Kempinski Hotel Cancún

Kempinski Hotel Cancún is the Hotel Zone's grande dame. The building was formerly the Ritz-Carlton Cancún and is now run by the luxury hotel group Kempinski, which describes it as a five-star beachfront hotel on the powdery white sands of the Caribbean shore. Where many Cancún resorts chase a party crowd or an all-inclusive formula, this one is about classic hotel-keeping, and the Caribbean Journal highlights its soft-spoken service and attention to detail.

There are just over 360 rooms and suites, all facing the ocean. They are classically styled with modern updates, and the hotel describes them as spacious and elegant, with views across the Caribbean. Guests in the Club category have access to the Club Lounge, with private check-in, food and drink presentations through the day and a quiet lounge overlooking the water.

Dining is one of the hotel's strengths, with a choice of restaurants rather than a single buffet. Fantino is the formal fine-dining room, The Club Grill & Jazz Supper Club combines dinner with music, Casitas and The Caribe Bar & Grill are the more casual choices, in keeping with the beachfront grills the Caribbean Journal describes, and El Café Mexicano is the hotel's café. In-room dining is also available.

The KAYANTÁ Spa takes its name from a Maya phrase meaning renewal, and its treatments use Indigenous ingredients. The hotel also has indoor and outdoor event spaces by the shore, which makes it a natural choice for weddings, conferences and family celebrations.

Kempinski suits couples and families who want a traditional luxury hotel with a choice of restaurants, a long beach and a calm atmosphere. Travellers looking for a party scene will find more of it around Punta Cancún.

The hotel can be reached by phone in Mexico or on a toll-free number from the United States and Canada. Kempinski's own website shows the current room categories and Club access options, and its events team handles weddings and meetings. For meals away from the hotel, the lagoon-side restaurants around kilometre 14 of Boulevard Kukulcán, such as Harry's, Porfirio's and Puerto Madero, are among the Hotel Zone's best-known options.