Playa del Carmen has the Caribbean beach of everyone's dreams; cool white sand, almost unbelievably turquoise sea and some great watering holes. What's more, it's all just a few hundred yards from the hotel - perfect for easy access, but keeping the hotel and pool area a peaceful haven from the crowds.

You're unlikely to have the sands to yourself, but the compensations lie in the many activities on offer here; watersports (windsurfing, parasailing and diving or snorkeling trips rather than noisy jet bikes) bars and restaurants.

The typical bar seat is a hammock or a swing, drinks are Corona beers or Margaritas. Colorful boats still line the water's edge, though today they're more likely to be used for excursions than fishing.

The sea here is the same that laps the beaches of Cancun but it is usually calmer in Playa (Cozumel Island, visible on the horizon, shelters this section of the coast).

Cozumel also makes a great day's excursion, the ferry leaves from the jetty just up the beach and the trip takes about one hour each way.

Guests at Mosquito Blue also have complimentary use of the Beach Club at nearby Mosquito Beach.