Is it worth it to splurge on a luxury all-inclusive resort that’s for adults only? In all my 41 years, I never thought it would be for me — until a series of events brought yours truly face to face with a certain fun hotel called Le Blanc Spa Resort in Cancun, Mexico. What follows is an honest, not-sponsored review of the days I spent on the property. Surprises abounded.
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First, Some Background…
Before we dive into the Le Blanc, Cancun review, here’s some pertinent information about who is typing this article. I am an English teacher, mother to two young kids, lover of the Spanish language, and a world traveler.
I’ve been to Mexico on four separate extended trips — each time before this resort trip being for immersive, educational purposes. Most recently, I went to language school in Merida with my son, and several years before that, volunteered for two months in a rural town in La Huasteca Postiano, and lived with a local family in a homestay while studying Spanish in Cuernavaca.
Over the past two decades, I’m grateful to also have been able to tour the beachside pyramids in Tulumn, the mountain town of Taxco, and the bustling festivals of Mexico City. Now, despite having been to dozens of cities and towns in Mexico, I’m clear that I still have only just scratched the very edge of the surface of this richly diverse country.
All-Inclusive Resorts vs. Other Travel
So, it is obvious, but needs to be clearly stated: an all-inclusive resort in any country is a universe unto itself. It is an experience that is utterly different from the experience of traveling, studying, volunteering, or living in the country.
That does not mean that resorts are without merit; they simply need the eyes-wide-open perspective that they are isolated bubbles. Within that bubble, however, delights can abound.
Why Pick a Luxury All-Inclusive?
Should you do an all-inclusive resort, or another type of travel? The choice is clear: Opt for a luxury all-inclusive resort if you want to be in a bubble: a cozy cocoon of comfort and ease. Though earlier in my life this was not of interest, the events of the past year made bubbling up astoundingly alluring — in a way you might relate to. Here’s what happened.
Flash back to June of last year. I was going through a divorce while trying to take good care of two young kids, and life was upside-down. I hadn’t traveled abroad since the ABC Islands three years prior, and I desperately needed a revitalizing change of scene.
All-Inclusives Streamline Costs and Decisions
Seeing my need for a great escape, a group of dear friends swooped in to help plan a getaway. At first we were looking at a trip to Key West, Florida — the plan being to get a rental house or big condo, and then do a mix of cooking at the house and eating out at restaurants, plus touring local sights around the area using a rental car.
As we began to chart it all out, the decisions and costs began to pile up… and up… and up. My head started to spin. “Honestly,” I confessed, “divorce is a full-time job. I actually don’t think I have any brain space to plan a single meal during this trip — let alone three meals a day and activities for multiple people — and I’m not even sure I WANT to do any sightseeing. I’m bone-tired.”
“Hmm,” said my friend reflectively. “So your ideal here is to relax completely.”
“Yes!” I agreed passionately. “I don’t want to have to think. I don’t want there to be anywhere I need to be — no sights or must-dos. I just want to recline somewhere beautiful and have all the food and activities taken care of. Just some peace for a few days!” As we spoke, I was washing dishes from making dinner for myself and the kids, and hastily added: “Oh, and a true vacation would be a rest from cleaning everything every day! If we rent a condo, we have to clean; that’s just how it goes with rentals.”
“Valid,” said my friend with a mysterious smile. “So… have you ever tried an all-inclusive beach resort? Everything you’re saying is pointing to that as the best option — and I’m seeing a sale now that would get us a spot at one in Cancun for less money than our original Florida condo plan!”
Negative Stereotypes About Cancun All-Inclusives
“Oy!” I gasped. “Everything I’ve heard about Cancun all-inclusive resorts is that they’re chock-full of partying 20-somethings, and/or screaming little kids. They’re coated with vomit, and the food may be included, but it’s supposedly terrible!”
“Some all-inclusives are like that,” said my friend, “but the one I’m perusing is a luxury, adults-only all-inclusive in Cancun that’s a full hour from the airport. It’s not a wild Spring Break party spot — it’s beautiful, tranquil… classy. Top-rated. Oh, and it has multiple restaurants, all of which get rave reviews for quality.”
“Hmm…” I responded, highly intrigued. “Tell me the name and I’ll look up the reviews.”
The name was given: Le Blanc Spa Resort, Cancun. I started by searching it up at this link on Expedia.com. Oh my! Rave reviews, and gorgeous photos.
