One of my favorite vloggers, 3 Days 3 Noches, recently put out a video highlighting a popular family-friendly Cancun resort–Hyatt Ziva Cancun. This resort opened in late 2015 after an extensive renovation (it used to be Dreams Cancun), and quickly became a family-friendly resort favorite.
SLS Playa Mujeres opens mid November 2025. If you were expecting a Paradisus resort, forget it, it’s now an SLS property.
For those interested in what cosmetic changes have been made to the Omni (now known as the Wyndham Grand Cancun), here’s a video which does a good job of summarizing the resort’s amenities and features. I wish the videographer would have showcased one of the villa suites since I think it’s always been one of this resort’s best draws. Glad to see Wyndham still kept the sushi station and the beachfront swim-up bar area!
If you are interested in swim-ups/swim-outs at all-inclusive resorts like I am, check out this oceanfront villa swim-out at Iberostar Selection Cancun. This resort is located on a very popular stretch of beach in Cancun’s Hotel Zone and about a 20-min. drive north of the Cancun airport. Here’s what the resort in general has to offer: Continue reading
Krystal Cancun Hotel is a family-friendly all-inclusive optional resort right in the heart of the Hotel Zone at Punta Cancun and across from Cancun’s convention center. Fortunately (or unfortunately–it depends on how you look at it), the resort is situated a stone’s throw from Cancun’s famous clubs so the sound and activity level can go up a notch or two late in the evenings. The closest club is Mandalay, so their Tuesday night beach party can go until 3:30 a.m. Guests staying in Tower B should be forewarned that you will get the brunt of Mandalay and party zone noise.
Looking for more affordable all-inclusive resorts in Cancun? Here’s a family-friendly all-inclusive optional resort just north of downtown Cancun on the way to Playa/Costa Mujeres beach areas. It’s the All Ritmo Cancun Resort and Waterpark (which used to be called Sea Adventure Resort and Waterpark); it changed its name two years ago, but most of what the resort has to offer has not differed in any significant manner.
Here’s another suite review of a Cancun resort for those on a budget (the first one I reviewed was a swim-up suite at the Flamingo Cancun Resort Hotel). Few have probably heard of Emporio Cancun; it is an all-inclusive optional, meaning that vacationers who book don’t necessarily have the all-inclusive plan, so be careful if you are booking it yourself using a wholesaler. There are three basic meal plans: room-only (European Plan), bed and breakfast plan, and the all-inclusive plan.
I stayed at Dreams Playa Mujeres several years ago in a Preferred Club Jr. Suite; if I ever return here, the Preferred Club Master Suite Swim-Out would be a great alternative to match my vacation favorites–a swim-up suite with lots of space plus an ocean view. Perfect.
Families are often hampered by space or finances when vacationing. Everyone either gets squeezed together in a small space or winds up in a location that is a second or third choice because it is more affordable. Not so with this very easy on the wallet oceanfront all-inclusive in Cancun. The Occidental Tucancún (a Barcelo resort) is located on a good stretch of beach facing the Caribbean Sea in the Hotel Zone; it is also located right behind the Kukulkan Mall for those who may want to shop. It offers 332 rooms in several different building sections, three pools (one is adults-only), four restaurants, a 24-hr. snack bar, a spa, a gym, and a Kid’s Club. A couple of negatives at this resort, though, WiFi is an extra cost and there is little beach shade. Not all guest rooms have balconies either. But for the cost and location, it is a nice find in the Hotel Zone.
Majestic Elegance Costa Mujeres is a brand new resort which just opened north of Cancun. It recently changed its name from Majestic Elegance Playa Mujeres to Majestic Elegance Costa Mujeres. I recently posted a video of a swim-up room; here’s a video of the public spaces in order to give everyone a look at its general architecture and design.