From Namoi Price at The Oregonian -- All-inclusive resorts represent an increasingly popular option for family travel to the Riviera Maya, the Playa del Carmen and Tulum areas south of Cancun.
Think cruise without the ship, and without the need to pack so many clothes.
For a set price, you get a room, meals, kids' club activities and, for the extended family, a range of on-site things to do -- or not do -- that will please the average traveler: pools with swim-up bars, ocean kayaks, plentiful food and drink and optional excursions to nearby Mayan ruins.
Check first whether the resort you book has only buffet food service or limited full-service restaurants, as some do. (And some have a no-shorts, no-T-shirts policy in the full-service restaurants.)
Also, "boutique" and "all-inclusive" generally aren't spoken in the same sentence: All-inclusives range from big to huge. The Gran Bahia Principe Akumal, for example, has 1,295 rooms.
Few all-inclusives are adult-only; the best known are the Royal Hideaway, the Secrets Excellence and the Secrets Capri, all near Playa del Carmen. That means if you're looking to get away from children, choose carefully.
Speaking of adults, it's not unusual to see women going topless at resorts that attract Europeans, mostly on the beach. Ask when you book.
Visit the Mayan Holiday Reservations Center for a list of Riviera Maya resorts.
