Ventus Ha’ at Marina El Cid: Brand New Resort Review {Mexico}
If you are looking for a brand new resort in Cancun Riviera Maya to visit, then look no further than the brand new, all-inclusive Ventus Ha’ at Marina El Cid.
We stayed at Ventus Ha’ in November 2021, just one week after the resort’s grand opening. Because we had a great stay at sister resort Ventus at Marina El Cid when it opened in 2018, we decided to try out their newest resort, and were so glad we did!
Ventus Ha’ is a small boutique resort part of a larger compound of three resorts: Ventus Ha’ at Marina El Cid, Ventus at Marina El Cid, and Hotel Marina El Cid. All three resorts are all-inclusive and family-friendly, and if you stay at one resort you have access to all three.
We had an amazing three-night stay at this brand new resort and were able to experience two different room types at a great grand-opening rate. Keep reading for a full review and guide (including price!) of the brand new Ventus Ha’ resort!
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Location & How To Get There
Ventus’ Ha is located on the Riviera Maya coast of Mexico’s Yucatan peninsula, in the state of Quintano Roo. The resort is located in the city of Puerto Morelos, and is about a 30 minute drive from the airport.
To get to Ventus Ha’, you will fly into the Cancun International Airport (Code: CUN). The Cancun Airport is a major destination for a large number of airlines, and it is very easy to find deals on flights from the US to Cancun.
Some of the airlines with the best rates to Cancun are Southwest, American, JetBlue, and Spirit (budget airline). Click here to check flights into Cancun!
It is important to note that Cancun customs & security is extremely slow and chaotic. It took us over two hours to get through the checkpoints and head out to our transportation, so make sure you factor this in to your plans.
As the resort is about a half an hour from the airport, you will want to secure ground transportation prior to your arrival. The airport exit and pick-up area can be extremely chaotic and stressful, and without transportation secured in advance you will be adding unnecessary cost and stress to your trip.
While the resort does not offer complimentary transportation, they do recommend Pronatours for transportation. Through Pronatours, private transport in a very nice Mercedes van cost a total of $125 plus trip.
Is Ventus Ha’ Beachfront?
It is important to note the location of Ventus Ha’ if a beachfront resort is important to you.
As you can see from the Google Earth map above, the resort is NOT located on the beach. It is directly across a private road from Ventus, in an area surrounded by wetlands.
The beach is located directly in front of Ventus at Marina El Cid, which you do have full access to. It is only a couple of minutes walk to get to the ocean from Ventus Ha’.
Checking in at Ventus Ha’
Upon arriving at Ventus Ha’, you will either check at at the front desk for standard class rooms, or in a private lounge for Platinum Club guests.
The resort staff will provide you with room keys and towel cards as well as an information booklet covering all three resorts’ restaurants, activities, and other important information.
Note: Don’t lose the towel cards, or there will be a stiff lost card charge!
Check-in hours at Ventus Ha’ is after 3:00pm and check-out is before 12:00pm. Late night/after hours check-in in not offered, so watch your flight arrivals times, and make sure to account for customs delays.
Since we arrived less than a week after the resort’s opening, it did feel like the staff weren’t quite fully trained yet.
The check-in process took a bit longer than expected, and we unfortunately were assigned a room different from the one we booked (more on this below).
However, the staff were extremely kind, and these kinks always iron themselves out after time passes.
Rooms & Suites at Ventus Ha’
Ventus Ha’ features 150 rooms and suites, ranging from the standard junior suite all the way to three bedroom suites. Rooms are classified as either standard or upgraded Platinum class rooms. The suites are within two five story tall buildings, with an elevator in each.
