Punta Cana/La Romana or Riviera Maya/Cancun with kids
 

What would you choose?We are two couples with young kids looking for all inclusive hotel with goo beach and calm waters.
thanks

Mexico... no contest or comparison!

I was going to agree w/ Suze, but the "calm water" part of your request is throwing me. Cancun can have very rough water. During our last few visits, the beach in front of our hotel often had a red flag on it. Maybe check Playa Del Carmen instead, which would be a great location with kids- closer to tourist sites, just across from the huge park in Cozumel, etc. I seem to remember the beach there was much calmer.

mex for sure. not cancun. near playa del carmen is nice or further south around akumal.
look at locogringo.com for list of most of the ai's on the maya riviera. also check xcaret.com & xelha.com - great parks that the kids will like

Oh sure, to be more specific I do not recommend Cancun proper. But flying in there then heading somewhere nearby... Isla Mujeres, Playa del Carmen, Akumal, Tulum, etc.

Mostly my recommendation comes because I love Mexico (20+ trips) and didn't think all that of the DR (2x).

Just for reference, the calmer water in Cancun will be at hotels on the top of the "7" of the hotel zone facing the Bahi de Mujeres. Like the Oasis Viva, the RUI's, Grand Caribe, Fiesta American and Dreams which is right on the corner just to name a few.

The hotels that face the Laguna Nichupte and the Caribbean Sea will sometimes have rough water. Depending on the time of the year and the weather variances. So it really makes a difference at what hotel you choose if beach is your main priority. On our prior trips, we've always chose a hotel on the top of the 7 for that very reason. The beach at the Oasis Viva, which is basically shared with the some of the RIUs and the Fiesta American is really nice.

I answered the OP's question on thier post in the Mexico forum, but I also agree with the Riviera Maya/Playa del Carmen area of Mexico.