My son is getting married in April and since the wedding is on the bride's family, we're paying for the honeymoon. He's 'requested' a tropical location and I was wondering if anyone could recommend a great honeymoon location in the Cancun / Playa del Carmen / Cozumel area? My travel agent is pushing the Moon Palace, but we've heard the beach there isn't very good. A place with activities either on-site or nearby and possibly an AI - I think they'd like to do some snorkling, and just lay on the beach.

Thanks in advance for the help and suggestions!
Brendan

We've been traveling to Cancun almost yearly since 1983. If your travel agent is pushing a Palace Resort you might consider the Cancun Palace. On Cancun and I believe you can get AI. You might also consider one of the Royal Resorts. They are timeshares, but I believe the public can also get reservations. The Mayan, Islander, Carribean and Sands are all wonderful. All the resorts I've mentioned have great beaches and there are activities desks at each resort with both onsite and offsite activities. If you are looking for a hotel resort any of the big names will do in Cancun. Marriot, Omni, Fiesta American (just to name a few) are all wonderful hotes. For a romantic dinner suggest they take a taxi to La Habichuela @ 25 Margartias, Downtown Cancun. Sit outside, truly romantic!

I've heard great things about Royal Hideaway. It would be perfect for a honeymoon.

Royal Hideaway is one of the best all incusive I have read about try trip advisor you can read all the reviews. A friend's daughter got married and spent her honeymoon at Aventura Palace and loved it. If your son and his wife prefer to be right in the heart of Cancun then try reading up on the Riu Palace Americas it has great great reviews and it's in a great location. Good Luck!!!!

You may also want to look at the Resort at Maromo. Votes 1 of the top 10 beaches in the world. It's about 30 miles south of Cancun. Extremely private, romantic and all inclusive. Wonderful resort.

I posted my previous reply from work, so I thought you might want additional information re: Maroma Resort and Spa. Their web site is: www.maromahotel.com I believe the rates start around $300.00 per night. It was voted one of the top 10 beaches in the world by the Travel Channel last year.

Don't restrict your search to those big, all inclusive resorts. When you stay there, you could just as easily be staying in Miami. Have a look at a smaller, secluded, more intimate and romantic places such as Azulik in Tulum. I just returned from there and many many honeymooners and other couples on anniversary trips. Everyone of them claimed that Azulik is the most romantic place they have ever stayed at. Their web site is www.azulik.com
or azulik dot com ( I think urls get edited out on this board. Also, look for a newly posted, lengthy trip report on this board on the topic of Azulik.

How about Aventura Spa Palace? You will find many recommendations for it by searching this site. When I stayed there, I also visited three of the other Palace Resorts, including Moon Palace. I thought Moon Palace was too large, crowded, and full of kids. Aventura Spa Palace is for adults only and is more quiet and romantic. It's a little out of the way, but a do-able ride to Cancun and close to Playa del Carmen (there are free shuttles to both). I absolutely fell in love with the place.

Hello doyleb,

My friend and I spent a week at the Moon Palace in Cancun a few years ago.

I must agree that the beach is not very good at all.

It is a HUGE place, overwhelmingly so for me - lots of people, lots of noise, lots of things going on. A great place for people who like to be really busy and/or constantly entertained. It is all inclusive - and that includes alcohol - so we encountered quite a few inebriated folks, many bordering on the obnoxious. My friend described this place a "Carnival Cruise on land."

It would not be my choice for a honeymoon destination because I prefer a smaller, more intimate setting.

Two years ago my sister and I really enjoyed the El Dorado Beach Hotel, on the coast between Playa del Carmen and Cancun. This was a lovely place, and the restaurants were far superior to the ones we experienced at the Palace resorts in Cancun. This hotel is much smaller, and more intimate than the Moon Palace. There were all kinds of activities if you chose to do them. We saw lots of honeymooners there. The grounds are beautiful and the rooms were very nice as well. If you want the rowdy nightlife that Cancun has to offer however, this is not the place for you.

We were there in January, so I can't vouch for the beach. It was too cold to put on a swimming suit the whole time we were there!

I have also been to Playa del Carmen and Cozumel. Both have beautiful beaches, but I haven't stayed in any hotels there, so I can't comment on that. Cozumel is more expensive as a general rule.

I have always said if I go back to Mexico that I would look for a place in Playa - not so wild as Cancun, but not devoid of fun things to do either. It's just more laid back.

I hope this is helpful to you!

Especially for a honeymoon, might they like something a bit more intimate than the mega-resorts of Cancun? I would think a smaller hotel toward Playa del Carmen might be a better fit for what you describe, low-key, beaching, snorkeling. This is definitely my own preference showing thru, but those high-rise, hundreds of room, thousands of people, five pools, swim-up bars, type resorts aren't what I'd picture for my honeymoon. Besides finding a tropical location, you might run a few ideas by your son and financee to pick something that suits them best. Feliz luna de miel!

If they want a romantic, get away from everyone honeymoon, places like Maroma, Ceiba del Mar would be just the ticket. Or a high end hotel in Cancun like LeMeridien, Ritz Carlton, JW Marriott.
The AI resorts are good for people who like to drink and socialize.

Thank you very much for all the great advise and suggestions. I think we'll focus our search in the Playa del Carmen area. I've been there on a cruise and loved it.

We'll probably also look either for an 'adults only' hotel or a smaller AI (I know the downside to AI's, its just that we don't want my son and daughter-in-law to have to go too much out of pocket on the trip). Resorts that are 'family oriented' may not lend themselves to a romantic honeymoon destination - I love kids but would rather they not have to deal with crowds of children on their honeymoon.
Again thank you very much for all the great ideas and suggestions - any more???

All the best,
Brendan

My husband and I stayed at Royal Hideaway in Playa del Carmen in June and it was by far the best AI we have ever been to. It is very upscale, but yet not snobby and the best part was it is adults only. The customer service is fantastic and a lot of the guests seeemed to be on the honeymoon or celebrating a birthday or anniversary.

We got a great deal on RH through www.skyauction.com.

Nancy