13 of the best family hotels in Cancun - Times Travel (2023)

Cancun can. Cater to anyone, I mean. This seaside city has been Mexico’s top tourist destination since the 1970s, offering mega holiday resorts, shopping, history and happy hours, all with the backdrop of the Caribbean. There are white-sand beaches (ten of which are blue flag-rated), turquoise waters and fish-filled coral reefs. The Hotel Zone is a 15-mile sandbar of places to stay, while downtown gives a glimpse into Mexican traditions.

Cancun has been in the business for so long it knows how to cater to every age group, whatever their interests and the time of year. So whether you and your children want an adrenaline rush or some peace and quiet, you’ll find it here — with a price and package that suits your brood and your budget. Cheap but oh so cheerful, this Mexican destination offers everything your family needs for a good-vibe vacay.

Main photo: flying high at Club Med Cancun

1. Azul Beach Resort Riviera Cancun

Best for occasional alone time
This five-star Cancun resort caters beautifully for families (it has a wonderful kids’ club with areas such as the Silly Science Lab and Arts & Crafts Zone to entertain the little ones, plus a child-friendly splash park), but it really comes into its own as a place to give parents a break. There’s an adult-only pool surrounded by plush beds for a sneaky afternoon nap; Le Chique, an à la carte restaurant where children are banned; and an adult-only mojito bar with DJs on hand for some late-night dancing.

Kids’ club Y
Pool Y
Price ££

2. Moon Palace

Best for older kids
Freedom and fun: that’s what the Moon Palace offers your restless teens during your stay. This all-inclusive resort will keep them busy with daily activities including water sports and games on the beach, or in one of the seven swimming pools (one with a wave simulator). There’s also a teen lounge with games rooms, air hockey and arcades. Then in the evenings, they can try karaoke, competitions or head to a themed party — you’ll be unlikely to see them except at mealtimes.

Kids’ club Y
Pool Y
Price ££

3. Grand Palladium Colonial Resort and Spa

Best for nature lovers
If you need a green scene, head away from the hustle and take a turn south when you leave Cancun International Airport. Fifty miles later you’ll arrive at this blissful spot that shifts away from the crowds of Cancun for a chilled-out family break. Perfectly placed in a tropical landscape in Riviera Maya, the hotel is enveloped by a lush mangrove forest, complete with a natural saltwater pool — perfect for mini explorers.

Kids’ club Y
Pool Y
Price ££

4. Riu Palace Peninsula

Best for entertainment
Set in the heart of the Hotel Zone, only a five-minute drive from downtown Cancun, this resort offers busy days (non-stop sports, competitions and pool fun organised by the entertainment team) and exciting nights (you can catch up on missed sleep in the palm-tree filled gardens all day) for all the family. Five specialty restaurants, offering everything from seafood to steak, will set you up for a night of dancing at the mini-disco, singing along to live music on the hotel’s terrace, or gawping at one of the spectacular shows.

Kids’ club Y
Pool Y
Price ££

5. The Fives Oceanfront

Best for snorkelling
This small, chic hotel is in the Puerto Morelos Reef National Park, making it an ideal spot for a family snorkelling exploration. If you want to go further, snorkelling boat trips can be booked at the hotel reception. Once you’ve had your fill of meeting the brightly coloured fish and turtles at one of the largest coral reefs in the world, head up to the rooftop infinity pool for a family swim or watch the Mayan sunset ceremony, where performers showcase local dancing as the sky turns from pink to black.

Kids’ club N
Pool Y
Price ££

6. Planet Hollywood Cancun

Best for film buffs
This cinephile’s paradise brings Tinseltown glamour to a holiday. The on-site cinema has daily showings of classics and new releases; the entertainment team lead Hollywood trivia nights; plus the restaurant and bar menus are inspired by all things fabulous and theatrical, from classic movies to the latest blockbusters. The Stars Kids Club gives those aged from four to 12 a time to shine, with acting classes and songwriting sessions for all wannabe celebrities, whatever their age.

