All Inclusive Resorts for inviting my family to your grand opening of Hyatt Ziva Cancun. We wish you so much success with your beautiful hotel on one of the nicest stretches of beach I’ve ever seen.
And now… for the really exciting part!
In partnership with hyatt all inclusive, I”m giving away a four day stay at the Hyatt Ziva Cancun (airfare not included)!
All you need to do is subscribe to my daily or weekly email to enter. Then leave a comment below telling me what part of Hyatt Ziva Cancun you are most excited about it. Tough choice with the free alcohol, KidZ Club water park and the ocean views! If you follow me on Instagram, you can leave a second comment on my Instagram photo for a second entry.
I’ll pick one winner on February 1st! Read the full rules here.
See? You didn’t think I’d go to Cancun and come back without a souvenir, did you? Just don’t tell Grammy. We didn’t bring her anything.
Hyatt All Inclusive Promotion:
All Hyatt Inclusive properties are currently up to 55% off plus a 5th night free. The offer is valid when booking from now until February 29, 2016 for travel anytime from now until December 23, 2016. Just make sure to book through the Hyatt All Inclusive site and look for the offer tab after you input your travel dates.
Winner Update:
Congratulations to Brittany Laws who won the most coveted giveaway in Mommy Shorts history! Please contact pam@mommyshorts.com to claim your prize.
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This post was sponsored by Hyatt All Inclusive, but my love of our stay there is 100% my own!
Hands down the KidZ Club!!
I’d be excited about blue skies and white sand and not bundling up!
the beach looks amazing! it looks like a great family resort!
What a stunning resort! As a NYC accountant, working 7 days a week from January-March, I am most excited about the beautiful beaches where I could relax and unwind from the busy time at work.
The KidZ club, please! We have never attempted a vacation like this because our girls haven’t both been old enough to go in together, and they are inseparable! But let’s see how much we can all have on vacation now that they are 5 and 7! Looks impressive!
All of it! Family time! 🙂
I love the soft, white sand. I would love to go and have my daughter cover my legs with it, too!
I love so many things about this resort! I’m super nervous about all inclusive resorts but knowing this is a Hyatt really puts me at ease. I think I’m with Mike and Harlow and we definitely enjoy all the bread products and breakfast! I could eat breakfast for all my meals. And all those meals with an ocean view!! I added this resort to my travel list as soon as I saw your snapchats!
Honestly? I’m most excited just to take in all that cool decor, indoors & out! It looks so gorgeous, I totally love that style! Besides that, just to have the opportunity to make memories with my littles in such a beautiful setting in a beautiful country!
I, like yourself, take pictures galore. It would be such a cool experience for the whole family. Fingers crossed!!!
the pool and the beach are a big plus for me. good food and drinks and helpful staff just make the stay better.
I would love to experience the beautiful beaches!!
The gorgeous beach, lovely room, and swim up bar!
The blue waters!!
After 6 months of planning meals for an anorexic teenager, I would love to enjoy the freedom of an all-inclusive resort and relax with my book on the beach with a strawberry daiquiri.
You have a beautiful family and I love reading about your real trip; not over glamorous! This would be a great vacation for my family and I would especially enjoy our family time eating, playing cards, relaxing and swimming in the pool.
Oh my gorgeousness, do we need to swap out the gray for bright colors! I never pray, but I think I may start now–we NEED to get out of Dodge to this paradise!
Breathtaking beaches, all inclusuive!!!! Just beautiful!!!!!!!
I’d be at that Zen Spa a few times over the four days!
The KidZ Club, my two little girls would love it. The Spa, the beach, the all inclusive!
That view is amazing! The beaches and all inclusive would be wonderful.
The look on my wife and kid’s face when I tell them daddy one a free trip to Cancun by reading a Mommy blog. We have a special needs child so this would be awesome just to get away from everything for a few days.
Free drinks and beautiful beach!!
This looks like a spectacular resort. I would love for my two daughters to experience the ocean for the first time. The water and the beach looks calm enough for a 3yr old and a 1 yr old to enjoy. I would definitely seek out the calm area between the big blocks of concrete and the beach. I know my husband would love the gym, and myself the dessert bar!
