Excellence Riviera Cancún

Situated on a sugary beach on Mexico's Riviera Maya coast, Excellence Riviera Cancun is styled after a classic Mediterranean resort: stucco, tile, and marble (though it does have Mayan paintings on the exterior). Suites have four-poster beds, marble baths, and two-person whirlpools. While Cancun, Playa del Carmen, and Tulum are all within easy driving distance, the hotel is a world unto itself, and guests may find it difficult to part with the six meandering, river-like pools; five outdoor Jacuzzis; eight restaurants; 10 bars; jogging trails through the jungle; hammocks for siesta, and—phew!—dozens of other on-site activities. Unlike at some all-inclusives, reservations are not necessary at any of the restaurants. In fact, they're not accepted anywhere, for anything: at Excellence, spontaneity and leisure are the name of the game.