JW Marriott Los Cabos Beach Resort & Spa

# Striking architecture at this JW Marriott

We arrived by rental car straight from the airport and were greeted warmly by the doormen, who swiftly valet parked the car for us (included in the nightly rate). We were impressed by the large, soaring lobby. Check in was quick since we had prepaid for our four nights in advance. We made our way to our room on the top floor of Building F. Our ocean view king room was spacious and comfortable, with cold air conditioning, much needed in August. This huge resort looks stunning at night.

## Atmosphere

The property feels upscale after dark, with great lighting throughout. In daylight, though, it has a slightly shabby feel. A lot of maintenance is overdue. The adult pool has a serious problem with its beautiful blue tiles loosening and coming away, leaving large expanses of exposed concrete on the pool floor. There are at least eight other pools on the resort, and all of them show the same issue to varying degrees. The decking around the adult pool is a lawsuit waiting to happen, with rotten, cracking wooden slats everywhere. Damaged, unrepaired stonework and woodwork are visible throughout the property.

## Food

Very disappointing overall, and far too expensive for the standard on offer. This isn't what you'd expect at 5 star resort. The F&B manager stopped by while we were at one of the pools to ask whether we were happy with the food, and we told him honestly. He invited us to try the BBQ restaurant, which we politely declined, not wanting to spend more money only to be disappointed again. We skipped breakfast entirely, sticking to coffee at the lobby coffee shop, and ate out at night instead, which gave us better food and better value. We had similar issues at the One&Only Palmilla and the Kimpton Mas Olas. It seems to be a trend among SJD resorts, unfortunately.

## Staff

The staff were excellent, no issues at all. Christina was a standout.

## Would we stay again?

Possibly, as long as the pools are fixed and the food quality improves considerably.

This review is for the Kids Club!

From the moment we arrived, the staff was exceptionally warm, welcoming, and attentive, making the kids feel like VIPs right away. The facility itself is impeccably clean, bright, and filled with engaging, thoughtful activities that go far beyond standard daycare—from creative local crafts to fun interactive games that kept the kids genuinely excited to return every day.
​What really sets this Kids Club apart is the incredible care and enthusiasm of the staff. Shoutout to Paula, Priscilla, Karla, and Sofia. They create a safe, nurturing, and incredibly fun environment where kids can make friends and explore, giving parents total peace of mind to relax and enjoy the resort.
​If you are traveling to Cabo with family, the JW Marriott Kids Club is a game-changer. It elevated our entire vacation. This is our second time and the Kids Club is a consistent highlight.

Ok. I just got here and I’m already having such a wonderful time…especially at the adult pool area. All the servers are so nice. But my guy…Elier…is cool as a fan and that’s saying alot because it’s hot as hell out here! On my first day…yesterday…Elier ….(I call him Ellie🤭)greeted me and he is so laid back, funny, professional and even remembered my name the next day. He took care of me the whole afternoon when I got here on Sunday and we had a really fun time. Thank you Elier (Elie) for making my first day awesome. Looking forward to see how the week goes. I’m not worried though😊 I’ll check in later about the grounds of the resort and other staff but I just had to give a shout out to my guy!

Elier & Gerardo were great! very welcoming and had amazing service. they made sure our experience was great.

Elier did a wonderful job making sure we enjoyed ourselves poolside. The food is also amazing. A+++

My daughter SAGE who is 3

went to the daycare there called the Nayaa and the staff there really took care of my daughter.
She and I really appreciate all the activities arts and crafts ETC... special thanks to
PAULA
SOFIA
KARLA
YOIS
They really were amazing.

We went for our 25th wedding anniversary. The rooms were amazing and the service was even better. Loved the restaurant variety and the pools were nice! Highly recommended.

We had high hopes for the JW Marriott, but unfortunately the service, particularly from the concierge, Alejandra, was awful.

The rooms were beautiful, and Julio at the pool was outstanding. He was friendly, attentive, and truly the only staff member who made us feel genuinely welcome.