Having stayed at the Hyatt Ziva in Cabo with my #Winesisters, I know how wonderful an all inclusive resort is. I would love to win and be able to bring my family so they could experience it also! It’s hard to say what I would look forward to the most, the alcohol, the food, the kids club, the sun and warm weather and getting out of New York all gone to mind!
Hard to pick just one thing to be excited about at this resort but I think the awesome all-inclusive food and alcohol would be our #1 especially since the littles would be staying home for this trip.
Wow – everything looks amazing! They really thought of everything. The Kidz Club would probably be a big highlight, but I would also really look forward to the calm beachfront and views from the hotel. Thanks for capturing everything!
The all inclusive experience, the pools, the beach. Love hyatt ziva
I’d be most excited about being as far away from old man winter as I possibly could!
The views, the water park, the beach, the spa!
All inclusive=mommy gets a break!
My husband and I stayed at the Hyatt Zilara all inclusive in Jamaica last year and were blown away. Would definitely like to try Cancun!
Woah woah woah. Why didn’t someone tell me about this breakfast buffet strategy long ago?! I’ve been doing it all wrong!!
On that note, besides the beaches, I’d probably be most excited to visit all the different restaurants the Hyatt has to offer!
And no one will be able to lie to me about how much candy I’ll be able to snag…which is a dangerous but delightful imagining.
🙂
Glad you and your family had so much fun!!
Amazing! Would love to take my 2 boys to those beaches! Thanks for sharing your beautiful photos!
My three year old will be ecstatic with the KidZ Club water park, for us will be a dream come true to take him there 🙂
The sun and beach! Its easy to forget about that in the long Alaskan winters.
How could I possibly choose!? Everything sounds beyond amazing! I think I would have to pick the family friendliness of it all. That is a very important thing to me when it comes to choosing where to travel.
Looking forward to the warm weather and beautiful beaches.
I look forward to the lush garden!
Kids club and beautiful relaxing beaches!
I would love to be able to take my family on an actual family vacation. My kids would just love the beach and the kids club. My husband and I would enjoy spending some much needed family time.
I would be most exited to take the kids to the beautiful beach…and of course that spa for myself. 🙂
The view, the beach…everything! 🙂
I would love to spend some time on a quiet beach, with the waves lapping at my toes.
I LOVE LOVE LOVE the idea of going on vacation and having some adult fun while my kids get to play in their own “kid world.”
Oh I need need need that beach! I can feel the sand beneath my feet already! Our wedding was at the Hyatt in Jersey City and the chain is our first choice whenever we go away. Most recently Our babymoon at Hyatt Baha Mar was cancelled… Would love to have this as a substitute!!
The beach! The pool! The food!
The sand and the water! I’ve never seen water that blue or that clear and it would be amazing! =)
New mommy and we would be up for the adventure to explore the beaches and somewhere new with our little one.
The Hyatt Ziva looks amazing for a family vacation. I’m in the process of researching options for a family vacation during Christmas break. We are a family of four from Kansas and love traveling anywhere with a beach. Please pick us for this vacation….I’m tired of following the yellow brick road. I would much rather be following the coastline to view the amazing turquoise ocean.
The ocean views, watching my son play in the sand and relaxing in the sun all sound amazing!
The chance that I might get to read a book! Ha! No seriously, I didn’t even know Hyatt had all inclusives. This stay at home mom of 3 boys used to be a traveling consultant and consistently used Hyatt. They are my favorite even though we don’t travel much anymore.
I think I would be most excited for my kids to do the the kids club stuff. They would love it all. The beach especially! And my husband and I could finally take a vacation together and as a family. We have yet to go one one! my kids are 4 and 2. They would just love it. P.s we would also enjoy the drinks haha. ???????? ????????????????????????????????????????????
Love the modern, sophisticated look of the hotel. Would love to spend some one on one time with my 3yr old at all those kids friendly amenities before our newest addition arrives in July.
Looks heavenly! 2 boys and 10 years of marriage this year on February 3rd! Have never been to an all inclusive. This would be a dream for all of us!
I would love to take my kids to see how beautiful the beaches are. I have a sweet 10 year old that would to play at the beach. She’s had a rough two years as she lost all her
Hair to alopecia which is a autoimmune disorder. We really haven’t been swimming the past two years because of it
But she’s finally feeling more comfortable!
