EDIT: Forgot to mention I was hoping for adult only, and all inclusive.
Best resort to stay in in Mexico? Looking at Cancun, but noticed the "Hotel Zone" and wanted to avoid that, as I was hoping for an area not so crowded with resort after resort... If that makes sense? Looking to relax on a beautiful beach and maybe do some snorkel/scuba diving, but wanted something a little less "cramped" I guess? More natural? I've never been to Mexico so I don't even know if this is possible.
Edit: hoping for all inclusive for me and my BF, 1500 each and under please!

go to the Mayan then Cancun is crazy busy

Mazatlan is much quieter. Pacific coast. Highly recommend Riu Emerald Bay. Not a lot around there so it’s super relaxing but great resort.

Go down the coast a little to playa del carmen

In the west side of Mexico is another option too There’s a surf town west of Puerto Vallarta called Sayulita that’s great. We stayed at a B&B just outside of town there. It was amazing and we basically had a private beach to ourselves. B&B is called Hacienda de la Costa. http://www.haciendadelacosta.com

Go to Bucerias or Sayulita. Close enough to Cancun but quaint, beautiful beaches.

Close to Cancún? Totally different coast

Marilyn bucerias and sayulito are in the other side (west side). Cancun is on the east side of Mexico in the Mayan riviera

oops. sorry. Had Puerto Vallarta on the brain. Wishful thinking

Yup

Awesome thanks everyone! Anyone know if any of these places have all inclusive packages?

They all will. Riu Emerald Bay or Riu in general is a sunwing all inclusive chain. But all these towns have all Inclusives.

Thanks! Never travelled outside Canada before so I don't know much about it all.

Lots near playa and everything from family to adult and up to 5 star

Jess Colley check out itravel2000 website, westjet vacations, sunwing, etc. itravel2000 will collect from all of the sites (like expedia). Or you can book through a travel agent. Select your dates, area of interest and select all inclusive
check out the reviews before booking. Then enjoy!!! The shuttle from airport to hotel and vice verse is covered. Stay away from the time share agents and you’ll have an easy breezy holiday. Buy some
Pesos from calfornex. Take some Canadian $ too for exchanging if need be.

There is a new resort that just opened in Isle de Majures and the prices have been excellent - I forgot the name though.

Ohh isla mujeres is amazing I’m going to google this now!!

And the best beach. People come from Cancun during the day and goid snorkelling and a good dive shop. And I book a few tours to Chichen Itza and Cancun cheap on Isla

Don’t go to Cancun, Mayan Riveria is very close to Cancun and has what your looking for. Barcello Maya Caribe is awesome.

Thanks! As long as it has beautiful beaches and no snow I'll be happy !

Jess You will still fly into Cancun but more secluded. And if you want to head to town Playa Del Carmen is really close to do some shopping or check out restaurants. Tulum is also very close.

Awesome! Will look into Mayan riveiera more than, looks beautiful!

We stayed at the Grand Sirenas in the Mayan Riviera. We loved it. Nice private beach. Has its own coral reef so it's awesome for snorkelling. Modern. Great evening shows. Good food. Beach service. All inclusive. Would recommend. We also went to Akunal and went snorkelling with the sea turtles, went swimming with the dolphins at Dolphinium, went to see the Mayan ruins in Tulum. Went shopping in Playa del carmen and walked the beach. Love the Mayan!

Sounds fun! Was it expensive?

Ummm the resort itself I think cost us about $2800 for the week. And the dolphins were about $100 each. Everything else we did on our own (no tour guides) we took the Collectivos and went! Only cost us 2or 3 peso's each way. Was an awesome trip.

Wow! Will check it out. Thanks!

It had a lazy river to float on, ice cream parlour great restaurants, lots of bars! Nicely lit up at night. We went there for our honeymoon.

the fruit / veggie drink bar was a fav for me. saw a turtle and stingray right off the beach too. Would go back.

How close is that resort to Playa? I head there in 1 week but haven’t stayed at that resort? How close is it to xelha or xcaret?

About 20 min bus ride I think.

Cancun is on the Caribbean, Puerto Vallarta/Bucarias /Sayulita are on the Pacific.
What is important to you? Do you want to stay put at an all inclusive, or be able to leave the property and walk to town/restaurants/bars?

Basically we want to be able to relax on a beach (I'd prefer the typical white sand, beautiful blue water) with a drink in our hands. He wants to scuba dive and I may want to snorkel. We don't plan on doing alot, just want a vacation away from the stress of life (and cold weather!
) and want to experience travel. I would prefer a more natural area, not a big city highrise on the beach, if that makes sense.

Barcelo maya tropical is an awesome resort

Yes been there is gorgeous but HUGE and very busy.

Los Cabos

Mary Swaffield
Try this one Camino Real Zaashila Huatulco
https://www.caminoreal.com/Hotels/Details/CR/HUX
It was $1579 pp when I checked earlier this week depending on departure date.

Riviera Nayarit (approx. 1 hr from Puerto Vallarta) is gorgeous and Iberostar Playa Mita is an amazing hotel. It's definitely more secluded but the hotel is smaller and the service is excellent.

