Family friendly  : Cancun, Mexico

Mexico's top tourist destination, Cancun was damaged in a recent hurricane that washed away some of the terrific white sand beaches. Reconstruction is happening amazingly quickly; this will be a hopping place again in no time. Cancun's hotel zone was created 25 years ago with lots of high rise beachfront accommodation, restaurants, and shopping, and is great for families, including teenagers. Consider a villa (there are lots of timeshare properties available for rent) if you want to be able to cook some of your own meals. Downtown Cancun is a little more authentic, and the nearby Isla Mujeres (Isle of Women) is a nice quiet change. Day trips to important Mayan ruins such as Chichen Itza and Tulum are readily available. You may want to avoid the months of March and April when MTV, frat boys and wet T-shirt contests dominate. Be sure to visit Xcaret, an "eco-archeological" amusement park, probably best described as Disneyland meets Sea World meets a tropical Yosemite Park. Though a family may lie on its beaches and play water sports all day, ecological education and enjoyment is Xcaret's true intention. There are Mayan ruins, an aquarium, a sea turtle farm, a butterfly farm, an aviary and a small zoo with jaguars and other local animals.