Recently, I visited a bouquet of Spas during an annual weeklong trip to Cancun. English was spoken almost everywhere, the dollar ruled, and the airport only a half-hour away. Here is part of our full itinerary; choose what suits you. Or, for a total treat, try all of these spas but allow two weeks just so you can truly enjoy beachers, sun and sand. Spas, too, naturally.

Day 1: Check in at NICHUPTE DESTINATION SPA, Boulevard Kukulcan, at the beginning of the hotel zone, it's quiet and on the lagoon with gorgeous sunset views. Hotel Zone, Cancun 77500,(998) 891 40 80. Owner, Tomás Auñon proudly showed us the two pools, boats, fitness room -- an open-air affair; open air breakfast and separate patio-restaurant-club where we partied along to Mexican music. Lunch and free time at the pool, or a quick shuttle to the beach amused us. Only drawback here is it's a bus or cab ride to the beach zone.

7:00 pm A drive to SECRETS EXCELLENCE, PUERTO MORELOS, an elegant Hotel with long white curtains around spa, separate treatment rooms, and a huge marble courtyard and pools.We used BATAB local natural products, including face creams and body creams. After dinner, we rode back to NICHUPTE DESTINATION SPA.

Day 2: 8:30 am We breakfasted lagoon-side, then packed bathing suits for the Jacuzzi, extra clothes for afternoon activities. Comfortable casual clothing was our uniform all week. At 10:30 a.m., I took the Tai chi class at Nichupte. Just to feel as if I worked out, which I did! It was easy, too. There was time for a restful massage, outside by the lagoon.

At 12:00 pm, we shuttled to El Paraiso de la Bonita hotel, www.paraisodelabonita.com. Paraiso de la Bonita is the only Spa in Cancun specialized in Thalasoteraphy. This serene hotel has a Balinese look to it, with cement monkey cages as ornaments. The property is in Puerto Morelos. We ate lunch at the hotel. Then, I and my friends had separate spa treatments and lounged on the beach and pool. AT 5 pm., we returned to NICHUPTE DESTINATION SPA.

At 8:00 pm that night, our hotel featured a festive Mexican Fiesta dinner. A contest on Mexican history garnered me a few prizes. Lots of giggling and a little "cheating" by my friends helped.

Day 3: A short ride brought us to the terrific Le Meridien Cancun Resort & Spa. Le Meridien www.lemeridien.com/mexico/cancun/hotel_m for breakfast at Aloli Restaurant. Fruit/compote presentation– 3 glasses with various yogurt/fruit blends and a terrific breakfast buffet in the main dining room where my friends and I ate on a terrace. Divine. We enjoyed the lounge and hot stone massages at Spa del Mar; a Spa butler helped us undress, robe, get into the treatment room. This was my favorite Spa in Cancun, notable for quiet and elegant decord

After, we transferred to Westin Cancun Spa Resort for lunch there; fish is fresh, veggies yummy. Then we relaxed on the beach, at the pool, and prepared for an awesome experience in the round, outdoor Temazcal, similar is a sweat lodge, but much more, for visions and inner harmony prevail. The Westin features a lovely beach, for it’s at the end of Hotel Zone, with only one hotel next door, and Club Med around the corner.

After our sweat lodge experience, and spa treatments (I had a facial), we rode back to Nichupte Hotel. We had dinner on the strip at Glazz , a trendy, big club/restaurant. We had Japanese sushi, a good spa vacation choice.

We had breakfast at the elegant Café at The Ritz-Carlton. While some enjoyed spa treatments, others enjoyed the beach, and vice versa. I had a re-birthing bath, with rose petals, overlooking the ocean. The Spa offered everyone personal Spa butler valet escorts, assigned by spa manager Simona.
We relaxed and napped on the beachside private cabana, with waitress, food service, fruit brought to us. In the afternoon, we left for to Moon Palace Golf & Spa Resort. I had a Sock massage, and it was very nice, arranged by Selene.
Everyone else received the Samunprai treatment. We all ate lunch at Moon Palace.

Next, we drove to the ritzy Meliá Paradisus Riviera Cancun. This was one of my favorite spas. It's an amazing hotel, with separate spa hut area, little cabins, very Asian, wood,stones, wooden walks to each separate cabin-type spa treatment area. A rustic feeling pervades.

Several friends and I returned to NICHUPTE DESTINATION SPA and some stayed for French restaurant at Paradisus. I heard it was fab. But I enjoyed our night's dining at Nichupte with our Mexican band.

Breakfast at the hotel, then a ride to “The Spa” Fiesta Americana Grand AQUA. The delightful Spa manager was Jaime Martinez. The entrance to the spa was dramatic, as we walked down a spiral stair, viewing restaurant pillars decorated with mosaics portraits of famous Mexicans like artist Freda Kalo. We enjoyed spa treatments (I had a facial), then relaxed. Everything is spiffy, better than ever, since a major redo has taken place here.

Finally, after our last night on the town, including delicious chicken parm at the Madonna Restaurant, we packed up and next day, jetted for home. This is just a good sampling of what is available in the CanCun and Mayan area.