Everything as your pictures paint a beautiful depiction of resort and story ????
The Beach!
I’d take the spa right now. After digging my car out from Jonas. I could use a facial and a massage. The hotel looks beautiful.
I’d love to spend time in the spa, nothing is
More relaxing than a fabulous massage while listening to the ocean waves.
The pool is calling my name!
My favorite part about this is that it is a wonderful family environment. A lot of resorts claim to be but you are just never sure. Thank you for all the amazing information on this resort! You go Mama!
All the reviews of both the Ziva and Zilara are great, beach, unlimited drinks, food, and sun!
The beautiful beaches and being able to relax.
I would love to visit this property! My husband and I have been to Cancun a couple of times but this property looks amazing. I would love to get away just the two of us maybe for my 30th birthday and enjoy a trip to the spa!!
The sound of the ocean and the sand between my toes!!!
The sound of the waves and our children laughing with delight!
Oh man. We haven’t had a family vacation yet. So I’m mostly just excited about a place that would work for all of us…my kids are nearly the same ages as yours. My oldest would love the kids club and swim up bar. I would die to sneak away for a massage while my youngest napped. Honestly, the last few years have just felt so hard. It would be a game changer for us to be able to spend time together as a family someplace like this. But we could never afford it.
So cool! The amenities look so refreshing and fun…but it’s the beaches that lure my curiosity! ! Great experience.
This Looks like the whole package! Our family of five would go crazy in that pool and my husband and I might take advantage of the free drinks!
I would love to lay on the beach and enjoy the ocean
The sunrise and sunsets over the ocean!
The beautiful views and the simplicity of relaxing and making memories with my new fiancé ????
The pools
Beach! Beach! Beach! Beach! Beach! Beach!
I appreciate all inclusive resorts, especially one with a Kidz Club and the dam area with the shallow beach looks amazing!!
My husband and I went to Mexico on our honeymoon, got pregnant two months later and haven’t been on a date since! This looks so beautiful and bringing our kids would be so fun. Watching the kids experience the ocean for the first time, relaxing and delicious food sounds so incredibly wonderful!
I hope that my daughter chooses to have her wedding here!
I would love to attempt reading a book with that beach as my backdrop!
I would be so happy to make memories with my husband and sweet baby boy (1 yr in Feb), enjoy spending time and sipping drinks on the beach with my husband, and seeing the joy on my childs face from playing in the sand, ocean, and pool. Also, we have no been on a vacation in years, and these two tired parents would SO love it.
Probably the little water pools by the rocks so I wouldn’t have to get scared to let the kids play! And the food, cause I love food!
How could I not be excited to take our two girls to the ocean for the first time in such a beautiful place!
I’d be most excited for the beach and relaxation, but I know my son would absolutely love the kids club!
The ocean and the dessert bar, I have the biggest sweet tooth!
The free food! The ocean view. The amazing Kidz club. Wow!
Would LOVE to go try out this beautiful resort! The views, the beach, the white sand and crystal blue waters look AMAZING! ❤️
The whole resort looks amazing. But the beach and ocean look moat inviting!
Watching the sunrise from the room… I would love love love to have that peaceful feeling from watching the sunrise in the beautiful Cancun Mexico. My bous will definitely like the kids pool and virgin strawberry daiquiris!
Quiet time spent enjoying my family,with the gorgeous backdrop of turquoise waters and beautiful vistas. A recent loss has reminded me that times like these are precious, and making lasting memories with loved ones is a gift.
I would love to drink some margaritas while my boys splash in the shallow ocean!
With four kids? The booze.
Those ocean views….unbelievable!!
The beach looks amazing!! ????
I’m most excited about the amazing food and breathtaking views.
Your vaca looked incredible! It would be so hard to choose one thing, but making life long memories at this fantastic resort would be unforgettable! 🙂
Making family memories & starting new traditions <3
After battling a rare illness, Atypical Guillain Barre, I need a break to able to relax with my mom!
I need all this in my life! ! Especially the beach!
The warm sunshine! And of course the kids club…
I’d like to say the all inclusive booze but going with 2 kids, I’d have to say ocean and the view from the room. It’s heavenly!
Playing in the pool with my baby!