Unfortunately, our experience with the concierge, Alejandra, was the worst I’ve had after staying at more than 10 resorts in Cabo. She was unhelpful, dismissive, and at times genuinely rude. We were explicitly told breakfast was complimentary, and our receipt was even stamped as free, which we had both the receipt and a photo as proof. However, at checkout, we were told we owed for those breakfasts. Having to dispute charges that had already been documented as complimentary was incredibly frustrating and left us feeling misled.

To make matters worse, we were locked out of our room on the morning of our departure. It took an unreasonably long time for staff to get us new keys, causing us to miss our scheduled taxi to the airport. Instead of taking responsibility for the delay, the hotel attempted to charge us additional fees because we missed the original taxi reservation, adding unnecessary stress to the end of our vacation.

Overall, it felt like the hotel was constantly trying to nickel-and-dime guests rather than provide the level of service expected from a luxury resort. That’s especially disappointing considering the price we paid.

It’s unfortunate because the property itself is beautiful, and we genuinely would have returned. However, the poor service—especially the concierge experience—was enough that we will choose a different resort on our next trip to Cabo.

Service in the spa is amazing. Their only weakness is the front desk staff who is honestly a little cold and unfriendly. Everywhere else they shine brightly. Reading other reviews, it seems consistent that the front desk and check in group are not very warm and welcoming. Maybe something to look at.

We had a couple nights at the Marriott in Cabo and wish we could have stayed longer! The property is beautiful and the beach is gorgeous. Service and food were great as well—big thank you to Elier at the pool who took such good care of us with loungers, drinks and lunch every day. Hoping we can come back!

This hotel is so great. The staff are so friendly. The food is great - especially the taco place! I really loved the kids club area too. You can leave your kids for a few hours and they can do crafts piñata, making T-shirt, making, etc. but you can also just have them pop in to play anytime you want for free. Priscila Karla Sofia Paula and Yoana were all so great with the kids!

Beautiful property stayed here in 2024 and came back 2 years later because we loved it so much.

I am giving it 4 stars this time instead of 5 for the following reasons 1) We were upgraded to an ocean view room, but unfortunately the trees needed to be cut that the view was completely blocked. 2) The pools are in need of new tile. ESPECIALLY THE ADULT POOL. Not a great feeling being im the pool feelong uneven pool floor. I would think it’s a safety hazard to have tiles from the pool floor loosening.. has the potential to cut someone. I noticed people would put the lose tiles on the edges of the pool.

Otherwise it’s a beautiful peaceful property and everyone is very kind and hardworking.

I hope next time we return the pool tile situation is reaolved.

Booked an ocean view room. Had three trees blocking my view, therefore I paid for an ocean room with no view. Went to the lobby three times with no resolution. No one offered to change my room or give me a discount. In the end, I believe the manager gave me 1000 Marriott points. This hotel is very expensive and I would expect better customer service. Also many of the rooms had no Airconditioning. And the gym bathroom was closed. This hotel definitely needs some upgrades. On the more positive note, it’s a very beautiful location. Everyone who works here is very accommodating pools are beautiful. The food is good

We came for 3 nights 4 days with our little girl. The resorts is amazing for families and offered a kids club, which it was my baby’s first time staying at a “daycare”. The staff was just amazing sending me updates and keeping her entertained while me and dad had some time to ourselve at the spa and adults pool. I would most definitely recommend if you have little ones.. thank you Yoana, Paula, Sofia, Karla and Priscilla for making our family stay a great time!!! Would definitely be back

The rooms
The beach
The staff
The location
Everything!!

This past weekend, I had the privilege of staying two nights at the fabulous JW Marriott in San José del Cabo for business. The hotel grounds are absolutely immaculate, the rooms are clean and welcoming, and the hospitality from the staff is truly top-notch.

I was in need of a special catering order, and Adrian went above and beyond assisting me. Not only did he follow through on every detail, but the end result exceeded my expectations.

Exceptional service like this makes all the difference, and I’m already looking forward to my next visit to the JW Marriott San José del Cabo.

Absolutely beautiful hotel! The staff are all exceptionally customer service driven and made our stay that much better. The rooms are beautiful, stayed cool the entire time and have great bathing options. Large tub with stand alone shower. Atherton pools were very family friendly with ledges that kids can walk and play on that extend into the pool and the pool side service was excellent.

