Now Jade. Now Emerald. Now Sapphire.
Which should you choose?
These three Now Resort & Spas are owned by the same company & located within 30 minutes of one another, but are drastically different. What gives?
WANT A QUICK SUMMARY?
JADE
+ GREAT STAFF
+ GOOD FOOD
+ BEST BEACH
- NO NIGHT ENTERTAINMENT
+ GOOD FOR A PRIVATE, QUIET VACATION
SAPPHIRE
+ EXCELLENT STAFF & ENTERTAINMENT TEAM
+ GOOD FOOD
+ ONE CENTRAL POOL WITH MUSIC & ENTERTAINMENT
+ GREAT FOR MAKING FRIENDS
+ NIGHTLY ENTERTAINMENT
+ GOOD, NOT GREAT, BEACH
+ GOOD FOR A FUN, MEMORABLE VACATION
EMERALD
+ NICE STAFF
+ PRETTY, BUT BORING, POOL
- TERRIBLE BEACH
- NO ENTERTAINMENT
+ GOOD FOR A PRIVATE, QUIET VACATION
+ GOOD FOOD
NOW JADE
PROS
+ THE STAFF. Jade's staff is so, so sweet. The Entertainment Team, restaurant, and bar staff are phenomenal. We've only visited Jade twice, and not only did the bartenders remember us but also our drink orders. Insane. Every member of the Jade Team goes out of their way to make you feel special & ensure you're having a great time.
MAKE SURE YOU TIP! Like waiters/waitresses in the States, the staff here lives off of tips.
+ THE FOOD. A notch above Emerald and a notch below Sapphire. The pizza at all three resorts is delicious, however, make sure you order your pizza from the brick-oven and NOT through room service.
Two complaints about the food.
The first time we visited (mid-covid), the outdoor pool restaurant was open and delicious with tons of salad, sandwiches, and small-plate options. The second time (near the end of covid) it was closed. So, our only options for lunch were the beach bar, which serves hamburgers, hotdogs, and nachos, or the indoor buffet. The buffet was, to be blunt, gross. As a vegetarian, it was extremely difficult to find something other than potatoes and fruit. Salads were served on a plate the size of a condiment dish.
Lunch was our only struggle. The breakfast buffet and room service were both delicious (crepe stations every morning!) and dinner each night was equally as good. If you love a basic pasta dish, order spaghetti Pomodoro at Capers. Idk how they make their sauce but it's mouth-watering! & the Caprese salads are to die for (I had one daily, if not twice a day).
+ THE BEACH. If the beach is important to you, you don't want to travel in the summer. Starting at the end of May, the seaweed is horrendous (this isn't exclusive to Jade, but along all of the beach strip). By horrendous, I mean the tractors they typically use to remove the seaweed get stuck in it. If you travel in the winter, though, you'll find the best beach at Jade.
If you walk to the right of the resort you'll find an open beach with turquoise waters and white sand. Walk down about half a mile and you'll start to see sea glass and coral (the only spot we've seen shells in all of Cancun).
Be careful not to venture to the **seemingly** abandoned structures along the beach. Once you leave the resort's property you'll notice signs that, in few words, tell you you're on your own. We've never had a problem, however, we've heard stories.
CONS
- LACK OF NIGHT ENTERTAINMENT. At all three resorts, there is a nightly 8:30 PM show (magic show, concert, fire show, karaoke, etc.).
The shows are always great - I highly suggest going to dinner around 6:30 PM so you have enough time to make the show. Keep in mind, you WILL have to wait 25-45 minutes for dinner (sometimes longer) if you show up after 7 pm.
We look forward to the after-show dancing more than any part of the day. Unfortunately, both of our trips to Jade we lacking in this department. Often, the aftershow entertainment will be randomly canceled (especially if there is a wedding party). Super disappointing and leaves us without anything to do for the night. More details on this in the pro section of Sapphire.
- THE ROOMS. While the rooms are spacious, they are not upkept well. Oftentimes, the blinds are stained and miscellaneous parts of the room are in disarray. We had a mini infestation of ants during our last trip, which was quickly addressed by a terminator.
If you're sensitive to pillows, I suggest bringing your own. The beds are not comfortable and the pillows are rock hard.
- THE POOL SITUATION. So depending on what you're looking for this is either a pro or a con. There are about four or five separate pools (not including the priority pool on the other side of the resort). They are all relatively within the same area, however, spread out enough so that the guests are dispersed. If you like a more relaxed environment, the separation of pools is great. We prefer one large pool (like at Sapphire) because it brings the guests together and is all around a better time (more people, more energy, more fun). Good luck getting a lounge chair (at any of the three resorts).
- THE GUESTS. For whatever reason, we had an extremely difficult time meeting people at Jade and Emerald. At Sapphire, EVERYONE is friendly. Everyone is in a good mood, happy to chat, and all-around a good vibe. I attribute that to the energetic, positive vibe of the staff and the overall environment at Sapphire. At Jade and Emerald, people keep to themselves. If you aren't looking to mingle, this won't be an issue for you. I love meeting new people while traveling, so it's a big con for me.
NOW SAPPHIRE
PROS
+ THE STAFF. While I only have positive things to say about the staff at all three resorts, the Sapphire staff holds a special place in my heart. The bartenders, restaurant staff, and entertainment team are amazing. The waiters at Lemongrass (specifically, the hibachi tables) are SO kind and amazing at what they do. They make each experience feel unique and genuine. The bartenders are the pool bar & main bar are phenomenal. They'll remember your drink order all night. The entertainment staff is a breed of their own. I have never met a group of individuals with such positive, high energy. Every member of the team truly loves what they do. They LIVE to make people laugh and feel special. Spend some time getting to know Naomi, Julio, Luigi, Karley, Ivan, Omar, and Javier.
