Seadust Cancun Family Resort

The Seadust Cancun Family Resort is an older all-inclusive resort set amongst dozens of other all-inclusives in the heart of the Hotel Zone of Cancun, and it doesn’t disappoint in terms of activities and services. It’s a massive building with 12 stories of rooms rising above the beach. The central corridor contains the shops and restaurants, and at the front are the kids' clubs and the water park. The resort footprint isn't as massive as some in the area, and lacks sprawling grounds and gardens, but many families find this convenient as it makes it easier to keep an eye on the little ones. It's easy and quick to go back and forth between the main pools and the beach -- but the location of the water park means that parents who want to supervise have to accompany their kids there.

This big, feature-packed resort is a lot of things, but serene it is not. Expect loud music and lots of water games at the main pool, which is often filled with little kids and floaties. Most guests here love the fun and festive atmosphere, though party-oriented couples may want to look elsewhere as the entertainment here definitely is geared toward families. There's not much entertainment in the evening besides the show around 9 p.m. (options may include a Michael Jackson show, games, or karaoke) -- fine for many families who want to put their kids to bed afterward, but not ideal for adults who want to stay up later. Some of the typical all-inclusive hassles are present (wristbands, towel cards, and during the very busiest seasons, occasional jostling for a palapa on the beach), but no reservations are needed for the a la carte restaurants, which is a definite upside.

The Seadust Cancun Family Resort is on the southern end of the Cancun Hotel Zone, about a 20-minute drive from the airport in one direction and the hopping nightclub area (home to Coco Bongo, Senor Frog's, and the like) in the other. This is not exactly a private beach, but it has the fine white sand and views of turquoise water that Cancun is known for. For those who want to get out and explore the rest of the Hotel Zone or downtown Cancun, there are buses on the avenue in front of the resort, plus taxis are readily available. There’s nothing within walking distance apart from other resorts.

The suites here aren't going to win any design awards -- they're quite bland, with cream tile, white walls, white bedding, and dark stained wood furniture, including a big headboard stretching almost to the ceiling. There are five categories, and most come with two doubles or a single king-size bed, but the Family Suite has additional bunk beds for the kids. Odd-numbered rooms are away from the Iberostar side of the hotel, which guests report can be noisy.

All of the rooms have a small balcony, typically furnished with a table and two chairs. Almost all have at least partial ocean views, and many ocean views are excellent -- though a few suites only face the lagoon. Rooms that face the pool and ocean beyond may have some of the best views, but can also suffer from the most noise during high season due to pool traffic. The minibar items, coffeemakers with coffee, bottled water, and 24-hour room service are included in the all-inclusive rates. On the technology front, there are flat-screen TVs, streaming music, and safes, but the Wi-Fi is not free.

Bathrooms have either shower/tub combos or walk-in showers; Club Suites add jetted tubs in the bedroom by the balcony.

The pools are a major focal point. The three-tier main pool faces the beach, and right next to it is a swim-up bar pool (where adults can expect children to be present). There are plenty of blue mesh and white plastic loungers set up around the perimeter, some with umbrellas, plus more on the beach beyond (where there are palapas instead of umbrellas). There are usually plenty of activities at the pool, such as water basketball or water polo, and animals such as birds and monkeys may be present poolside for kids to take photos with (note that the photos from the hotel photographer cost a fee). The adult-only pool unfortunately faces the road and lagoon rather than the ocean, and the rooftop location means it can get windy. The water park at the front of the resort is popular, though parents of children of different age ranges should note that it is divided into two sections by a wall, and only kids above a certain height are allowed into the one with the bigger waterslides. There are a few plastic chairs, loungers, and umbrellas, but not many.

By the water park are the baby club (for children 18 months to 3 years), kids' club (4 to 12 years), and a teen's club (13 to 17 years). The clubs are supervised and there are organized activities, but parents must call every hour to check on their child, and kids can't be left for more than three hours. For those who like to stay active, there are two tennis courts; There’s also a mini-golf course set up on the side of the resort. The cinema-style theater for evening shows is a bit small and can fill up, though it has air-conditioning, unlike some common spaces at the hotel.

The central core of the resort is a massive, long sprawl, and it’s lined with shopping centers and restaurants. There’s a spacious gym with a lot of equipment, but the views of a wall are less than impressive and there are no TVs. The subterranean spa is nicer, and there’s a Buddha statue in the center of the reflecting pool and a glass-tile walkway across the water. Facilities include a beauty salon, treatment rooms, and saunas.

There is also meeting space that can fit up to 800 people across various rooms.

With 10 restaurants at the hotel, guests have plenty of choices -- and the no-reservations policy means that guests can just show up to the a la cartes and be seated on a first-come, first-served basis. Food Gallery is the buffet option, serving all three meals, and has a number of different stations, including made-to-order sushi, a grill, a veggie section, fruits, salad, bread, seafood, poultry, and more. There are self-serve wine and beer at the drinks station. Food quality is what one would expect from this type of large cafeteria-style space, but with the number of choices most are able to find something to fit their tastes. There's also a kids' lunch buffet located by the water park. A la carte options include Italian, Mexican, Japanese, steak, and French (this spot is for adults only). A burger bar is open for lunch and dinner. There's a lunch and snack restaurant poolside, and Creperie focuses on deserts, and crepes, as well as ice cream.

Bars are throughout the main corridor of the resort and have themes, such as Touchdown Sports Bar and the Karaoke Bar.