There are many great resorts in the Mayan, your best bet it to check on tripadvisor and look at the photos of the beaches, high rise style verses multiple 3 story walk ups etc. I have found that many beaches in the Caribbean have large sand bags in the water to prevent beach erosion. I try to avoid those as it's not what I personally like to look at. Also, on the Caribbean side, most of the all inclusive's ( with the exception of those in Playa Del Carmen are not within a walking distance to anything. So you stay there and book you snorkelling/scuba trips that leave from there.
If you choose the Pacific, I find the water not quite as blue but still stunning. The Royal Decameron in Bucarias is quite popular and on the more affordable side, plus it is walking distance to the town of Bucarias and many inexpensive restaurants including a fun sports bar just down the street that plays hockey games. It's the only all inclusive in this particular area so it's pretty quiet. You can also take the local bus for cheap and check out Puerto Vallarta, sayulita ( quaint surfer town) and many other spots. Good luck! Anything is better than this weather

Yes, Royal Decameron is great, well at least when we were there in 2004!, and just a 10 minute walk to charming Bucerias. I also second trip advisor for any kind of info and photos by people who have visited these places.

Totally possible. Huatulco.

This is a dream place that is love to go to...just gotta ditch my kids...lol

Dreams Huatulco is a family resort.

Krista La brisas has kids club for kids 4-12 from 9am-5pm and if you book through air canada you just pay their taxes. We went a few weeks ago $2700 for our family of 4.

Grand Bahia Tullum

Ixtapa, Zihuatanejo is also lovely, small.

Huatulco. Beaches are empty relatively. Flat rate cabs can take you all over (and there are I think 9 beaches in town!). You can get a decently priced boat tour. You won’t get the clear blue of the Caribbean, but the water is better than anywhere else I have been on the Pacific side. Beaches were all clean, golden sand.

Sandos Caracol is an Eco Resort (monkeys, animals, cenote, jade river, traditional mayan shows, etc.)and Sandos Playacar is about 10 minutes away with a spectacular beach. You can use both resorts, all inclusive. Great restaurants. I recommend the adult only section (select club). We had a fabulous trip. Went through westjet vacations. So much to do!

We just returned from Cancún, staying at the Emporio Resort and LOVED IT!! It was smaller, quiet and serene. You could book any snorkelling experience from there and it is walking distance to some great food and shopping if you wanted to venture out.

Tulum Bucerias or Salyulita

Jennifer
Occidental at excoret (not sure on spelling) was beautiful and isolated!!!

We loved it for all the wild life but have had better food and drinks at other resorts.

Oh really! We found the food great and lots of great drinks too. The only con really was how large it was. If you walked to the beach it was a good 15-20 mins from out room but there were shuttles. We also loved the wildlife. Nothing beats when a group of monkeys is playing in your balcony!!!

We were at Sun Palace in October and it was not busy. We were on the hotel zone. We have always travelled off times and stayed on the hotel zone.

We were in Tulum in April too, we stayed at Unico, new resort, it was amazing, also not busy at that time but definitely more rain this year.

Fly into Cancun. Take the bus to Playa. Get on the ferry over to Cozumel. Beautiful and safe little island!!!

Cozumel has great diving but that's about it . Food there was expensive and service bad . Again , I had only hung around the shore area after I had to wait there for 2 hours after a ferry was cancelled . It's much better to stay in Playa .

Get off the resort. Rent a airbnb. Eat at the hole in the wall places. My partner and I could eat for a full day on about $10. Fantastic food, friendly people and so much to do. Cielo for snorkelling. The lighthouse. Ruins. Take a short drive to the "wild side" of the island.

Cozumel is a beautiful island. If you were just around the ferry terminal you really didn't see anything. In the neighborhoods away from the tourist zone the restaurants are inexpensive and great food and accomodations through airbnb or vrbo are fantastic. The diving is some of the best in the world.

A friend is there now and posted this:
We are at the TRS Yucatan hotel in the Mayan! The pics when I booked online were nice but holy shit wasn't expecting this!! Fantastic!!!

Just booked a westjet vacation to Ocean Coral and Turquesa resort, in between Cancun and Playa del Carmen. I liked the price, the direct flight from YYC, and how attractive the resort looks (all-inclusive, beachfront, 8 restaurants, near coral reef for snorkeling etc).

Moon palace

We are going to the grand at moon palace in Feb. never been before

Agree! More pricy than other resorts but worth it!

Just zip down a little playa del Carmen, far less busy and some really great deals.

Go to Huatulco instead. Quiet, clean, safe

Go to La Brisas Huatulco. It is quiet, great snorkeling, 20 minutes from the airport, 2 minute cab into town, they have 3 beaches and the resort is beautiful. Not crowded as it’s only become a tourist spot 35 years ago.

Stayed there both times

We just got back on the 19th. I would say my fav part of Mexico after Mayan Riviera.

Amanda did you go to La Creme for pizza

No they didn’t open until 7 which is pretty late for my youngest.

Amanda that’s too bad. Awesome pizza

I know we were told it was a must do while we are there. We are going to book another trip there soon kids free so not a biggie.

Good sales on now. Dreams in feb was 1600 all in

We are thinking Secrets or Quinta Real. More adult orientated.

or Tulum. Still not quite as crazy there.

http://mobile.karismahotels.com/.../El.../El-Dorado-Maroma

El dorado maroma is on a beautiful and secluded beach. The food was incredible and it is small, 100 rooms and right on the beach.

Try Jamaica- Montego Bay Area.