Elite All-Inclusive Oceanview Resort with Championship Golf Course and Spa

Though El Cid Castilla Beach is technically an oceanfront hotel on Mexico’s northern Pacific coast, it feels much more like a village. The all-inclusive property has a championship-style golf course, a shopping plaza, a recreational-watersports center, and is located near a nightclub. You could easily fill a day by lounging alongside one of the pools or fishing in the Pacific Ocean. But considering El Cid Castilla Beach also gives guests access to facilities at its sister properties—El Cid El Moro Beach, El Cid Granada Country Club, and El Cid Marina Beach—you might want to save time for some offsite recreation, as well. A complimentary shuttle provides transportation to all four locations, and the front desk can set up reservations for tours, meals, and excursions.

El Cid Castilla Beach centers on two freeform swimming pools embellished with waterfalls, caves, and slides. Guests can enjoy tropical cocktails and snacks at the swim-up bar, or soak up the sun from lounge chairs. A golden-sand beach, located just steps away, offers a quieter scene with shady palapa huts and stunning ocean views.

The package covers all meals at the resort’s three restaurants, which serve everything from upscale Italian fare to casual oceanfront buffets. At La Pergola Dinner Theater, guests can enjoy themed dinners and live musical performances. Complimentary meals are also offered at many of the sister property restaurants. After nights of dancing and dining, guests can retire to their ocean-view rooms, where private balconies usher in warm ocean breezes.

One of the resort’s biggest draws is its wide range of activities. As part of the all-inclusive package, guests can enjoy up to one hour of kayaking or boogie boarding every day at the onsite aqua center. A daily activities program includes morning yoga and water polo, and kids can sign up for treasure hunts and painting classes. The $600 Mega Pass coupon book included in this Getaway offers discounts on the resort’s noncomplimentary opportunities, such as fishing-boat rentals, spa services, cultural tours, and a round of golf.

Mazatlán, Mexico: Glittering Nightclubs and Historic Plazas

There are two distinct sides to Mazatlán. The Zona Dorada, or golden zone, embodies oceanfront development at its glitziest. Resort high rises intermingle with restaurants and nightclubs along Avenida Camarón Sábalo. The most popular nightspot is a castle-like complex known as Fiestaland, where bars and discos cluster around an open-air dance floor packed with medieval knights attempting to dance the robot.

There's also the Centro Historico, or historic district, where a massive restoration effort has brought the cobblestone streets, wrought-iron doorways, and colonnaded arcades back to life. At its heart lies Plaza Machado, a central square often bustling with folk music. The Angela Peralta Theater forms the hub of the reinvigorated arts scene, and the central street market showcases a cross section of Mazatlán’s culinary staples: fresh fish, dried chilies, and heaps of fruit.

Read the Fine Print for important info on travel dates and other restrictions.