Occidental Xcaret vs Hotel Xcaret Review from My Stay [2023]

What is the best place to stay in Xcaret, Playa del Carmen?

There are three all-inclusive hotels within the boundaries of the archaeological site Xcaret in Playa del Carmen along Highway 307, which are Hotel Xcaret Mexico, Hotel Xcaret Arte, and Occidental Hotel at Xcaret Destination.

They are the prime choices for those who want to explore Xcaret and the nearby adventure theme parks; but which one would be best for you?

In a hurry and need a quick decision? Hotel Xcaret Arte (Adults-Only) and Hotel Xcaret Mexico (Family-Friendly) are new luxury hotels with free airport transfer and complementary admission to Xcaret Parks & Tours. Occidental at Xcaret Destination is cheaper but the rooms are more dated and additional fees are incurred for parks, tours, and transportation.

These Occidental vs. Hotel Xcaret Reviews will help you find the answer by analyzing the price versus the quality of these hotels and showing you how to find the best deals for your luxury stay.

🛎️ Hotel Xcaret Arte Promo: Book Hotel Xcaret Arte Special Rates by December 31st, 2023

🛎️ Hotel Xcaret Mexico Promo: Book Hotel Xcaret Mexico Special Rates by December 31st, 2023

Luxury under Budget aims at helping you get the best deals by maximizing the value of your time and money. My recommendations are based on first-hand experiences and the full analysis of costs vs. benefits. This post may contain affiliate links, but that does not affect any of my evaluations. If you do decide to make a purchase, I’d appreciate it if do so through my affiliate links to support my blog and enable me to provide more free and helpful content. Now, let’s go get you that luxury travel while staying under the budget!

Occidental vs. Hotel Xcaret Reviews – Overall Comparison

Hotel Xcaret Mexico, Hotel Xcaret Arte, and Occidental Hotel at Xcaret Destination are within walking distance from one another. They are a 15-minute drive from Playa del Carmen, a 50-minute drive from Tulum, and a 50-minute drive from the Cancun International Airport.

Quickly skimming through the prices of the three hotels in Xcaret would give you the impression that Occidental Hotel is the cheapest. However, if you take the complimentary offers from Hotel Xcaret Mexico and Hotel Xcaret Arte by Grupo Xcaret into consideration, you will realize that they present better value for money than Occidental Hotel at Xcaret Destination.

🏆 At the first glance, Occidental Hotel at Xcaret Destination seems to be the cheapest. However, if you add other costs associated with the stay, it may become even more expensive than Hotel Xcaret Mexico and Hotel Xcaret Arte.

What is included at Hotel Xcaret Mexico All Parks & Tours All-Inclusive?

• Private beaches with plenty of of coves, inlets, and natural caves for epic photoshoots
• Very attentive staff – I was so impressed! As soon as I was looking for a trash can in the hall, a staff approached and offered to take the trash away
• Free food and beverages at ten restaurants and eight bars. We only tried 2 restaurants and 2 bars because we spent lots of time at the parks but here are some highlights:
  • Experience the Mexican gastronomy when staff makes fresh tacos at Mercado
  • Great seafood with a romantic vibe by the pool
  • Best margarita and a variety of signature cocktails!
• All-Fun Inclusive meaning that all the fun activities and roundtrip transportation are free!

• Roundtrip airport transfer
• Kids Club with hourly activities throughout the week
• Suite-style rooms that blend in the modern features with Mexican details and a few added perks that I love:
  • High-quality bed linens
  • Mexican candies
  • Beach bag
  • Cool face masks
  • Espresso coffee machine – and it really makes good coffee!
  • Hammock on the balcony
  • Jacuzzi and bubble bath!!!
  • Some swim-up rooms will have direct access to the pool

Hotel Xcaret Mexico also offers the following with additional cost:

• Michelin Chef at HA restaurant
• Multiple camera stations around the hotel where you can use the wristbands to activate. The photos are of high-quality as if they were taken by professional photographers

Hotel Xcaret Arte Review

The cost to stay at Hotel Xcaret Arte

Hotel Xcaret Arte is the brand new sister hotel of Hotel Xcaret Mexico. It also costs around $500 to $800 per night for the cheapest Suite Garden depending on the seasons. The equivalent of Casa Fuego at Hotel Xcaret Arte is Casa De Los Artistas.

Staying at Casa De Los Artistas gives you exclusive perks such as painting workshops and additional specialty restaurants that come as a fee to other hotel guests. Rooms available in this casa include swim-up oceanfront adultos, swim-up oceanfront diseño, junior ocean front, river suite adultos, and oceanfront suite adultos. The price varies from $800 to $2,000.

Is Hotel Xcaret Arte worth the money?

For a similar price, Hotel Xcaret Arte has pretty much everything that Hotel Xcaret Mexico has to offer. It includes unlimited food and beverages, roundtrip transportation to Cancun International Airport, and Xcaret parks and tours. As I have shown you in the calculation above, just the all-fun inclusive feature alone (free activities included) would have been able to offset the cost, making Hotel Xcaret Arte well worth the price.

