2 Best Hotels in Cozumel, Mexico

Gleaming white in the afternoon sun, the Cozumel Palace seems more like a cruise ship than an upscale all-inclusive hotel, one where the music and flowing drinks in the tight confines of the pool deck area create a lively outdoor atmosphere. In sharp contrast, the romantic, multilevel bedrooms are airy enclaves with whirlpool tubs, luxurious bathrooms, stocked refrigerators, and balcony hammocks. Three top-quality restaurants and an outdoor snack bar offer numerous dining options and the buffet breakfast is not to be missed. The Palace Resorts chain has time-share and club programs, so salespeople are about. The small, man-made beach is a good place to hide from the pool area. The snorkeling along the pool's edge is made easy with several ladder entry locations.

The elegant adults-only Aura offers the ultimate in all-inclusive service and a variety of room styles in four low-rise buildings that face a meandering pool with separate areas linked by a lazy river. Swim-up suites have direct patio access to the ground-level pool, while third-story solarium suites have narrow rooftop lap pools. The design throughout the seven room categories is sleekly contemporary, with dark-wood furnishings and contrasting sea-blue textiles. The outdoor, white-tablecloth dining is a special treat.