Club Med Cancun Yucatan

Renovated and reconceived in 2006 as a family resort, this hip all-inclusive has something for everyone. Take a photo tour.

Delicious buffets (the chef is a master of seafood salads) in a central building with several diversely decorated dining rooms made daily dining a pleasure. The staff went beyond merely helpful to personal; they showed us to our rooms, ate meals with us, and even taught us how to fly on the trapeze.

While the colorful décor was refreshing in outdoor areas, the deep pink parts of the guest rooms were painted was a bit hard to take. Some rooms, mine included, were quite a long walk from the main areas, making it difficult to get to breakfast one rainy morning, and necessitating packing a bag each day.

All inclusive, seven-night packages, which cover rooms, meals, alcoholic beverages and all activities, start from $1190 per person. Rates at the Jade Villa start at $1428 for standard rooms and $1785 for suites, per person, per week. 384 guest rooms and 18 suites, were expanded in the latest renovation, bring the average guest room to 416 square feet. All offer private terraces or balconies, coffee makers and safes.

The concierge building at Club Med Cancun offers extra amenities to guests, including a private car service that transfers you to and from the airport and room service meals.

Formerly a singles Mecca, Club Med is evolving into a family destination. Mini Club Med has organized, supervised activities for ages 4-10. Club Med Passworld, for 11-17 year olds, opens Summer 2007 and includes a kids-only space with computers, video games and a juice bar. Babysitting services can also be arranged, and dinner programs are available to give parents an evening break. For infants, a welcome program provides in-room essentials; the main restaurant has bottle warmers and baby food.

Not many things can usually persuade me out of a beach chair, but here, activities were a highlight. Kids and adults alike flocked to the trapeze to learn swings, flips and catches. Other activities included a trampoline, water ski lessons, snorkeling on a large private coral reef, sailing and windsurfing lessons, and vollyball. At the Discovery Center, you can schedule excursions like the included trip to El Meco, or explore more of the area's cultural and natural attractions.

The main restaurant, La Hacienda, serves a variety of fresh seafood and local specialties, buffet-style. Dining rooms, decorated by a French design firm, are in varied, contemporary styles, overlooking the swimming pool and the lagoon. Alternatively, Las Cazuelas serves Mexican cuisine with a French accent a la carte in a beachside structure with a dramatic ceiling. La Pergola has light grilled items, and transforms into a Mediterranean tapas bar at night.

Punta Nizuc, Etat de Quintana Roo, 77500 Cancun, Mexico
phone: 52 99 88 81 82 00, toll-free from US: (800) 895-5863, fax: 52 99 88 81 82 80
web site: Club Med Cancun Yucatan

From Charlyn: "Once known for catering to singles wanting to escape reality, Club Med has undergone a transformation into an upscale family resort..." read more

• "I enjoyed the professional yet laid-back atmosphere of this all-inclusive village..."
  4 out of 5 -- Tomc486, visited February 2007
  

Have you stayed in Club Med Cancun? What did you think? Rant and rave.

^{As is common in the travel industry, the writer was provided with complimentary accommodations for the purpose of reviewing those services. While it has not influenced this review, About.com believes in full disclosure of all potential conflicts of interest. For more information, see our ethics policy.}