The 14 best all-inclusive resorts in Cancun

When it comes to tropical escapes that combine sun, sea and sand with access and affordability, it’s hard to beat Cancun.

Often considered the Las Vegas of Mexico, this economic juggernaut is known for its hedonistic pursuits, megamalls and behemoth resorts that line the commercialized strip of the Hotel Zone.

But if you dig a little deeper, this modern city has plenty to offer travelers looking to be within striking distance of spectacular archaeological ruins, Michelin-starred cuisine, world-class spas, dazzling marine life and idyllic coastal enclaves.

Beyond Cancun’s glorious natural assets and diversity of experiences, this tourist mecca draws millions of travelers each year thanks to its dizzying range of accommodation offerings across the budget spectrum.

Expanding north and south beyond the Hotel Zone, and along the white sands of Isla Mujeres, you’ll find major brands like Hyatt, Hilton and Marriott leading the charge on the ever-evolving all-inclusive model where quantity no longer supersedes quality.

From romantic island getaways to swanky palatial retreats and family-friendly resorts, here are some of TPG’s best all-inclusive resorts in Cancun.

Hilton Cancun, an All-Inclusive Resort

Cancun, Quintana Roo, Mexico

Best for: Families who want to enjoy a contemporary resort that breaks the all-inclusive mold.

Why stay here: This new upscale resort from Hilton is redefining the brand’s take on the all-inclusive model and has a lot to offer guests of all ages looking for a mix of fun and relaxation in Cancun.

Best way to book: Book directly through Hilton.

One of TPG’s favorite family-friendly resorts, this 715-key Hilton property, which debuted in 2021, is a fine example of the new wave of all-inclusive resorts.

Far removed from the hustle and bustle of Cancun — it’s an eight-minute drive through mangrove forests to access the property after leaving the main road — this excellent value Hilton shares over 100 acres of secluded real estate with its more exclusive sibling, the Waldorf Astoria Cancun, which opened in 2022.

Standard rooms start at just over 400 square feet and boast a warm but minimalist design ethos, with wooden accents and decorative nods to Mexican culture. Spacious bathrooms have double vanities and large walk-in showers with frosted-glass doors, and all rooms have either a furnished balcony or patio.

Daily Newsletter

Reward your inbox with the TPG Daily newsletter

Join over 700,000 readers for breaking news, in-depth guides and exclusive deals from TPG’s experts

The overall vibe is decidedly upscale, with stylish public spaces designed to maximize spectacular Caribbean views and attractive grounds anchored by two large infinity pools. Ten restaurants and bars add plenty of culinary variety, even for young picky eaters, and there’s gourmet a la carte dining in addition to the standard buffet fare, all of which impress in quality and scale.

Related: Great for families: A review of the stunning new Hilton Cancun, an All-Inclusive Resort

If you are not soaking up the sun on a plush sun lounger on the lightly populated white-sand beach, there are plenty of activities to satisfy competitive types, like beach volleyball and soccer. After dinner, the fun continues with themed parties as well as theatrical performances and live music, most of which is geared to families.

Grown-ups can indulge in a spa treatment or work off the fruity cocktails at the fitness center, while younger guests can visit the kids club for arts and crafts, games and sports. There’s also a teen zone for those age 13 to 17, with gaming consoles and sports tournaments.

Rates at the Hilton Cancun, an All-Inclusive Resort start at $396 or 100,000 Hilton Honors points per night, based on double occupancy.

Impression Isla Mujeres by Secrets

Isla Mujeres, Mexico

Best for: Romance, removed just enough from Cancun but still easy to access.

Why stay here: The luxurious all-inclusive mixes nature exploration and activities with all of the elevated leisure components you’d expect from a tropical resort.

Best way to book: Book directly with Hyatt to earn or redeem World of Hyatt points and enjoy any elite benefits.

One of Hyatt’s ever-expanding all-inclusive offerings, this new Impression imprint is the brand’s most exclusive iteration and a great choice for uninitiated couples keen to dip their toes into the all-inclusive concept.

Located on a picturesque stretch of white sand on the southern (and more desirable) end of Isla Mujeres, the swanky resort is great for couples looking for a low-key alternative to Cancun’s lively and commercialized Hotel Zone.

At Cancun’s ferry port, you’ll be greeted with a hand towel and welcome drink before being whisked away on a private catamaran for the 30-minute journey to the gleaming Mediterranean-style resort, where beautifully designed public spaces set a tone of refined elegance.

