barbara

I am considering both the Casa Magna and the JW marriott. Is anyone familiar with both properties and if so is it worth another $60 a night for the JW. Would anyone know if the rooms at Casa Magna have been renovated recently? Do the rooms there look tired. Any information would be appreciated. Thanks

xxx

We stayed at Casa Magna 3 years ago. It was a wonderful place, very clean and a beautiful hotel. It also had a nice stretch of beach. Staff friendly. Our room was fine, with a balcony. You could almost jump off the balcony into the ocean. (exaggeration but it our room was on the beach). We enjoyed our stay very much. The bus stops right out in front, for a quarter we went into town.

Frank

We too have stayed at the Casa Magna. It was wonderful. It is also rated as one of the top hotels in the latest or next to latest Conde Nast TRavel Magazine. My wife and I highly reccommend it.

Ned

One thing to consider is if you hold any status with Marriott's Rewards program and if you are entitled to a free upgrade or not. If so, spend the extra $60 for the JW because their ameneties are far nicer than the full service Marriotts. But either way you should have a nice stay!

Dee

My family and I (children aged 19, 17, and 12) stayed at the JW last July. You did not mention what you are looking for in a resort in Cancun. As previously said, the JW is far nicer in it's amenities, rooms, pools, spa, but it is a little stuffy and posh. The people there are rather subdued. At the Casa Manga, the people there are younger and the pool bar livelier. Pool volleyball is played and announcements are made for beach soccer for example. The beaches are exactly the same (the hotels are right next to each other), however, the lounge chairs at the JW have thick dark green pads and the towels are larger, thicker and newer. The food at the JW is very over priced, whereas the Casa Manga is home of the reasonably priced Champions Sports Bar (and restaurant) which is fun. Their desserts are huge! So to answer your question regarding the extra $60, again, what are you looking for? If you're looking for luxury and the feeling of "rich and famous" go for the JW. It's quite the experience! If you're looking for a more relaxed, very nice but not luxurious stay, then the Casa Manga will suit very well. Either choice is a good one. As they are next to each other and connected, you can travel back and forth. Do check into the Marriott rewards program, as the previous writer indicated. You can get frequent flyer miles on your airline of choice. Have fun!

Michael

Speaking of Marriott Points, My wife and I are using them to stay at the JW for 9 days in January. JW's are posher with more "stuff", but as the others say, just go back and forth between the two hotels while there. The JW is the newer hotel, so go with what you want...