Cancun

Cancun is all about beaches. If it's sun, sand and sea you're lusting after then Mexico's most popular tourist spot will not disappoint - and if you happen to like history too, all the better.

Situated on the Yucatán Peninsula, the resort - the brainchild of the Mexican government in the sixties - is a world away from the rest of the country. Rows of plush hotels and spotless shopping arcades provide the backdrop to perfect beaches and the Caribbean Sea.

The tourist zone is on Isla Cancún, a seven-shaped sliver of island around 20km long, whose beaches offer virtually every watersport under the sun. Several marinas, golf courses and waterfront restaurants border a millpond of a lagoon on its inland side, while further out the warm tropical waters provide top-notch sailing, deep-sea fishing and diving.

There's wilder territory available at the one-time backpackers' haven of Isla Mujeres, half an hour away by boat, where swimming with dolphins and diving the four reefs top the bill of things to do.

Cancun's nightlife is big and brash, with some establishments offering all-night drinks included in the price of entry. A huge range of restaurants, bars and clubs near the centre ensures most holidaymakers will find something to suit their mood and energy levels.

Ciudad Cancún on the mainland is a different planet. This is where the locals who work on the resort live, and it's worth a visit not just for a change of scenery from the glitzy tourist scene, but for authentic local eating and shopping that will help your holiday funds last longer.

Although there is culture available locally at the Mayan ruin site of Zona Arqueológica El Rey, it's a feeble offering compared to the incredible pyramid and temples of Chichén Itzá, only about two hours away by bus. Tulum ('City of the Dawn') to the south is another Mayan treasure - definitely worth a visit if you can tear yourself away from your deckchair.