In a nutshell, this was one of the most relaxing, enjoyable vacations I've taken in awhile.

Overall hotel:
From the minute you step into the hotel lobby, you are greeted with pleasant aromatherapy and smiles from all the staff. During my stay, the hotel was only at 30% occupancy, so there were plenty of staff to cater to every guest's needs. The hotel opened one week before Christmas 2007, so the condition of the hotel is still very new and has been decorated with elegant minimalism. The staff all wear white which gives the appearance of a fresh, clean hotel rather than the typical musty Cancun hotel. The grounds of the hotel are beautiful with a plethera of infinity pools overlooking the beautiful blue ocean waters. There are plenty of pool lounge chairs for all guests, but I do have a feeling it was due to the 30% hotel occupancy. Anytime I went out to the pool to sit down, a staff member would always jump in front of me to volunteer to lay my towel out for me. There are no towel huts to distribute towels at this property. All towels are nicely rolled and placed on the lounge chairs so you can easily determine if one is taken or available and there are always plenty of towels to grab off other chairs. The staff were always very friendly, pleasant and available to cater to whatever need was requested.

Food:
The food at the property is spectacular. Much of the food caters to a "spa-type" hotel in that the ingredients are extremely fresh and there are many, many healthy selections on the menu. I know in Mexico, Americans are told not to eat the fruits or vegetables as they are washed in the local water and can bring on illness to Americans, however, I did not experience ANY ill stomach effects from the ice in drinks or any of the fruit. Note: I got violently sick in Acapulco in November from eating a very slight bit of fruits and vegetables, however, I ate five times the amount of fruits and vegetables at this property and never felt an ill effect. I ate at Aqua for every meal and enjoyed anything from scrambled eggs with shrimp or salmon, steak and chicken fajitas with fresh vegitables and beef tenderloin in a delightful red wine sauce with a polenta side. The food is not cheap, however, it is worth the money compared to other restaurants in Cancun where you will get half the quality of food for only 1/3 less the price.

Spa:
I enjoyed the indoor spa and an ourdoor massage while on my vacation. The spa space indoors was beautiful with pools of cool and warm water, sauna, steam room, locker area and beautiful private showers. I enjoyed a 50-minute massage outdoors ($110 + tip) in one of the private ourdoor huts. There are about five huts in a tranquil area of the property that are enclosed by chiffon curtains and straw roofs. There is a waterfall immediately outside the chiffon curtains for tranquility and the huts are also equipped with ceiling fans and speakers to pump through the relaxing/soothing massage music. The massage experience couldn't have been more delightful. I scheduled my massage for 5 pm, which was perfect because the temperatures were just starting to cool down for the day, so I did not sweat at all in the outdoor air with the gentile breezes.

Rooms:
All rooms have an ocean view, so try to get a higher floor to maximize your view. I was in a standard room on the 6th floor, which was plenty high to enjoy the sights. The rooms DO NOT smell of mildew, which was a pleasant surprise for a warm climate. The beds were very comfortable and included down comforters. The bathrooms were plenty spacious with a single sink, soaking tub, toilet and separate stand-up glass shower. The rooms have modern amenities such as flat-screen TVs and iHome clock radios/IPod docking stations. Wireless network access is also available in the guestrooms for a fee.

Each night during turndown service, I would receive either a little counter-top waterfall that flowed onto rocks (plug-in waterfall) for peace and tranquility while I slept or I would get a choice from four aromatherapies to burn in my room. It was absolutely beautiful and a wonderful, peaceful touch to the guestrooms that I looked forward to each night.

In sum, this hotel definitely has a "spa" presence to it exuding tranquility in every aspect. The highly trained staff contributed to every whim and request of the guests, which put this hotel into a five-star category for me.

I just returned from a fabulous stay at Aqua. I came with a rather large group and it was amazing. The staff was always pleasant and willing to help. The aromatheraphy in the hotel and rooms were amazing....so amazing, I purchased it for my home. The rooms were great, especially with the ocean view. The spa was fantastic. I ended up having 2 massages, the Mayan Secret and the Fusion. Many of us in our large group partook of the spa and couldn't say enough fabulous things about it. The food was excellent at the restuarant and pool bar. Make sure to get the nachos and strawberry daiquiri! They are amazing! The location of the hotel is perfect! It is across the street from a great mall with great restuarants if you ever want to leave the hotel, which wasn't often for me! Enjoy your stay!!!!

I just got back from a week at the AQUA and can not rave about it enough. It is 1000% all about the details. From the aromatherapy in the air, to them not letting you carry your towel to your chair at the pool, to the elaborate buffets - which by the way are ridiculously tasty!! Your room has a flat screen, not your average snacks/coffee, I miss my bed (when do you ever leave a hotel missing the bed??), the bathroom was equipped with a tub & shower PLUS all molton brown products. The whole staff is beyond special, everyone gives this place there own personality and the touch of them giving you the Mayan greeting La'Kesh is phenomenal!! I went there to spend my 30th bday and instead left with a tradition, I will 100% be back!!

Went for a girl's trip in January 2008. Hotel was at 20% occupancy on purpose as it just reopened after hurricane. Location is first rate. No need for rental transportation as there is an amazing outdoor mall across the road and cabs are available at any hour. Staff was unbelievable from the moment we arrived until the time we left. Definitely need to eat at MB and at Siente, both restaurants live up to their reviews and have some amazing chefs! This hotel will be the place to go in Cancun, possibly "the place" in Mexico/Caribbean. I would definitely put it above any Four Seasons or Ritz Carlton I have stayed at in the US. Make sure you go to the Tequila bar, Egos, and the Pool bar and at least order a Caprioska. The bar staff are super friendly! Even with the expected glitches due to the slow open, the whole experience was awesome.