Cancún makes a great base for exploring. Getting around is easy. Bus service is excellent. You'll find bus stops conveniently sprinkled throughout the Zona Hotelera and Centro. Though air-conditioned buses can be packed during the peak hours, especially when hotel employees are on the move, there's never much of a wait, as buses show up every couple of minutes. Normal fare is about seventy-five cents.

In addition, over 2,000 taxis cruise the streets and boulevards of Cancún. It's cheaper to hail a cab than to hire a parked one. Taxi fares are set and posted by most hotels in their lobbies. Still, you should also check with the driver before getting into the cab.

If you'd rather walk or ride a bicycle, you can take the Ciclopista, a red paved path that winds its way through part of the Zona Hotelera. Pedestrians have the right of way only on designated raised crosswalks.

To get from the airport and back, you can take the public shuttle (866-922-6286; www.cancunshuttle.com), which can take as long as two hours to reach your hotel. A better idea for families is probably to take a taxi for $35 to $40 or to hire a private car for $45 round-trip. You can also rent a car and drive yourself.