I spent 5 days at Hilton’s all-inclusive Cancún resort. I thought the family-friendly spot would be basic, but I was blown away.

• I had low expectations since it’s a family-friendly spot, and I prefer adults-only trips.

• However, from the great food to the beautiful spa, there are so many reasons I want to go back.

When I booked a stay at the Hilton Cancún Mar Caribe, I expected a cookie-cutter all-inclusive experience. After all, it’s a resort by a global chain.

Plus, as someone who prefers adults-only vacations, I wasn’t overly excited that the hotel was family-friendly.

However, after five days on its pristine white-sand beach with my friend and her daughter, I returned home thoroughly impressed.

Here’s why I can’t wait to go back.

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Every room faces the Caribbean Sea.

I’ve stayed at dozens of all-inclusive resorts in Mexico and experienced various room types — including one that overlooked a parking lot and loading bay.

I love that every room at the Hilton Cancún Mar Caribe faces the ocean.

I stayed in one of the 61 Enclave suites directly on the beach and loved falling asleep to the sound of waves crashing below.

My ultramodern room came with a soaking tub.

The resort was recently renovated, and the sea-inspired rooms felt super nice, with chic midcentury-modern furniture, cute wallpaper, and pops of turquoise.

My room also had a spa-like bathroom with a full-sized soaking tub, perfect for relaxing at the end of a long day in the sun.

The rooftop infinity pools were stunning — and had great views.

Hilton Enclave guests have access to Chala, a private rooftop bar with gorgeous infinity pools.

It was the perfect place to relax with a book and catch the sunset.

There was delicious fresh ceviche and tasty cocktails.

In addition to jaw-dropping views, the rooftop bar served all-you-can-eat, freshly made ceviche from different regions in Mexico.

I also discovered my new favorite poolside drink: a cocoberry mojito. It’s a twist on the traditional mojito with coconut rum, mint, and muddled berries.

The pool area offers something for everyone.

The resort has three large pools, each with a different vibe.

There’s a kid-friendly pool with a waterslide, an adults-only pool with a swim-up bar, and a sprawling but serene quiet pool that hosts regular floating yoga classes.

There were also smaller, adults-only infinity pools overlooking the ocean. These were the perfect spots to relax without the kids.

The kids’ club is one of the best I’ve ever seen.

My friend’s daughter loved hanging out in the kids’ club, which offered daily activities plus a large selection of games, toys, and even princess costumes.

For older kids, there’s a teen club with foosball tables, bean-bag chairs, and a complete gaming set-up.

I’ve seen my fair share of kids’ clubs during my travels, and this one stood out.

We could get endless treats at the 24-hour coffee shop.

Azulinda, the property’s 24-hour coffee shop, serves all-you-can-eat churros and gelato — plus other Mexican pastries, great espresso drinks, and excellent cold-brew coffee.

Azulinda also has made-to-order crepes — something I’ve never seen at another all-inclusive. My go-to afternoon snack was a ham-and-cheese crepe.

The food options went beyond what I’ve come to expect from an all-inclusive resort.

Although there was no shortage of typical all-inclusive eats — like burgers, hot dogs, and nachos — I was pleasantly surprised by the diversity of food available around the resort.

I loved the wood-fired pizza and creamy risotto at La Luce, an elegant Italian eatery. The pad thai at the Asian-fusion restaurant Noriku was also delicious.

The bars felt stylish and upscale.

I didn’t expect to find amazing cocktails at a family-friendly, all-inclusive resort. However, the beverages were inventive, and the bars felt surprisingly chic.

I’m still thinking of the passion-fruit margarita I had at the lobby bar, which was made with fresh juice and garnished with a preserved orange slice.

I also found excellent mojitos at the Instagrammable beach bar.

There were so many cute, aesthetically-pleasing corners of this resort, and the beach bar in the Hilton Enclave area was no exception.

The bar makes an excellent mojito with fresh lime juice and mint. I loved hanging out on its swings and enjoying the ocean view with a drink in my hand.

The spa is one of the nicest areas of the resort.

I’m so glad I went to the spa during my stay because it was one of the highlights of my trip.

After receiving an incredibly relaxing massage, I enjoyed the hydrotherapy circuit, which included a series of pools in a lush tropical garden.

Hilton Cancún Mar Caribe lives up to its name.

Mar Caribe, or the Caribbean Sea, is truly the star of this resort.

I loved so many things about my stay, but the beach was my favorite part. The water was impossibly turquoise and always the perfect temperature.

Paired with gorgeous weather and endless mojitos, I spent most of my days alternating between my lounge chair and swimming in the waves.

Everything about the resort impressed me, but this alone makes me want to visit Hilton Cancún Mar Caribe again.

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