With just 125 rooms, the property has more of a boutique feel, with spacious accommodations decorated in soothing neutral shades and appointed with sleek furnishings and luxe bathrooms with rainfall showers. If you splash out on a larger suite, you can expect upgrades like a furnished terrace with a hot tub and larger walk-in closets.

The highly praised cuisine ranges from Mediterranean at Spezia to Japanese at Sake and sunset cocktails at The Top bar. There’s plenty to inspire romance with overwater torch-lit cabanas, private sailing excursions and inventive cocktails served on the rooftop terrace with stunning panoramas. A beautifully designed infinity pool blends seamlessly with the calm turquoise waters below, or for a little more novelty, you can take a dip in the ocean via the hotel’s four-story waterslide.

Rates at Impression Isla Mujeres by Secrets start at $1,235 or 70,000 World of Hyatt points per night for two guests.

Secrets Playa Blanca Costa Mujeres

Costa Mujeres, Cancun, Mexico

Best for: Couples looking for a quiet, but accessible getaway with plenty of activities and indulgences to punctuate days spent relaxing on the beach or poolside.

Why stay here: A fresh new property on a calm stretch of sand overlooking the Mesoamerican Barrier Reef with soothing rooms, inspired dining options and beautifully landscaped pools.

Best way to book: Book directly with Hyatt to earn World of Hyatt points and enjoy status perks.

The latest from Hyatt’s all-inclusive collection — and its ever-expanding footprint in Mexico — the Secrets Playa Blanca Costa Mujeres debuted Feb. 1 as the 13th adults-only Secrets property in Mexico.

A world apart from Cancun’s commercialized Hotel Zone, located on a sweep of pristine white sand around a 50-minute drive from Cancun International Airport (CUN), the 507-key property is surrounded by upscale properties, golf courses and a marina. For travelers looking to daytrip to car-free Isla Mujeres, the ferry terminal at Punta Sam is also just a short drive away.

Tastefully appointed suites start at 581 square feet and feature hardwood furnishings and artfully layered textures and fabrics in shades of white and cream, accented with locally inspired prints and motifs. Luxe bathrooms are spacious and inviting, with double vanities and decadent free-standing tubs.

Round-the-clock entertainment is provided for every mood and moment. Active types can play beach and pool volleyball or hit the state-of-the-art gym, foodies can hone their culinary skills with a cooking class, and sybarites can head to the Secrets Spa by Pevonia for a Mayan-inspired massage or body treatment.

And there’s plenty of opportunity to simply relax, unplug and soak up those tropical vibes. Sip a tequila-laced cocktail on the white-sand beach and take in classic Caribbean views, or post up on a plush, cushioned lounger beside the two infinity pools or cenote-inspired pool nestled among leafy foliage.

A range of cuisine will satisfy longer-stay guests with nine on-site restaurants (including buffet and a la carte). There’s Pan-Asian at Himitsu, traditional Mexican at El Patio and refined French cuisine at Bordeaux. With Hyatt’s Unlimited-Luxury inclusions, everything from gourmet cuisine and 24-hour room service to sundries and libations from the minibar are included in the rate.

Rates at Secrets Playa Blanca Costa Mujeres start from $300 per night per person, based on double occupancy. Award rates are not currently available.

Garza Blanca Cancun

Playa Mujeres, Cancun, Quintana Roo, Mexico

Best for: Design-conscious families who like plenty of space, upscale amenities and fine dining.

Why stay here: A polished home-away-from-home vacation with stylish rooms and luxe facilities.

Best way to book: Book directly and join the Tafer Rewards program to receive benefits such as complimentary wine, resort credits and early check-in and late checkout.

Some 17 miles north of Cancun, between a mangrove forest and the powdery sands of Playa Mujeres, this Garza Blanca property opened in the spring of 2022.

Chic, modern suites and residences feature wooden bedframes, contemporary lighting, flat-screen TVs and a crisp white-and-beige color palette accented with foliage-print cushions, paintings and throws. Bathrooms have freestanding tubs.

There are plenty of room types on offer, especially in the swim-up category, where junior suites start at 588 square feet and have a furnished terrace complete with a hammock and steps down into one of the hotel’s six pools. One-bedroom suites are 1,276 square feet and have full kitchens (with Nespresso machines, refrigerators and dishwashers) and separate sitting areas.