To corroborate (I am a teacher, after all, and value multiple opinions), I scoped out Le Blanc on Hotels.com. More rave reviews! And ooh, that infinity pool looked alluring.
TripAdvisor and this link on Booking.com sang a similar song. I was convinced! But what about the cost?
Costs and All-Inclusive Resorts
Calculating the value and wisdom of an all-inclusive resort stay takes some complicated math. Whether it’s a worthwhile splurge is a very personal decision, but the reality is that several steps can be taken to bring down the price, and also to justify it.
1. Always balance flight costs with food and lodging costs.
When calculating the overall price of a vacation, don’t overly focus on lodging costs; the flights can make or break the budget. The good thing about Cancun, Mexico travel is that the flights are almost always inexpensive (and often direct) from many major U.S. hubs — perhaps as a subsidized initiative to encourage tourism to the area.
Further, if you use a points credit card (feel free to reach out to me about which I recommend), the flights can even be free. Most resorts will also provide transport from the airport as a complimentary service. There’s a way all-inclusives save costs right there: usually no need to rent a car.
2. Add up all potential food and drink costs of non-inclusive travel.
When you actually chart out what is spent in a day of travel on all food and drinks put together during normal travel, it’s interesting to see that the numbers can sometimes match the price tag of an all-inclusive. As I explained in my “How to Stop Drinking Alcohol” article, I don’t imbibe anymore, but if you do, some of the savings can be even more pronounced at a resort where libations are included already.
3. Remember that you’re paying for convenience and quality.
Recall my earlier statement about not wanting to think during this trip because of my stress level? Part of the price tag in a luxury all-inclusive is getting access to complete care that’s already set up for you: great food and lovely facilities just steps away, fabulous staff, and not a worry in the world. For many, that’s very worth the investment!
4. Know that all-inclusive pricing can often be flexible.
Though the initial price tag of an all-inclusive can seem daunting, I was shocked to learn the many ways costs of the same hotel can vary. Yes, there are all sorts of ways you can be up-sold with extra charges, but there are also methods to get the price down.
Sometimes there are sales by the resort itself (focus on the off-season and shoulder season!), sometimes partner organizations like credit cards have promotions, and sometimes there can be negotiations. For example, when we were leaving, we were given a vast discount on any return trip!
Given this, don’t be afraid to ask when booking to see if there’s pricing wiggle-room, especially in months when there are more empty rooms. Do be warned, however, that there are often discounts offered in exchange for pretty intense timeshare sales pitches; we opted not to do those, because they take a lot of time.
Le Blanc Spa Resort, Cancun Review
Ok, enough foundational background — let’s get to the meat of this review. How was Le Blanc Spa Resort, Cancun, from my first-hand experience there? My honest summary: it was phenomenal. Here’s the breakdown for why.
Rooms at Le Blanc, Cancun
Le Blanc, Cancun has a wide variety of rooms at different price points. Some face the ocean, some overlook the back lagoon, and your position in the L-shaped building correlates with your view and noise level. The staff can also kindly tour you around to select the best match for where to stay before deciding. Our rooms were off to the side of the main pool and were totally quiet. Isn’t this a pretty spot to lay one’s head?
The Fitness Center
As you may know from my many reviews of BODi workouts, exercise is central to me, so I was thrilled to see how gorgeous and well-equipped the Le Blanc fitness center is. I paired weights workouts there with daily sunset swims in the pool. (Hey, a light-skinned gal has to balance sun exposure with outdoor movement!)
Pools at Le Blanc, Cancun
Above, you can see the quieter back pool at Le Blanc. We played some fun Bingo there, and water aerobics and underwater cycling is offered at that location, too.
However, we opted mostly for the sunny and vibrant main pool that overlooks the ocean — displayed in all its glory, below. There are shaded reclining chairs all around the patio, and the hut to the left houses a swim-up bar! Great mocktails full of fresh fruit were consumed. (Side note: If you want to see a very inventive pool, check out the photos from this “infinity beach” in my Curacao hotel on a different vacation!)
There are also two smaller pools at Le Blanc, Cancun, like the one with the waterfalls that I photographed, below. I spent many, many happy hours reading good books by the side of various bodies of beautiful water (well-shaded, of course)!
