Cancún's Hotel Zone is full of architecturally striking resorts, and even if you're staying at one of them it's worth checking out some of the others—if only as research for your next vacation. Hotel hopping is one of the fun and free things to do in Cancún, and you don't even need a car; getting from one property to another is easy if you take one of the local city buses (numbered “R-1” on the windshield) that travel up and down Boulevard Kukulcán. They make frequent stops and run until late at night, and the fixed fare is a mere 9.5 pesos—much cheaper than a taxi.
Following is a suggested hotel-hopping tour that might inspire you to come up with your own version. (Note: Some of the all-inclusive resorts do not allow non-guests to walk around their public areas.)
Begin with breakfast at Vips, a bright, cheery restaurant and coffee shop located on Boulevard Kukulcán next to the Cancún Center. It's in the thick of the Hotel Zone and is just a short walk from the first resort on your itinerary. One of their Mexican-style breakfasts with eggs, beans (frijoles), toast, juice and coffee should keep you filled up until lunch.
From Vips, cross the northern extension of Boulevard Kukulcán to the large, peach-colored Grand Fiesta Americana Coral Beach Cancun All Inclusive Spa Resort . This opulent hotel has a spacious, high-ceilinged lobby that radiates understated luxury—marble floors, giant flower arrangements and fine art displayed in recessed wall nooks, with cozy sitting areas scattered about. Look straight up for a view of the large, square piece of kaleidoscope-patterned stained glass. If you skipped Vips, have an early lunch at Isla Contoy, the hotel's breezy poolside restaurant; it has a thatched roof and a view of the beach.
A bit farther down Boulevard Kukulcán is the Paradisus Cancun Resort . This is one of the largest properties in the Hotel Zone, with five soaring, pyramid-shaped buildings housing the guest rooms. The public areas feature statues, frescoes and decorative elements with a Mayan motif. Have a cocktail while you peruse the menu of small bites at the Avenue Bar, which offers a nice beach view.