The kids club was exceptional! My kids (5 & 3) loved going and spending time with the care takers as they were all very lovely and made them feel right at home! They did activities daily from crafts to tye dye shirts, played in the jungle gym and slides, and video games. They even have a cool theatre! We also rented floaties for the kiddos! Great service!

This is our 4th time here. My kids love Paulina and her crew in the kids club, and I love the amazing service (shout out to Luis!) by the pool. My kids painted piggy banks, tye died their own hats, and made a bunch of keychains during our week here. It’s a great place to really relax and it’s really close to flora farms.

One thing that really stood out this time was the restaurant manager, Francisco. My younger son took a nasty spill on the morning we were going to fly home. It was quiet and I didn’t know if anyone saw, but Francisco showed up with a popsicle (for both kids to avoid a fight) and later called our room to check if my son was ok.

The level of service was great in 2025, but it has skyrocketed in 2026. The addition of evening pajama party for the kids 6-10 is a great addition and we will surely be back.

My husband and I returned to the JW Marriott resort & spa after first «discovering» it last September. We went this time specifically to celebrate my husband’s birthday.

All of the staff made sure that we were well taken care of. Ximena worked with me prior to our arrival to plan an extra special dessert served on March 27, my husband’s actual birthday. We had a wonderful dinner at Marhumo followed by a dessert tray with edible elements of what my husband makes for a living (he is in the game industry).

When we were at the tacqueria, Brayam, Raul, and Ismael gave my husband a dessert tres leches cake dressed in their luchador masks! It was very fun.

The spa was wonderful and we especially enjoyed the long pool where it is possible to swim laps. The pool beside it with the fountains is very relaxing.

The JW Marriott Beach Resort & Spa is our favorite hotel in Mexico. We will definitely be back to visit as soon as we can!

As I’ve come to learn, “Relish the Festival,” an annual event organized and hosted by the JW Marriott Los Cabos, promises immersion, indulgence, and inspiration. I had the pleasure of winning a Marriott Moment for the 2026 event, though I arrived without a clear understanding of what it entailed—partly due to delayed communication from the hotel.

As an insider, I saw how, on the surface—especially through curated TikToks and polished Instagram reels—the JW Marriott Los Cabos presents paradise: golden-hour lighting, artfully plated dishes, and smiling influencers drifting effortlessly from one experience to the next. It’s the kind of marketing that makes you book without hesitation.

But the reality, as a paying guest, tells a different story.

Somewhere between concept and execution, the focus appears to have shifted away from the people who actually sustain the brand—the loyal guests spending their own money or hard-earned points. Instead, the experience feels designed for a rotating cast of influencers and journalists, flown in to capture the aesthetic rather than live the reality. Their version of the festival—and the hotel—is seamless. Yours… may not be.

This disconnect becomes most apparent in the basics. Hospitality, at its core, isn’t about spectacle—it’s about comfort, reliability, and care. Yet it’s difficult to reconcile the effort poured into curated moments with the neglect of fundamental needs. When something as essential as air conditioning is inadequate, or when billing discrepancies arise, it undercuts everything else. No amount of beautifully staged experiences can compensate for a restless night or the absence of straightforward, dependable business practices.

And that’s what makes the experience feel conflicted.

On one hand, there’s undeniable excellence. The retail and service teams shine—attentive, warm, and genuinely invested in guest interaction. They embody what hospitality should feel like. On the other hand, there’s a sense that the overall operation is striving to be something else entirely: a content machine, a backdrop for social media storytelling, or a misguided revenue strategy that loses sight of the fundamentals required to earn—and keep—a returning guest.

So the question becomes unavoidable: what is “Relish the Festival,” and the broader JW Marriott Los Cabos experience, really for?

Is it for the real, present guest—the one checking in, hoping for a memorable stay? Or for the digital audience, watching from afar and consuming a version of the experience that doesn’t quite exist?

Right now, it feels as though the hotel is caught between two identities: one grounded in traditional hospitality, the other chasing curated visibility. The intention is admirable, even exciting. But intention without consistency creates a gap—and guests fall into it.

“Relish the Festival” or the JW Los Cabos doesn’t need more production. It needs recalibration.

Bring the focus back to real people. Real stays. Real comfort. Let the experience be something guests feel, not just something others see.