Blanca Blue (nouvelle Mexican), Bocados (steak house), Hiroshi (Japanese) and Dao (Chinese) are the hotel’s fine-dining venues. There’s also a rooftop cocktail bar and a raw seafood bar on the beach.

The hotel is family-friendly, too, providing car seats, strollers, bottle sterilizers and bottle warmers. Families can enjoy six heated infinity pools and a designated zero-entry kids pool.

There’s also a kids club and a daily program of activities for children and adults, including watersports, volleyball, yoga, bocce ball and live music in the evening. Decorated in white stone and exotic wood, the spa is large and lavish, with 16 “purification cabins” and a hydrotherapy spa.

Rates at Garza Blanca start from $402 per night, based on double occupancy.

TRS Coral Hotel

Cancun, Quintana Roo, Mexico

Best for: Active travelers looking for an elegant property that has plenty of amenities to keep them active, entertained and indulged. Tennis players will appreciate the on-site Rafa Nadal Tennis Center.

Why stay here: Located 20 minutes north of Cancun’s Hotel Zone on the idyllic sands of Costa Mujeres, this sophisticated, low-rise resort combines easy airport access with a striking contemporary design and a polished ambience.

Best way to book: Book through our partner Expedia for the best rates and packages.

Located around 11 miles north of Cancun’s Hotel Zone, Costa Mujeres is a more secluded enclave where a string of all-inclusive resorts front a gorgeous (and much quieter) white-sand beach.

This hip TRS Coral Hotel, part of Wyndham‘s luxury Registry Collection imprint, combines a fashionable designer aesthetic (which may surprise frequent guests of Wyndham properties) with superb amenities and a liberal dose of exclusivity. Discerning couples who are looking to stay active and entertained all day and all night before retreating to their stylish accommodations will find a lot to love at this resort.

Accommodations, which start at 710 square feet, range from loft suites with Caribbean views to the honeymoon-favored swim-up rooms, and generously proportioned suites with private Jacuzzis. Rooms across all categories come with butler service. Even standard rooms have plenty of urban flair, with midcentury modern-inspired furnishings, white sofas, tropical hardwood accents, glass-walled terraces with tropical garden or ocean views, and spa-like bathrooms featuring double vanities, luxe marble rainfall showers and freestanding hydromassage bathtubs.

For couples that aren’t overwhelmed by choice, the hotel’s “Infinite Indulgence” concept includes access to services and facilities at the resort’s three hotels; that’s over 30 restaurants and bars, as well as live music, exclusive events, the Chic Cabaret & Restaurant (reservation fee applies) and inspired daily programming that spans everything from pole dancing workouts and paddleboarding to tequila tastings and poker nights.

In addition to a state-of-the-art gym, beautifully designed swimming pools, daily wellness programming and a full-service spa, a major selling point for tennis players here is the Rafa Nadal Tennis Center, which draws sun-seeking amateurs and pros year-round to its eight tennis courts and Rafa Nadal Museum Xperience.

Rates at TRS Coral Hotel start at $497, based on double occupancy.

Atelier Playa Mujeres

Playa Mujeres, Cancun, Quintana Roo, Mexico

Best for: Couples looking for a posh lifestyle escape with close (but not too close) access to Cancun’s sights and amenities.

Why stay here: A distinctly Mexican sense of place and one of the best gourmet restaurants along this stretch coast.

Best way to book: Book directly with the hotel. If you haven’t already, become a member of the I Prefer hotel rewards program for extra perks, points and benefits.

On secluded white-sand shores 19 miles north of Cancun International Airport (CUN), this 593-key boutique hotel (part of Preferred Hotels & Resorts) is located within a gated condo complex, surrounded by an 18-hole golf course.

The amenities here are top-notch, with gorgeous pools, a well-equipped gym, an array of nonmotorized sports and a daily lineup of activities and shows, including fitness classes and nightly entertainment.

There are five room categories from which to choose, all with a similar aesthetic and designated butler service. All suites feature sleek, modern furnishings — beamed ceilings, tropical wooden accents, sliding doors, potted plants and beige marble floors. Lavish bathrooms are spacious and stylish, with glass-walled rainfall showers, freestanding tubs and Molton Brown toiletries.

Atelier’s 15 restaurants focus primarily on authentic Mexican and Mediterranean cuisine, while 13 bars tout their innovative mixology with an extensive menu of handcrafted cocktails.

