I stayed at the Hilton in Cancun for 5 nights and had a wonderful experience.
I booked using an ongoing promotion for $99 / night, which included free breakfast and 30% off spa treatments.
* Beach - All 5 days we were there, red flags were up meaning you shouldn't go in the water. There was a lifeguard on duty who would blow a whistle if you ventured a little bit from shore. 50 yards down the beach though was an area that was okay for swimming, although I guess the lifeguard wasn't in charge of supervising you. This is where everyone was. There are some large rocks on the beach where the waves break on the shore, so I imagine this is why the red flags were up.
* Breakfast - only 'cold' items, but plenty to choose from.
* Golf - I played two rounds, both at 7:15am, and played two balls each time. Early in the morning, the course was almost entirely clear. I finished by 10am both rounds. The course was well maintained and in very good shape. I passed by Pok Ta Pok and can tell you that the quality there is lacking. Search online for the yardage book for the Hilton course. There are several dog-legs where you can really cut corners if you like, but also some where your drive will be in deep trouble if you just grip and rip. The course was well worth the $129 a round, although I didn't see the other nice courses in the area, so I couldn't comment comparatively.
* Location - The hotel is one of the first stops from the airport, so taking a cab (for two) is equally expensive as taking a shuttle. The good news is that the tours will generally stop at the Hilton last on their way south towards your destination.
* Pool - the Hilton has a great set of pools, including one infinity pool with swim up bar. We ate and drank all day pool-side, and I was surprised that it wasn't more expensive - usually hotels gouge you in this department. The only downside to the pool area was that there were often two or more sources of music, and depending where you were laying, you could be at their confluence which was a bit distracting.
* Restaurants - We dined at all three of the dining facilities on site, and recommend them for their food and prices. The service was also quite good through 90% of the meal, but at each one there was a similar problem - very attentive staff, but for some reason, whether it was before looking at a dessert menu, paying the bill, or upon arrival, we were 'forgotten'. We also dined offsite at Lorenzillos (highly recommended seafood restaurant), and Hacienda El Mortero (mexican food - probably the best dining).
* Rooms - the deal got us an Ocean Front Deluxe room, which was spacious and had a couch area, and a private balcony. The beds were comfortable and the room was very clean.
* Service - everyone was incredibly friendly and accommodating, which really made the stay more enjoyable.
* Transportation - the buses that run up and down the main avenue came frequently and were a great / cheap way to get around. No need to take taxis if you are only traveling around "the strip".
* Tours - we did the Tulum & Xelha day trip which was great. Tulum is nice, but you don't need much time there as there isn't all that much to see. I was hoping to be able to climb the steps of the Mayan buildings, but that is not allowed. Xelha is a water park, but unlike anything I've seen here in the US. Loads of activities, and all inclusive food / drinks.
We also took the "Paradise Snorkeling" tour through Aquaworld. It's a short trip from the marina, and the snorkeling was fun. A boat comes and goes every hour to drop off new people / pickup those ready to return. For $40 per person, it was well worth the two circuits we did of the snorkeling 'course' - you are led by a guide; you can't go off on your own.
* To Avoid: We took the bus to downtown Cancun to check out the "Downtown Tourist Zone" which really doesn't exist. I could see how it might be a fun area during high season - restaurants on both sides with lots of people spilling into the streets, but this was low season and we left quickly.