The standard room types offered at Ventus Ha’ are as follows:
- Junior Suite (Sleeps 4)
- Family Room (Sleeps 5)
- Luxury King with Bathtub (Sleeps 2)
- Junior Suite King with Bathtub (Sleeps 4)
The upgraded Platinum room types offered at Ventus Ha’ are as follows:
- Junior Suite Platinum (Sleeps 4)
- Family Room Platinum (Sleeps 5)
- Luxury King with Bathtub Platinum (Sleeps 2)
- Junior Suite King with Bathtub Platinum (Sleeps 4)
- One Bedroom Suite Platinum (Sleeps 4)
- One Bedroom Suite with Bathtub Platinum (Sleeps 4)
- Two Bedroom Suite Platinum (Sleeps 6)
- Three Bedroom Suite Platinum (Sleeps 8)
While we originally booked a Luxury King with Bathtub room, there was a slight mix-up with availability when we arrived. This is likely because only one of the two buildings were 100% complete and ready for guests, and final punch work was being completed in many of the rooms.
The resort put us in a Junior Suite Platinum room, but because it did not have the bathtub I wanted, they graciously upgraded us to a One Bedroom Suite with Bathtub Platinum for the remaining two nights. Keep reading below for a tour of our rooms!
Find Rates & Prices for Ventus Ha’ at Marina El Cid: Direct | Expedia | Orbitz | TripAdvisor
Staying in a Junior Suite Platinum Room
The first room we stayed in was the Junior Suite Platinum Room #28-314. This room is located in the #28 building with the rooftop pool just a few flights upstairs. In my opinion this particular room is probably the BEST of all the junior suites, due to its corner location.
Most of the junior rooms have a cement wall on each side to separate it from its neighboring room. Since our room was on the corner, instead of a cement wall there os actually a beautiful wooden partial wall. This mean we had panoramic views of the resort as well as the marshes. It felt so much more open and light.
The junior suites are laid out typical hotel room style. Upon entering you room, you have a closet system to your left and the restroom to your right. The closet has plenty of space to hang up your clothes and even an iron. There is also a safe, coffee maker, and mini-fridge.
I will note, the minibars have just beer. You will have to contact room service or visit one of the on-site bars to obtain wine, champagne, or liquor.
The restroom has an open vanity area with two sinks. There is a separate room for the shower and toilet. I absolutely LOVED the large walk-in glass shower with built-in bench, rainfall shower head, and brass fixtures. It felt so luxe and modern.
In the main part of the suite, you will find an extremely comfortable king bed. Underneath the bed is LED lighting on a motion sensor. I thought that was a really neat touch. I also loved the fact that there was a bluetooth speaker on the nightstand.
Past the bed, there is a couch that also is a pull-down Murphy bed. That means this room can sleep up to four people.
The balcony has a table and chairs as well as a really cool hammock, which I think is such a smart feature to add to each room! It was so relaxing laying in the hammock, and I rarely see these at resorts I stay at.
Make sure you check back for a link to a full tour and review of the Junior Suite!
Staying in a One Bedroom Suite Platinum with Bathtub Room
After our first night, Ventus Ha’ graciously upgraded us to a One Bedroom Suite Platinum with Bathtub due to the room mix up. This particular one was located on the first floor in building #28, in room #28-011. This is a one bedroom, two bathroom suite that sleeps four.
Here is a video walkthrough of our room:
The one bedroom suites are huge, double the size of my apartment at home! Upon entering, you will find a layout very similar to the junior suite. A closet system will be to your right, with plenty of hangers and space, as well as the coffee maker and mini fridge. To your left is a full bath, with an open double vanity and the walk-in shower and toilet behind a door.
Ahead, there is a four person dining table, and then a living room with the same Murphy bed from the Junior Suite. There is a door to the balcony, which runs the entire length of the suite.
The living room and bedroom is separated by a door, but there is also a shuttered window in the middle of the wall. You can keep it open or shutter it for privacy.
The bedroom also has a king bed with under-bed lighting like the Junior Suite. It also has its own entrance to the balcony.
Of course, the main attraction of this room was the BATH TUB! I was literally obsessed with it and took a relaxing bath every single night.
Besides the tub, the rest of the restroom is identical to the secondary restroom.
The balcony is huge, and has two sets of chairs as well as the hammock. There is plenty of vegetation in front of the balcony, so there is some privacy offered from the pool and people walking by.
