I've not been to any of the near/in Cancun resorts, only the ones down the coast. If you want to explore on foot outside the resort you're at, your choices, from my limited experience, are limited to those in Playa itself - GH PDC and the 2 Thompson properties; I've been to the GH & the Thompson Main House. Thompson MH is several blocks to the beach; the other 2 are right on it, but the GH is narrow and long, meaning you'll walk a lot from your room to the beach or from your room to the Club Lounge if you have access to that; if you stay at Thompson MH, ask for a room that's not on the beachside. You won't see the beach or water from the beachside rooms, but they overlook one of the main restaurant streets in Playa and the noise till about 2-3AM each night kept me up, and shops start opening up at 8AM or so and do so noisily; the rooms facing away from the beach are much quieter; I asked to switch after 2 nights of not sleeping much. The beach at GH is narro; and the hotel has several different types of restaurants on property; the beach in Playa is wide. Staying at one of the all-inclusives means you're more remote from anything. You'd need a car or to arrange taxis to get anywhere. They can all arrange for tours to sites in the region.