The Mayan pyramids of the Gran Meliá Cancun rise over some of the premier clubs, restaurants and shopping plazas in Cancun. The Gran Meliá Cancun offers all the standard amenities plus a wellness center, complete with a fitness room and yoga classes. This AAA four-diamond resort lies within five miles of Cancun's major clubs, the Congo Bongo and The City, which play high-tech, Latin music to capacity crowds. Five minutes away is Cancun's oldest seafood spot, Lorenzillo's Lobster House. La Madonna offers Italian food and a choice of 150 different martinis. Kukulcan Plaza, Forum-by-the-Sea and Luxury Avenue with its 25 ultra-exclusive couture shops are a few minutes away.
A family-oriented hotel, the Great Parnassus Resort has an aqua park, an 18-hole mini-golf course and a baby club. Situated in the hotel zone, this resort is close to the Venetian-style canals at the La Isla Shopping Village. The resort features an interactive aquarium, a dolphin swim facility and a kids' river ride tour. The 3,000-year-old El Rey Mayan ruins are less than 10 miles away. A trip to the El Garrafon National Park on the south side offers ideal conditions for snorkeling and kayaking. Great Parnassus Resort gives discounts to AAA and AARP members.
The Caribe International Hotel in downtown Cancun is next to Avenue Yaxchilan's restaurant row. Guests can walk to La Habichuela to try its tropical grilled seafood, while Labna serves traditional Mayan foods such as lime soup. You can shop for handicrafts at Market 28, Cancun's oldest open air market, or at Plaza Las Americas, which offers more than 200 designer stores. For a true Mexican experience, attend a bullfight at the Plaza de Toros from December through April.
Cheap and simple, the Weary Traveler's Oceania Hotel offers a dorm-style setting for tourists on a budget. Located east of downtown Cancun and 12 miles from the beaches, the no-frills hotel offers a free breakfast and shared or private rooms. Shop at the nearby Market 23; then cook your meals in a communal kitchen. Catch buses from the main bus station, two blocks away, to the beaches, shopping plazas and the airport. Three miles away you can find the Roots Jazz Club and Pookeen Irish Pub. If you are a music lover, plan your visit in May to attend Cancun's jazz festival.
