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!
I would LOVE to win this! I need some sun and some relaxation 🙂 our kiddos are still too little for the kidz club, but they would love the pool and especially the warm beaches. 🙂
The beautiful beachs and kids klub for my kids!
It’s so hard to choose! I would love to swim in the ocean and those awesome pools!
Sand, sun, food, alcohol, BABYSITTING?! How’s a momma to choose! I’d love to see my babies on a beach I don’t have to worry about. They are such water babies and never been to the ocean – it would be an experience of a lifetime!
Honestly, I’d be stoked for all of it. Give me the sun and sand, and I’m in heaven. I’d take my six year old son with me and we’d love every second of it! And the free booze doesn’t hurt!
omg that kidzclub! Aside from the fact we haven’t taken a vacation in the last 9 years (aside from Disney, but let’s face it- that was a vacation for my daughter really)
The all inclusive family vacation, the beach, that dessert bar…. 🙂
Quality time with my daughter in the sun and sand!
EVERY THING about this resort sounds amaze balls. The food, beach and that wonderful Kidz Club are big draws for me though! What a lovely place!!
5 letters… BEACH!!
EVERYTHING! Everything about Hyatt diva!! But those waffles look pretty awesome!!!
I need that beach with free alcohol!
Um, the kids club! Because our 2.5 year old would have a blast and the hubs and I could actaully have some couple time (seriously, what is that?!).
Looks like an amazing place to stay.
Quality time with my family!
It all looks so amazing! I would love to try all the food, watch my daughter splash around, and top off the day with chocolate from a fountain!
Beaches !
I have been a subscriber to your blog for more then a year now ! I’m forever talking about your family to my family lol. Your latest trip was no different. It’s really hard to pick just one thing I can be excited about . The Hyatt Zica seems to have it all !! just being able to relax with my family in that gorgeous beach , eating all that wonderful food you photographed and taking in a night show would be such an awesome experience.
For me just seeing the pure joy on my children’s faces when they step onto the beach! It would be an amazing opportunity for them!
The super Sandy beaches & clear water. Plus the fitness center, I love a fancy gym.
The beach and the ability to be with my husband (I know the resort doesn’t privide that!)
I can’t even…please take me here. All inclusive is my jam. I am most excited about those beautiful beaches–and i cant act like I wouldn’t spend a lot of time at the dessert/sweets shop.
Are you kidding? This place looks amazing and BOTH my kids are over 4! So I would love to drop them off there and enjoy sun and surf with my hubby, without ditching my kids with grandparents back home. Best of two worlds!
I’m excited for the weather!
The beautiful white beaches and the stunning design of the hotel! 🙂
That lighthouse!! And that gorgeous beach!
The views, the beach and the all inclusive deal!
My parents and husband are from Mexico so I’ve been to Mexico countless of times but always to the he same town. It would be nice to have a chance to get to know a place as beautiful as Cancun. This hotel looks amazing!
That beautiful ocean!
The beaches: kid-friendly and beautiful!
We have two girls just like you! Avery will turn 3 in March and Ella is two moz old. We’ve taken Avery on a birthday vacation every year and this would be the perfect place to take her! She loves to swim and eat treats. The food choices and kids club both look amazing! Not to mention the pools! And let’s not forget the OCEAN.
I would love the spa and the beaches! Sounds amazing!
I’d love to take my water loving kid to that beach. I can only imagine how fun it would be fore them. Sand l, sun, and a gorgeous beach is the ultimate family vacation.
I’m Free booze is a close second 😉
Walking through the clear water and getting my tan on on the white sandy beach!
I need a vacation where I don’t need to go to the grocery store, cook or clean! Everything from the views to the kids club looks amazing!!
Beaches, water parks, free child care, alcohol, dessert, so many choices!
My husband and I were married in Mexico, not far from Cancun in a tiny community called Puerto Aventuras. I would love to be able to show our 2 year old son where we were married. My husband and I haven’t had a vacation in heaven knows how long! 🙂 It would be great to take our boy to the kids zone and water slides! Not to mention exploring the beach! A massage for mom may have to be fit into our play time as well!
The fact that it’s all inclusive is always a plus in my book! Plus the location looks amaaaazing. And it’s kid friendly! I’m dying for a vacation!
I’d say the exclusivity of the beach and the soft sand/shallow water. I’ve got 2 five year old that want to go to a beach so bad but the idea terrifies me since my husband is the only one of us that can swim. This place seems super kid friendly.
The kids club and all those beaches simply Amazing
An all inclusive getaway would be amazing! It looks like a great family trip!!
All of it! But most of all the kidz club & beach!
All of it! It looks perfect!
I would very much enjoy the views!! Breathtaking!
The beautiful beaches , the lovely location, the wonderful rooms all this with special time spent with the family .❤️
I want to say the beautiful beaches, or the restful beds, or the amazing family time, but my fat self just wants to go to Pastelles. No shame. Looks amazing (all of it, I swear!)