The hotel’s marquee dining venue is Maria Dolores (included with your all-inclusive room rate, but reservations are required), helmed by celebrity chef Edgar Nuñez, who earned his stripes at Sud 777 in Mexico City. Praised as one of Cancun’s best restaurants, it specializes in artfully presented nouvelle Mexican cuisine served against a sophisticated backdrop of colossal marble pillars, brown leather chairs, crisp white tablecloths and elegant white booths.

For a more low-key experience, there’s contemporary Asian fare at the minimalist Takeshi, pizza and pasta at Cilento and healthy Mediterranean cuisine at the whimsically decorated Cala di Luna.

Rates at Atelier Playa Mujeres start at $687 per night, based on double occupancy.

Hyatt Ziva Cancun

Cancun, Quintana Roo, Mexico

Best for: Teens with a sweet tooth.

Why stay here: The resort has a teens club with virtual reality experiences and an array of water sports, plus a candy room that’s part of the all-inclusive rates.

Best way to book: Book directly with World of Hyatt.

At the epicenter of Cancun’s tourist zone, this popular all-inclusive Ziva resort is the fun, family-friendly counterpart to Hyatt’s adults-only Zilara brand.

Flexible room configurations and a slew of family-oriented amenities, like a family pool, kids clubs and teen zone, make the demographic skew young family, but for couples, a new adult-only Turquoize Tower — with upgrades like private infinity pools and hot tubs — is perfect for romantic couples looking to sequester themselves in their own beach haven.

The 547 rooms and suites won’t win any design awards but they are bright, attractive and functional. Even standard rooms are equipped with such tech-forward amenities as Bluetooth speakers and charging stations, as well as high-end bathrooms with rainfall showers, plush robes and luxe toiletries. Guest rooms in the 17-floor Club Tower come with Hyatt Ziva Club access, perks such as private check-in and checkout, and personalized concierge services.

Guests looking for more grown-up fun can indulge at the oceanfront spa with a signature massage or holistic body treatment, or recline poolside on a cushioned chaise lounge and make occasional forays to one of the lively swim-up bars for a Don Julio-spiked margarita; the liquor and wine selection here is above average for an all-inclusive. Down at the beach, there are complimentary paddleboards and kayaks to explore the coastline and scour for marine life.

With eight restaurants, including El Mercado, Hyatt Ziva Cancun’s all-day buffet; Pasteles, a dessert parlor; a microbrewery; and roaming food carts for that very small window of the day when there’s not a full-service restaurant open, there’s plenty of culinary variety for all ages and tastes.

Rates at Hyatt Ziva Cancun start at $722 or 35,000 World of Hyatt points per night, based on double occupancy.

Zoetry Villa Rolandi Isla Mujeres

Isla Mujeres, Quintana Roo, Mexico

Best for: Wellness-seeking couples looking for a private, low-key escape with luxe amenities and daily programming that adds a holistic dimension to your classic all-inclusive beach vacation.

Why stay here: An intimately scaled resort with stylish beachfront suites, beautifully landscaped spaces and the Zoetry brand’s liberating “Endless Privileges” concept.

Best way to book: Book directly with Hyatt to earn or redeem World of Hyatt points and enjoy any elite benefits.

It’s not unusual to choose a hotel solely based on the quality of its restaurants, but when it comes to all-inclusive properties, that tends to be quite an outlier. This intimate Zoetry property is one such anomaly, having gained worldwide acclaim for its signature Casa Rolandi restaurant, an island institution serving gourmet Italian cuisine for over 30 years.

Beyond the hotel’s culinary cachet — the upscale Le Metissage is also excellent — the focus at this low-key boutique property (just 35 oceanfront rooms) is on wellness and relaxation rather than dancing till dawn or unleashing any competitive spirit during pool volleyball.

Attractive accommodations feature light, bright interiors with canopied beds and marble bathrooms stocked with Bulgari bath amenities, and guests enjoy elevated perks such as turndown service, a complimentary beach bag and a welcome bottle of wine.

In addition to the small, private beach, where paddleboards and kayaks are available to explore the island’s calm waters, a centerpiece infinity pool is surrounded by plush loungers and a saltwater pool.

The mindfulness ethos extends to the property’s spa, where thalassotherapy treatments incorporate seawater and seaweed, and there are daily yoga classes, a small fitness center and house bikes to explore the island.

