Al Cielo is a diminutive hotel on a fabulously long, wide powder-soft beach on Mexico's Caribbean coast. For those yearning for the simple life, it is heaven indeed - Al Cielo has a chic "bare feet and linen" restaurant, a couple of beach bars within walking distance, and just four rooms - each with balcony or terrace and hammock and all with views of the dazzling Caribbean beach.

Although rustic, the guest rooms have all the essentials for a comfortable stay, including powerful fans and plenty of electric sockets for hair dryers, laptops and other desert island essentials.

One room has two double beds, and children are welcome (there are no special facilities for kids but they can play in the sand right outside their room from dawn to dusk.)

Massages and other spa services are available at the hotel; snorkeling, diving, fishing and other water sports can be arranged further along the bay. Tai Chi lessons on the beach are now available too (beginning at 7am, from Tuesday to Friday each week). Bring a rental car and you're also within easy reach of Tulum, Xcaret, Xel-ha and Playa del Carmen - if you can drag yourselves away from the beach, that is!