Would love to take my mom on this trip and see the beautiful resort, ocean, and pools!
All the beaches and swimming! also, all the food!
I would love the quality family time, and throw in a peaceful moment or two sans kid 🙂
Hard to choose, but the beach looks amazing!
I am most excited about the great beaches, white sand, and beautiful view of the sunrise (that the girls seemed to not care about 😉 ) from the balcony!
The beach looks amazing! And the pool. And the food. Lets be honest….it all looks awesome!
A kids zone that is REQUESTED?!?! UM, yes please!
Beach, relaxation room and coffee!
First family vacation would be amazing here. Gorgeous views , amazing kids club, kids food and free drinks to look forward to after a plane ride with two kids!!!
I would be thrilled to share an experience like this with my little family. It would be an amazing to escape the cold Midwest winter and relax while I experienced the beach for the first time through my babies eyes.
All Inclucive? Yes! No cooking, no cleaning!!!
Oh my goodness! Everything looks perfect. I would love to spend a day in the spa and the rest of my time sipping tropical drinks on the beach. #paradise
I’d be most excited to take my kids to a place like this for their first Caribbean adventure. All of it sounds amazing!!!
I lost my dad last year and this is just the much needed break we need. The peacefulness of the pictures is breathtaking. Thanks so much for offering this!
Coffee, reading time, warm weather, and of course family time!
Beach and sun!
Swim up bars for adults and kids?!? Yes, please. My boys have been enrolled in swimming lessons-lets see if the have paid off. Boys, be a dear and swim over there and bring back mommy’ cocktail.
The beautiful beach & gorgeous resort is a perfect setting for family pictures!
The warm weather and my little girl playing in the sand!
Looking forward to dessert in my hand and my feet in the sand!
The amazing restaurants and the beautiful sunrises over the ocean that we don’t get on the west coast!
the beach for sure…. so beautiful!
what part am I NOT excited about?! the gorgeous beach, amazing food, and kids activities it’s a win win!
I am most excited for the swings at the bar because I would want to spend all my time at the bar haha but also for the beautiful views and relaxation! @acenat
My boys would love the beaches, and so would I! That looks gorgeous!
I would be so excited to see the beautiful views and hit the spa!!
The gorgeous ocean views and the Kids Club!
Wow, it’s gorgeous!!! I would be thrilled to experience any of it but I literally breathed a long sigh when I saw that relaxation room!
*also, are these photos taken with your new camera? They are so crisp and beautiful!
The kidz club looked amazing!! It would be so great to go on a family vacation but still have some alone time with the hubby!!
All you can eat bread and waffles, duh!!!
I would love the kids water park! And the comfortable beds! Oh & the gorgeous beach!!!
Everything is awesome!!!! Mexico is a beautiful country and it has lovely places. I love the little sea pool, because we want to take to the beach for the first time our little girl so it would be perfect for her!
OMG! So hard to choose. After the first two photos I was already dreaming sitting at the beach or at the pool. This view is unbeatable! and enjoying the view. The beach for sure!!!! I can only dream of my family on this beach!!! It would be great to go before baby number two arrives!!!!
That beach looks amazing!! My kids would love the calm water and the water park!
Loved the color of the beach and sky. Very surreal.
I love that it is a beautiful, family friendly, all inclusive resort. So many family friendly destinations can be cheesy…
Ooooh, tough choice! I’d say the white sand and turquoise water combo 🙂
Everything! What a beautifully designed hotel! And kid friendly! Amazing.
The amazing beach where my kids and husband can play while I am at the spa 😉
Oh man, take me to the spa! Oh, and beaches. Restaurants too, please!
The beautiful beach fronts!
The kid friendliness is what I look forward to. That would be great for my kids! I would love to checkout the spa!
I can’t stop looking at the beautiful beach and the amazing room service breakfast. The endless drinks would be the cherry on top!!
Would love to relax with my family on this beautiful beach and blue water!
EVERYTHING!!! The pools and the beach would be amazing!
It’s a toss up between the sunshine and white sand beaches!!
Relaxation Room!
Relaxing on the beach sounds so perfect right now. We had our first snow where I live!
Pretty much everything you’ve mentioned above I’m excited about! The way they decorated this resort is just to my liking 🙂 My boyfriend and I have never gone on a vacation alone together and we’d just love to get away and relax on a beach and forget about work and life for a while.
The warm weather, the beach, the pool, the food, the kid zone….pretty much all of it!
The ocean!!
I loved the pool with sea water, my two girls would love it there!
A nice quite walk on the beach with my best friend (& husband) of 28 years! Also the unlimited drinks 😉
My daughter is 3. I’ve never had the chance to take her on s holiday so taking her to white sandy beaches away from the hustle and bustle of her usual routine would be so fun. She’s been through a lot the last 2 years and deserves fun with mommy.
That beautiful view!!! And the food of course 🙂
The white sand …… an umbrella drink …. the blue crystal clear water ….. and my husband …. Yes, I would bring him 🙂