The Cozumel Palace is a largely upscale though relatively small oceanfront resort situated on the west coast of Cozumel island. Its location means super-easy access from the ferry port and it is close to local amenities -- though the immediate area isn't particularly attractive. Rooms are impressively spacious with large spa tubs, sea-view balconies, and plenty of free liquor. Service is a real highlight with friendly staff providing excellent poolside attention and round-the-clock room service, while dining options are adequate. Although the resort caters to kids, the focus is far more on couples, and the beach is small and man-made, so families looking to spend some time on a postcard-perfect stretch of sand might want to look elsewhere.

The Melia Cozumel is a mid-range all-inclusive resort located on one of the best beaches in the North Hotel Zone and across the street from a Jack Nicklaus-designed golf course. It features 147 spacious rooms with furnished balconies and marble bathrooms with shower/tub combos -- but decor is a little bland, and technology could use an update in some units. There are several dining options on-site, two pools -- one of which is adults-only and has a swim-up bar -- a kids’ club, and a small spacomplete with a fitness center.

El Cozumeleño is a mid-range all-inclusive resort located directly on a long, narrow beach in northern Cozumel. Its 252 rooms are no-frills and some have dated technology, but all units are spacious (especially those in the original building) and have furnished balconies with ocean views. The pools are the highlight here (one has a popular swim-up bar), but golf is also draw due to the resort's location across the street from the island's only golf course (guests get discounted rates). Breakfast and lunch are pretty average, but dinner is tasty and the menu changes every few days. Overall, the hotel is a solid pick for families and value travelers.

The 306-room Iberostar Cozumel is an all-inclusive, mid-range family-friendly resort that is a haven for scuba divers on the southwestern coast of Cozumel, with the world’s second largest coral reef just off the resort’s beach. The beach is rocky, but a pier extends past the surf, and guests can use ladders to reach the water for world-class swimming and snorkeling. The Iberostar Cozumel is unique for a big all-inclusive in that the rooms are in rustic, bungalow-style buildings with private decks or balconies, each with its own hammock. The hotel also has three restaurants, a kids' club, three pools (including a kids' pool), a spa, and nightly entertainment.http://www.oyster.com/cozumel/hotels/iberostar-cozumel/photos/pool--v4383355/

The Occidental Grand Cozumel is an upper-middle-range, all-inclusive hotel on a nature preserve at the southern end of Cozumel. The white-sand beaches are gorgeous, and the incredible offshore reefs make for memorable snorkeling and diving adventures. The resort has Hacienda-style circular buildings built around fountain-filled courtyards and decorated in bright shades of red, yellow, and blue. Rooms are no-frills with flat-screen TVs and stocked minibars; some touches are quaint, if a tad dated, like patterned bedspreads. There are six restaurants and four bars. The resort also has three big pools, a hot tub, tennis courts, fitness center, spa, and kids' club. Evening entertainment includes a disco with dancing. There is a pesky fee for Wi-Fi.

El Cid La Ceiba Beach Hotel is a three-and-a-half pearl resort that seems to offer the best and worst of an all-inclusive beach vacation. Deluxe Rooms, which need updating, and Suites, which are spacious and pleasant, are divided between two buildings connected via the lobby that overlooks the outdoor pool and beach. Guests can choose between different tiers of all-inclusive packages and are required to wear a wristband so staff knows how to charge them. Upsides include excellent snorkeling right off the beach, an on-site dive shop, and outdoor massage hut. Downsides are rowdy day visitors, a 10-minute drive to San Miguel, and annoying time-share pitches. Your best bet for a seamless vacation is to book a non-tower Suite, pay for the upgraded all-inclusive package, and forget about checking email anywhere other than the lobby.