Lay Z Spa Cancun Inflatable Hot Tub Ultimate Review

 

The Lay Z Spa Cancun is one in a long line of great inflatable hot tub models, brought to you by the masters at Bestway. They are an international firm who create market leading technology, all of which is geared towards making our home hot tub experience as pleasurable as possible.

We can’t wait to unpack the Cancun and see how it measures up to the others. But first, let’s review some of the most common inflatable hot tub myths we hear.

Inflatable Hot Tub Myths – Busted!

We often hear about issues that put people off running their own inflatable hot tub. For example, some people think that they can’t be kept indoors – when they can. We put together some of the most common misconceptions about inflatable hot tubs below.

Myth 1: Inflatable Hot Tubs Cost a Fortune to Run

We hear this often. Many people want to know how much money an inflatable hot tub costs to run before they commit to buying one. This shows that you have done your research and is nothing to be ashamed of.

In the UK, we record that an inflatable hot tub Costs between £6 and £15 per week, depending on both the size of the tub and your energy provider. Lay-Z-Spa themselves estimate the figure to be between £7 and £10 for their models, so you can expect the Cancun to be similar.

You need to include the cost of chemicals for treating the water, and replacement air filters, too. These cost little and should be replaced every three to six months.

Myth 2: Inflatable Hot Tubs are Noisy

If your inflatable hot tub is making an excessive amount of noise, there is probably something wrong with it. They ought to run quietly, even the budget models. If you have a Lay-Z-Spa inflatable hot tub, we have only encountered noisy air pumps in products that were later replaced for faults.

Inflatable hot tubs do emit I low burring noise. This shouldn’t be seen as something to worry about. The hot tub also makes more noise when the bubbles are on.

Myth 3: You can get infections from bathing in a treated Hot Tub

This is a tricky one. Yes, you can get infections from bathing in a hot tub that doesn’t have any chemical treatments in it. This is why the majority of firms in the industry will tell you to keep your chemical dispersal system topped up.

If you have the kind of model where you need to add chlorine yourself, do it after each use of the pool and test using PH strips. If you do not add chemical treatments, a hot tub can cause infection since the nature of it (warm and wet) attracts bacterial growth. It might look clean, but it could still be dangerous.

Always treat your hot tub with chlorine, inflatable or otherwise. In fact, fixed hot tubs are equally as likely to cause infection if they are left untreated.

Myth 4: The Inflatable Hot Tub doesn’t last very long

We have encountered reviews from verified clients who have had their hot tubs for up to 6 years. One client said he and his wife took the hot tub down in Winter and carefully dried and stowed it. They were in year four. Lay-Z-Spa have been making these since the 90s, so they have had a lot of time to get it right!

Inflatable hot tub benefits

Why buy an inflatable hot tub instead of a fixed installation? For one thing, their portability means you can take them with you should you move home. They add to your quality of life instead of adding to the value of a house you intend to sell.

Another benefit of an inflatable hot tub is that they take less energy consumption than a built-in model, as well as not needing all the installation fuss. An inflatable hot tub takes about 15-30 minutes to inflate and another hour or two to fill. It won’t heat unless left overnight but this is why it takes less energy.

Your inflatable hot tub can be placed either indoors or in the garden. If you want to, you can whip it down and move it around. They can be a garden feature, occupy a garage, or be kept in your spare room.

Home hot tubs are excellent for your physical health. If you have any kind of movement or mobility issues, mental illnesses, or if you struggle with Fibromyalgia, users have reported it soothes the symptoms. We have even heard of an autistic child who wouldn’t get out of one of these.

Other benefits include having a spa at your home, being the envy of your neighbours, and being the height of popularity in the summer months.

Quick Overview of the Lay Z Spa Cancun

For those of you in a rush or who can’t stomach reading a whole article, we summarised the quick facts below:

Pros of the Lay Z Spa Cancun inflatable hot tub:

• It has Freeze Shield – a slight misnomer, freeze shield protects your hot tub down to temperatures of 4-5 degrees.
• Light grey rattan inspired finish that looks fantastic in all places.
• 120 different airjets that pump air onto you in a massaging motion.
• Duraplus construction for extra longevity.
• I-Beam construction for sturdiness.
• You CAN run heat and bubbles at the same time.
• Tool-free set up in mere minutes.
• 2 years warranty is extendable if you visit the manufacturer’s website to register.
• Heats to 40 degrees centigrade.
• Built in timer and energy saving modes.

Cons of the Lay Z Spa Cancun Cancun inflatable hot tub:

• It does have a Rapid Heating system but will still take around 9-12 hours to fully reach top temperature. You should be able to go in it before then.
• The Freeze Shield doesn’t actually make it freeze resistant.