Other than that, Hotel Xcaret Arte includes five complementary artistic and cultural workshops:

Weaving Workshop – learn to weave using a craft wooden loom.
Pottery Workshop – unleash your creativity to create a unique piece of porcelain.
Dance Workshop – perfect your salsa moves to shine at any Latin dance club.
Vegan Cooking Workshop – learn how to cook with flavors and textures similar to those of meat without animal consumption.
Painting Workshop – wake up your passion for the arts and look for a new source of inspiration through this workshop.

Hotel Xcaret Arte would be an ideal choice for couples, whether they look for an active resort experience or a fly-and-flop vacation. You can check my Hotel Xcaret Arte Review for more information on rooms, amenities, and why this hotel is perfect for a honeymoon.

🌴🌊 Check out my Hotel Xcaret Arte review for more tips to make the most of your stay!

Occidental Hotel at Xcaret Destination Review

The cost to stay at Occidental Hotel at Xcaret Destination

The cost to stay at Occidental Hotel at Xcaret Destination varies from $180 to $450 per night for the cheapest room. There are 765 rooms in over 20 buildings at the resort. It can get very creepy to walk around at night because the paths are not well-lit. The room decor is very basic with standard amenities and there is not much difference in the price nor the perks for the higher-tiered rooms.

Royal Level Occidental Hotel at Xcaret Destination is the VIP section at the resort with price ranges from $240 to $500. It offers premium amenities and personalized service such as preferential check-in, a private lounge, a hydromassage bathtub in the bathroom, an exclusive a la carte restaurant, as well as an exclusive pool area and sun terrace with waiter service.

💰Tip: Activate coupon at mid-page on Agoda for 5% discount on the Occidental Hotel at Xcaret Destination!

Is Occidental Xcaret Hotel worth the money?

Occidental Hotel at Xcaret Destination is quite unique in the sense that it allows you to immerse yourself in natural beauty. The resort is so big that it could actually take you 15 minutes to walk from your room to the breakfast buffet by the beach. As you go for a walk across the resort, you may run into monkeys, deers, flamingos, and several other animals. You will also find a well-preserved Mayan ruin and a boat that can take you to Xcaret Park.

Occidental Hotel at Xcaret Destination has 11 bars and restaurants but it is very hard to secure a table at any of the specialty restaurants. Most of them are close at 10 PM, but the waitlist would always be full from around 7 PM or 8 PM.

The quality of service here would also pale in comparison with the Hotel Xcaret. In fact, one of the staff here splashed dirty water to face when she was cleaning the table and did not even apologize.

If you asked me whether it is worth staying at Occidental Xcaret, you wouldn’t get a straight yes as the other Hotel Xcaret Mexico and Hotel Xcaret Arte. If you are looking for a fly-and-flop vacation and want to immerse in nature, Occidental Hotel at Xcaret Destination is not a bad choice.

On the other hand, if you are planning an active itinerary in Cancun and Playa del Carmen, it is not worth it. The other two Xcaret Hotels will offer you better deals. For an all-inclusive cheaper price (considering activities included), you will get a much better quality of food, service, and amenities.

Tips to Maximize the Value of Your Stay

Occidental Hotel at Xcaret Destination

Unlike most all-inclusive resorts in Cancun which require a reservation for a cabana, Occidental Hotel at Xcaret Destination allows you to choose your cabana on a first-come, first-serve basis. As a result, you can come to the beach early and secure your cabana for the day.

As I have mentioned, the waitlist for most specialty restaurants at Occidental Hotel at Xcaret Destination closes around 7 PM or 8 PM. Even if you manage to get on the waitlist at 7 PM, you wouldn’t be able to eat dinner until 9 pm. In order to avoid the wait, try to go at 5 pm or 6 pm when the restaurants open.

Hotel Xcaret Mexico & Hotel Xcaret Arte

There are so many things to do that you will not be bored at either of these resorts in Playa del Carmen. Consider staying at least 3 to 6 nights if your budget allows in order to experience all that the facilities have to offer or enjoy the parks and tours at a more relaxing pace.

If you plan to spend most of your time on tours and parks, the Suite Garden would suffice. On the other hand, if you plan to spend more time at the resort, consider staying at Swim-Up Suites in Casa Fuego of Hotel Xcaret Mexico or Casa De Los Artistas in Hotel Xcaret Arte for premium dining and service.

If you want to experience this luxury all-inclusive resort on a budget and crave the most adventures, the best deal would be to stay here for one night and check out some itineraries below. Put it at the end of your trip if you can find a late flight out of Cancun and not have to worry about the airport transfer. You will have access to all these awesome benefits with just one hotel night but make sure you book the tours beforehand.

