Hotel Grand Palladium White Sand Resort & Spa

These all-inclusive resorts by their very nature encourage you to stay on-site. The first day, after I had explored the place, I wondered what I would do for the rest of the week. But the place grows on you. For example, I love the sincere conservation efforts this resort has made, and I learned a good bit about flora and fauna. Plus there is access to the reef, and to the true Caribbean waves as well.

Thirty km in one direction is Playa del Carmen, a relatively large tourist centre with endless hotels, shops and bars (and whatever else you might desire). It also hosts a ferry terminal to Cozumel island, 30 minutes away ($27 return, give or take), a huge cruise ship port. We skipped the town centre and hired a boat for reef snorkeling ($27 per person for a party of six or more). Glass bottomed boat for those who did not wish to snorkel. These are not big boats, though, and the waves can be 1 - 2 metres,so if you don't want to get soaked, wear something waterproof (the breeze can be quite cool if the sun isn't out).

In the other direction, 30 km takes you to Tulum, a Mayan seaside port (on a cliff) with many picturesque ruins (and guides for extra $ if you wish the full history). A good introduction to Mayan culture.

You can take a taxi to either place for about $27, with a maximum of four passengers per taxi. Or you can take the local bus service for about $3 each way. Or you can book a tour from the company that brought you here (ours was Air Transat) or other vendors on-site. The possibilities are endless (or at least until your budget runs out).

At the resort itself there are several shops that sell souvenirs and basic supplies at a huge mark-up ($30 sunblock, anyone?) Plus, vendors of quality merchandise set up temporary selling sites within the complex each evening.

If you fail to buy what you need at any of these, there is still the Cancun airport (an hour and a half away by charter bus or taxi), with its duty-free shops and dozens of other vendors. No point taking any Mexican money home, right?

The quality of service is superb, and the level of maintenance is near-flawless while being unobtrusive. If you like studying infrastructure, this place wil teach you much. And if you like studying architecture, you will not be disappointed-- the biggest thatched roofs in the world, perhaps? And that's only a start.

Practically-- there is 24 hour on-site medical, and laundry if you wish to pay for it. As for languages, I heard English, French, Russian, Spanish. The staff can manage at least Enfglish, French and Spanish.

The food is excellent. There are four buffet restaurants that offer an amazing and evolving variety of excellent food (and wine or beer), and at extended hours. When they are closed, the poolside buffet restaurants are open. Plus there are several a la carte restaurants that give you the opportunity to wait 45 mintes for seating and eat the same foods in a more traditional setting-- also inclusive. There is literally no end of opportunity to eat and drink yourself into virutual dietary oblivion. I gained three pounds over the week and never darkened an a la carte door. Just sitting in a lobby gets you servers who will bring you any drink you can imagine, to fuel you up for a meal beyond your imagination. I ate Mexican, American, Japanese, Italian. At one meal I had beef, pork, lamb, duck, chicken, fish and seafood. Plus salads galore, diverse fresh fruits, and excellent desserts.

There is a mini-golf course and a complete spa with exercise equipment, as well as tennis courts. Personally, I found the walking gave me enough exercise, but others may wish to use these faciities.

Pools and other entertainment are abundant and varied, as noted in other sections of my comments.

There is also a 9-hole golf course just up the highway. Not cheap, though-- prepare to drop a hundred-plus bucks for 9 or 18 or 27 holes.

Various sizes and beds, but all adequate to roomy, and all with balconies or decks.

Rooms are air-conditioned. Many have jacuzzi-type bathtubs, though small. Minibar fridge is replenished daily-- beer, water and soft drinks. TV, phone, coffee machine, free safe for document security.

Very clean and well cared-for.

Stairs to second and third levels do not have railings, however, so step carefully.

Wireless internet in the main lobbies only, and somewhat slow, but adequate for modest needs (email).

Weather-wise, our week (end of January) was atypically cool and cloudy, though I (from western Canada) found the temperatures, both day and night, to be just fine. Take a jacket, though. And wear sunblock even if the day is cloudy. Trust me on this.