Acanto Boutique Hotel and Condominiums Playa del Carmen is a classy, modern downtown hideaway located near the area’s best shopping and attractions. Take a stroll through the beautiful grounds with tropical gardens on your way to the free continental breakfast. Now that you’ve energized, it’s time to hit the beach. Playa’s top five beaches are all within blocks; the nearest is just eight-hundred feet away. Guests of Acanto receive discounts to nearby Kool Beach Club. Hoping to get in a workout? Get the guest rate at The Gym, the huge nearby state-of-the-art fitness center, complete with a wide array of class offerings and top-notch equipment. Reward yourself for a workout well done with a visit to the on-site spa, Maria Bonita Spa & Beauty Salon. When the kids get hungry, have a family cookout on the rooftop bbq grills. Let the kids help carry burgers, hot dogs, and condiments while the grownups handle the plates and silverware. After lunch, take a dip in the resort’s cozy courtyard pool or head back to your condo.

Modern, individually decorated one-to three-bedroom condos sleep two to six guests and include full kitchens, living/dining rooms, marble floors and baths. There is a Walmart nearby for groceries. Bring the kids along to make sure that no one’s favorites are forgotten. When you get back to your condo, bake a batch (or two) of double chocolate brownies and let the little ones get in on the action. Don’t worry if things get messy; the resort has on-site laundry facilities for just that reason. Condos have flat screen TVs with cable. While the brownies are baking, watch a sitcom rerun. If you don’t feel like cooking dinner, there’s a private chef available at the resort.

Tomorrow’s a new day, so plan an excursion. Snorkel the world’s second largest reef or hike the Mayan ruins. The front desk can help you with bookings. Visit Plaza Corazon, a shopping center right next to the resort. Stores include Calvin Klein, Bath & Body Works, Steve Madden, Michael Kors, Sephora and Sunglass Hut. Need an afternoon pick-me-up? Good news! Plaza Corazon has a Starbucks. Surprise the kids with a stop at L'Aquarium Playa del Carmen, located within Plaza Corazon. This aquarium has three floors with forty-five themed exhibitions. There are over ten-thousand animals from more than two-hundred species. Species include reptiles, fish, sharks and jellyfish. Exhibitions are divided into four categories: terrarium, ocean, cenote and beach. The terrarium features cold-blooded reptiles like geckos, dart frogs, Russian turtles and Burmese python. The Ocean exhibits include jellyfish, reefs, punta plata and a sunken ship. Check out the natural limestone sinkholes that are full of fresh water in Cenote. The Beach exhibit raises awareness about the damage that humans are doing to beaches and oceans. Little ones will love seeing the lobsters and touching the starfish.