Spacious Suites Steps from Private Beach

Halfway between Cancún and Playa del Carmen, a large private beach is tucked into the coastline of the Yucatán Peninsula. Dotted with kayakers, sunbathers, and windsurfers, the beach belongs to the Hotel Marina El Cid Spa & Beach Resort, whose sunshine-yellow stucco walls rise from the sand a few steps away. Past an entrance flanked by palm trees, you'll check in for a relaxing, all-inclusive vacation, during which all meals, snacks, and alcoholic drinks are covered and you don't have to worry about anything but enjoying the sparkling Riviera Maya.

The resort's primary attraction is its 22,000-square-foot pool, which is accessorized with water slides, rock formations, and separate play areas for kids. The poolside Hacienda Arrecife restaurant and swim-up bar serve fresh Mexican fare and cocktails when you're ready for a rest. Sun chairs, set in the shallows of the water and under palapa huts, are surrounded on all sides by palm trees and winding garden paths.

Later, head to one of the four onsite restaurants for dinner. Along with Hacienda Arrecife, there's La Marina, where you can dine on fresh seafood while taking in views of yachts bobbing in their slips at the resort's marina; El Alcazar, which serves Asian-Mediterranean fusion fare in an intimate setting; and laid-back Alhambra, home to a wide-ranging buffet.

In airy junior suites, private balconies overlook the Caribbean Sea, the pool, or the lush hotel gardens. Inside, each suite features sleek yet comfortable furnishings, an in-room jacuzzi, and a spacious marble bathroom. Complimentary 24-hour room service keeps the kitchen at your beck and call, and a mini bar is stocked with beer, soda, and bottled water that you can enjoy at no extra charge.

Puerto Morelos, Mexico: Reefs, Snorkeling, and Ancient Mayan Culture

Located less than a mile from the quaint fishing village of Puerto Morales, the Hotel Marina El Cid is about a 30-minute drive from both Playa del Carmen and Cancún. The resort overlooks the Puerto Morelos National Reef Park, one of the largest reefs in the Western Hemisphere. It's a popular snorkeling site thanks to the diverse underwater wildlife living there.

Nearby, stalactites and stalagmites jut from the floor and ceiling of Aktun-Chen, an underground cave where adventurers can snorkel through an ancient natural well. Eighty minutes from the resort, ancient Mayan culture is on display at the Tulum ruins, where crowds flock to see an impeccably well-preserved walled city overlooking the sea.