What does the Lay Z Spa Cancun Cancun come with?

We wanted to start from the beginning with this review, so we listed the parts that should be included in the box when you place your order.

The Inner and Outer Liners

There ought to be three sheets of vinyl in total. One is the inner liner in a lighter white colour. The second is a darker grey with that rattan pattern. Lastly, a single layer thick, there ought to be a ground sheet. If not, you may need to provide one of these yourself. You only need it for outdoor use so if you are putting it up indoors skip this part.

The lining of the Cancun has been stepped up a grade from the usual TriTech fabric of the older Lay-Z-Spa models. This one uses DuraPlus fabric, which has the same resistance to tears and seam damage but comes with added UV resistance.

The Air Pump

The other large part of technology that comes in the box is the air pump. This is a separate unit that you won’t have to build up, that should have the digital display on top.

The digital display is sealed inside a watertight casing and kept on the air pump so that it always remains at the farthest point from the water. In the case of the Cancun, the display is adjustable so it can be raised out of the rest

Chem Connect Dispersal System

You will receive the Chem Connect dispersal system as part and package of this inflatable hot tub. The Chem Connect system is where you place your chlorine tablets. The system then ensures the chlorine is evenly dispersed throughout your inflatable hot tub, and therefore keeps it clean and free from bacteria.

When we refer to an untreated hot tub, we are talking about a hot tub that doesn’t have any chemicals or salt in it.

The Air Filter

Your new inflatable Cancun hot tub from Lay-z-spa should include one or two air filters to get you started off with. These protect the air pump and air jets from debris. If dirt gets in there it might muck up the system. We suggest that you rinse out the air filter after every use of your hot tub, and that you replace your air filter every three months.

The I-Beam

The I-Beam is the base unit part of the hot tub. This goes down to support the rest of the build. It is hardy and durable, and its job is to keep that hot tub upright and sturdy so that you can enjoy it.

The lid and cover

There are two lids for the Cancun inflatable hot tub. One is an inflatable lid which should be used when you are popping out of the tub momentarily. The other is a full time cover which straps down to connect via four extra safe buckles. This second cover is the one you use if you want to close the hot tub over for the evening and keep anything from getting into it.

Are Lay Z Spa a good brand?

The short answer is yes. The long answer is that Lay Z Spa are a daughter company to Bestway, the huge retailing brand. Bestway created Lay-Z-Spa in 1994 in order to specifically cater to the outdoor inflatables section of their market. This covered inflatable hot tubs, but only after they had spent some time getting the technology right.

As it stands at the time of writing, Lay-Z-Spa occupy about a third of the entire UK inflatable hot tub market. This makes them a genuine market leader. They have invested thousands upon thousands of pounds in research and development. This has led to over a hundred patents in their name, all geared towards making inflatable hot tubs more like a real spa.

Lay-Z-Spa are now an international firm, who have offices on every continent. They have a customer care and support department in every country that they sell to, which makes it much easier to get the help you need on a local level, should you need it.

As far as products and durability, they have a great name in creating high density fabrics and better technology on a progressive level. You should be able to get a repair or a replacement as needed, although incidences of this are few and far between.

So, are Lay-Z-Spa a good brand? They are a great brand. We wholeheartedly recommend you get your inflatable hot tub from them. More than 33% of the market agrees and that’s good enough for us.

How to Setup an Inflatable Hot Tub?

When your hot tub arrives, you should first decide where to place it. Remember that it is going to get heavy once it has been filled, which could mean it is better on a downstairs or reinforced flooring. If outside, then you may wish to set it up on top of an additional ground sheet, to prevent any debris tearing the bottom.

Clear the ground where you wish to place your inflatable hot tub and lay out the two liners on the groundsheet. Once done, connect the air pump to the liners by way of the provided clips. When you have it securely connected, you can turn on the air – but not the heat. When the air starts, this inflatable hot tub will pop up quickly. Be sure to stand clear before you switch it on.

Once you are ready, turn on the air and watch the hot tub inflate. It should take less than five minutes to do this. If you need additional help, you can refer to the included instructions. Only when the tub is fully erected should you fill it with water. The best way to fill it is by connecting a hose to your tap and running it straight into the hot tub.

Pro Tip: It is better to use cold water for this, since the tub will heat it anyway and that way you don’t use all the day’s hot water at once. If you run your hot water into your hot tub, the chances are that it will have cooled by the time it is full.

Once your hot tub is inflated and filled, be sure that you have added chlorine to the Chem Connect dispersal system. You should also cover the hot tub with both lid and cover, to ensure it can heat up. Now you can turn the heat on and leave it to get ready overnight.

