We were shocked by our time at Garza Blanca—and not for the reasons you might expect.
Megan Sweeney
Looking for a family-friendly, all-inclusive resort but not willing to compromise on the food? We recently stayed at the Garza Blanca Resort and Spa Cancun and can confirm it’s possible. As a foodie family, the resort blew us away with the quality of the accommodations, service, and of food.
We have named the Garza Blanca Cancun Hotel one of the top family-friendly resorts in Mexico for various reasons.
The Garza Blanca Cancun Resort and Spa is a luxury five-star, all-inclusive property located in the Costa Mujeres neighbourhood on the white sandy beach of Playa Mujeres in Cancun. It’s the newest addition to the TAFER hotels and resorts in Mexico and the perfect getaway for families looking to maximize relaxation.
The Garza Blanca Cancun opened in December 2020 but had its official grand opening in the spring of 2022.
Welcome gift made of chocolate, Megan SweeneyWe brought our four-year-old, and were beyond impressed with how accommodating they were to her and excited to have her there. When we arrived in our room, they laid out gifts for her, including her robe and slippers, a colouring book and crayons and her turtle stuffie.
Welcome gift for kids, Megan SweeneySome items available for families in-suite and at no extra charge include strollers, cribs, change tables, high chairs, bottle warmers and bouncy chairs. Each room also has a full-sized washer and dryer, which I’ve never seen at an all-inclusive.
One of our daughter’s favourite features of the whole resort was the large hammock on our balcony. All rooms have the signature white hammock, which makes for a perfect spot to sit and watch the sunrise. Our balcony also had a large table where we ate breakfast a few times during our stay.
What really impressed us was how welcoming the staff was at each restaurant to our daughter. We showed up each night to a team who couldn’t wait to make HER experience even more special.
They brought colouring pages and crayons to the table, made sure we had a good place to park her stroller in case she wanted to chill in there and always went out of their way to create a meal she was excited to eat. For high-end gourmet restaurants, we never felt like she didn’t belong there with us.
Bocados Steakhouse, Megan SweeneyThe Garza Blanca Cancun is different from your typical all-inclusive resort. They have designed it so you can leave your worries at the door and cater to anyone looking for a relaxing getaway. Located about 40 minutes from the Cancun airport and away from the central hub of Cancun, this luxury boutique resort truly comes with anything you could need.
With over 400 rooms, the Garza Blanca Cancun is not a small resort but never felt crowded or overwhelming. Rooms range from Junior Bedroom Suite up to Four Bedroom Penthouse Loft. All feature either a stunning ocean view where you can catch a perfect sunrise while enjoying breakfast on your balcony or a debatably more beautiful sunset overlooking Nichupté lagoon. The lagoon is a photo-worthy, very beautiful nature reserve lined with mangrove forests.
We stayed in the one-bedroom oceanview suite with a full kitchen including a full-sized stove, microwave, dishwasher, two different coffee makers and fully stocked dishes and utensils. We also had two full bathrooms, the ensuite off the bedroom with a large tub, two sinks, a separate toilet and shower, and a closet with a safe, ironing board, robes and slippers. The second bathroom off the living room has a full shower, toilet and sink.
Kitchen, Dining Room and Washer/Dryer in the One Bedroom Suite, Megan SweeneyThe living room area included two chairs, a coffee table and a full pull-out sofa bed. If your child plans on using the sofa bed to sleep, just let them know, and the housekeeping team will set it up for you while you’re at dinner.
The grounds of the resort are not only stunning but intentionally designed to give every guest space. Even the hallways inside are the widest I’ve seen in a hotel. The property has seven large pools, including an infinity pool and an adults-only rooftop pool. There are loads of pool chairs and umbrellas surrounding it; no need to rush out first thing in the morning and reserve chairs.
We spent most of our time at the pool closest to the resort entrance. It was only 4 feet deep, so our daughter, who is still learning to swim, felt comfortable jumping in. Clean towels were easy to find, and the poolside service was wonderful.
Going for a swim, Megan SweeneyThe beach was equally beautiful and spacious, with loads of chairs and daybeds to choose from. The water was warm and pretty calm, and the beach was nice and sandy without too much seaweed. No vendors were selling on the beach since the Garza Blanca Cancun is away from the main Cancun strip. It was quiet and peaceful.
There are lots of different activities included on the beach for no extra charge, like paddleboarding, kayaking and snorkelling. While we didn’t make it out to the floating aqua park, that was another fun feature for kids.
Building sandcastles on the beach, Megan SweeneyFully relaxed at the beach and the pools or visit the gorgeous spa. Either way, you're bound to feel great. While my husband and kiddo stayed poolside, I snuck away for a hydrotherapy circuit and a 30-minute massage. The spa, like the rest of the resort, is stunning.
