Ritz-Carlton, Cancún

Ritz-Carlton's only Mexican property is a hacienda-style retreat on a 17,000-square-foot beach area—the largest in the Hotel Zone. All 365 rooms have private balconies with Caribbean views, and specialized suites—including the Itzy, Bitzy Ritz Kids Rooms (targeted at new parents) and the tony Club Level Rooms (a veritable hotel within the hotel)—allow guests to custom-tailor their experiences. Weekend offerings are similarly all-encompassing: Friday is kids' karaoke night, and at Saturday's Luna Lounge parties, young guests pitch tents under the stars while Mom and Dad eat lobster in an oceanside cabana. Chef Jordi Valles's seafood-centric Fantino restaurant is one of the country's top-rated kitchens, and an on-site culinary center offers weekly tequila tastings as well as a Chef's Table dining experience that combines wine pairings of Mexican vintages, a tasting menu, and cooking lessons. In 2011, the hotel added a private infinity pool that can be rented out and comes with a personal butler.