Kids’ club Y
Pool Y
Price ££

7. Riu Cancun

Best for shopping
Your family will love the sea, sand and surf on offer here, but this resort can also offer respite from the constant sunshine with some retail therapy. Cancun’s top shopping centre, Caracol, is directly opposite — perfect for your family football fans to find new jerseys (the beautiful game is huge here), locally made artisan jewellery, or souvenirs to take home for schoolmates. Scorpion-flavoured lollipop, anyone?

Kids’ club Y
Pool Y
Price ££

8. Zoetry Paraiso de la Bonita

Best for teenagers
If your family’s idea of heaven is bobbing in the ocean all day, every day of your holiday, we’ve just found your blue heaven. Float your troubles away in the freshwater and saltwater pools or head for the waves lapping the white sandy beach. You can kayak, paddleboard and work out in the buoyant aqua-gym, and for an extra charge you can take out a private charter for a day at sea to go snorkelling or learn to dive.

Kids’ club Y
Pool Y
Price £££

9. Wyndham Alltra Cancun

Best for beach babes
Life’s a beach and then some at the Wyndham Alltra. This cool resort sits lazily next to turquoise sea and a stretch of white sand, a peachy spot to build sandcastles, paddle, read in the shade of a cabana, or take a family siesta on one of the plush double-sized beach loungers. Once you’re feeling rejuvenated, it’s time for a beach volleyball game, a snack at the barefoot beach bar, or maybe a wander back to your suite through the palm tree-filled gardens.

Kids’ club Y
Pool Y
Price £££

10. JW Marriott Cancun Resort and Spa

Best for babies
This resort does everything it can to take the stress out of travelling with little ones. It offers round-the-clock childcare services, including in-room babysitting, plus the standard free cots and infant beds, an on-site playground, children’s swimming pool and kids’ club. All that means you’ll have time free to enjoy the hammam, hot tub, sauna, and aromatherapy and ayurvedic massages in one of the resort’s dedicated couples’ treatment rooms.

Kids’ club Y
Pool Y
Price £££

11. Hotel Xcaret Mexico

Best for adventures
Yes, your offspring could have lots of fun playing games and sports in the kids’ club every minute of the holiday while you swing in a hammock on your suite’s balcony, but there’s much more on offer with the resort’s “all-fun inclusive” concept. Choose your adventure: snorkelling, sailing, fishing, or taking a ferry ride to the nearby Isla Mujeres. Daily tours leave the on-site marina where catamarans await to take you for a cruise across the Caribbean Sea, all included in the price. Also included is free entry to the nearby Grupo Xcaret theme parks, perfect for family-orientated thrills and spills.

Kids’ club Y
Pool Y
Price £££

12. Crown Paradise Club Cancun

Best for budget
This beachfront hotel has a retro vibe that will flood you with childhood nostalgia: a fuchsia-pink and cream building with a 1980s California cool twist. There’s mini golf and tennis, and a couple of waterparks offering swirling flumes and a variety of slides — plus a pirate-themed splash park for toddlers. Five choices of restaurants will keep you going throughout the day, with child-friendly options including French, Italian and Mexican cuisine.

Kids’ club Y
Pool Y
Price £

13. Club Med Cancun

Best for the adventurous
For thrill seekers who have trouble sitting still, Club Med has the answer. The dedicated GO team, Club Med’s Gentle Organisers, who help suggest great ways for the family to get the most from their trip, will keep you paddleboarding, playing pickleball, treasure hunting, shooting arrows — and swinging through the air with the greatest of ease at the resort’s circus school, dedicated to having the brave among their guests walking a tightrope in no time. The action doesn’t stop when the sun goes down, with foam parties and water fights on the schedule.

Kids’ club Y
Pool Y
Price ££

• Best all-inclusive hotels in Cancun
• Best things to do in Cancun