Exhausted and frustrated in trying to find the right all-inclusive resort for your next vacation in Cancun or the Riviera Maya in Mexico?  There is a LOT of info out there for vacationers who don’t want to use a travel agent’s help or suggestions–most travel agents truly do work hard to find just the right vacation “fit” for their clients, but some agents will push resorts which offer the most commission.

I have a lot of respect for a popular travel videographer on YouTube–her travel moniker is 3 Days 3 Noches and her name is Blanche Ryder.  She just put out a recycled video she had already put on YouTube about how to choose the right all-inclusive resort.  There are many useful tips in that video, plus there is a link posted in the video’s description about getting the forms she uses in planning her own vacations.  Just a note, the video is comprehensive like her resort reviews, and this video is 40 minutes long.  If you want to view it, just click here.

There were a few topics that were left out, perhaps because she was trying to cover all-inclusive resorts anywhere, not just in Cancun or the Riviera Maya.  Well, there are a few pieces of additional information vacationers may want to be aware of that are location specific for this part of Mexico when researching all-inclusive resorts.

If you are a return visitor to Cancun and the Riviera Maya, this will not be news to you.  However, if you are a newbie to the area with vacationing in mind, here’s some additional information to consider which may actually influence your vacation decision making.

First of all, Cancun is NOT the Riviera Maya, they are two separate areas in the eastern part of the Yucatan Peninsula.  Cancun is approximately 764 sq. miles and consists of the city center (Cancun Centro) and its environs where much of the city’s population is located.  Cancun also consists of what is known as the Hotel Zone which is actually a 14 mile spit of land shaped like the number 7; most people are drawn to this area of Mexico as a vacation destination because of its various ocean blue hues, and the Hotel Zone is where you can find these waters.  But wait, there’s more–the most beautiful beaches and blue hues of Cancun waters can only be found on the vertical part of the Hotel Zone’s “7”, the northern facing beaches along the Hotel Zone have greener waters and are much calmer for swimming.  Individuals and families who value being able to swim in the ocean would fare much better booking a resort on the northern side of the “7”.  Guests staying at resorts on the east side facing the Caribbean Sea may be wowed by the ocean hues, but most of the time the beaches there are “red flagged” which basically means you really cannot get too far out in the water, the lifeguards typically whistle in those who venture out when the water gets past your knees.  And that’s no fun for those who want to come to Cancun to swim in the ocean.

Courtesy Cancun Care

Here are some other points about Cancun which may help you decide whether you wish to book a resort here or not:

• The Hotel Zone is filled with high rise resorts one after another, so it could be seen as a “concrete jungle”.
• Everything is within easy reach–the city buses are frequent, cheap, and cover the entire area of Cancun.  City buses can be ridden for only 12 MXN (Mexican Pesos), or $1 USD p/person one way.
• If you are looking to party all night at the many popular clubs, Cancun’s Hotel Zone is THE place to stay.  Some all-inclusive resorts are within walking distance to these clubs (Riu Cancun, Riu Palace Las Americas, Hyatt Ziva Cancun, Fiesta Americana Coral Beach, Krystal Cancun, Krystal Altitude Cancun, and Dreams Sands are a few of the all-inclusives closest to the clubs).
• American-like malls are easy to reach via bus in the Hotel Zone and offer plenty of well recognized brands.  So if you like to shop while on vacation, the Hotel Zone is the best place to book–stay at a resort on the vertical side of the “7” for easiest access to these malls.
• If you like what large mega-resorts have to offer, Cancun (including the Hotel Zone) will not fit your vacation bill.  If you want to stay as close as possible to the Hotel Zone and stay at a larger all-inclusive, you will have to travel north of downtown Cancun and stay either at Planet Hollywood Cancun or the Grand Palladium Costa Mujeres.
• Cancun is the best place to stay if you are interested in taking a ferry to Isla Mujeres for a nice day trip.  There are three separate ferry terminals in the Hotel Zone, and two more north of downtown Cancun (one accepts cars)
• Cancun also includes the area south of the Hotel Zone (by Punta Nizuc) and goes as far south as Puerto Morelos.  That’s officially where the Riviera Maya begins.  Resorts south of Cancun’s Hotel Zone, like the popular Moon Palace, would be considered a Cancun resort.

Tourists looking for a more jungle-like vacation experience should book a resort in the Riviera Maya.  Most travelers vacationing in the Riviera Maya stay along the coast which is approximately 80 miles long.  Officially, the Riviera Maya starts at Puerto Morelos (about 15 miles south of the Cancun airport) and ends at the Sian Ka’an Biosphere which is about a 25 minute drive south of Tulum.  The Riviera Maya has several towns along the 80 miles of coastline including Puerto Morelos, Playa Paraiso, Playa del Carmen, Puerto Aventuras, Xpu-Ha, Akumal, Ciudad Chemuyil, and Tulum.  Tulum and Playa del Carmen are the largest towns along this route; Playa del Carmen is where most visitors shop (on 5th Ave.) or take the ferry to Cozumel for a day trip.

Here are some other points about the Riviera Maya which may help you decide whether you want to book a resort here or not:

• There are several mega-resorts along this 80 mile stretch of coastline.  Mega-resorts offer guests amenities that smaller resorts cannot offer including extensive water parks, multiple pools, and lots of room to walk around and explore on-site.
• If you want to vacation with wildlife surrounding you, the Riviera Maya is the place to be.  Depending on the resort, you can see monkeys, agouti, and coati, none of which can be seen on-site at Cancun resorts.
• Not easy to shop in the Riviera Maya unless you are staying in Playa del Carmen.
• Vacationers looking to party should stay in Playa del Carmen; many of the same clubs as Cancun are located in the town of Playa del Carmen.
• The Riviera Maya is filled with parks–Xcaret, Xplor, Xavage, Xel-Ha, are just some of the many parks vacationers can visit for some extra fun.
• Tulum ruins and cenotes are easily accessible in the Riviera Maya.
• If your vacation plans include visiting Chichén Itzà, your travel time to and from the ruins will be greatly decreased when you stay in the Riviera Maya.
• Getting around via public transportation is possible right now but not as easy as it is in Cancun.  Public transportation in the Riviera Maya is primarily taken by locals on small shuttle buses called Colectivos.  Currently, Mexico is building the Maya Train which is supposed to be operational by the end of 2023 which will make it much easier to get around not only the Riviera Maya, but across the Yucatan Peninsula.
• Snorkelers will not want to miss turtle haven at Akumal Bay in the Riviera Maya.  It’s very difficult to find good snorkeling in Cancun.

Have I missed any of the basics?  Hopefully this gives you a general basis of knowledge from which to make your vacation plans.  You cannot jump right into choosing resorts for your vacation in this part of Mexico without knowing what you want out of your vacation and where it can be found.

Part 2 of this article will focus on what’s the best time of year to visit Cancun and the Riviera Maya as well as the basics of what resort companies are more likely to fit your budget.

Let me know if there is anything I forgot here!!