Features of the Lay Z Spa CancunInflatable Hot Tub

There are certain features we expect as standard from Lay-Z-Spa. We know, for example, that the patented airjet technology will be included on it – even if we don’t know how many. We know that it will incorporate the Lay-Z-Spa Rapid Heating system to help it get warmer, faster. We also know that it will sit at 40 degrees centigrade as a maximum temperature.

Other features include that 2-4 adult capacity and the excellent UK based customer service that we know and love. With all this accounted for, let’s turn our attention to some of the features that make the Lay-Z-Spa Cancun outstanding.

Standout Features of the Lay Z Spa Cancun Inflatable Hot Tub:

• Energy Saving Timer – this lets you programme when you want to get in it and let’s the hot tub heat up for you, only when you need it.
• Freeze Shield Technology – we mentioned this in an earlier section. It protects your inflatable hot tub in outdoor temperatures as low as 4-5 degrees centigrade. If it does freeze out there, be sure to bring your hot tub in for winter.
• 120 airjets – we have seen 120 airjets on a 6–8-person hot tub before but having all these massaging jets on a 2–4-person tub is unheard of. It makes for more bubbles than you would expect.
• Heat and Bubble at the same time – yes, this is one of the better models of inflatable hot tub, where you can produce bubbles without putting the heat off.
• Duraplus fabric construction – for extra toughness and long-lasting product life.
• Rapid Heating System – heats up to 2 degrees an hour for the usual 0.5.
• Up to 2-year warranty if extended.
• Insulated covers to keep heat in longer.
• A timer controls both heat and bubbles as you like them.

A Buyer’s Guide: All the Reasons Why a Lay Z Spa Cancun is the Best Hot Tub for you

If you are comparing hot tubs before you buy, then we suggest you browse our earlier articles and compare theses sections respectively to find the best inflatable hot tub for you.

Dimensions

When inflated, the Cancun from Lay-z-spa 4-person hot tub has dimensions of 1.80 metres by 66 cm when fully inflated. When uninflated, it weighs about 34 kg. When filled, the weight will increase significantly. Therefore, we tell you to ensure you have your hot tub on a solid floor, downstairs, outside, or on a reinforced floor, before you fill it up.

Colour Choice

This is a grey outer lined hot tub which features a muted rattan design. This pattern is complementary to any type of wood. If you want to place it outdoors it should go with your garden fencing or furniture. If placed indoors it will go with your wooden fixtures.

The interior is a lighter grey/off-white, except for the flooring. The floor of this hot tub has little round circles of different colours. This disguises the worst of the dirt and allows you to feel like you are in a real pool!

Indoor Vs Outdoor

This inflatable hot tub can be used both indoors and outdoors. During winter months, it may be best to stow it away or to bring it indoors. In the summer months when the temperature is consistently above 4 degrees, you should have plenty of protection from that safeguarding Freeze Shield tech.

Spa Features/Air jets & Pump

This pump has a whopping 120 Airjets which are a massaging jet of air that causes the bubbling. Airjets use patented tech made by Lay-Z-Spa, which several other hot tubs now use because of how sensible the design is.

120 airjets is what we would expect to find on a 4–6-person hot tub, rather than on a 2–4-person inflatable model. This is a spectacular feature for a four person. We’re not sure this can be beaten but we are consistently surprised by the world of hot tubs.

Safety Features

As ever, this tub won’t go above that crucial 40 degrees centigrade mark. It will simply cut out if it gets too hot and will maintain the temperature if told to. We have noted on several past occasions that the Lay-Z-Spa models will go as high as the 40, yet it is too hot for some folks. The average happy hot tub temperature seems to be 36 degrees, only a little hotter than the average human should be.

We also appreciate the four locking buckles that hold this hot tub cover down. It means that you can secure your hot tub against little fingers or roaming paws. They are doubly beneficial because they help keep the heat in, but they are a safety feature, make no mistake.

Digital Controls

The digital control panel is located on top of the air pump. Unlike other inflatable hot tubs by Lay-Z-Spa, the interface on the Cancun can be moved around. The screen has a stand on the back that can extend so that it faces you while you are bathing. This is a lot safer than the old way of hanging over the whole pump, dripping wet, trying to sort the controls out.

The Cancun features a timer so you can plan when it heats up for you up to 48 hours in advance.

Warranty Information

The Cancun inflatable hot tub from Lay-Z-Spa has a warranty valid for six months after purchase. If you want to extend this warranty, you must go into their website and register the product. This lets them market to you, but it also increases the security of your investment.

The warranty will be for parts and defects of the product. If you haven’t’ taken care of it as advised, you may be refused the free repair or replacement.

FAQs about the Lay Z Spa Cancun Inflatable Hot Tub

In this section, we have outlined some commonly heard questions we receive about inflatable hot tubs, and the Lay Z Spa Cancun.