I really appreciated the amazing customer service and was blown away with this room! Plus, it was SUPER convenient to the pool.
Main Pool at Ventus Ha’
The main pool at Ventus Ha’ is situated in between the two buildings. It’s very large and also has a walk-in large sun shelf as well as a huge jaccuzi. The pool gets great sun here for the the vast majority of the days.
The Senses Bar is located at the pool, and it’s not a problem to go up to the bar in your swimming attire. However, that’s hardly necessary as there is a very attentive waitstaff.
Rooftop Pool at Ventus Ha’
One of the most unique features of this resort is the rooftop pool area! The rooftop is located on the 6th floor of the #28 building. There is a very nice elevator that will take you up there.
This area has a large bar and seating area in front of the pool, as well as bali beds to lounge on on either side of the rooftop.
The pool is infinity edge and has fantastic views of the resort and the nearby marshes.
One downside is that umbrellas over the lounge chairs are always up. That made it hard to lay out and get sun at the rooftop.
Bars and Drinks at Ventus Ha’
Ventus Ha’ has three main bars: Waves in the lobby, Senses by the pool, and Ruf on the 6th floor sky level.
How cool is the architecture at Waves lobby bar? The atmosphere of this bar is very chill and quiet, with light music playing and guests quietly conversing. It certainly isn’t the place for rowdy, drunk vacationers.
Senses is an outdoor bar located right next to the pool. While you are more than welcome to go up to the bar in your bathing suits, you really don’t have to as the waiters will bring your drinks right to you.
Most exciting of all is the rooftop bar Ruf. Ruf is located on the top floor (6th floor) of Building #28. This area is an outdoor bar right next to the rooftop pool, with plenty of seating. The vibe is very chic and it was really fun to come up here for drinks in the evening in addition to using the rooftop pool. The unobstructed views of the marshes are amazing.
But don’t think you are limited to just these bars. With your stay at Ventus Ha’, you have full access to eight other bars at Ventus and El Cid.
Restaurants and Food at Ventus Ha’
Ventus Ha’ has two on-site restaurants: Koba (asian fusion) and A’akat (elevated grilled fare).
It is important to note that reservations are required for both of these restaurants, as well as the vast majority of the restaurants at Ventus and El Cid.
You can book your reservations by calling or visiting the concierge. I recommend making reservations for the entirety of your stay as soon as you arrive to ensure you are able to eat at your top picks.
Unfortunately, we were not able to get a reservation at Kobo because we waited until the last minute.
However, we did eat a very fancy dinner at A’akat. It was very sophisticated and I felt like I was eating an extremely expensive meal. I imagine if this wasn’t an all inclusive resort, that would have been the case!
In addition, you also have access to seven other restaurants at Ventus and El Cid.
Make sure you note the dress code. Men’s formal dress (long pants, closed toe shoes, buttoned or collared shirts) is required at many of the restaurants at the three resorts. The brochure you receive upon arrival will break down the dress code by restaurant to guide you.
The restaurants at Ventus Ha’ did not seem to fully enforce this, perhaps because they had just opened – but the restaurants at Ventus and El Cid definitely seemed to.
Room Service at Ventus Ha’
While I’ve found other resorts to offer lackluster room service food, the room service at Ventus Ha’ was amazing!
We ordered room service for lunch nearly every day so that we didn’t have to get dressed and go to a restaurant, as well as for dinner on travel days. I highly recommend all of the sandwiches and soup for lunch, and the fish, chicken, or fajitas for dinner. This was probably the best room service meals I’ve had on vacation.
With that being said, the breakfast room service is very limited. The menu consists of just coffee, juices, cereals, fruits, and yogurts. Definitely get dressed and head down to one of the restaurants at Ventus or El Cid if you like to eat a hearty breakfast.
While room service also will bring wine, champagne was not on the menu and the menu also only listed individual glasses of wine. We finally asked near the end of our stay for a full bottle, and they did go ahead and bring us that.
Activities and Entertainment at Ventus Ha’
Each day the resort staff led activities in the water like aerobics. The poolside area also had games like giant connect four and corn hole that the staff will happily play with you. At Ventus and El Cid, kayaks are available at no cost.
