Dreams Natura Resort & Spa

Day to day, food is the other draw. There are nine restaurants, including the World Cafe buffet, Barefoot Grill for poolside lunch, Bluewater Grill, Portofino, Oceana, Himitsu with hibachi tables, El Patio and Bourdeaux, an adults-only French room, plus Coco Cafe and 24-hour room service. Most restaurants run without reservations, though the a la carte rooms have a dress code. The six bars are Rendezvous in the lobby, Barracuda by the pool, Sugar Reef on the beach, Desires (a sports bar early in the evening and an adults-only disco later), Manatees swim-up by the adults-only pool and the Show time theater bar. The frustrations are familiar: chairs claimed with towels by 7am, scarce shade, a beach that collects mangrove debris, and paid extras such as snorkeling, kayaking and most of the spa.

This resort fits families with kids roughly 4 to 16 who want a packed day without leaving the property, and who rate pools above the beach. Note that the Rollglider zip ride has height and weight minimums that rule out most younger children, so do not sell it to a six-year-old in advance. Couples or beach-first travelers will do better elsewhere, and families comparing it with Hard Rock Riviera Maya or Grand Palladium Kantenah will find Natura stronger on slides and teen facilities and weaker on sand. Sip, Savor and See softens the isolation with included evenings at nearby sister resorts, while cenotes, Puerto Morelos and Playa del Carmen are taxi or tour trips.