The 7 Best All-Inclusive Resorts in Cancun
Mexico’s hottest resort town is a dizzying mix of vibrant restaurants, heady nightlife, dreamy white sands, and sprawling hotel complexes. How best to avoid sticker shock? By staying at one of the 7 best all-inclusive resorts in Cancun.
1. Le Blanc Spa Resort
This glamorous adults-only gem blows away every preconception about the all-inclusive experience. Its minimalist, all-white interiors are stylish and sophisticated. The food is superb, from multi-course French tastings at Lumière to handmade pastas at Blanc Italia. The spa, complete with 19 Le Blanc d’Or treatment rooms, is enshrouded by a bamboo garden. Our favorite part of all? The thoughtful extras never seem to end, from coconut cocktails on arrival to 24-hour butlers assigned to every room. (Look out for your yummy treat and butler-drawn bath at turndown.)
2. Hyatt Ziva Cancun
Formerly a Dreams hotel, this Hotel Zone hot spot is as family-friendly as they come with three infinity pools, eight restaurants, a complimentary kid’s club featuring its own pool and adventure excursions, and a prime position on not one but two white-sand beaches. Swim-up suites are perfect for groups who need that extra room to play, as is the exhaustive menu of daily activities including theater shows, water sports, and yoga classes—all included in the rate. After dinner, pop by the margarita bar for a nightcap, where a tequila sommelier can guide you through 140 varieties. Prefer a quieter experience? There’s a hotel-within-the-hotel, Turquoize, that is blissfully adults only.
3. Beloved Playa Mujeres
At just 109 suites, this adults-only all-inclusive in secluded Playa Mujeres feels uncommonly intimate for Cancun—and that’s just the way we like it. Imagine it: reservations at all four onsite restaurants aren’t required, and you’ll almost never have to elbow your way to the swim-up bar. If your room doesn’t come with an ocean view, you’re treated instead to a split-level space with its own whirlpool tub—and all guest rooms are stocked with BVLGARI amenities and a complimentary mini-bar full of snacks. While guest rooms are as big and beautiful as the rest of the low-key property, the space you’ll be hanging out in the most is probably the 35,000-square-foot spa, whose hydrotherapy circuit is surely the best on the strip.
4. Sun Palace
While Sun Palace sits far removed from Cancun’s rollicking Hotel Zone—and all the energy and noise that comes with it—it’s just as well. Romantic indulgences are the m.o. at this adults-only resort, where every amenity, from the personal double Jacuzzis and private balconies in every guest room to complimentary wine service, has couples in mind. The beach here is especially gorgeous, framed on each side by the turquoise Caribbean Sea and the tranquil lagoon to the west. Looking to go the extra mile? Concierge Level gets you a reserved spot on the beach and your own waiter (perks you may find you can’t live without).
5. Secrets The Vine
There’s a lot to love about this particular Secrets, especially in the eyes of romantics. Its sleek, modern tower looms over a white-sand beach, its height affording spectacular views of the lagoon, ocean, Cancun skyline, and infinity pools below. Each of the 497 guest rooms are airy visions of white glass and teak; downstairs, guests can indulge in mixology and dance lessons after chowing down on pan-Asian or casual Mediterranean cuisine at one of the lauded restaurants (here, you’ll find some of the best dining on the peninsula—not to mention daily wine tastings courtesy of the extensive wine cellar). Celebrating a special occasion? The Vine pulls out all the stops—from a private beachfront dinner for two to honeymoon suites with ocean-view soaking tubs and wraparound terraces.
6. Melody Maker Cancun
If you’ve come to cash in on the high-octane energy Cancun is best known for, Melody Maker Cancun will indulge you. This upscale all-inclusive, right in the heart of the Hotel Zone, is sleek and modern, with original art sculptures and roomy suites with their own terraces and daybeds. Of the three pools, two are adults-only—though the beach is open to all, and features fast and free WiFi—a godsend for meeting up with friends during weekend beach parties. The restaurants and bars are also lively and excellent, and a vibrant nightlife scene means there’s never a need to head off-property to get your fix. Sure, this may not be the quietest (or most affordable) of stays, but it’s got all the ingredients for a glitzy spring break to remember.
7. Excellence Playa Mujeres
Playa Mujeres, a quiet coastal area north of Cancun, is a magnet for those seeking true relaxation. Get there, and the adults-only Excellence Playa Mujeres takes care of the rest. This intimate all-inclusive has everything you’d want in a get-away-from-it-all retreat: hydrotherapy treatments and aromatic baths at the spa, swim-up suites that you can access straight from the pool, well-stocked minibars for days when you just can’t drag yourself to the beach (your room’s pillow menu might have something to do with that). We especially love the champagne greeting at check-in—a perfect primer for lavish Spanish dinners at Barcelona or elevated seafood at the Lobster House.