Oh, and did I mention that you can order food to come to you right at the pool deck chairs? And that there’s a daily ice cream store and churro cart??? This brings us to perhaps the most important topic…
Restaurants and Food at Le Blanc, Cancun
Across the board, 100% of the food I ate at Le Blanc, Cancun was delicious: high-quality, inventive, and scrumptious. There are multiple restaurants of different styles at the resort (including Japanese, French, and Mexican), and there is a vast amount of variety on offer — even for super healthy eating. But when there’s a fresh churro cart on offer, it’s not the most logical to just eat quinoa and fruit…
Oceanside Dining on the Beach
A highlight of our culinary experience at Le Blanc was the evening we booked one of the oceanside tents to have a stupendous meal under a pink sunset — the breeze rustling the palm trees nearby. I had forgotten to bring my camera or phone (quite the sign of relaxation!) but my friend allowed me to steal their camera for a minute to snap this picture…
The Le Blanc Spa and Jacuzzis
Le Blanc is known for its extensive and luxurious spa. I enjoyed a great massage there, and they offer a ton of other services, as well. Another big star of Le Blanc’s relaxation offerings, however, is that many rooms offer a private jacuzzi. The resort specializes in fancy bath soaps, too. Just look at the view on this jacuzzi!
Bracelet Tracking Systems
Carrying keys around too much of a hassle? When you check into Le Blanc, Cancun, you’re given a welcome drink, and then outfitted with a waterproof bracelet that stays on during the whole visit. This bracelet helps the resort track what’s needed and when — for example, the staff can see when you’re out of the room so they can use that hour to change the linens.
An Inclusive, Welcoming Resort
One of the #1 reasons my friend picked Le Blanc, Cancun was its stellar reputation for being inclusive: racially, ethnically, and for LGBTQ+ guests. Indeed, that was our lived experience. Guests were of all different skin tones and romantic orientations, and across the board, each and every individual was treated with respect and honor. So wonderful and appreciated!
Overall, the vibe among guests was calm, chilled-out, classy, and kind. There were zero 20-something Spring Breakers, and the age range of clientele spanned from mid-20s to elders, with the slight majority speaking English, but many also speaking Spanish, and some from Asia and elsewhere.
Because of the warm energy, I likely could have struck up conversations with anyone, but I was in a more introspective headspace, and was pleased to see that no one tried to chat me up without consent. That is a strong selling-point for Le Blanc being a place to feel safe and fully relax.
Activities at the Resort
As with most all-inclusive resorts, Le Blanc, Cancun offers nightly entertainment (musicians, performers, and so on), as well as excursions to sights. Now, I participated in none of those things, because all I wanted to do was read, swim, eat, and relax — but it’s cool that they were on offer!
Le Blanc, Cancun vs. Los Cabos
It turns out there are two versions of Le Blanc Spa Resort: Cancun vs. Los Cabos. Which is better? Well, I’ve only tried one, but people say that Los Cabos is even more epic than Cancun in terms of amenities. I can’t even imagine that, because I thought the Cancun version was A+.
One other difference is that you can’t swim in the ocean at the Los Cabos Le Blanc because it’s too rocky — but its pools make up for that in watery options. Meanwhile, in the Cancun Le Blanc, we did indeed do ocean swimming — and also enjoyed watching the sea turtles working with protection teams on the beach at night!
Thanks, Le Blanc Spa Resort!
I never thought that an adults-only luxury all-inclusive resort in Mexico would be for me, but Le Blanc Spa Resort, Cancun proved me wrong. Though I can’t afford to go back for a while (teacher salary!), I want to extend my deepest gratitude for the wonderful staff and beautiful space for truly helping me heal during an otherwise exceedingly difficult year. Such an appreciated gift of rest and revitalization! Thank you.
Curious to Learn More About Le Blanc, Cancun?
- Click here to see on Expedia.com
- Browse its reviews, photos, and availability on Hotels.com
- Check here on Booking.com for latest pricing.
So what about you? Does Le Blanc, Cancun or another luxury all-inclusive, adults-only resort seem like it could be a fit for you? Have you been to one before? How was it? Do share!
Want more? Check out this Bonaire resort, and the luxury hotel that cost 3 billion dollars to build: Emirates Palace!
The author, Lillie Marshall, is a 6-foot-tall National Board Certified Teacher of English, fitness fan, and mother of two who has been a public school educator since 2003. She launched Around the World “L” Travel and Life Blog in 2009, and over 4.2 million readers have now visited this site. Lillie also runs TeachingTraveling.com and DrawingsOf.com. Subscribe to her monthly newsletter, and follow @WorldLillie on social media!