Zoetry’s “Endless Privileges” concept is especially valuable to guests who prefer their all-inclusive rate to extend to top-shelf cocktails and chef-driven cuisine. All guests also receive a complimentary 20-minute wellness experience and the convenience of no defined check-in or checkout times.

Rates at Zoetry Villa Rolandi Isla Mujeres Cancun start at $711 per night based on double occupancy.

Live Aqua Beach Resort Cancun

Cancun, Quintana Roo, Mexico

Best for: Couples and groups of friends looking for an upscale beach resort with tailored guest experiences, such as pillow and aromatherapy menus and gourmet dining, as well as round-the-clock programming that leans into traditional all-inclusive entertainment like pool bingo and karaoke, as well as more culturally immersive pursuits. 

Why stay here: This property is widely praised for its excellent service, attention to detail and thoughtfully appointed guest rooms. 


Best way to book: Book through our partner Expedia for the best rates and packages.

Located close to the Hotel Zone’s buzzing shopping (it’s across the street from La Isla shopping mall) and dining scene, this modern 371-key property is a lively staging post for younger couples looking for an entertainment-rich vacation with an array of surprising in-room perks (for this price point).

Recently renovated standard rooms are compact (they start at 353 square feet) compared to the competitor set but are bright and crisp with shiny tiled floors, streamlined furnishings and an unfussy aesthetic. The lack of elbow room is offset by enhancements like aromatherapy and pillow menus, plush robes and slippers, Nespresso machines, Molton Brown bath amenities and 400-thread-count sheets.

The hotel’s expansive amenities include eight oceanfront swimming pools, a fitness center and the Feel Harmony Spa, which offers an extensive menu of reasonably priced treatments and massages; a 50-minute classic Swedish massage will set you back $118, a Mayan secret balancing treatment with a stone massage, $160.

Daily programming marries wellness activities like yoga with fun-in-the-sun classics such as beach volleyball and more bacchanalian pursuits as the night unfolds. Dining options include nouvelle Mexican fare at Siete, oceanfront seafood at Sea Corner, Mediterranean food at Azur and Italian classics at Varenna.

Rates at Live Aqua Beach Resort start at $520 per night, based on double occupancy.

Le Blanc Spa Resort Cancun

Cancun, Quintana Roo, Mexico

Best for: An upscale adults-only haven with chic, streamlined accommodations, wellness-focused experiences and a prime location on the white sands of Cancun’s Hotel Zone.

Why stay here: A luxury all-inclusive experience with elevated perks such as deep soaking tubs, gourmet cuisine and butler service included across all accommodation categories. 


Best way to book: Book through our partner Skylark to enjoy elitelike benefits and on-property credits.

A sophisticated retreat just a short drive from Cancun International Airport (CUN), Le Blanc Spa Resort stands out for contemporary accommodations, impeccable service and next-level perks and amenities.

Elegant rooms with one king or two queen beds dressed in crisp white linens are appointed with light wooden furnishings, and muted tones create a soothing ambience. But these rooms shine in their surfeit of luxe amenities. There are Lavazza coffee makers, Jacuzzi tubs, smart TVs with Google Chromecast, hair straighteners and hairdryers, plush robes and slippers and complimentary beach bags. Guests are also welcomed with a bottle of Robert Mondavi wine, and there are thoughtful rituals like nightly petit fours left by the bed at turndown service.

Whether it’s relaxing on the manicured white-sand beach, lounging by the Sol pool with a signature cocktail in hand, keeping up your fitness routine at the state-of-the-art gym, taking a sunrise yoga class, or enjoying a Mayan-inspired ritual at the spa, La Blanc is one of those properties that adeptly marries wellness and indulgence.

Of the six restaurants, Lumiere is the one you shouldn’t miss. Helmed by renowned local chef Justina Zavaleta, it serves French haute cuisine in an elegant setting. Savor appetizers such as scallop tartare with seaweed and ginger emulsion or heartier signature dishes like lamb rack with fermented eggplant puree or beef cheek with truffled potato and wild mushrooms.

Rates at Le Blanc Spa Resort start at $800 per room, based on double occupancy.

Excellence Playa Mujeres

Cancun, Quintana Roo, Mexico

Best for: Travelers looking for an intimate all-inclusive experience that’s truly elevated.

Why stay here: This sleek adults-only property has a beautiful beachfront location and excels on all fronts, from the diverse culinary offerings to the luxe spa and spacious all-suite accommodations.

Best way to book: Book directly for the best deals and savings.

