Now Emerald Cancun
Are you planning a trip to Cancun, Mexico and having trouble deciding on accommodations? Read our review of Now Emerald Cancun to help you determine if this all inclusive resort is suitable for you. You might have already seen mixed reviews on TripAdvisor, which can make deciding even tougher. Last July, I visited Cancun with my 5-year-old son and stayed at Now Emerald Cancun for the first three nights.
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The all inclusive resort is situated in the family-friendly Cancun Hotel Zone (Kukulcan Boulevard), which is a prime location with easy access to shopping and numerous beaches, including Playa Delfines, Playa Langosta, and Playa Tortuga, named after animals. You’ll also find various all inclusive resorts in the area.
While the location of this resort is great, some negative reviews mention the small stretch of beach it’s on. To reach the beach, you must descend stairs past the main pool. However, the resort isn’t the most convenient due to the number of stairs. I suggest those with limited mobility to avoid this resort. Even to access the buffet, several steps are necessary, and there are no elevators available, which can be inconvenient with a stroller. If stairs are not an issue for you and your family, please continue reading.
In my Now Emerald Cancun review, I want to share my thoughts on the accommodations. It’s crucial to consider the rooms when booking a resort, especially when traveling with a family. I found the accommodations to be comfortable, but they seemed outdated. Unfortunately, the power went out for a few hours during our stay. This made me nervous, particularly because I had an infant who depended on the air conditioning at night.
Fortunately, the issue was resolved in a few hours, so everything turned out fine. The bathroom is spacious and clean, and the room includes a mini-fridge that is restocked daily with bottled water, soda, and beer. The decor of the room features a minimal style with calming earth tone colors that remind one of sand and water, such as light browns and soothing blues.
At Now Emerald Cancun, the available restaurants and bars cater to different tastes. While individual preferences may vary, I personally had no trouble finding a satisfying meal. Here’s a rundown of the current options.
You can find a variety of options for food at the hotel. Head to Carnival for an international buffet that serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner. If you’re looking for something quick and casual, Barefoot Grill has burgers and wraps available for lunch. For a lighter meal or snack, stop by Coco Café which offers coffee and snacks all day. Tamarindo serves Mexican cuisine for dinner, while Capers serves Italian cuisine. Cin Cin offers Mediterranean dishes for dinner.
Paramour is a French restaurant that serves dinner exclusively for adults. Spice is an Asian restaurant that offers dinner and has the best ambiance.
The food was great and there were no long lines for any of the meals. No reservations were required for the restaurants, making it very convenient. I particularly enjoyed the ceviche at Tamarindo and the tomato caprese salad and pasta at Capers. The buffet offered a variety of options including a salad bar, soup bar, grilled meats, hot dishes, bread, desserts and much more. Additionally, there’s a special section for kids that serves common foods like french fries, cheese quesadillas, and chicken nuggets.
The hotel has an onsite spa that offers various treatments, including swirling hydrotherapy, sauna, steam room, and bracing showers. They also have a full-service salon with treatments for skin, hair, manicures, and pedicures. Treatment options for kids and teens are available, and all products used are all-natural from the world-renowned Pevonia. Please note that I did not personally try the spa, so I cannot provide a review.
Although there may be some negative reviews, one thing that stands out is that the staff at this place is amazing. They go above and beyond to make sure you have a great experience. The rooms may be outdated, but the friendly and energetic staff more than compensate for it. You will feel like part of the family from the moment you check in to the time you check out.
I suggest taking a photo of the QR code provided at check-in. It will take you to a mobile site that lists the daily activities for both daytime and nighttime, along with the menus and hours of the restaurants and room service. This mobile-friendly site made our stay easier. The resort has plenty of activities to enjoy without leaving the premises.
Make the most of your stay by enjoying pool parties, tequila tasting, and cooking classes. You can also join pool volleyball competitions that happen daily. For those with young children, the Explorer’s Club is the perfect place for kids aged 3-12, offering fun activities such as video games, crafts, and sandcastle contests. If you have teenagers aged 13-17, they can hang out at the Core Zone Teens Club, where they can enjoy various sports and games.
I had a great stay and the steps provided a good workout. However, this might not be the best place for picky eaters or partygoers since the nightly entertainment wasn’t great. I was traveling with a 7-month-old baby, so I wanted something more low-key. If you need help planning a trip to Cancun, feel free to email me at cassandra@accent-on-travel.net. I don’t charge fees but get paid commission upon your return. I can provide a quote for you without any obligation.
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I recommend these travel resources for Mexico that I personally use:
🏨 Hotels: I have found that Expedia and Booking.com consistently have the best deals on hotels and resorts in Mexico. If you prefer to stay at a vacation rental, check VRBO that is usually cheaper than AirBnB’s added fees!
✈️ Flights: To find the best flight deals to Mexico, I always use Kayak. Remember to subscribe to their price alerts for the travel dates you want. Another great alternative for flight deals is Expedia.
🚗 Rental Cars: I always use and highly recommend Discover Cars because it allows me to compare several car rental companies and view ratings on various factors such as overall value, pick-up procedure, agent efficiency, car condition, and total time taken.
🚙 Cancun Airport Transportation: For the fastest and easiest way to travel, I suggest arranging a private transfer with Cancun Airport Transportation. Honestly, no better way to travel from the airport to your hotel or resort.
🤿 Tours & Activities: For tours and activities in Mexico, I highly recommend using either Viator or GetYourGuide. These websites offer a full refund if you cancel your booking 24 hours before the start of the tour, and they also provide excellent customer service in case of any issues.
🚨 Travel Insurance: I always suggest purchasing travel insurance as a precaution before traveling, especially after a recent accident in a taxi in Mexico. For short trips, I recommend Travel Insurance Master, whereas for digital nomads, Safety Wing is a better option.
📷 Best Camera for your trip: I always carry with me a GoPro, It’s light, compact, takes great video and pictures, and most importantly, it’s waterproof! You just can’t go wrong with one. If you are interested in higher quality video and photography, I always carry with me on my trips and highly recommend the Sony A7IV which I think is the best travel DSLR Camera out there.
☀️ Biodegradable Sunscreen: Remember to include a good sunscreen to protect yourself from the summer sun. I always use and suggest Sun Bum Sunscreen, which is vegan, reef-friendly, and cruelty-free.
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