Cancun or Riviera Maya: where to stay?
 

We are planning to go to Cancun over winter holidays. We are 4 including 2 girls, less than 15 yo. I am looking for suggestions as to where to stay? The goal is to spend a day or so visiting the Mayan ruins in Tulum and Chichen Itza and spend th rest in/around water (beach and pool). We will be there 4 days and 5 nights. I am looking for suggestion on hotels as well.

Thanks for you suggestions and help.

www.cancun.bookit.com good packages

PDC for me better beaches

Some of the Cancun beaches have lost

a ton of sand...still nice though

I agree. If you want beach stay in the Playa del Carmen/Riviera Maya area. About an hour outside of Cancun. That area is also closer to Tulum and Chichen Itza.

For hotels check out the RIU's, Iberostars, Barcelos, and Occidentals. Your girls would probably like a day trip to Xcaret. Nice eco water park with an underground river, inlets for swimming, as few animal attractions and a really cool night show.

I loved the Akumal Beach Resort. You can snorkel right off of their beach (which is nice) and it's close to Tulum. Lower key than most AIs so you won't have to worry a bit about your kids not being welcome.

You should be able to do the tours from anywhere you stay in la Riviera Maya. It might be a bit difficult to do both Chichen Itza and Tulum in one day. I mean, it is doable, but you end up spending too much time traveling in one day.

You might consider doing a day trip to Yucatan (Chichen Itza, Balam Kanche, Dzitnup Cenotes, Valladolid, Ek Balam Ruins) and doing a Riviera Maya tour a different day. If you are only looking for a one day tour, you might consider doing Coba and Tulum in one day instead of Chichen Itza.

Not sure how much under 15 years your girls are, but basically if they are 13/14/15 I would recommend you guys stay at an AI in PDC within walking distance to 5th Ave.

Akumal and Tulum are nice, but they might lack a bit on the social aspect for your lil ones.

Manny

I think the Riviera Maya is a better area and nicer beaches. It's central so it's easy and close to get to different day trips.
Beth
http://www.riviera-maya-hotels.com/

Cancun is getting a huge influx of new sand/beach repair right now, & beach repair should be finished within a month.
It looks like there will be tons of sand again. Hope it's being done "right" this time...beaches were repaired in 2007 but washed away within the year...

I would also recommend Playa del Carmen as a home base. The north end of town has the best beaches. Realize that Chichen Itza is along ride, and you should probably plan to spend most of the day on a trip there. An alternative to Chichen Itza might be Coba, which is little over an hour from Playa. The kids might actually enjoy Coba more, since you can rent bicycles there to explore the ruins which are half covered in jungle. There's also a monkey habitat close by Coba, and lots of cenotes along the highway en route.