The beachfront Villa Palmar Cancun is a five star resort only 15 minutes drive from central Cancun. Rooms come with a kitchenette and a balcony and guests can enjoy buffet breakfast of international food, served on the dining room or the balcony. The hotel offers a range of activities such as diving and snorkelling, and it has an outdoor pool.

For a truly indulgent experience, check in at the Moon Palace Golf Resort and Spa. This tranquil resort offers 7 outdoor swimming pools with jacuzzis and swim up bars, and 13 exquisite restaurants. Every room is kitted out with a Jacuzzi, a stylish marble bathroom and beautiful views from each private balcony. It is situated on Cancun’s beautiful southern shore, and is just a ten minute drive from Cancun airport.

A good value option is the Ocean Turquesa All Suite Resort. An all inclusive hotel, it is a fantastic family option with a relaxed atmosphere and has 7 restaurants and 4 pools.

The Hacienda de Castilla is a great budget choice. It is 5 minutes drive from Playa Blanca Beach, and hotel guests receive great discounts on food and drink at the Forum beach club, which is just 10 minutes away.

The brand new hostel Ka’beh Cancun is a great central option, and the perfect retreat for the weary traveller. It offers all the usual hostel attractions, such as breakfast and wifi, and although guests sleep on blow up beds, for less than a fiver a night, its not a bad deal at all.

Restaurante Natura serves a range of vegetarian and Mexican cuisine, including tapas, hongos and Mexican Breakfast. This is an inexpensive choice right in the town’s centre.

Javier, K Sadillas del Jalisco’s friendly owner, will cook you up some super cheap quesadillas and other Mexican favourites when you head across town to this little hotspot.

It’s worth making the effort to go to Checandole. Though slightly further out of town, this trendy restaurant specialises in Mexico City cuisine Chilango, and cooks up authentic dishes such as pollo en mole poblano (chicken smothered in chocolate and chili sauce.)

For those looking for a taste of the real Mexico, there is a great variety of food stalls on offer at the corner of Parque Las Palpas. Authentic cuisine can be found here, and two great taco carts operate every evening.

Any trip to Cancun must include a visit to the Coba Ruins, the remains of an ancient Mayan city which flourished between 600-900 AD.

For another cultural venture visit the Cancun Temazcal, a traditional Indian Bath House which invites guests to participate in its ancient exotic rituals, designed to relax and enhance the body’s senses.

If you fancy something a bit different, head to Dolphinaris Cancun. Easy to get to by public transport, Dolphinarus is the perfect family day out, where kids and adults alike can swim with dolphins.

A full-on day out at Marina Punta Este is one which cannot be missed when visiting Cancun. Divers with all levels of experience can enjoy the Marina and visitors can also take the jungle tour or the catamaran tour.

Hidden away from the hustle and bustle of the main town of Cancun are the El Meco Ruins. Believed to have been a major commercial port in the Mayan era, but is now a quiet hideaway retreat for the weary tourist.

Cancun is generally hot all year round, with temperatures reaching up to 32 degrees Celsius from April to October.

The rainy season is from May to October, making the winter months usually more pleasant, and less expensive.