Bel Air Collection Resort & Spa Rating: 3.5 Pearls

Hotel Zone, Cancun

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Located in one of the Hotel Zone's most secluded spots, the Bel Air Collection offers easy access to the airport, but you will have to drive or take a cab to get to restaurants, bars, and shops. There’s little around the property, but most guests come here looking for a relaxing experience far from the nightlife, yet close to the gorgeous beaches that have made Cancun famous.

Comprised of a narrow strip of land flanked by the green waters of the Nichupte Lagoon on one side and the Caribbean's turquoise waves on the other, the Hotel Zone is where most of the all-inclusive, self-contained resorts are located in Cancun. This one long stretch of white sand is lined with hotels and businesses that cater exclusively to tourists, with most locals living in the downtown area (known as Ciudad Cancun). Alongside the massive resorts are a mix of entertainment spots, restaurants, and retail malls -- including the open-air La Isla Shopping Village and the cavernous Kukulcan Plaza, which both offer a mix of luxury boutiques, souvenir shops, and eye-catching art.

At the heart of the Hotel Zone is an area known as Party Center, home to the city's most well-known clubs like Coco Bongo, Dady'O, and The City. Once darkness falls, the fiesta begins, with clubs, bars, and lounges here and in the surrounding areas providing a steady supply of alcohol, along with lively entertainment that ranges from booming techno beats to mesmerizing acrobatic performances.

• 15-minute drive to Cancun International Airport
• 25-minute drive to downtown Cancun
• 30-minute drive to Puerto Morelos, with quiet beaches and great snorkeling spots
• 50-minute drive to Playa del Carmen, a laid-back town with great shopping, and a well-heeled crowd
• 1-hour-35 minute drive to Tulum ruins
• 2-hour-25-minute drive to Coba ruins
• 2-hour-40-minute drive to Chichen Itza ruins