Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula, which juts out into the Caribbean Sea and the Gulf of Mexico, covers all bases in terms of holiday offerings. If you’re looking to party 24/7 or enjoy a family bucket-and-spade vacation, then Cancun will definitely appeal. Cancun’s Hotel Zone, a narrow strip of land sandwiched between a lagoon and the Caribbean Sea, is lined with sandy beaches, mega malls, high-rise hotels and pulsating nightclubs such as Coco Bongos and the City Club – beloved by the US spring break students.
Leave behind this Miami-style city and head south along Highway 307 and you’ll find a handful of lavish luxury resorts. This stunning stretch of Mayan Riviera coastline is a favourite with divers, while inland there are the iconic Mayan ruins of Chichén Itzá.

WHAT STARS MIGHT I SEE?

Footballers Ronaldo, Joe Cole and Wayne Rooney are all fans of Cancun, while last summer Julia Roberts, Christina Aguilera, Eva Mendes were in town for Sony Pictures’ Summer Of Sony weekend. Other Mayan Riviera fans include Sienna Miller, Cindy Crawford and Eva Longoria. Tulum, with its impressive Mayan ruins, saw Jaime Winstone, Natalie Imbruglia and Melanie Blatt ring in New Year while Drew Barrymore has been spotted at the Casa Magna hotel. J.Lo filmed her latest pop video for I’m Into You at the Mayan ruins of Chichén Itzá. Plus Shakira will be performing at Cancun’s Moon Palace on July 15.

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STAYING IN CANCUN

Tucked away at the end of the Hotel Zone is Club Med Cancun, a sprawling 376-room Mediterranean-hued resort, which sits on its own 17-acre peninsula with beaches on both its lagoon and seaside. Families will adore the all-inclusive hotel as it offers a packed daily schedule perfect for teens and tots. Friendly hotel staff are on hand to help keep the kids entertained. So if your child is a fan of The X Factor they’ll love the dance and Mini Talent show sessions, while would-be acrobats should sign up for the circus school, and teenagers can bond over a game of beach volleyball. With the kids amused, you can then enjoy your own pursuits, whether it be windsurfing, Pilates, or a pampering hot stone massage in the spa. You may also, like OK!, need to fit in a gym session if you’ve overindulged in some of the hotel’s restaurants! We particularly loved the traditional Mexican beef soup caldo de res at Las Cazuelas and the yummy almond cake at La Hacienda overlooking the lagoon. One night we took in the Music Factory show where hilarious Tina Turner and Prince impersonators strutted their stuff on stage!

STAYING ON THE MAYAN RIVIERA

In complete contrast to the Club Med, the Mandarin Oriental may only be about 45 minutes drive south of Cancun, but on arrival OK! felt like we’d landed on another planet. Set on a secluded coastline with a select handful of five-star hotels for company, this boutique hotel really does use the stunning landscape to its full advantage. The 128 two-storey and bungalow-style villas are hidden away amid 36 acres of tropical forest, mangroves and lagoons and linked by winding stone paths. Supposedly Sir Paul McCartney has stayed in the hotel’s Presidential Suite and OK! swooned when we were shown to our sprawling Villa Selva suite. Its understated sleek design featured dark woods, floor-to-ceiling windows and fine linens. We loved our four-poster bed, the outdoor stone bath, Bulgari toiletries and view of the lagoon. Each night we tried to guess what our turndown gift would be – one evening it was a cocktail shaker full of our favourite Margarita mix! After the sumptuous breakfasts, OK! felt obliged to do a few lengths in the stunning sea-facing infinity-edged pool. During the day, staff proffered exotic fruit kebabs and scented cold towels. Come sunset, OK! thought it would be rude not to sip a Tamarind Margarita on the beach. This was followed by a blissful few hours having an aromatherapy massage in the hotel’s amazing 25,000 sq ft spa which has a fabulous array of treatments.

WHERE CAN I EAT?

One of our culinary holiday highlights was dinner at the Mandarin’s gourmet restaurant, Ambar, where we feasted on lobster with sweet plaintain and grated cocoa and bitter chocolate orange fondant – which was to die for! Its sister restaurant Aguamarina has a lovely ocean view, where we enjoyed sopa de lima, a traditional spicy broth, and shrimp tacos at the Ceviche Cha Cha Cha eatery downstairs. If you want to try authentic Mayan cuisine (think shrimp fajitas), dine at Yaxche in Playa del Carmen – but note the portions are huge! Another OK! favourite at Playa del Carmen is the Le Casa Del Agua for its fine-dining twist on seafood. OK! loved the lime-infused scallops on champagne risotto and the coconut and curry prawns.

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WHERE CAN I SHOP?

Cancun offers loads of glossy malls with two of the largest being Plaza las Americas, and Plaza Kukulcan. OK! had a cheeky splurge in the Kiehl’s store in La Isla. If you’re searching for souvenirs Market 28 sells hammocks, sandals, and silver jewellery. OK! bought some bling and a watercolour by a local artist at the market stalls in Playa del Carmen, the fishing village turned boho-chic resort appealing to a more sophisticated crowd than Cancun. On Fifth Avenue, you’ll find stylish shops and cool bars like Fusion, where OK! sipped Piña Coladas while watching a Mexican reggae band!

WHAT ARE THE MUST-SEE SIGHTS?

One of the world’s most novel museums must surely be Cancun’s Underwater Museum (www.underwatersculpture.com), situated just off Isla Mujeres. Snorkellers and divers can marvel in awe at the 407 sculptures dotted around the seabed within the National Marine Park. We also enjoyed a day trip to Xel-Ha Water Park, about an hour’s drive south of Playa del Carmen. Visitors can snorkel through lagoons and cenotes, float on inflatable rings down the mangrove-lined river, swim with the dolphins (a definite highlight for OK!) and cycle around the pretty gardens.

HOW CAN I GET THERE?

Exsus (www.exsus.com; 020 7337 9010) offers a seven-night package, including return BA flights from London Heathrow to Cancun, private hotel transfers, and breakfast staying at the Mandarin Oriental Riviera Maya (www.mandarinoriental.com/rivieramaya/) from £1,680pp.
A seven-night all-inclusive package, including return flights from the UK to Cancun, transfers, staying in a shared Club Room at Club Med, costs from £1,621 per adult and £1,062 per child. Call 08453 676 767 or visit www.clubmed.co.uk.