How to Book the Best Xcaret Hotel Deals

1. Book directly through Hotel Xcaret Mexico and Hotel Xcaret Arte

The best Hotel Xcaret’s prices are typically the early booking rates available six to ten months before your travel dates. If you miss that prime window, no worries, Hotel Xcaret occasionally offers promotions about one to three months in advance, so you can check my Travel Deals page or subscribe for the most updated promotions.

If you have used my affiliate links to book Hotel Xcaret Mexico and Hotel Xcaret Arte, please fill out the form below to get a free Xcaret guide and the guest service manager’s contacts.

2. Book Hotel Xcaret through a timeshare presentation

Timeshare presentation is one of the cheapest ways to experience luxury on a budget! Typically, a member’s promo code will get you a 20-25% discount on referral. On the brand new Hotel Xcaret Arte, there is an additional discount of 20%. This means that you can get up to a 40% discount for the whole hotel stay. That could potentially save you thousands of dollars.

BUT! The but here is that you will have to attend a “90-minute presentation” which is basically a high-pressured sales pitch that can end up taking several hours. For some people, it will not be worth the time that they lose. For others, this would give them the dream vacation that they wouldn’t have been able to afford.

⏳ Grab my guide on how to get out of a timeshare presentation fast!

3. Compare prices with third-party booking sites

✔Hotel Price Check with Booking.com

✔Hotel Price Check with Agoda

The Wrap Up – Occidental Xcaret vs Hotel Xcaret Reviews

✔️Hotel Xcaret Mexico: Best place to stay in Playa del Carmen for families with kids, includes shared shuttles to Xcaret Parks and airport

✔️Hotel Xcaret Arte: Beautiful all-inclusive adults-only resort, also includes shared shuttles to Xcaret Parks and Airport

✔️Hotel Xcaret La Casa de la Playa: Best place to stay in Playa del Carmen for couples to enjoy true luxury. The hotel stay includes private transfer to the airport and the parks.

✔️Occidental Hotel at Xcaret Destination: An option for nature loves to stay close to Xcaret in Playa del Carmen. The hotel stay may be cheaper, but you will have to pay extra for Xcaret parks tickets since this hotel is not operated by Xcaret Group

Both Hotel Xcaret Mexico and Hotel Xcaret Arte are going to be worth every penny that you pay. If you want to travel during peak seasons and the hotel prices are over the roof, it may be worth considering doing a timeshare presentation. However, if you can find similar or even slightly higher price booking directly, it may still be better than losing half a day of your vacation with a presentation.

I hope these Hotel Xcaret Reviews have helped you pick your best all-inclusive resort in Playa del Carmen. Please feel free to share your experiences with me in the comments below!

❤️Don’t forget to grab your guest service manager’s contact & transportation info when you use my affiliate links to book your stay❤️

Cancun Travel Resources

1. Travel Insurance:
   • No one wants to think about what could go wrong on a vacation, but the truth is that accidents can happen anywhere, at any time. That’s why it’s always a good idea to have travel insurance, so you can relax and enjoy your trip knowing that you’re covered if something does go wrong. Don’t take the risk when you can be covered for cheap.
   • Safety Wing is a great option for budget-conscious travelers, as policies start at just $40 USD for a whole month! Basic policies cover travel emergencies, medical costs, and medical expenses while you’re in Mexico as well as transportation back to your home country under circumstances.
2. Getting around Cancun
   • Best Car Rental in Cancun: How to Find it & What to Expect!
   • How to Get from Cancun to Tulum, Mexico: Is there Uber/Lyft?
   • How to Get to Cozumel from Cancun and Playa del Carmen
3. Car Rental Scam
   • Don’t fall for car rental scams in Mexico! Make sure you have full coverage when you make the reservation so car rental agencies can’t upsell their insurance.
   • Discover Cars offers the cheapest car rental rates in Mexico and full coverage insurance for as low as $7 per day. 
4. Best Places to Stay in and near Cancun
   • Where to Stay in Cancun: Best Non All-Inclusive vs All-Inclusive Hotels
   • Best Value & Affordable All-Inclusive Resorts in Cancun, Mexico
   • Best Hotels and Resorts to Stay in Cozumel, Mexico
   • Temptation Cancun Resort – Best All-Inclusive Resort for Nightlife
   • Hotel Xcaret Arte Review – Best Overall Value Adults-Only All-Inclusive Resort
   • Hotel Xcaret Mexico Review – Best Overall Value Family All-Inclusive Resort
   • La Casa de la Playa by Xcaret – Best Luxury Boutique Hotel
5. Best Attractions & Activities in Cancun
   • 37 Top Things to Do & Best Places to Visit in Cancun
   • Thrilling Cancun Activities: Spinnaker vs. Parasailing!
   • Xplor vs Xplor Fuego Adventure Cancun Park Review!
   • Xelha Water Park Review, Coupons & Tips for a Perfect Day!
   • What to See & Do in Cozumel on A Day Trip!
   • The Maldives of Mexico: Is Bacalar Lagoon worth visiting?

Bonus: 61+ Best Cancun Quotes for Instagram & Social Media Captions!