Pull up a list of Cancun hotels and you’ll have an exhaustive 150 properties to choose from — most clustered along a long, narrow stretch known as the Zona Hotelera, with the Caribbean Sea on one side and the Nichupte Lagoon on the other. How to winnow it down? We recently checked out four of the area’s most popular resorts — and here’s what we found, the bueno and the mal.
ME Cancun
Young, good-looking and like to party? This is your place. ME Cancun injects some much-needed chic into the all-inclusive formula, with trendy design elements (lounge seating, gauzy curtains, modern art), a buzzing nightlife scene (international DJs spin at the Beach Club; Rande Gerber’s Rose Bar thrums with cool tunes and scantily-clad dancers) and a stylish clientele who favor high-high designer heels and short-short skirts. Rooms are sleekly decorated and fairly spacious; half overlook the hotel’s three pools and the ocean. Upgrade to ME+ Level for VIP check-in/out and use of the private 10th-floor lounge (featuring snacks and tea and coffee service). Pros: Fun, hip vibe; free Wi-Fi with strong signal across property. Cons: Most rooms lack balconies; music constant throughout hotel and can be overly loud; lower-level rooms near club venues are noisy; extra charges for top-shelf alcohol and some mini-bar items. From $680; me-cancun.com
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Live Aqua
This adults-only, all-inclusive resort subscribes to the concept of the “whole sensory experience,” which means lots of aromatherapy, a hotel soundtrack that veers from New Age to techno (though it’s never obtrusive) and a soothing, Zen-like design that extends from the common areas to the rooms. There are a stunning number of pools here — eight, all of them infinity — situated among a lush landscape that’s home to several bright red parrots. For daytime drinks, hang (literally, on a swing) at the beachside bar; among the seven dining options are Azur, with floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the beach, and MB, which boasts a gourmet Latin-influenced menu. Pros: Sophisticated clientele; balconies in all rooms; extensive activities program; wide variety of cuisine and above-average food; outstanding spa; ideal location across from La Isla mall. Cons: Beach waiter service uneven; Wi-Fi signal can be spotty on property; for younger crowd, hotel might feel too sedate. From $560; feel-aqua.com
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Le Blanc Spa Resort
Some all-inclusive resorts can come with some rather unpleasant surprises when it’s time to settle the bill. At Le Blanc, that won’t happen — almost everything at this gorgeous, white-on-white-decorated resort is included, from phone calls to the premium liquor in the mini-bar to room service. (Spa and beach cabanas, however, are extra.) Service is outstanding: warm, efficient and knowledgeable. Each floor has a butler (complete with white gloves); 24-hour in-room dining is available from four of the hotel’s five restaurants; accommodations (especially the corner rooms) offer spectacular views of the ocean or lagoon, even from the bathroom’s Jacuzzi tub (which they will fill, with your choice of scent, upon request). Pros: As all-inclusive as it gets; excellent Wi-Fi service throughout property; beautiful, wide beach. Cons: Only two oceanfront pools; most rooms don’t have balconies; gourmet restaurant requires reservations. From $562; leblancsparesort.com
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JW Marriott Cancun
All-inclusive isn’t for everyone. Maybe you’re going to Cancun as a family (many resorts are adults-only). Perhaps you don’t drink much. Or maybe you’d rather spend money on higher-end restaurants, or on area activities like scuba-diving, sailing or golf. This is the niche that JW Marriott fills, on a less luxurious (and slightly more affordable) level than the nearby Ritz-Carlton. Here you’ll find a lovely lobby and attractive landscaping dotted by multiple pools (one is reserved for adults), but rooms are staidly decorated and nearly amenity-free. The overall vibe is less beach vacation, more corporate (lots of conventioneers wearing name tags); it’s blessedly quiet, except if your room faces the boisterous Hard Rock Hotel next door. Pros: Lots of family-friendly activities; centrally located; good TV channel choices. Cons: No coffee maker in room; pricey food and drink; Wi-Fi $14/day, with limit on number of devices; phone calls to US costly ($5/minute); only nightlife is small lobby bar. From $249; jwmarriottcancun.com