We went to the Royalton Riviera Cancun and our kid is requesting we return (they both loved the pool slides), and while it did serve it's purpose, we like to try different hotels.

Hard to beat the flight prices out of Hou to Cancun. Anyone recommend a place they've been to with their fam in Riviera Maya or somewhere else that flies directly from Hou? Barcelo resort pops up a lot in searches but not familiar with it. We'll have a 5 year old and 2 year old at the time.

Must haves- Kids pool/slides, kids club, connecting room option, snorkeling off the beach (which obviously the Royalton did not have). Looking under $600/night. Not picky food people, but want decent options.

We go to the Royal Haciendas every year with our family. Like you, our kids (5 & 3) talk about it all year and ask how soon can we go back. It's just north of Playa. We love it there.

We loved Hard Rock Rivera Maya. Dreams Playa Mujeres or Tulum are great options too. Finest Playa Mujeres, XCaret, Moon Palace would all be solid options too.

I will second JMac03 with Dreams Playa Mujeres or Tulum and also Hard Rock Riviera Maya. Loved all of those resorts.

I had a family go to Club Med Cancun and they really enjoyed the snorkeling and all the non-motorized watersports.

We did the Iberostar with the kids, it was as good. Had a kids club, wave pool, and lazy river. They also had a neat ship with water cannons, etc. there wasn't a whole lots of kids there, so they pretty much had the run of the place. They have 5 levels the top Grand is adults only. We stayed at the 2nd and 3rd level, truthfully there wasn't much difference, so if the 2nd tier is $50-100 more it's worth upgrading, but not more than that. They had names for the tiers, Maya and Lindo...I think. Wherever you end up, coming hope y'all have a blast.