+ THE FOOD. Sapphire has the best food out of the three. Keep in mind I'm a vegetarian, however, my travel buddy eats meat and agrees, Sapphire takes the cake. The poolside pizza is delicious. Hibachi is phenomenal. Oddly enough, the only restaurant we didn't enjoy was Fresco, the Mexican option. I assume this is because we're accustomed to Americanized Mexican meals.
+ THE POOL. Sapphire has one large pool rather than a few smaller, separated pools (they do offer a separate priority pool). Not only is the pool stunning, but it creates a better environment for meeting people and participating in activities (the daily 3 PM crazy game around the pool is a must). Again, this is a personal preference. I enjoy meeting new people, music, and a good time. I'm not the type to go sit alone in a pool chair for hours. So for my vibe, Sapphire's pool is where it's at.
+ THE ROOMS. The rooms are always clean and upkept well. Some of the further rooms are a bit of a walk to the main areas, however, I actually prefer this (makes me get up and move). The beds and pillows are extremely comfortable. My only complaint is the bathrooms. Whoever designed them must have envisioned the resort to be for honeymooners rather than families/groups. You can see straight through the shower - there is zero privacy.
+ THE WILDLIFE. Sapphire is the only resort I've seen native animals at. The Coati's (basically half-raccoon half-monkey) are adorable and can be found in large groups throughout the resort. There are also a couple of cats around, Oreo is the local favorite.
+ THE ENTERTAINMENT. There is ALWAYS something to do at Sapphire. The Entertainment Team works their butts off all day long to ensure the guests have a memorable time at the resort. In the mornings you'll find the team making Mexican bracelets with the kids, taking groups on a bike tour into town, or breaking out their yoga moves. The daily 3 PM crazy game is always hysterical. The winner receives a bottle of Tequila, and if you don't want to participate, watching is just as fun. The team offers volleyball, more biking, and additional activities in the afternoon. Like the rest of the resorts, there is a daily 8:30 PM show. Typically, the show is followed by a live band or DJ - my personal favorite part of the day and something I find missing at Jade and Emerald.
CONS
- LOUNGE CHAIRS. Unfortunately, most people wake up extremely early and "save" a lounge chair for the day. The general rule of thumb is you have to put a personal item on a chair - just placing a towel on it doesn't count. This is true for all three resorts, and all three never have enough chairs to meet demand.
- THE DRINKS. Another con that rings true for all three resorts is the quality of the drinks. Remember, you're staying at an all-inclusive resort. The effort put into the drinks just isn't there. Don't expect a dirty martini (or anything with an olive) and if you really want to get drunk, I suggest going straight for the shots or ordering a double. The bartenders, though, are super entertaining and will make a ton of pretty, fun shots and drinks for you to try. Get creative at the pool bar (and order a scooby doo shot!). Don't forget to tip.
NOW EMERALD
Overall, I tend to group Now Emerald and Jade together. They both have a very similar vibe & are drastically different from Sapphire. A lot of the pros & cons of Emerald mirror Jade's.
PROS
+ THE STAFF. As always, the staff is very welcoming and kind. While we typically make friends with most of the staff, I found only three members of the team to be as welcoming as those at Sapphire and Jade. The Entertainment Team is nice, but the effort isn't there (at least not in comparison to Sapphire). There is one member of the team, Alex, who has the same energy as the Sapphire Team.
+ THE FOOD. The food is delicious! All three resorts have similar restaurants and menus. Each one has an Italian, Mexican, Asian, and Mediterranean option. They all have buffets, seafood options, and poolside grills. The outdoor restaurant at Emerald is an actual sitdown option rather than a grab-and-go setup like at Jade and Sapphire. They also have a waitress out at the beach who will come around and take your food and drink orders. I personally prefer the grab-and-go option for a quick bite. The Italian and Asian restaurants at Emerald are delicious.
+ THE POOL. Emerald's pool setup is similar to Jade's in that the pools are separated and you have a bit more privacy. While I prefer the singular setup at Sapphire, the pools at Emerald are stunning and lead right down to the beach. The negative, though, is there is rarely any music playing. A guest actually brought a portable speaker down one afternoon and the staff came over and threatened to fine him, even though we all gathered together and enjoying it. Overaall, Emerald's pool. is pretty, but boring.
CONS
- THE BEACH. Because Emerald is located on the Cancun strip (Jade and Sapphire are located in Puerto Morales) the beach is tiny and you can see plenty of other guests from neighboring resorts. Unfortunately, because of the setup, you'll have numerous individuals approach you trying to sell hats, necklaces, magnets, etc. I appreciate the hustle, however, it's extremely difficult to enjoy yourself when someone approaches you every five minutes trying to make a sale. Because of this, we avoided the beach altogether.
- THE GUESTS. Similar to Jade, we had a difficult time meeting guests at Emerald. Again, I attribute this to the lack of entertainment/good vibes. At Sapphire, everyone has such a fantastic time and is happy and open to making friends. At Emerald, people keep to themselves.
- THE ENTERTAINMENT. Aside from the 8:30 PM show, there is none. There was a foam pool party for a couple of hours one afternoon, though!
