Gran Melia Cancun, Cancun

Advantages: Nice weather, beautiful scenery, spectacular wildlife
Disadvantages: Concrete jungle in parts of downtown

...*Update* pictures added - see below. Cancun is to Mexico as Benidorm is to Spain. Despite this, we went and had a great time. Here’s the op: The place we stayed was an all-inclusive resort, the Moon Palace, so some of this opinion will relate to the specific resort. See http://www.moon-palace.com/ for more information on the resort. The flight and arrival: Very long – the longest I’ve ever been on. It took 11 hours from London Gatwick to Cancun. We flew with My Travel, although our holiday was booked with JML. Tip for the unwary: be prepared to have your suitcases searched at Cancun airport when you arrive, and again when you leave. They don't have a scanner for baggage, other than a handheld one for carry-on luggage, so they search it all by hand instead. Including your dirty laundry on the way... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average very helpful

Advantages: Friendly community, great food, great diving sites, peaceful
Disadvantages: Damaged due to natural disasters, Hotel Zone VERY commercial

...You either - Love it or hate it. Just like marmite! Cancun is well known for the place to be for spring break students for partying, clubbing..just letting oneself go. But there is so much more to Cancun than meets the eye. Obviously, when tourists think about taking a holiday, the first thing many do, is search high and low for the best hotel/resort. And yes, Cancun does offer a wide range of brilliant hotels and services in The Hotel Zone, which I'm sure is agreeable for many. However, The Hotel Zone, is like being in the Western World. In fact, it is just like the States. But if you are looking for real adventure, tradition, culture, locals and much much more, then please read on. I am a person who enjoys travelling and exploring new cultures and traditions. I like to meet new people and communicate with them... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful

Advantages: Beautiful resort, loads to do, plenty of wildlife, worth every penny
Disadvantages: long flight, package bit on the expensive side, weather?!?

...I went to Cancun in the middle of October last year for a two-week break with Thompson. The flight took us from Manchester to Cancun and was approx 9 hours. The Mexicans like their paperwork and therefore it took us around an hour or more to get out of the airport and begin the ten-minute journey to the "hotel zone" where our hotel the Royal Solaris awaited us. The hotel is all-inclusive and contained absolutely everything should you wish to stay in the complex for the entirety of the holiday. The staff were talkative, friendly and very helpful, the food was to die for. Our hotel was situated very close to the airport and just in the middle of the large "spit" of land, which separates the lovely light blue ocean the lagoon. We were a 20-minute bus trip away from "Downtown Cancun" and buses were very frequent (as often as... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average very helpful