Hotel NH Krystal Laguna Villas & Resort

If you want the best that Cayo Coco has to offer, then book into this all-inclusive hotel offering the closest thing to true five-star luxury on Cayo Coco. Most recently the Cuban-run Hotel El Senador, this vast complex is now run by the Dutch NH hotel group. The complex lies well inland of the beach, from which it is separated by a natural saltwater lagoon and mangrove forest. We really like this resort's 21st-century restyling. Very chic! The lobby features a vaulted wooden ceiling. The huge swimming pool?one of four pools here?is a big draw.

There are no less than seven restaurants to choose from, including a steak house. Given the hotel's size, the disco gets lively. And cigar-lovers get their own lounge. This hotel even has its own beauty center, plus meeting rooms. And you'll never be bored, thanks to basketball, tennis and volleyball courts; heaps of watersports; and plenty of organized activities day and night. This hotel also has scuba diving facilities and offers introductory lessons in the pool.

Meliá Cayo Coco

This Spanish run all-inclusive occupies the very eastern tip of the island, with the fabulous beach on one side and a natural saltwater lagoon on the other. The curving lobby, with its plentiful mrable and travertine and stylish contemporary furnishings, is the most sophisticated on Cayo Coco.

Guests who get bored can also use the facilities at the neighboring Sol Cayo Coco (but not vice versa). If you're seeking relative peace and quiet, an advantage here is that no kids are allowed. On rainy days, the billiards bar helps defeat boredom, and the entertainment staff put enthusiasm into keeping guests entertained. However, many of the facilities here are well past their prime, and the hotel itself is showing signs of a much-needed renovation.

Meliá Cayo Guillermo

Adjacent to its sibling, the Sol Cayo Guillermo, this all-inclusive is a virtual carbon-copy, lthough it bills itself as slightly more upscale. It competes with the Iberostar for top-billing and has a similar lay-out, with buildings wrapping around the main pool complex, set in well-maintained landscaped grounds. There's little to choose between any of these three competing properties in terms of facilities and amenities, as all offer a wide range of watersports, on-land activities such as tennis and volleyball, and near-identical nocturnal shows.

Highlights here include the breeze-swept open air beach grill, a poolside Italian restaurant where you won't be out of place dressing up.

All 314 air-conditioned rooms sport Meli?'s trademark gay pastel color schemes, featuring robins?egg?blue with dark blue and yellow highlights, plus rattan lounge chairs on white tile floors...