American Airlines has a great fare to cancun from JFK for next weekend and I would like to take advantage of it. Can anyone suggest a hotel? Is it possible to stay somewhere without any timeshare/vacation club sales pressure?<BR>Since we will only be there for a few days, a great pool and calm beach for the kids would be the best. All inclusive is okay too. Any thoughts? Thanks, Patty

If you're looking for calm water for the kids, you should stay on the bay side of Cancun, which faces Isla Mujeres.<BR><BR>Fiesta Americana has a huge pool, but is also one of the priciest resorts in Cancun.<BR><BR>Calinda Viva is on the lower end, but gets good marks for being a clean, reasonably priced hotel.<BR><BR>The Casa Maya is another option -- middle of the road, nice room that I saw.<BR><BR>The Gran Caribe Real is an all-inclusive that also generally gets good marks.<BR><BR>As for avoiding the timeshare/vacation club sales, it seems like just about hotel has that side to it. Smile and firmly say no thanks. I used to be able to use the "I'm not married" or "I'm only 26" excuses (you usually have to be married and 27 or older), but those haven't worked for more years than I'd care to remember. Saying that you're leaving the next day usually works (and in the case of your short trip, would probably be true!).

I was in Cancun a couple years ago and stayed at Fiesta Americana Coral Beach. It is beautiful hotel. First class.Good restaurants and pool area. With in walking distance are all the hot spots.

Playa Del Carmen has pretty beaches and calmer water! The Gala Resort and the Iberostar are both very nice and have good activities for adults and children.

When I lived in Mexico, there was a huge Hispanic Travel Agency the Agencia Melia which owned a lot of hotels in the spanish speaking world. I would suggest contacting them and booking a hotel thru them as they have the most history in Central, South America and Mexico. Also, the Mexican hotels used to give them a priority. <BR><BR>Good luck---I stayed in the Presidente which is one of the oldest hotels.

How old are your kids? With little kids you might check out NaBalam on Isla Mujeres (20 minute boat ride from Cancun). Only 31 rooms (stay on the beach side). Not much of a pool to speak of, but we spent on entire time on the beach in the super calm water. Very reasonable rates. www.nabalam.com

I would recommend the"Kin Ha Hotel" it is a smaller hotel and one of the older ones but the staff are outstanding and they have one bedroom suites (4 persons) with kitchen livingroom walk in closets etc. They are a 3 story walk up for each unit, they also have lots of activities for kids. So if you are looking for a clean reasonably priced hotel were you are not just a number this would be the hotel you would want. The beach is excellent and it's in a bit of an inlet so the water is not too deep for kids and the water is not rough either. The hotel is within walking distance to restuarants, malls etc.<BR>If you have any other questions about this hotel I would glady give you some feedback on it.<BR>Shelley

Crown Paradise Club is great for kids, all-inclusive.