Any recommendations for Cancun

[lea]

I am trying to plan a trip to Cancun and wanted to hear if anyone knew of a good resort to stay at. (Anything in the range of a 4 or 5 rating, but nice.) We plan on going in early February for 7 days. We do not know much about Cancun. Any ideas would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks,
Lea

[KristaMB]

Lea, I was there on my high school grad trip 10 years ago and we stayed at the Marriot Casa Magna. The hotel was brand new at the time. From what I remember the place was amazing. Of course, my memory could be skewed by the fact that: 1) I was a foreign travel novice 2) I was celebrating my graduation with lots of alcohol.

Here are some other threads from the search discussing Cancun:
http://www.cookinglight.com/vbb/showthread.php?s=&threadid=7174&highlight=Cancun

http://www.cookinglight.com/vbb/showthread.php?s=&threadid=2964&highlight=Cancun

Enjoy your trip!

[funnybone]

We have friends that went there just this month. They were outside of Cancun, at an all inclusive and really enjoyed it. I will have to ask them the name of the place and let you know.

[Peeps]

I also stayed at that Marriot and it was beautiful, gorgeous beach and pools, etc. Most of the big name hotels along that strip are very nice so if you stick with a well known chain you should be fine.
However, I would never return to Cancun as a vacation spot, I really didn't enjoy it much at all compared to other beach type places like the Caribbean. The ruins are interesting day trips, as is Cozumel, but avoid the town of Cancun. The big hotels are all on this separate strip of land, all in a row and its very Amercanized, clean, etc. but the town itself is filthy and looks like a third world country. Also, be prepared for hordes of Spring break college kids (though maybe not so much in Feb., I was there in March) - so there are drunk frat boys everywhere, doing well, all the gross things that drunk frat boys will do in public.
The hotel was beautiful and it was fine being there but it felt like it could have been anywhere, but venturing out of the hotel area wasn't too great due to the above drawbacks of Cancun. So you feel like you're in America at the hotels but then you've got to deal with exchanging money, passports, etc.
I would HIGHLY recommend the Caribbean or Hawaii instead but that's just my extended 2 cents (more like 2 dollars, I know!)

[donleyk]

We stayed at the Palace resort chain. For the life of me, I can't remember which one. Senior moment at 39, oh goodie.

It wasn't the Moon Palace. And I believe it was actually the first one. Only 3 floors, quaint and clean. We decided we'd go back to it we enjoyed it so much. If the name comes to me I will edit this.

[Kari]

Hi Lea~
I was there 3 years ago... one of my best trips ever!!!
We stayed at the Melia... they have 2 properties there: The Melia Turquesa and The Melia Cancun (bigger & more $$$). Both are great hotels, on great beaches and in good locations; in relation to the shops/clubs/etc. downtown and everything else there is to do there. Enjoy!!!

[foodfunfriends]

I recommend the Palace Resorts too. We actually booked at the Moon Palace, which is bigger and newer, and away from the main drag. It was a beautiful place, but we weren't happy with the quality of the food, and the beach was seaweedy (it's sort of in a cove).

Luckily, you if you stay at one PR you can use the facilities (and all inclusive priviledges) at all of them (they have like five), so we checked out the Cancun Palace on the main strip, and decided it was better, so we moved there. It was excellent. Food was good, service good, beach wonderful (ocean like bathwater in Dec.). The best part is lying on the beach and having a waiter bring you a fresh drink as soon as your glass is empty. Oh, and they have the best two person jacuzzi I've ever been in, in all the rooms.

We avoided downtown Cancun which is very commercial and Americanized. We did like the Jungle Tour. You get to drive your own little speedboat through the lagoon, and out into the ocean, drop anchor, and snorkle the reefs.

Have fun!

[Layla]

We stayed at the Moon Palace in Cancun for our honeymoon in 1999. It was *wonderful*. We compare every place to it now. Since then, we have been back twice, to Playa del Carmen. Playa is a place about 30 minutes south of Cancun--you actually fly in to Cancun. It's less touristy and more laid back, and the beaches and snorkeling are incredible. We stayed at the Reef Club in Sept 99 and the Riu Palace in June 01. The Riu Palace is incredible--I would recommend it to anyone.