7 ways to use points and miles for an incredible trip to Cancun right now

When you mention Cancun to casual travelers, it might conjure up images of sunburned spring breakers crowding splashy swim-up bars by day and thumping discotecas after dark. But Cancun and the surrounding so-called Riviera Maya offer visitors a lot more than that.With the coastal city as your home base, you can explore the jungles of the Yucatan and the ruins of ancient Mayan cities, take a dip in mystical cenotes (natural sinkholes that have filled in with seawater) and snorkel with gargantuan whale sharks (from May-September at least; just beware that this is also when you might encounter the notorious sargassum seaweed washing up on Cancun's shores).Beautiful caribbeen beach at Cancun with emerald water, Quintana Roo, MexicoNearby destinations like Isla Mujeres and Cozumel beckon with white-sand beaches; Tulum still has more of a sunrise-yoga-barefoot-in-the-sand vibe, despite a lot of recent development; and the buzzy boutiques and eclectic eateries of Playa del Carmen are always a draw.There are hotels for every taste and budget ranging from luxury enclaves to energetic megaresorts with sprawling waterparks, which are a particular hit with the kids. What's more, major airlines...