We greatly enjoyed our stay at the RIU Palace Mexico in the Playacar district on the outskirts of the town of Playa del Carmen, about an hour's drive south of Cancun.  The facilities were gorgeous, the staff extremely friendly, the beach beautiful, and the food noticeably better than any of the other resorts at which we stayed on previous trips to the area.  We also explored the Mayan ruins located only a 15 minute walk from our resort (not massive but more extensive than we would have expected) and a visit to the bustling town of Playa del Carmen with its many shops.