Cancún hotels

The pampering at this adults-only resort, personalized butlers and all, is so over the top that you may never want to leave the property. Rooms are pimped out with double hot tubs, the restaurants serve up some of the city’s finest gourmet fare and the complementary hydrotherapy pool puts you in instant vacay mode. Should you manage to pry yourself away from this great white wonder, a thriving nightlife scene is just a short walk away, and yet the hotel is far enough removed from the thumping discos to get a good night’s sleep.

The contemporary architecture at this secluded resort in Punta Nizuc, the southernmost tip of the hotel zone, is a stunningly gorgeous blend of Mexican and Asian design concepts. Sporting airy open spaces, soothing water features and expansive ocean views nearly everywhere you turn, it’s minimalism done right. The private beach is smaller than what you get at some of the other luxury hotels up the coast but it never really feels crowded. The cherry on top is Ni, a breezy Peruvian restaurant specializing in tantalizing fresh ceviche.

A solid downtown option for business travelers and families alike, this well-run hotel’s spacious and impeccably clean suites give you plenty of bang for your back, plus it puts you smack in the middle of an up-and-coming restaurant zone. The larger suites sleep four comfortably and have full kitchens, making them an ideal setup for small groups or families. Kick the day off at the adjoining Cafe Nader with a Veracruz-style cafe con leche and fresh-baked pastries.

This hotel zone all-inclusive provides the music activities and you deliver the beats. Here teens can live out the rock star fantasy at Hard Rock’s music lab, where instructors lead jam sessions and impart techniques for mixing and recording music. For younger kids, the kids club organizes a slew of activities, including talent shows, pool parties and the Mexican art of making papier-mâché piñatas. Music lovers of all ages will dig the in-room turntables and Fender guitars on loan.

Sitting pretty on a secluded stretch of coast about halfway between Cancún and Puerto Morelos, the new Waldorf Astoria has so many things to like, starting with the oceanfront rooms with swim-up pools, the exquisite dining and a pet-friendly policy that means plenty of fancy treats for your pooch. The Waldorf has a rich offering of activities geared toward families.

As the name suggests, the sunny rooftop pool is the main draw at this backpackers’ favorite. We like the tidy rooms, Sunday BBQ parties, strong wi-fi signal and the open-air bar’s convivial vibe. What’s more, it’s just a short walk from the ADO bus station and an even shorter distance to the main drag, where you can catch transportation to the beach and the happening nightclubs.

This welcoming B&B has so much working in its favor, and best of all, it’s remarkably affordable by Cancún standards. Guests love the backyard pool and also the convenience of having a nearby bus stop that makes it easy to move back and forth between downtown and the beach. You really couldn’t ask for a quieter downtown neighborhood and there’s parking available to boot.

Does the world really need another wannabe eco-hotel? Rest assured that the King of the Caribbean is the real deal with its solar-powered water heaters, waste recycling and rainwater harvesting. Rooms here come with full kitchens, free breakfast and towel animals (because who doesn’t like bleached white swans), and they overlook a small pool and tropical garden that’s home to a family of nocturnal opossums. Up on the rooftop, guests can greet the new day with Kundalini and Hatha yoga sessions for a mere $6.

In a hotel zone filled with some of the world’s biggest international resorts, this relatively small family-run establishment comes as a pleasant surprise amid the sea of giants. A stay here presents an opportunity to support a locally owned business and here’s the kicker: it’s quite a find price-wise. Granted, it faces the lagoon side of the hotel zone, but the sunset views from the infinity pool are mesmerizing and the beach is just a stone’s throw away.

Aside from the attractive ocean-facing rooms festooned with earthy beach-colored tones, the JW is regarded as one of the city’s premier business hotels. With a custom catering service and eight event rooms, including one of Cancún’s largest conference venues, it can host large-scale gatherings or simply one-on-one meetings in pleasant workspaces. It’s near the world-class Museo Maya, open-air shopping center La Isla and a golf course that overlooks the pretty Nichupté lagoon.

Kempinski’s elegant five-star Cancún property hosts meetings and events in gorgeous indoor and outdoor spaces, taking full advantage of its privileged location on the Mexican Caribbean. Add the tennis courts, large oceanfront pools and award-winning restaurants to the mix and you have more than enough amenities to help you unwind after a day of wheeling and dealing.