Located a 30-minute drive north of Cancun on Playa Mujeres, this adults-only all-inclusive resort overlooks a pristine swathe of white sand and impresses with stylish rooms that offer a variety of configurations and enhancements for guests looking to splurge on extra wow factor.

As this is an all-suite resort, expect spacious and tastefully appointed accommodations, which start at 800 square feet and come with a private furnished terrace, Jacuzzi, hardwood canopy bed dressed in luxe linens and marble bathrooms stocked with Bulgari toiletries. For a special occasion, upgrade to the Two-Story Rooftop Terrace Suite with a plunge pool, a sumptuous spa-like bathroom and extra perks like a pillow menu.

A true world-unto-itself resort experience, guests here will find endless opportunities to relax, recharge and be thoroughly entertained. There are seven palm-fringed swimming pools, a lazy river, a Greg Norman-designed golf course and an extensive menu of indulgent massages and treatments at the lavish Miile spa. Guests here rave about the hotel’s impeccable service and fine-dining options, with 12 restaurants serving everything from piquant Thai and classic Italian to simply grilled seafood and inventive takes on Mexican staples.

Rates at Excellence Playa Mujeres start at $606 per night, based on double occupancy.

Secrets The Vine Cancun

Cancun, Quintana Roo, Mexico

Best for: Urban couples looking for a design-forward resort with glorious Caribbean views, diverse culinary experiences, and imaginative non-stop programming.

Why stay here: Sleek, beachfront accommodations and an excellent World of Hyatt points redemption — a great use of those free night certificates.

Best way to book: Book directly with Hyatt to earn or redeem World of Hyatt points and enjoy any elite benefits.

For travelers looking for oceanside convenience and comfort — as well as nonstop entertainment — at the heart of Cancun’s Hotel Zone, this 497-key Secrets (Hyatt’s adults-only all-inclusive resort brand) is a great choice.

While some guests may find the rooms rather bland and generic, they are attractive nonetheless, with teak wooden furnishings, plush drapes and headboards, high-thread-count linens accented with blue throw cushions and large windows framing Caribbean views.

For that extra feeling of exclusivity, upgrade to the Preferred Club level, where spacious rooms (over 1,300 square feet in the Ocean Front Master Suites) include larger living spaces, a dining table, a soaking tub and furnished terraces, plus club-level perks like butler service, a designated swimming pool and a lounge area with drinks and bites.

Related: The best all-inclusive resorts in Mexico

Nine restaurants (five are a la carte) allow for sufficient culinary variety and a diversity of setting for guests staying a week or more: Olio specializes in inventive Mediterranean cuisine with a seafood focus; Nebbiolo Ristorante offers classic Italian staples in an elegant dining room or alfresco, and classic Peruvian fare is served along with laid-back beach vibes at Sea Salt Grill.

There are three infinity pools surrounded by loungers and cabanas (an extra fee applies), and active types can explore the coastline on a paddleboard or kayak, sign up for a dance class or play pool volleyball, while sybarites can indulge in such treatments as an Aromatherapy Salt Glow at the Spa by Pevonia.

Rates at Secrets The Vine Cancun start from $540 per night, based on double occupancy.

Hideaway at Royalton Riviera Cancun

Cancun, Quintana Roo, Mexico

Best for: Marriott Bonvoy members looking for a high-end all-inclusive in Mexico at which to earn and burn points.

Why stay here: The Hideaway is an adults-only all-inclusive paradise with glitzy perks like a Jacuzzi tub in all accommodations.

Best way to book: Book directly with Marriott.

One of a few Marriott hotel options available to Bonvoy loyalists in Cancun, the high-end Hideaway at Royalton Riviera Cancun is an adults-only Autograph Collection property that’s part of the Royalton Riviera Cancun resort.

Spacious accommodations offer plenty of style and substance, including whirlpool tubs, personalized beach bags and signature “Dreambeds” dressed in high-thread-count linens. The resort also features daily programming, 10 restaurants and 16 bars (including access to the adults-only Dorado), a massive fitness center and the Royal Spa, which offers a mix of treatments like massages and facials. Upgrade to the Diamond Club for more lavish rooms and access to a private swimming pool, an exclusive beach area and a raft of perks, like pillow menus and premium liquor selections.

Rates at Hideaway at Royalton Riviera Cancun start at $340 or 50,000 Marriott Bonvoy points per night for two guests.