While Ventus Ha’ had almost nonexistent nightlife, there was a full schedule of entertainment and nightlife planned at Ventus and El Cid. Overall, however, the activities and entertainment will be geared more towards families, so these resorts are not the best choice for those who are looking to party.
Should you be interested in a spa, the El Cocay spa is located at Ventus. I did enjoy a couples massage with my best friend when we visited Ventus back in 2018, and it was heavenly! However, I cannot comment on the price as the massage was a gift to me.
Are Platinum Upgrades Worth It?
Ventus Ha’ offers rooms in both the standard class and the upgraded Platinum Club class.
Platinum Club plays a large role at Ventus and Hotel Marina El Cid, because there are dedicated Platinum Club only pools and beaches. With that being said, Platinum plays less of a role at Ventus Ha’, as there are no exclusive areas at this property.
Perks of the Platinum Club upgrade include:
- Private check-in and out
- Access to the Platinum Club lounges
- Access to Platinum pools & beach area at Ventus
- Turn down service
- Bathrobes and slippers
There are more Platinum Club upgrades listed on Ventus and El Cid’s websites, however I don’t think they really apply to Ventus Ha’. With that in mind, I don’t feel the Platinum Club is necessary to enjoy your stay here. I recommend opting for the standard rooms class to save some money.
Vibe & Demographics
Ventus Ha’s vibe is modern, chic, and elevated. I think it can definitely be described as a spa-like escape. With its rooftop pool, lightly pulsing music, modern interiors, and surrounding wetlands, I felt I was whisked away to another world.
The demographic was very interesting! We saw mostly retirement age couples. We, as mid 30s folks, were probably the youngest guests there with the exception of a few families. I personally loved this because I want quiet vacation environment that promotes tranquility and relaxing, and that’s what Ventus Ha’ is!
While family friendly, I don’t think a lot of families with young children would opt to stay at this resort. Hotel Marina El Cid seemed much more geared towards younger kids with a kids pool, slides, and a teen club. I would expect more families to stay at that resort or utilize it during the day than the pools at Ventus Ha (especially since I believe El Cid is a timeshare property). I also noticed a younger (20s) crowd over at Ventus on the weekend, and that oceanfront pool was definitely more lively.
Because the resort is small and so new, it was very quiet and calm. If you are looking for vibrant nightlife, a busy atmosphere, loud people, and/or partying, this is not the right fit for you.
Cost of A Trip to Ventus Ha’
When we booked, we got in at the grand opening rates as well as a 50% off sale. Upon checking the website halfway into our visit, we noticed the prices had increased since we booked! Because the best deals are found in the beginning when resorts first open, I would encourage you to book sooner rather than later if you are thinking of visiting.
We booked the Luxury King Suite with Bathtub for three nights at a 50% off sale rate for $285/night (or $142.50/night per person). After taxes, the total for the room ended up being $864. Our airfare was pretty pricey, and cost $900 after trip insurance and payment plan fees. Additionally, the transportation cost $125 and we spent about $100 in tips. The grand total for our trip was $1,989.
Of course, we did not actually get to stay in a Luxury King Suite with Bathtub because of availability. Looking at the two rooms we actually stayed in, the normal rate for the Junior Suite Platinum would be around $767/night or $384/night with the 50% off. The One Bedroom Platinum Suite with Bathtub currently runs for a whopping $1278/night or $639/night with the 50% off.
Without a sale, rates start at around $600/night, or $300/person for a regular junior suite.
Find Rates & Prices for Ventus Ha’ at Marina El Cid: Direct | Expedia | Orbitz | TripAdvisor
Ventus Ha’ Videos
Interested in more? Check out some of our Ventus Ha’ videos on YouTube videos, including an in-depth vlog of our stay below. Don’t forget to like and subscribe to follow along with our adventures!
Don’t miss our reviews of the Junior Suite Platinum and the One Bedroom Platinum room tours at Ventus Ha, including video walkthroughs!
