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If you’re trying to decide between Hyatt Regency Coconut Point Resort & Spa and JW Marriott Marco Island Beach Resort, you’re not alone! They’re two of the most popular family-friendly resorts in Southwest Florida.
I’ve recently stayed at both of these popular resorts, and while they’re often compared, they offer pretty different experiences depending on what kind of family vacation you’re planning.
This Florida travel blog post will break down the real differences between the two resorts, including the beach, pools, rooms, and overall vibe, so you can confidently decide which one is actually worth booking for your family trip to Florida!
Short on time?
Choose Hyatt Regency Coconut Point → water slides & lazy river, less expensive
Choose JW Marriott Marco Island → better beach, more restaurants
In general, the Hyatt Regency Coconut Point is a little less expensive, but of course, it depends on your travel dates, availability, and how booked up one or the other is. So, use the buttons below to add your dates and compare prices!
Hyatt Regency Coconut Point vs JW Marriott Marco Island
My post will highlight most of the differences between the two, but I want to quickly point out some similarities. And I do have a full blog post about our stay at the Hyatt Regency Coconut Point, which includes many additional photos and tips!
What Both Resorts Have in Common
First, both use Southwest Florida Airport (RSW) as their nearest airport. That said, the Hyatt Regency Coconut Point is only 15 miles from the airport and usually a 25-30-minute drive, while the JW Marriott is 48 miles away and can easily take an hour.
If you want to find the best flight deals, this is the flight deals tool we love to use!
Second, they are both very popular family resorts with similar peak seasons. Peak season at both Hyatt Regency Coconut Point and JW Marriott Marco Island Resort runs from February through April, with spring break weeks being the most crowded and expensive. Summers in South Florida can be very hot, so are more of a shoulder season, along with Fall Breaks.
If you have flexibility, shifting your dates can save you a lot of money. To see for yourself, use the buttons above and explore various dates to see the price differences. That said, both are still high-end, full-service resorts, which we personally enjoy!
Lastly, both resorts offered great daily programming and activities for families!
With the similarities covered, let’s jump in and discuss the differences I noticed between these two popular Florida resorts, helping you decide whether to book your family vacation at the JW Marriott Marco Island or at the Hyatt Regency Coconut Point!
Beach Experience at Both Resorts
In my opinion, the biggest difference between the Hyatt Regency Coconut Point and the JW Marriott Marco Island Resort is the beach access. One has a huge beach, complete with food and drink service, while the other requires a boat shuttle to access the sandy beach.
Hyatt Regency Coconut Point Beach
The Hyatt Regency Coconut Point is not located directly on the beach. That said, it has a beautiful private beach just a short boat ride away. When we visited, there were plenty of chairs at the beach, available on a first-come, first-served basis. There is a small snack bar where you can purchase snacks. But you will likely want to bring your own small cooler with drinks and snacks to be safe.
I actually thought the boat ride was fun, and that would have been an excursion that we would typically book on a trip. It’s about a 15-minute ride through Estero Bay, where you may even see dolphins! It is free, but you should book your time slot in advance. But you could encounter a wait on the way back if you are leaving at a popular time.
JW Marriott Marco Island Beach
The beach at the JW Marriott Marco Island is quite different from the Hyatt Regency. The resort is directly on the beach, and their beach is one of the largest I have seen! The resort fee includes basic chair and umbrella sets, and you can also purchase the first couple of rows and beach cabana setups.
They also have ATVs running food and drink service at the beach, which makes it feel a bit more like a vacation!
If you want a true beach vacation or have kids who need to nap in your room, the JW Marriott Marco Island is better for your family.
Pools, Slides, and Lazy Rivers at Both Resorts
Again, the pool setups at the Hyatt Regency Coconut Point and JW Marriott Marco Island are quite different! And, spoiler alert, I am giving this category to the Hyatt Regency Coconut Point, especially if you have older kids who would appreciate the water slides and lazy river!
Hyatt Regency Coconut Point Pools
We were very impressed by the multiple pools, waterslides, and long lazy river at the Hyatt Regency Coconut Point. It was a kid’s paradise! Our kids are teenagers and had so much fun on all the waterslides, as did us parents! There is also an adults-only pool, a nice little retreat for anyone traveling without kids or seeking a quieter experience.
JW Marriott Marco Island Pools
The JW Marriott Marco Island has two main pools. There is a seperate adults only tower with a pool available only to guests staying there, making it a nice little retreat for anyone traveling without kids.
Both pools are family-friendly, with one featuring a small waterslide and a zero-depth entry section. Personally, I think the pools at the JW Marriott are great for families with little ones, but teenagers may get a little bored.
Dining at Both Resorts
We love eating out while on vacation, so restaurants matter to me! This one is also going to the JW Marriott Marco Island because they have significantly more restaurants, and everything we ate there was fantastic!
Hyatt Regency Coconut Point Restaurants
The food we had at the Hyatt Regency was good, but they only have a handful of restaurants. For a short stay, it’s enough to get you through your stay. But, there just isn’t quite as much variety as the JW Marriott. We really enjoyed dinner at Tarpon Bay! There was live music, and great seafood!
JW Marriott Marco Island Restaurants
We didn’t run out of dining options during our four-night stay at the JW Marriott Marco Island. I actually visited last month on a girls’ trip with several of my friends and really enjoyed the elevated dining options! There are 12 different restaurants, including beach bars, fresh sushi, rooftop cocktails, and more.
