This hotel is really nice and suited our purpose - a few days in the sun to escape the Canadian snow. The rooms were nice although our suite had only 1 bathroom - not great for a family of 5 - and although we had a view we were right near the lift.
Our complaint is that there was a convention at the hotel for 3 out of the 5 days. The pool area and lawns were completely taken over beginning with a noisy breakfast preparation from 6.30 am and ending after 10pm with pack-up from dinner. On Saturday the pool became very full mostly with people drinking at the swim up bar.... Not great for the kids to see -or hear. On Sunday morning the noise on the beach from the novelty races organized for the convention participants was unbearable and we actually had to leave the resort for the day. I would advise anyone booking this hotel to check is there is a convention at the same time so as to avoid being overcrowded. Otherwise very clean hotel, friendly staff, restaurants OK - expensive for the quality - especially Gusto's -the Italian at the JW. Would I go back again ----- probably not.

First time in Cancun and had a wonderful time. The Casa Magna is not the newest or the most luxurious but is very, very nice. The staff is very courteous, helpful, and friendly. The rooms are nice and the beds are the best I have found in a hotel at any price.
The JW Marriott which connects to the Casa Magna is a little more upscale but you can use either facilities restaurants, pool, beach, or public rooms. We are not lay on the beach or get in the water (heaven forbid) types so the skinny beach was not a problem.

This is a beautiful hotel. We walked over to the JW Marriott -- and personally liked what we saw better at the CasaMagna (granted, we did not see the JW's rooms). The view from all the Ocean View rooms looks great (the way the hotel is laid out is pretty cool). The rooms were VERY clean and the beds were great (slept so well).

All the staff were so helpful -- some of the best service we've ever had. The Japanese restaurant is very good, and the Italian restuarant at JW (Gustino's) is Excellent. Our concierge was so attentive and helpful.

They even gave us a late checkout (2 pm) for no charge.

I highly recommend the breakfast -- it is a huge buffet (almost a brunch I'd say) -- and delicious. With AAA, we had it included, but if you have to pay -- it is worth it.

I agree that the beach is small/narrow. The pool is huge though.

We took the bus into Cancun one day, and another to the Island/Isla shopping mall -- Bus is VERY easy to use and cheap (65 cents one way). Felt very safe. Market 28 is great. lots of tourists on buses. We even went to Walmart, of all places (we forgot a few things when we packed) -- you can find decent tourist t-shirts/gifts there if you don't want to buy at the market.

GREAT hotel -- I would stay there again. Wish beach was better, but I think that whole area is having a problem with erosion. There were pretty big waves when we were there -- so maybe it's better when the wind is light.

We generally stay in nice places, but one Christmas we made some late plans to go to Cancun, and we picked the Marriott largely because it allow the five us (me, wife, 3 daughters) to stay in one room. We had never stayed in a Marriott, and we were expecting something low end but reasonable like a Hampton Inn.

Were we ever surprised. This place is very nice. The lobby is huge and runs the width of the building. Staff attentive. The building is U-shaped, with the open part facing the ocean, and they gave us a beautiful room at the end of one of the arms - we had an enormous balcony, almost as big as the room, and we were about 20 feet from the beach with an awesome view.

The room was a little cramped for five, but no big deal when you are at the beach.

The pool was great and my 8 year old spent a lot of time in the big hot pool. My girls love charging soft drinks and snacks to the room, so they had an excellent time at the outdoor bar.

The food was very good. There are a number of Marriott restaurants on the property - like Champions - and room service would deliver from any of the menus at the menu cost. Sometimes with 3 kids it's a lot easier to eat in the room, so we did this a few times. The breakfast buffet off the main lobby is very good, and a good value for money.

My wife and I had been to Cancun once before - 20 years ago. The place has changed, to say the least. Back then I think there were only four major hotels on the beachfront, and the beach was big and wide and empty. I guess due to storms and building, the beach is very small now, but we still enjoyed it a lot. Every American chain restaurant and clothing store now seems to have at least two locations on the beach - it's pretty much like being at any endless strip mall back in the states. We did jump on the public bus one night and went to the grocery store in town - this was eye opening for the kids.

And of course we made the usual day trips - Chichen Itza, etc. On one of them the bus ran out of gas about 2 miles from the hotel - the poor guys who run the bus and depend on tips were a sad looking bunch as everyone on the bus jumped ship and got on a public bus to get home.

If I went back to Cancun, I would stay here again, for sure. But Cancun looks a lot like Myrtle Beach now, except the beach is better.