The hallways and doors are enormous, every inch is clean, bright, and quiet, and the treatments are heavenly. There are massive windows overlooking the ocean on one side and the Nichupté lagoon on the other side.
Every treatment at the spa comes with a hydrotherapy circuit. Trust me, it’s not one to miss out on. A therapist will guide you through the circuit, including a steam room, sauna, cold plunge pool, hot tub and six-cycle vitality pool. While you wait for your treatment, you can relax in one of the lounge chairs, enjoying hot tea and snacks.
Relaxing at Spa Imagine, Megan SweeneyIf you want to go to the spa with your spouse but need a place for the kids to hang out, there are a couple of great options. The kids club has a full calendar of activities for free each day, both in the club or elsewhere on the property. It's also easy to get to, located right on the first floor.
During our stay, there were different sports like pickleball, yoga, kayaking, swimming, crafts and sandcastle building, movie trivia and treasure hunts, to name a few.
The kids club is for children ages four to 12 and is open from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. each day, although hours fluctuate seasonally. All the counsellors at the kids club are bilingual and trained in American first aid. The only downside was that parents were not allowed in the club. We completely understand the safety reasons for the policy, but our kiddo didn’t want to be left there without us, so she couldn’t participate in any activities in the club.
Don’t let this discourage you, though, if your child is similar; there are so many activities at the pool or beach that parents can be there for.
Kids Club, Credit: Garza Blanca CancunIn addition to the kids club, the Garza Blanca Cancun also offers a nanny service. There is no age limit, so you can use this service if you are visiting with a new baby or child younger than four. While it is paid ($35 per hour for one child or $45 per hour for two children), you can decide where you want your kids to be cared for.
The nannies can come to your room and watch them while they nap or after they’ve gone to bed or they can bring them to kids club activities, swimming, or to the beach. Like the kids club counsellors, they are all fully bilingual and trained in American first aid.
We are a self-proclaimed foodie family with a love for discovering new restaurants and appreciate delicious meals. Finding a family-friendly, all-inclusive resort with exceptional food has always been challenging.
To say the Garza Blanca Cancun food options blew us away would be an understatement.
The resort is home to five gourmet restaurants with cuisines including Japanese, Chinese, Mexican, a steakhouse and the Gourmet Hall. We tried all of them and would have difficulty picking a favourite. Blanca Blue, the Mexican restaurant, was the first one we tried when we arrived. We chose a few things off the menu to try and were left speechless when it came.
Black and White Tuna from Hiroshi Japanese Restaurant, Megan SweeneyHiroshi, the Japanese restaurant, had the most delicious black and white tuna I have ever tasted, along with Robata, which we hadn’t tried before. We moved our reservations around to try DAO because everyone we talked to said it was their favourite. This one also did not disappoint. There were many authentic Chinese dishes, and the staff accommodated half portions for us so we could try more.
We saved the Gourmet Hall for breakfast, which had many authentic Mexican dishes to choose from and loads of fresh fruit, baked goods and yummy coffees. For dinner, this restaurant turns a la carte with five kitchen cuisines. There are even food truck style options for quick snacks.
Bocados Steakhouse was our final dinner, and not only did it have some of our favourite dishes from the trip, but the experience and the service were second to none. We even had an authentic Mexican Caesar salad made for us at our table. We’ve been trying to recreate it since coming home.
Erik making us an authentic Mexican Caesar Salad, Bocados Steak House, Megan SweeneyAnother bonus is the 24-hour room service. When travelling with a little one, this is such a huge plus. It’s helpful to have options when the kids get hungry or enjoy a great meal while they nap.
If you are a coffee connoisseur or love to grab a good latte at any point throughout the day, in-room dining is the one consistent option included in your stay. There is a Starbucks just out front of the resort, but no espresso bar within the resort. You can find drip coffee in the lobby, though.
Every room has access to butler service. The two assigned to us, Andres and Josue, made our trip so memorable. They helped us settle, arranged our meal reservations, grabbed us extra water and organized special surprises in the room for us every day (usually made of chocolate, which was never a disappointment for our daughter)
Our wonderful butlers Andres and JosueThere is a wide range of accommodation options at the Garza Blanca Cancun to fit within different family budgets. The resort also has the option to choose the all-inclusive plan or opt for room-only.
While this is a luxurious resort with high-end accommodations, we loved staying here and would save up to be able to return. The dining options alone make the cost worth it, in our opinion and the service and accommodations were second to none.
Booking your visit to the Garza Blanca Cancun is super easy but be sure to book early because high seasons and popular rooms sell out quickly. You can book directly through the Garza Blanca Cancun Website or look for discounted deals through major booking sites.
If you’re looking for something special for your next family beach vacation, we recommend the Garza Blanca Cancun over and over. We’re excited to try out one of their other properties in Los Cabos and Puerto Vallarta sometime soon!
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