Cancun Bay Resort sits at Boulevard Kukulcan Km 3.5, on the sheltered Bahia de Mujeres side of the Hotel Zone, where the water stays flat enough for children to wade out from the sand. The all-inclusive plan covers breakfast, lunch, dinner, snacks and house drinks across six outlets: El Faisan for international buffets, La Vista Sushi Zen for the signature Cancun Bay Roll, La Trattoria for handmade pizza and house wines, the poolside Pina Colada snack terrace, the Lobby Bar with live music, and the adults-only Cenote Bar you can order from without leaving the jacuzzi. Two pools, a fitness centre and free WiFi round out the 133-room property, and spa massages are bookable as a paid add-on from $35.

Guest rooms run from 334-square-foot Standards, which look over the garden and pool, and same-size Superiors, which add a sea-view terrace, up to the 96-square-metre Master Suite, which sleeps eight across three bedrooms that each have a private bathroom. Outside, a pier reaches out over the bay lined with loungers, and hammocks hang above the shallows beside it. Playa Langosta and the Playa Tortugas ferry dock are a short ride up Boulevard Kukulcan, putting the 20-minute crossing to Isla Mujeres and Playa Norte within easy reach, while Playa Delfines, the El Rey ruins at Km 18 and a day trip inland to Chichen Itza fill out the rest of the week.