Q) How do you clean your inflatable hot tub? Do you change the water?

A) You should clean your inflatable hot tub with the Chem Connect chlorine dispersal system and some chlorine tablets. You should ensure there is no dirt or debris floating in the pool. You can pick up a hot tub net for this specific task. You should change the water once every few weeks and you can wash the sides and floor of the inner lining either with the specially designed Lay Z Spa cleaning tool, or with a standard flat-headed mop.

Remember to keep the Chem Connect or other chlorine dispersal system topped up with chlorine or salt to keep your hot tub bacteria free. Replace your filters every three months.

Q) Does the Lay Z Spa Cancun form Lay Z Spa have bubbles and heat at the same time?

A) Yes. One of the biggest perks of this mid-range model is that you get the heat and the bubbles at the same time. Many other models don’t have this feature, so be sure to look out for it if it is a non-negotiable for you.

Q) What’s a Rattan design on a hot tub?

A) Rattan is one of many different types of bamboo that grow particularly long stems. These long stems are perfect for weaving. A rattan design means an imitation bamboo woven pattern. These can be incredibly intricate and, if woven by native hands, are incredibly culturally significant (particularly to the people of the Himalayas).

Q) How hot does the Lay Z Spa Cancun 4-person hot tub get?

A) The Cancun model of inflatable hot tub will go up to 40 degrees centigrade. Many people find anything above human body temperature is a little too hot, so most don’t need this extra heat.

What Customers Liked about the Cancun Model

Finally, we like to reflect on what other consumers have noted about this hot tub model. Below are some of the things customers liked best about the Cancun inflatable hot tub, from Lay-Z-Spa.

The Heat

40 degrees is more than enough for most people. Only those with a real desire to be scalded want a hot tub hotter than this.

The Setup

You connect the liners and the pump, step back and watch it inflate. It couldn’t be simpler, and it takes about two minutes.

The Chem Connect

Everyone loves an easy to deal with chlorine dispersal system. The only problem is remembering to fill it up. You should never leave your hot tub without chlorine as it might cause bacterial build up.

The Airjets

With 120 different airjets in a 4-person hot tub you have ample massaging space of your own.

The Customer Service

Those that did experience issues have had them quickly rectified by the UK based support team. Repairs and replacements are common in place of customer stress.

The DuraPlus

Users report that this hot tub hasn’t had to be replaced because the fabric is excellent. It is almost strong enough to bypass the extra ground sheet, but we would err on the side of caution.

The Adjustable Digital Control Panel

Being able to raise it up is better for those that bought a hot tub for the medical benefits. It’s also a lot safer.

The Safety Features

Everyone wants a safe hot tub and this one met all the requirements.

The Versatility

The indoor and outdoor use is excellent. You can even empty the hot tub and keep the air running to create a safe space for kids to play in in the back yard. Reduce the water level to create a paddling pool in summer or fill it with balls for a ball pit.

The Warranty

The fact that you can keep this hot tub for up to two years with a guaranteed repair or replacement is better than almost any other hot tub brand.

What Customers Disliked about the Cancun Model

Just as how the Cancun has its good points, it also has its bad ones. Here are the things that customers didn’t like quite so much…

The Freeze Shield

It’s not that it doesn’t work, it’s that it shouldn’t be called Freeze Shield. It only supports and protects your hot tub down to four or five degrees. Your Cancun should not be left outdoors, filled with water, in the winter.

The Heating Up

It’s really hard to wait all night for your new hot tub to be ready for use – but it is totally worth it in the end.

The Registration

Some clients were a little annoyed that they fell outside of the warranty period because they didn’t go and register their hot tub. There is a very easy answer to this.

The Filter Cartridges

That you need to rinse them out after each use is a bit of a gripe but really, we are nit picking here.

Overall Verdict on the Lay Z Spa Cancun hot tub Review

Overall, the Cancun model from Lay Spa is a firm favourite among couples and young families. It can easily fit four adults or two adults and three kids. It has more air bubbles passing through it than any other model of its type and price point, and it is an affordable hot tub for your home that can move when you do.

The Cancun is highly versatile, has a great design, and sports the re-thought digital panel. It carries the Lay Z Spa reputation for product innovation and customer care, so you know you are getting a good deal. As such, we recommend this home hot tub for all those who have a small family, or who intend on entertaining another couple.

 

If the Cancun isn’t for you, check out some of the other hot tub reviews we have. You are sure to find your perfect fit, regardless of what it is you are looking for.

If you are interested in the other inflatable hot tubs from this brand that will comfortably fit 2-4 people, check out the Lay-Z-Spa Barbados and Miami.