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!
You have tempted me with the free alcohol, haha. Most definitely the view though. We haven’t been on a vacation since our honeymoon 4 years ago and now we have a 2 and a half year old. Would love for her to experience the ocean for the first time in such a glorious place.
Relaxing family vacation where I don’t have to think about food options for my family 🙂
The View! It looks so lovely and relaxing!
Sun, sand, blue waters, warmth!
It’s so hard to pick but I think I love the shallow water next to the dam. If I could sit there with my husband and one year old for a day, I would seriously think I was in heaven. The sand has zero rocks and the water looks like glass. Amazing!
I loved the pool with sea water, my two girls would love it there
I would be most excited for the beautiful beach and warm weather!
I would look forward to spending time on the beach and at the pool!
The BEACH!! Oh how I miss living within driving distance to a lovely white sand beach. Midwest living is good, but I sure miss the coast.
The whole place looks amazing. Excited about the kidz club, beaches, pool for kids, all inclusive (drinks)!
The free drink. Warm weather
That beautiful blue water and white sandy beach!
The pool looks amazing! That would be great to see my little girl play in!
Family friendly resort that looks gorgeous.
The views!! Those swings at the bar look pretty fun too!!
Your pictures are amazing!!!! They scream love and fun! I would love to go and just enjoy my daughter and see her smile and play. 🙂
The beach!
For sure, exploring the tiny pool of water like Harlow. It’s looks like I could spend hours there!
I have never been to Mexico, but if I did go this would definitely be the place! All inclusive is the way to go! Food, drinks, gorgeous beaches, pools and sunsets!
Hmmmm, reading a book (finally) with my toes in that white sand would be amazing! Kidz Club and free alcohol would be a welcome bonus. ????
The beaches look amazing, and well, to have a fat moment, the resturants look amazing, and fun, so I would love to try them! Plus my husband, daughter and I have never had a family vacation with the 3 of us since he is the only one working so we have to be frugal (really who doesn’t ), so it would be fun to go somewhere so beautiful, fun and get some nice time with the family! Also, I love how artsy the whole hotel looks! Oh and the entertainment at the pool, ok so I guess I want to go for everything you described above 🙂
The ocean looks absolutely amazing!
The beach, the pools, the sun, beeauuutiful vacations.
You had me at Kidzclub.
I would love to be able for my daughters first ever vacation to be HERE!!! Everything looks amazing but for me, the spa looks like a dream! 🙂 especially having ac5 month old diva!
I’m right there with Mazzy and Harlow – unlimited dinner rolls and a dessert buffet?!! Heaven on earth!
Pastelles! I’ve been thinking of that dessert bar since I saw it on your snapchat. Looks like heaven for me and the kids.
Loved all the pictures! Looks like you all had the best time there!
Wow- what would I enjoy most? The opportunity to vacation with my husband and two boys anywhere would be a delight considering he’s in residency- but getting to go to cancun where we could all sun and splash together and not worry about cost of meals would be a dream! And a nap? Perhaps I could even take a nap in the sun, which would equate to a dream vacation for me!
I would most look forward to the beach! My son is autistic and the beach is his happy place where he can run in all directions and play in the water all day. I would love to see his huge smile playing on the beach all day. Plus the unlimited food and drinks aren’t too shabby!
The true test would be truly enjoying something all-inclusive… My interest is peaked.
That looks absolutely perfect! Vacations with kids usually feel like a lot of work, but the kids club and all inclusive location make that look like it would be all fun instead!
Definitely the ocean views!
The beach and the pools !!!
The dessert place and the beaches and ocean. Kids too little for the kidz club but can’t wait to use them when they are older!!
Seeing that sunset you posted on IG!! and the beautiful beache and finally taking a vacation as a family – something we’ve never done!
THE BEACH! I love waterfront everything ????????????
I recently lost my grandpa (father if my mother). Give my mom the opportunity to travel and enjoy this amazing beach would be the a perfect occasion to cheer her up ????. Thank you for sharing your kids cuteness with us!! ????
The beautiful beach
The white sand beaches!
I would love to walk along the beach and enjoy the shoreline and beautiful sunrises. Being landlocked in OK makes me long for a shore!!
Safe beach for my daughter!
The sun and warm weather!
I love that Hyatt Ziva Cancun would be great for a family of tween/teens! The water, lots of food for a teenage boy, and awesome looking spa?!? Yes please!
The crystal clear ocean and the all-inclusive experience WITH delicious food too!
The thought of relaxing, in warmth, near a beach, with an all inclusive drink in hand, reading a BOOK (?!) is an amazing dream
I would love the massages, long walks next to those beautiful views, and those breakfasts! We can’t afford a honeymoon (he is in graduate school and I work in education) and this would be the greatest honeymoon we could ask for.
This looks amazing. A vacation I could only dream of!
The beach… And the alcohol… And the beach… And the kids stuff… All of the things!
I am most excited about the view! Vacations with young kids are hectic and stressful but as long as I am “one with nature” I am a happy mama!!
Cliche, I know, but the BEACH with my little family! We would never be able to afford a vacation like this, so it is so fun to live vicariously through your trip, photos, and family!! Thank you for sharing!
