As you pull up to the Hard Rock Hotel in Cancun, you can already feel the American rock n’ roll energy buzzing. Located on the main resort strip, “Zona Hotelera”, the Hard Rock Hotel is a decent sized, well-kept all-inclusive property with just over 600 rooms, a large pool area and a beautiful beachfront.
The Vibe at the Hard Rock Hotel, Cancun
The Hard Rock began with a guitar donated by rock legend Eric Clapton to London’s original Hard Rock Cafe founded by two American fellows. Every property is centered around music, with one of the largest memorabilia collections in the world including autographed guitars, costumes from world tours and rare photographs.
I happened to be at this Hard Rock for only 2 nights, over a weekend, which is why I noticed at a fair share of wedding parties, bachelor/bachelorettes, and corporate getaways. It was a fun crowd. I would describe it as a party hotel with good energy – lots of big groups, most of which were Americans, at this Cancun hotel & resort.
The Rooms
What was unique about the rooms is that every single one, from what I saw, has an open concept jacuzzi next to the bed(s). I guess this is to be expected when you’re channeling your inner rockstar. I kinda loved it and took advantage of it on one of the nights (a jacuzzi is always a good idea).
We had a comfortable sized balcony, with a beautiful ocean view. One thing worth mentioning is that no matter how windy it got, our balcony always remained wind-free somehow. This was nice because it allowed us to enjoy it anytime of day or night as well as sleep with the sliding doors wide open.
They are currently doing a full renovation of this property and I got the chance to look at some of the new and improved room designs. I like the direction they’re going in with the neutral & earth tone colors along with the modern aesthetics.
They’ve also added a few nice touches like the stonework, lighting under the hottub, the hardwood flooring and incorporating more earthy vibes into the rooms. Gives it a much warmer feeling throughout.
The bathrooms are an open-concept, decent in size and have the toilet and stand up shower separate from the sinks, which makes it more functional when sharing the room with one or more persons.
The Food & Drinks
The restaurant and food selection was pretty good. We didn’t get the chance to try all the venues, unfortunately, but did check out Zen & Frida during our stay. There’s also CIAO, an Italian fine dining experience as well as Toro, a steakhouse.
During the day, while you’re lounging by the pool or on the beach, you can always indulge in Pizzeto, offering artisanal brick oven-style pizzas along with various BBQ offerings – such as burgers, corn on the cob and more.
The Property & Amenities
In the center of it all is the main pool area, featuring 2 pool bars on each end, ongoing entertainment and of course, lots of lounge chairs to soak in the sun. The beach is nice and super close to the pool area which was quite beautiful actually.
I was impressed in general with how clean and well-kept the Cancun beaches are. And the waves were big and abundant this time around, which made dips in the ocean a lot of fun!
There’s the option to upgrade to the Rock Royalty (which I always recommend). Here you get preferred rooms, access to special VIP areas, your own pool deck with full food & drink service as well as dedicated concierge services, complimentary massages, upgraded products & more.
I did explore the property, however unfortunately didn’t get the chance to experience the spa, which is another area they pride themselves on. Maybe next time. Some other things to experience are the Rock Shop, a full recording studio on the property, custom music options for your room (including vinyl!), and a pet-friendly program for your furry friends.
The Hard Rock Hotel, Cancun Details
It’s definitely a unique experience that only Hard Rock offers – I always advise that you know what you’re getting yourself into and choose your hotel & resort based on the experience you’re looking for, the people you are with and the vibe that you want to create on your vacation.
Comes with all the tours, attraction guides and transportation to and from the resort. While you’re in Cancun, I would recommend checking out Isla Mujeres as well as the Cenote tour. Happy travels and please connect with me to share your experience – I always love to hear about it!
Website & Booking: www.hardrockhotels.com/cancun/
Address: Blvd. Kukulcan Km 14, Zona Hotelera, Cancun
Pet-Friendly: Yes
Photos: Ayman Hbeichi for WanderEater Magazine
