Cancun's Holiday Inn Express is a standard mid-range hotel: It offers good value, but it's nothing special. The hacienda-style structure is well-maintained, with 119 rooms that surround a spacious outdoor pool, lawn, and courtyard area with a few palm trees. The pool is worth elaborating on, as the details are impressive -- stone steps, stone arches, and a waterfall. But that's where guests will spend all of their time, as this hotel is actually not on a beach (a free shuttle takes guests to local beaches twice a day), and there is nothing else in the way of amenities here. However, the rooms, while basic, are clean and comfortable, and have small private balconies, flat-screen TVs, free Wi-Fi, and coffeemakers. Business travelers can use the 24-hour business center and meeting room (it holds 25 people), and may appreciate being so close to the convention center. And the free daily breakfast buffet makes for a nice start to the morning. However, vacationers, especially families, might not appreciate having to pay for a taxi ride to go out and get lunch and dinner every day (there's no full restaurant on-site) -- or travel on a bus to the beach.
Cancun's Holiday Inn Express is a standard mid-range hotel: It offers good value, but it's nothing special. The hacienda-style structure is well-maintained, with 119 rooms that surround a spacious outdoor pool, lawn, and courtyard area with a few palm trees. The pool is worth elaborating on, as the details are impressive -- stone steps, stone arches, and a waterfall. But that's where guests will spend all of their time, as this hotel is actually not on a beach (a free shuttle takes guests to local beaches twice a day), and there is nothing else in the way of amenities here. However, the rooms, while basic, are clean and comfortable, and have small private balconies, flat-screen TVs, free Wi-Fi, and coffeemakers. Business travelers can use the 24-hour business center and meeting room (it holds 25 people), and may appreciate being so close to the convention center. And the free daily breakfast buffet makes for a nice start to the morning. However, vacationers, especially families, might not appreciate having to pay for a taxi ride to go out and get lunch and dinner every day (there's no full restaurant on-site) -- or travel on a bus to the beach.
There are two Punta Mitas: inside the fence and outside the fence. Inside the fence are five-star hotels, multi-million dollar homes, and Jack Nicklaus-designed links. Outside the fence is a scruffy little town called Anclote, with a few high-end properties. One such property is the Hotel Cinco (formerly, the Hotel des Artistes), a 12-suite luxury boutique hotel on the beach, with two pools, a gym, and the Punta Mita branch of Puerto Vallarta's finest restaurant, the Café Des Artistes, on the ground floor. For those seeking a luxurious Punta Mita vacation without fencing themselves off from Mexican reality, this is a great spot.
There are two Punta Mitas: inside the fence and outside the fence. Inside the fence are five-star hotels, multi-million dollar homes, and Jack Nicklaus-designed links. Outside the fence is a scruffy little town called Anclote, with a few high-end properties. One such property is the Hotel Cinco (formerly, the Hotel des Artistes), a 12-suite luxury boutique hotel on the beach, with two pools, a gym, and the Punta Mita branch of Puerto Vallarta's finest restaurant, the Café Des Artistes, on the ground floor. For those seeking a luxurious Punta Mita vacation without fencing themselves off from Mexican reality, this is a great spot.
The Royal Suites Punta Mita by Palladium is located about an hour northwest of Puerto Vallarta. These suites occupy a lush swatch of manicured jungle overlooking a private beach a few miles inside the point at Punta Mita. This adults-only hideaway offers a memorable vacation spot -- except that it is also part of a bigger, busy, all-inclusive resort. The 100 Royal Suites section has its own buildings, lobby, outdoor pool with grass palapas for shade, and beach, but everything else is shared with the Palladium and its 400 rooms. Still, this perfect little stretch of Bahia Banderas beach offers many pleasures, including soaking tubs on balconies overlooking the ocean. While some guests complain about the remote location being far from Puerto Vallarta, the result is a peaceful beach getaway.
The Royal Suites Punta Mita by Palladium is located about an hour northwest of Puerto Vallarta. These suites occupy a lush swatch of manicured jungle overlooking a private beach a few miles inside the point at Punta Mita. This adults-only hideaway offers a memorable vacation spot -- except that it is also part of a bigger, busy, all-inclusive resort. The 100 Royal Suites section has its own buildings, lobby, outdoor pool with grass palapas for shade, and beach, but everything else is shared with the Palladium and its 400 rooms. Still, this perfect little stretch of Bahia Banderas beach offers many pleasures, including soaking tubs on balconies overlooking the ocean. While some guests complain about the remote location being far from Puerto Vallarta, the result is a peaceful beach getaway.
This time-share property with direct views of El Arco is the family-friendliest of the three Villa Group properties in Cabo San Lucas. Its 460 units -- with up to three bedrooms -- have neutral, understated decor, stocked kitchens, and balconies, many with ocean views. The property has outdoor pool areas and a waterslide, but umbrellas are difficult to obtain. All-inclusive packages are available and there are three restaurants, a grocery store, and themed nights with live shows; parents can rest assured that nightlife quiets down after 11 p.m. Beware of annoying daily charges for things like Wi-Fi, as well as time-share pitches. If there's room in the budget it's worth considering slightly pricier sister property Villa Del Arco, home to a luxurious spa -- though guests here also have access to it.
This time-share property with direct views of El Arco is the family-friendliest of the three Villa Group properties in Cabo San Lucas. Its 460 units -- with up to three bedrooms -- have neutral, understated decor, stocked kitchens, and balconies, many with ocean views. The property has outdoor pool areas and a waterslide, but umbrellas are difficult to obtain. All-inclusive packages are available and there are three restaurants, a grocery store, and themed nights with live shows; parents can rest assured that nightlife quiets down after 11 p.m. Beware of annoying daily charges for things like Wi-Fi, as well as time-share pitches. If there's room in the budget it's worth considering slightly pricier sister property Villa Del Arco, home to a luxurious spa -- though guests here also have access to it.