So, if you are a foodie or looking for more options during a longer Florida beach trip, I would go with the JW Marriott Marco Island Beach Resort.
Arcade & Activities at Both Resorts
Since this post is really about finding the better Florida beach resort for families, I have to take a minute to point out the arcades at both. Because it was a huge contrast!
But first, both resorts had lawn games and fun, casual walk-up activities for families to enjoy on a trip to Florida!
Hyatt Regency Coconut Point Activities
The Hyatt Regency features fire pits and s’mores in the evenings, a small putt-putt course, a rock wall, and a small but fun arcade for kids. There are lawn games on the main green area as well.
JW Marriott Marco Island Activities
The arcade at the JW Marriott was huge! It was the size of a regular free-standing fun park with laser tag, bowling, and a huge variety of arcade games. My kids were not with me when I visited, but I know they would have loved it. That said, I am sure that the arcade area would have gotten expensive really fast. But it was impressive!
The JW Marriott Marco Island also features a very popular nightly fire show that many families enjoy, along with the standard resort activities and events throughout the day.
So, while the JW Marriott’s arcade is bigger, I think both hotels offer plenty of activities and fun for families. You can’t go wrong with either one here!
Guestrooms at Both Resorts
I am not a hotel snob. Instead, I really focus on value. I don’t like feeling like I overpaid for rooms that are outdated and/or uncomfortable. And, comfortable beds are very important to me when I travel. I am going to give this category to the Hyatt Regency Coconut Point. Let me tell you why!
Hyatt Regency Coconut Point Guestrooms
We are generally pretty loyal to Hyatt, and I always find the beds comfortable! This Hyatt Regency was much more up-to-date than many I have stayed in, and honestly felt fresher and more modern than the JW Marriott. At both places, I stayed in entry-level two-queen rooms with balconies. So, I feel like I got a good comparison. Neither stay was hosted. I booked and paid for both myself. This means I got the same treatment as any guest would and no special upgrades or treatment.
JW Marriott Marco Island Guestrooms
I don’t know whether some rooms have been updated, and I just got an old one, but I wasn’t impressed with the rooms at the JW Marriott. I realize that beach resorts take a lot of wear and tear, but it felt very lived-in. And honestly, I didn’t find the bed very comfortable, and it didn’t feel like $1,000-a-night-style accommodations.
If you are looking for suites or specific room types, just browse both hotels’ accommodations to see what other options that there are.
Location & Walkability of Both Resorts
As I mentioned earlier, both family-friendly Florida resorts are near the RSW airport. Without factoring in traffic, you can get to both within an hour. And, they are both located along major interstates with easy access for road trippers.
Hyatt Regency Coconut Point Location
It’s less than a 30-minute drive from the airport to the hotel, but once you get here, it’s not really walkable to much else. That said, it’s the type of resort where you can stay there the whole time and just enjoy it. With fewer restaurant options, you may find yourself wanting to drive or Uber to dinner on some nights or during longer stays.
JW Marriott Marco Island Location
Even without traffic, it can take an hour or more to get to the JW Marriott Marco Island from the RSW airport. We took an Uber both ways, and it was around $150 each way and took exactly one hour. The beauty of the JW Marriott Marco Island is that there are so many dining options and the property is larger, so you really don’t need to leave the resort if you don’t want to. That said, we walked to dinner offsite on two nights, and it was an easy stroll.
So, if you want a bit more walkability, the JW Marriott wins, but if you want a shorter ride to and from the airport, the Hyatt Regency Coconut Point wins!
Hyatt Regency Coconut Point vs JW Marriott Marco Island: Which Resort Is Better for Families With Kids (and Teens)
I think this is a very valid question, and your children’s ages might be the biggest deciding factor when choosing between the Hyatt Regency Coconut Point and the JW Marriott Marco Island Beach Resort.
After staying at both of these popular Florida resorts, here are my honest recommendations!
In my opinion, the JW Marriott Marco Island is the better option with younger kids. The ease of beach access makes getting to the room easier, and the children’s section of one of the pools is great for little ones.
On the other hand, I think the Hyatt Regency Coconut Point is better for families with older kids who would enjoy the water slides and don’t mind turning a beach outing into more of a day trip.
The Hyatt Regency Coconut Point seems to be priced lower than the JW Marriott Marco Island on most dates that I checked. But of course, plug in your dates into the links below to get accurate quotes for both.
Both are part of hotel loyalty programs, so if you hold elite status or are into points and miles, like we are, it may be worth comparing the additional benefits you might have, such as Suite Upgrade Awards or high-level status perks.
More Florida Travel Inspiration
If you are looking for more Florida travel inspiration for your family, make sure to browse all of my Florida travel guides! Here are some popular posts that you might find interesting!
- Things to Do in Key West
- The Marker Key West
- Hilton Sandestin Resort
- 30A Florida Mistakes
- Panama City Beach Activities
- Top 30A Florida Hotels
- Destin Dolphin Tours
- Seacrest Beach vs Rosemary Beach
- Top Key West Tours
- St. Augustine Guide
- Tarpon Springs Florida
- Swimming with Manatees
- Florida Caverns State Park
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