Cancún hotels

The pampering at Le Blanc Spa Resort, personalized butlers and all, is so over the top that you may never want to leave. Rooms are pimped out with double hot tubs, the restaurants serve some of the city’s finest gourmet fare and the complementary hydrotherapy pool puts you in instant vacation mode.

Should you manage to pry yourself away from this great white wonder, a thriving nightlife scene is a short walk away, and yet the hotel is far enough removed from the thumping discos to get a good night’s sleep.

The contemporary architecture at this secluded resort in Punta Nizuc, the southernmost tip of the hotel zone, is a gorgeous blend of Mexican and Asian design. Sporting airy open spaces, soothing water features and ocean views nearly everywhere you turn, it’s minimalism done right.

The private beach is smaller than some other luxury hotels up the coast but it never feels crowded. The cherry on top is Ni, a breezy Peruvian restaurant specializing in fresh ceviche.

A solid central option for business travellers and families, this well-run hotel’s spacious suites give you plenty of bang for your back, plus it puts you in the middle of an up-and-coming restaurant zone.

The larger suites sleep four comfortably and have full kitchens, making them an ideal setup for small groups or families. Kick the day off at the adjoining Café Nader with a Veracruz-style café con leche (coffee with milk) and fresh-baked pastries.

Sitting pretty on a secluded stretch of coast about halfway between Cancún and Puerto Morelos, the Waldorf Astoria has so many things to like. That starts with the oceanfront rooms with swim-up pools, the exquisite dining and a pet-friendly policy that means plenty of fancy treats for your pooch. The Waldorf has a rich offering of activities geared toward families, too.

As the name suggests, the sunny rooftop pool is the main draw at this backpackers’ favourite. I like the tidy rooms, Sunday BBQ parties, strong Wi-Fi and the open-air bar’s convivial vibe.

What’s more, it’s just a short walk from the ADO bus station and an even shorter distance to the main drag, where you can catch transportation to the beach and nightclubs.

Pecari has so much working in its favour, and best of all, it’s remarkably affordable by Cancún standards. I love the backyard pool and the convenience of having a nearby bus stop.

This makes it easy to move back and forth between the city centre and the beach. You really couldn’t ask for a quieter city centre neighbourhood and there’s parking available to boot.

Does the world really need another wannabe eco-hotel? Rest assured that the King of the Caribbean is the real deal with its solar-powered water heaters, waste recycling and rainwater harvesting. Rooms here come with full kitchens, free breakfast and towel animals (because who doesn’t like bleached white swans?).

They also overlook a small pool and tropical garden that’s home to a family of nocturnal opossums. Up on the rooftop, you can greet the new day with Kundalini and Hatha yoga sessions for a small additional cost.

In a hotel zone filled with some of the world’s biggest international resorts, this relatively small family-run establishment comes as a pleasant surprise.

A stay here presents an opportunity to support a locally owned business, and here’s the kicker: it’s quite a find price-wise. Granted, it faces the lagoon side of the hotel zone, but the sunset views from the infinity pool are mesmerizing and the beach is just a stone’s throw away.

The JW is one of the city’s premier business hotels. It has a custom catering service and eight event rooms, including one of Cancún’s largest conference venues.

This means it can host large-scale gatherings or one-on-one meetings in pleasant workspaces. The hotel is near the world-class Museo Maya, open-air shopping centre La Isla and a golf course overlooking the pretty Nichupté lagoon.

Kempinski’s elegant 5-star Cancún property hosts meetings and events in gorgeous indoor and outdoor spaces, taking full advantage of its privileged location on the Mexican Caribbean.

Add the tennis courts, large oceanfront pools and award-winning restaurants to the mix and you have more than enough amenities to help you unwind after a day of wheeling and dealing.