Best Luxury Hotels in Cancun

The ultra-luxe Beloved, on a white-sand beach, features 109 suites with super sexy decor. They're all-white, with spacious, sleek marble bathrooms and Jacuzzi tubs, and have the vibe of a luxurious New York City hotel room -- except they're about four times the size and feature private balconies, many with ocean views. The 35,000-square-foot spa boasts 14 treatment rooms, a salon and an ice glacier room, as well as a fitness center, a yoga studio and a tennis court. The two pools with food and drink service are large and attractive, and have plush lounge chairs.

This adults-only luxury resort offers a nice all-inclusive experience with tons of variety -- multiple dining options, several beautiful pools, a gorgeous spa, and dozens of wonderful activities. The rooms here are large and contemporary, with large modern bathrooms, Jacuzzis, and high-end amenities such as big flat-screen TVs, free Wi-Fi, and iPod docks. Some have a large rooftop terrace with a private plunge pool with ocean views. The hotel is pretty quiet, since it's adults-only, so couples looking for a romantic getaway might prefer this over the Beloved.

The Hotel Villa Rolandi is a romantic, 35-room boutique that fully embraces the "less hectic than Cancun" vibe of Isla Mujeres. Two big draws are the secluded location on a pristine white-sand beach and the "no children under 13" policy. All rooms are spacious suites (the smallest starts at 498 square feet) that offer flat-screen TVs, large balconies with private Jacuzzis, and Italian marble floors. Great perks include a free continental breakfast delivered to rooms at no extra charge, and a 42-foot yacht that provides free transportation to and from Cancun.

This 365-room luxury hotel with classic style is set in Cancun's Hotel Zone against a pristine beach and turquoise Caribbean waters. Room decor is elegant and traditional, if also slightly corporate and dated, and all rooms have ocean views. The resort's romantic and luxurious vibe is ideal for couples looking to splurge. While the resort is undeniably grand, it's surprisingly unstuffy and young within the halls, out by the pool, and down by the beach (though some may feel interiors could use an update). This hotel may have typical resort features, but you'll be hard-pressed to find them done with such classy sophistication elsewhere in Cancun.

While not all-inclusive, to which many guests attribute the resort's quiet atmosphere, the Fiesta Americana Grand Coral Beach Resort & Spa has three restaurants; three poolside bars, including a swim-up bar; and a lobby bar. While the restaurants are deemed to be on the pricey side, guests give them high marks for the food -- one specializes in seafood, while the other two feature Mexican cuisine and French Mediterranean fare. The extensive and beautifully designed spa, billed as the only in Latin America with a 10-step hydrotherapy program, is a big draw.

The appearance of the 288-room adults-only Royal in Cancun goes against the often bad reputation all-inclusives have gained. Suites are updated and buck traditional room layouts with a centrally located bed and spacious balcony (some are even swim-out). The bathrooms boast massive walk-in showers and Jacuzzi tubs with killer views. The quality of the food at the five restaurants is surprisingly good and varied, including the convenient 24-hour VIP lounge. There are tons of fun activities available (though they can get crowded fast), two on-site spas, butler service, and an attractive beachfront pool with cabana beds. The property’s location right on a pristine white-sand beach with turquoise waters is also a plus.

There is nothing ordinary about the 260-room Le Blanc Spa Resort: Everything from the wine lists to your workout has been tailored to be top notch. It feels more South Beach chic than Cancun party, with a hip, gorgeous aesthetic throughout the entire pristine white property. The rooms are thoroughly modern and bright with minimalist decor and stunning ocean views (some with large Jacuzzi baths). But most of your time should be spent experiencing the top-of-the line spa, the chic restaurants (especially the stunningly designed Lumiere), and heavenly white-sand beach.

The luxurious, 448-room JW Marriott Cancun Resort & Spa rests on a soft white-sand section of beautiful beach just off the crowded Hotel Zone. Sophisticated rooms are outfitted with carpet and finished wood, and every one comes with an ocean view. Marble bathrooms with separate tubs and showers have plush towels and quality Aromatherapy toiletries. While there are kids activities, the grown-up vibe, fine-dining options, and extensive business features make this resort best-suited for couples and business groups. Even with shared property features, guests will find this property slightly more refined, updated, and expensive than the next-door, more family-friendly sister resort Marriott CasaMagna.

Moon Palace Golf and Spa Resort is a gigantic all-inclusive luxury resort along Cancun's Mayan Riviera. With 2,433 rooms across three resort sections -- each with their own decor, design, amenities, and appeal -- it's no shock that this is the largest Palace property in the world. From Sunrise's larger-than-life pool and Flowrider machine, to the charming boutique-vibe of the Moon Grand, to the fabulous kids club by Nizuc, and the standalone spa and golf center, this resort truly is all-inclusive. Just don't expect sugar-sand beaches and turquoise waters. Unfortunately, beaches in this area of town -- often smelling of and strewn with seaweed -- are far less idyllic than those in the Hotel Zone. But if you aren't bothered about the beach, this place is tough to beat.