Wowza! I was living vicariously through your IG feed your whole vaca!!!! The kidz club…the beach the pool the food…I want it all!!! 😉 fingers and toes crossed!
Amazing beach and pools. My boys would love it! Or a nice getaway from the harsh Chicago winters with the hubby!
Spending time in a gorgeous place w the people I love the most….
For the view and the ultimate retreat!!
What an amazing trip, everything is very exciting but waking up to an amazing view and making new memories with my family is what I’d be most excited about!!
The gorgeous views!
I loved the little tidal pool you found! And of course if I got to go the spa would be a must as well. 🙂
I’m not going to lie, “free” awesome food options sounds amazing. My family loves to try new foods. Crystal clear water and letting our 2.5 year old play without giving mommy a heart attack sounds amazing as well. This was the first year that we had to pay for child care and it hit our wallets hard! No vacations this year. Mexico would be an incredible experience for us!
I would look forward to that beach and those views. This Alaska girl could really use some warmth and sand.
I’d most be looking forward to those amazing views from the hotel room that I saw on your snapchats!! And that chocolate fountain… Wow!
The gorgeous views and blue water!!
I love how toddler friendly it all seems. Who would have thought that you could have such an amazing vacation in Cancun with a 2 or 3 year old?
We haven’t taken a real vacation with the kids and would love to show my husband that a vacation with kids can be just as fun (maybe a slightly different fun) as a vacation with just us too. The kidz club and in-room babysitting might be the best thing so we can have some adult vacation time!
I’d be excited for a real family vacation, a trip where we have adventures, explore, laugh and make amazing memories. A Mai Thai or two wouldn’t hurt either ;). Thanks for this contest, here’s hoping!
Everything! This place looks amazing!
White Sandy Beach & Free BOOZE! Sign me up!
I would be most excited to get some sun and get in the ocean or pool with my little guy, he LOVES being in the water! A getaway with just the three of us would be the best part.
The beautiful beaches with warm and gorgeous water! No warm water here in the northern Atlantic. Also – the all-inclusive drinks and food. Who cares about a bikini anyway?
Oh my gosh – so instaworthy! I am so excited by the beach, and the dessert bar!
I am way excited for the beach!!! Our family loves the ocean. 🙂
The beaches look amazing but not gonna lie I really wanna sit on those swings at the bar
I need to do some floating in that pool! Looks like a great place!
The shallow water, the beautiful beach and the Kidz club!!
The beautiful beaches and the fabulous dessert bar!
The pool for sure, chilling by the pool with a drink in one hand and book in the other, yes please!!
The pools and the little pool of sea water down by the ocean!
The beach. The ocean. A drink or two (or three or five). The spa. The food. What is there NOT to look forward to?
I’d love sitting on the beach!
It would give my husband and I a chance to take a honeymoon. We didn’t go when we got married last june.
I would be most excited about the warm sand and sun while making many family memories! Also enjoying the experience of learning about a different culture with my family.
A family friendly vacation sounds so amazing- I just adore your pictures! It looks like the most amazing place to stay and visit! Thanks for doing such an awesome giveaway!
Most excited about the beaches. I live in Texas and we have the gulf which is no where near as beautiful.
I’d LOVE to have my twins try out the kidz club!! Oh and I’d love to try the delicious sounding food and enjoy the beautiful ocean!
Playing in that beautiful water and on that perfect beach with my 2 year old!!!
As a full-time working parent with two crazy active sons, I often feel like I’m trying to corral a herd of drunken cats. I’d love to just sit with my guys for two minutes without someone richocheting off of someone else. No electronics, no arguments (well, let’s be honest…fewer arguments), and no distractions. Just us and the beach.
without a doubt I would look forward to those incredible views. they are just breathtaking. oh and the free alcohol ain’t a bad thing either ????
I love the kids club!
I am excited to drink my coffee while enjoying that morning view AND having some relaxing time away from work and the cold Midwest
that just looks like a wonderful place! I would look forward the most to the beach and the kids club slides. Plus some relaxing spa stuff.
As parents to 1 1/2 YO twins, my husband and I would enjoy 1) free drinks 2) peace and quiet (in that order also)! Beautiful pictures!
Going on vacation that doesn’t involve visiting family would be amazing. Shhh…don’t tell them I said that. 😉
I’d totally indulge in the amazing all inclusive food and drinks (I feel the same way about all inclusives “food”, but trust your critique), and stick my toes in the beautiful white sand. If I’m lucky enough to have your same view, is definitely wake up early for the magical sunsets.
Would love the views and really loved the decor
Let’s be honest, I am definitely most excited about the unlimited wine and cocktails 🙂
Loved the views and the decor
I love the beach that is shallow enough not to be terrified the entire time the kids are near it.
A need to getaway with the family before baby girl #2 arrives!
If I win, I’m looking forward to being on a beach with warm waters!
The beach! And the spa too 🙂
I’d have to say kidz club. To get some me time on a vacation sounds pretty dreamy 🙂 and kidz club looks like a great time!
I would be most excited about being able to take my daughter on a trip where we can dip our toes in the water, watch the sunset and wake up to waffles in bed. I’m a single mother with full custody who is also full time in nursing school and living on student loans so special time spent with her is limited and I don’t think I could ever afford to take her somewhere as beautiful as the @hyattallin Ziva Cancun