Moon Palace Cancun

Cancun, Quintana Roo, Mexico

Best for: Families with kids in different age groups.

Why stay here: Moon Palace Cancun is one of the largest resorts in the Palace Resorts portfolio, which also has locations in Los Cabos, Mexico, and Jamaica. That means more restaurants, entertainment and activities to make your vacation even more memorable.

Best way to book: Book directly with the resort or through your favorite credit card portal.

A popular choice for families, the Moon Palace Cancun has a whopping 2,000 guest rooms divided between two distinct sections, Sunrise and Nizuc, which share restaurants, entertainment offerings and activities.

Nizuc tends to draw families with younger children thanks to its flexible room configurations (including family suites with connecting bedrooms) and an expansive pool complex with a waterslide.

The Sunrise section is where you’ll find the resort’s Noir nightclub, as well as more pools, including one with a surf simulator and arcade games at the Wired Lounge.

Rooms are plush and spacious, if a little dated for some tastes, with dark wooden furnishings and whirlpool tubs positioned in the bedroom area. For more elevated offerings, it’s worth splashing out on a fancier suite, like the Superior Junior Suite Golf Course View, which comes with its own golf cart.

In addition to the multiple pools with swim-up bars, there are dozens of bars and restaurants to choose from, serving everything from cantina-style Mexican to pan-Asian and gourmet burgers at La Burgueria. There’s also a Jack Nicolaus-designed golf course and a full-service spa with over 30 treatment rooms.

Rates at Moon Palace Cancun start at around $450 per night, based on double occupancy.

There are over a dozen excellent travel rewards credit cards out there for hotel stays. The right one(s) for you will depend on if you’re loyal to a particular program or chain, whether you want premium perks, and if you value benefits like annual free nights, automatic elite status and lucrative earning rates.

Here are three great credit cards to use for booking stays across a variety of hotel chains and independent properties while still enjoying money-saving features and high-end benefits, though.

The Platinum Card® from American Express

Earning rates: This card earns 5 points per dollar on airfare purchased directly with the airlines or through the Amex Travel portal (on up to $500,000 of airfare purchases per calendar year). Plus, you’ll earn 5 points per dollar on prepaid hotels booked with Amex Travel. All other purchases earn 1 point per dollar. Remember, Amex points transfer to Hilton Honors at a 1:2 ratio, to Marriott Bonvoy at a 1:1 ratio and to Choice Privileges at a 1:1 ratio, and there are sometimes transfer bonuses.

Benefits: This card is absolutely packed with perks, but among the travel-related ones you’ll want to maximize, including some hotel-specific benefits are:

*Enrollment is required for select benefits.

Annual fee: $695 (see rates and fees).

Read our review of the Amex Platinum card.

Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card

Earning rates: Earn an unlimited 10 miles per dollar on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel, 5 miles per dollar on flights booked through Capital One Travel and an unlimited 2 miles per dollar on all other purchases

Benefits: Cardholders get $300 in credits annually for bookings made through Capital One Travel. Plus 10,000 bonus miles every account anniversary, starting on your first anniversary (worth $100 toward travel). Through the Capital One Premier Collection, cardmembers can enjoy free breakfast, on-property credits and room upgrades (if available) on stays at participating properties booked through Capital One Travel. They also receive up to $100 in statement credits for either TSA PreCheck or Global Entry.

Annual fee: $395 (see rates and fees).

Read our review of the Capital One Venture X.

Chase Sapphire Preferred Card

Earning rates: This card accrues 5 points per dollar on travel booked through the Chase travel portal, on Lyft purchases (through March 2025) and on Peloton equipment and accessory purchases of $150 or more (through March 2025, with a limit of 25,000 bonus points). It also racks up 3 points per dollar on dining, select streaming services and online grocery store purchases (excludes Target, Walmart and wholesale clubs); 2 points per dollar on all travel not booked through the Chase travel portal; and 1 point per dollar on everything else.

Benefits: Cardholders receive a $50 statement credit on hotel stays purchased through the Chase Ultimate Rewards travel portal upon opening the card and each following cardmember anniversary. They also receive a 10% bonus based on their total spending during the account anniversary year at a rate of 1 point for each $10 spent. This card also has some of the best travel protections in the industry, including trip cancellation insurance, trip delay insurance and primary rental car coverage, among other policies.

Annual fee: $95.

Read our review of the Chase Sapphire Preferred.

Related reading:

For rates and fees of the Amex Platinum, click here.