Le Meridian Resort and Spa Cancun, Mexico

I stayed at the Le Meridien Cancun Resort & Spa in the summer of 2006. It was definitely a positive experience, despite the 100 degree temperatures and the horrible sunburn I got on the trip.

Everyone who worked at the hotel was wonderfully accommodating and friendly. The service was excellent and anything I needed was taken care of right away.

The grounds of the hotel are gorgeous. It sits right on a private beach, and the view of the ocean from our room was excellent. The sand is soft, the water in the ocean is clear and blue, and the whole atmosphere is extremely peaceful. The landscaping is kept up well, and the areas surrounding the hotel are clean.

The inside of the resort is equally lovely. When you walk in, there are beautiful marble floors, and a lovely lounge area. There are shops and restaurants on either side of the hotel for both casual and more formal dining, and there are several nice rooms for events. I was there for a company banquet, and the room we used was spacious and accommodating.

The rooms themselves were nice but nothing special. They were a bit small, although I think if it were not so incredibly hot, the size of the room may not have bothered me as much. The furniture was nice, and the beds were as comfortable as hotel beds can be, but for the type of hotel it was, I expected a bit more. We did not stay in a suite, and I did not see any of the suites, but I imagine they are a more impressive.

The food in both the hotel restaurants and the local places we went was very good. I can't remember having a bad meal, although I can't say if it was authentically Mexican as Cancun seems quite americanized. The breakfast buffet in the hotel was especially fun, because it had what seemed to be a traditional Mexican breakfast, which I had never tried before.

I had no problem with the water, and I did drink the water in the hotel and in restaurants. I think the nicer hotels and surrounding areas have good filtering systems.

Saving the best for last, the pool and spa were unbelievable! The pool had several different sections of the clearest, most relaxing water. There was a bar outside, and plenty of space to relax, swim, read, or sleep. Just be careful. The sun is hot, hot, hot!!

The spa has everything you can think of for pampering. You can get a pedicure and manicure, or a massage, or just go in to the relaxation room and mellow out. The spa area also had a very cold, cold pool that had some healthy purpose that I can't remember, but for me it was a way to get out of the sweltering heat.

The main problem I had with this hotel was the ventilation and the air conditioning in the common areas, which was awful considering the time of year and how hot it was outside. It was well over 100 degrees the whole time we were there, and the A/C just did not cut it. I dreaded going in to the elevators because they were so small and crowded and hot! The rooms were not nearly as bad, but I could have stood 10 degrees cooler.

This was a trip that was almost completely paid for by my company, so it would be difficult for me to comment on prices. I believe the rooms were in the $300 range, and the few times that I did pay for my own meals, they were reasonable.

I wholeheartedly recommend the Le Meridien Cancun. It's a Starwood property, and it was my first experience with this hotel brand. As a former Marriott manager, I'm quite particular about hotels, and this one did not disappoint me.