Greetings from Canada,

We are in the process of booking an all-inclusive in November and are finding it difficult to decide between the following. Pls help us decide by providing us with your views. We are a family of 4 - 2 kids ages 4 and 6. Many thanks:
Crown Paradise Club - Cancun
Bahia Principe - Tulum

Shultzy...you may want to go to the Latin American forum on this website. There is a lot of information on this region.

Cancun and Tulum are worlds apart in terms of landscape. Cancun has more nightlife, and the hustle and bustle of a tourist city, there a so many good restaurants there I probably wouldn't do an AL. Tulum on the other hand is beautiful but very quiet, there are some decent ruins. Both beaches will be very nice. Why not split the time between both places!

An excellent compromise in your search would be the Royal Hideaway in the Playa del Carmen area.
It's the only all-inclusive I'd ever recommend.
Lots to do and see in PDC without sacrificing the opportunity to experience the charm of Mexico and the people.

Just wanted to point out that Royal Hideaway IS a great choice, however I don't think they allow children under the age of 16 to stay there. (at least that was the case when I went there a year ago). - Susan

Crown Paradise is known for being having excellent kids programs and being an overall great hotel. If you have an oceanview, the view is spectacular the way the building curves. Always had a good time there and I don't have kids.

Hi Shultzy - I prefer south of Cancun over Cancun itself so I would pick the Bahia Principe over the Crown Paradise Club. I've read some great reviews on the Bahia Principe - it looks like a wonderful all-inclusive.

Thanks for the great advise. also thats for the info regarding to find Cancun. I was at a loss as to what cat. it was under.

Regards

I have been to Cancun and the Mayan Reviera many times and have enjoyed both very much but as it was said in a earlier post they are world apart. Cancun is more of a party city and Mayan Reviera is more layed back and more tropical. I would recomend the Crown for the Cancun area but I would HIGHLY recomend the Palladium for south of Cancun. Palladium is somewhat of a new hotel (it is only a year old) and my husband and I enjoyed it very much. We had just returned from a week stay there and I did not want to return home. Good luck in choosing a place to stay.

Stayed at Crown Paradise last year, its an excellent hotel, only one grouse-not enough pool loungers and daily people got into arguments over this. Mayan Riviera satyed at Barcelo Maya last easter. The M.R. has wonderful beaches with natural shade, palms on the sand,unlike Crown and more than enough loungers at poolside and on beach. I would pick Mayan Riviera.

I really hate to crash everyone's opinion of the Bahia Principe Tulum but here goes the story: My husband and I first stayed there for a week in October of 2001 and had a fabulous time. The beach was relatively clean but the rocks required aqua shoes be worn while in the water. The staff was so outgoing and friendly that we couldn't wait to get back. We went back in December of 2002 and the rocks were cleared away so no cutting feet and didn't wear aqua shoes once. Again, staff was wonderful, etc. Upon our return April of 2003, we found a completely different situation. The bus ride took 2 1/2 hours with 7 stops along the way at different hotels. We requested rooms in certain villas and all were booked (I believe they close some of them because the resort was definitely not crowded). Rocks on the beach were so bad we spent almost no time at the beach. The pools were the only choice left; however, the filtration system broke down and parts of the pool were actually brown. It seemed the staff had no interest in their jobs - just played the games (volleyball, etc) and even Victor, our staff buddy was planning on joining a new resort. There were children no older than 12 walking around with half empty tequila bottles in their hands (several parents were close by) and little ones were just plain drunk. I have requested that Apple Vacations lower this resort from a 5 golden apple to a 4 at best. This is not a place I'll return to. We will spend the end of January at the Royal Hideaway, but no children under 16 are allowed. I agree with the Cancun people, I much prefer the Riviera Maya to Cancun. I have also heard the Palladium is excellent but have never stayed there. Sorry to be the bearer of bad news, but thought you'd like to hear from me before booking. Good luck!

I stayed at Crown Paradise 2 years ago and did not like it. The food was so/so, the rooms needed updating, and I did not feel that there were many childrens activities. I would not stay there again.