Playacar, Playa Carmen or Cancun
 

My husband and I are planning our first trip to Mexico either in May or October next year but don't know which will be the better area for us to stay.

We are looking for somewhere which is lively, has plenty of activities and great evening entertainment. We are in our late 50s so nightclubs are not really what we are looking for. We like to swim in the pool and do a bit of sunbathing but prefer to be on the go. We also love walking along the beach.

Any suggestions or advice on area and recommended hotels would be greatly appreciated.

thank you

If you prefer to be on the go, consider doing as we did and renting a car to see the ruins, cenotes and beaches of the Yucatan. Comfortable accomodations with a pool and secure parking are not hard to find, and we found the driving quite easy. Left straight out of the airport to stay in charming Colonial Valladolid to see the ruins at EkBalam and Chichen Itza, and then to stay at beach, ruins and biosphere in Tulum, via ruins in Coba. Lots of refreshing cenotes to swim in along the way. Could also expand the circle to include Merida and more ruins relatively nearby.
Any way you do it, enjoy.

From your interests, I assume you are not looking for an all inclusive resort.
There are several boutique hotels and condos in Playa del Carmen that would suit your needs.
Look into Playa Maya hotel in Playa del Carmen. From there you can do all the exploring you desire. It is a lovely boutique hotel on the beach and breakfast is included.

I prefer less crowded places and like the beaches south of Playa del Carmen, you might also like Isla Mujeres, an island just off the coast of Cancun via a 20 minute ferry ride. Tons of hotels and condos to stay in and over 100+ restaurants (island is only 5 miles long).
Otherwise take a look at Akumal or nearby Half Moon Bay if interested in a condo or villa. Tulum is nice also but you really need a car or you will spend a lot on taxis just to get back and forth to town (70-150 pesos one way).
Otherwise the suggestion for Playa Maya is a good one, it gets good reviews.

Playa Del Carmen sounds like what you are looking for - great beach, lots going on all the time, great for strolling around. Many small hotels on or near the beach, as well as a few AI's downtown and dozens of huge AI's along the coast.
Playacar is basically a gated suburb of Playa del Carmen.
Cancun is more like the Miami Beach of Mexico - lots of high rises.

Kind of depends what part of Playacar, but we stayed in it but close to 5th Ave. (Easy walk), but I think playacar extends a bit south so would get farther and farther from the heart of PDC.

Playacar, which is right next to PDC has the best of both worlds if you are planning to be in an AI and wish to get out at night to sample la Quinta agenda and all that it has to entertain you...

We went in a all inclusive in Playa del Carmen and found it very nice.
Some tours organized by them (with a boat mostly),which was fine.
Expensive though.