All-inclusive resorts in Cancun for a glamorous beach holiday

With a private beach to doze on, the family-friendly Grand Fiesta Americana Coral Beach is the definition of rest. Spend time on the sand or settle down on a deck chair beside the heated cascading pool, letting the trickle of the water lull you into a gentle nap.

Rooms are equally plush at this hotel, with comfortable king-size beds, fresh white linens and polished flooring. Whichever of the 602 suites you book, you’ll look out over the shocking aquamarine tones of the Caribbean Sea and have a private terrace or balcony to make the most of the views.

For a local experience, take the high-speed ferry straight from the hotel to Isla Mujeres, a palm-tree lined isle just an hour across the waves. Or, stay put and explore Mexican culture through your tastebuds. Sign up for a tequila tasting at La Joya restaurant, nibble on Yucatán hors d’oeuvres at Viña Del Mar or feast on fresh fish—from pescadillas to blue crab tostadas—at Isla Contoy.

Surround yourself with the sea at Paradisus Resort—this hotel has the Nichupté Lagoon to its back and the cerulean Caribbean Sea to the front, meaning you get aquatic views from every room. Check out the panoramas from a king-size bed in a junior suite, with a pillow menu and personalized turndown service for customized comfort.

Of the nine eateries and drinking holes, make sure to stop by Michelin-rated Chef Martin Berasategui’s vintage-style Tempo for formal dinners. You can also sample Peruvian-Japanese fusion at Fuego with a raw bar and treats like spiced ceviche. For drinks, order a fruit-spiked cocktail and perch on a quirky hand-shaped chair in the sultry Red Lounge.

If you’d rather indulge in cultural activities inspired by nations across the globe, you’ll find sushi workshops, wine tastings and tequila tastings going on. Just here to relax? Stake out a spot by one of the four spacious pools all day long.

The clue’s in the name with Le Blanc Spa Resort: this 5-star venue is all about indulgent therapies and relaxation-centred luxury. When you check into this adults-only hotel, you’ll find a butler presiding over each floor and a concierge service to wait on you hand and foot at the three swimming pools.

Refinement extends to drinking and dining too: ask for a mixed drink made from prestigious brands like Grey Goose vodka and Don Julio tequila. For nibbles, treat yourself to fine French fare such as parsley-peppered escargot risotto at on-site restaurant Lumière.

As day breaks, open up your French doors to let in the sea breeze as you have your morning coffee. You might fill your day with a round of beach volleyball or a yoga or Pilates class, or simply stake your claim on a warm sunbed. Whatever you choose, you can prepare for bed come evening in your spacious bath with double shower heads.

Get yourself a thatched gazebo by the pool at Moon Palace Golf & Spa Resort, and you’ll have a comfy spot for viewing the latest big sporting event on a huge screen. The resort’s other amenities might inspire you up from your deck chair, though: head indoors for games in the arcade and console lounge, or test your surf skills on the Flowrider® Double Wave Simulator. If you’d rather stick to the open air, there’s a 27-hole Jack Nicklaus-designed golf course on-site with unlimited play included in certain packages.

You’re in Mexico after all, so make your first food stop at one of the three on-site restaurants specializing in the region’s famous cuisine. You can try traditional Mayan recipes at Riviera Maya, where you’ll tear into still-warm tortillas amid a casual diner vibe.

Back in your room, crack open your complimentary bottle of wine and run a bath in the double tub. It’s next to the balcony for views over the flourishing gardens while you soak. You’ll also have a coffee machine for your morning cup—an aromatic accompaniment to a room-service breakfast of pancakes dripping in syrup.

For a stay 600 metres from the white-sand shores of Playa Delfines—with pedal boating, yachting and kayaking at the Aquaworld Marina included—opt for family-friendly Crown Paradise Club Cancún. Vacations here are spent bopping between the beach and the spacious waterpark’s nine water slides, plus sessions in the spa for mom and dad.

Rooms at this hotel are luxurious, with glossy flooring and views of the sparkling sea from private balconies. Upgrade to a Honeymoon Suite if you’re celebrating and look forward to lowering yourself into the bubbles of your own terrace Jacuzzi.

As for dinner, treat your tastebuds to meals like freshly-landed seafood and prime cuts of meat in the five restaurants on-site. Head to the Las Brisas bar to sit by the water with a lime-garnished cocktail—the perfect way to re-energize for activities ranging from mini-golf to water polo in one of the three on-site swimming pools.

During your stay at Panama Jack Resorts Cancún, you can flit from thrill-seeking at the waterpark to chill-seeking in a poolside cabana (complete with a waiter to keep the micheladas flowing). If you want some serious downtime, pop to Aura Spa—with its serene steam bath, outdoor tub and sauna—for healing hydrotherapy sessions.

On top of getting you access to children’s area Camp Jack, family rooms here sprawl over 387 square feet with kid-friendly furnishings like twin bunks and a trundle bed. Once the little ones are sound asleep, drop into the balcony hammock for a much-deserved snooze.

Not sure which of the five restaurants to choose for dinner? Grab a zingy margarita and juicy hot dog from the food cart to stave off hunger while you make up your mind. If you’re fond of rifling through the racks, the La Isla Shopping Village is a five-minute drive away and there’s a bus stop outside the resort for forays further afield.

Dreams Sands Cancún Resort & Spa is set on 650 feet of powder-soft beach, making it an epic spot to watch the sunset. By day, you can swim in the turquoise sea, drift between the two swimming pools or go for a warming dip in one of three Jacuzzis. Pack the kids off to the Explorer’s Club or get your partner to supervise them on the ocean trampoline while you learn a bit of Spanish or take a Caribbean dance class. If you’re seeking culture, head off an organized tour of Chichen Itza, the ancient Mayan temple that’s one of the Wonders of the World.

Prefer to stick around the hotel? Munch your way through meals at the nine eateries, from a European-style ice cream parlour to a Mediterranean restaurant with an open side facing the ocean. Head to your room after dinner for private panoramas of Isla Mujeres in the distance. Splash out on a Preferred Club Ocean Front Corner Suite for an all-angles view of the sea from the king-size bed thanks to wide windows on both sides.

Modern and minimal, Óleo Cancún Playa All-Inclusive Boutique is a stylish spot for a week or two away. Its rooms follow a Scandinavian theme of tactile rugs, soft neutrals and refined furnishings—not to mention crisp linens and upscale Malin+Goetz® bath amenities. Choose from spaces that overlook the aqua tones of the sea or tranquil lagoon.

The ocean vistas continue at the resort’s own restaurants, including Almar with its floor-to-ceiling windows that frame the Caribbean Sea. Sink into floral overstuffed chairs in this light-filled dining area for Mediterranean meals featuring seafood, lamb or duck.

To work off the indulgence, you’ll find a gym with high-tech equipment and a hydrotherapy circuit with sleek steam room and sauna for after the cool down. You can meditate in the outdoor relaxation area as you breathe in the salty air, or swing in the hanging chairs outside the spa while browsing the treatments available. You’ll enjoy personalized service at the spa and elsewhere in this resort: look out for extras like a VIP concierge, tanning and sunscreen menu and a welcome drink at check-in.