If you’re wondering where to stay in Cancun as a tourist, then The Hotel Zone would be best. If you’ve used our Cancun travel guide then you’ll know Zona Hotelera (The Hotel Zone) is where you’ll find the vast majority of Cancun’s best hotels, resorts, restaurants, nightlife, beaches and fun activities. Downtown does have restaurants, fast food chains and shopping malls, but not on the same scale as the Hotel Zone.