16 Best Hotels in Acapulco, Mexico

Well away from the crowds, the discos, and the oft-crowded beaches are Banyan Tree's romantic luxury villas, each with its own small infinity pool overlooking the bay. The architecture is Asian-inspired, but there are plenty of Mexican touches. A glass wall faces the bay, providing stunning views from both the bed and the bathtub in most rooms. The hotel spa, which is open to both guests and nonguests, is exceptional; massage therapists here train for 350 hours in Thailand. La Nao restaurant is also a standout, serving mostly Thai food with a few Latin touches, and incredible sunset views. Note that although families are welcome, the facilities are designed with adults in mind, and some areas overlook cliffs (including the private room pools), making the property downright dangerous for small children.

A recent retooling, revamping, and reopening has turned one of Acapulco’s original hotels into one of the area’s coolest lodgings. It was originally built in the '50s (indeed, scenes from the Elvis movie Fun in Acapulco were shot here), and the remodel has a retro feel. An old refrigerator in the lobby is filled with Yoli sodas (a regional soda from the state of Guerrero), and there's vintage furniture and decorations throughout. The small rooms have a mint-green-and-white color scheme and are simply furnished with comfortable beds, retro sinks and showers, flat-screen TVs, and ceiling fans. A beachy area within the hotel is a sort of natural swimming pool; the adjacent beach is probably Acapulco's most popular, so you get a look at how the locals enjoy the sun and sand.

You’ll be surprised at how such a starkly modern and minimalist place can turn out to be such a comfortable place to stay. Architect Miguel Angel Aragonés gave this hotel clean lines and his signature geometric cutouts in the walls and floors. In the evening, the facade is dramatically lit in a changing array of colors, while the interior hallway is lit in amber. Rooms are as minimalist as the public spaces are, with white and beige marble, white linen bedspreads, and more geometric wall cutouts. All rooms have ocean views and are equipped with flat-screen TVs and Wi-Fi. Standard rooms have a balcony with cushy cubelike sofas. The hotel's Flor de Mar restaurant serves a menu of Mexican and international dishes. Just off the restaurant is a large pool surrounded by comfortable beds and bean bags where you can relax to cool, lounge-style music.

This boutique-style hotel was built by J. Paul Getty in 1958 as a personal retreat, and you can still get some semblance of millionaire-style accommodations here for much less money. The hotel provides the serenity and sophistication of a private hacienda, but with the first-class services and amenities of an international resort, including a meandering pool overlooking the ocean. You can stay in a room or suite in the tower building or in one of the ultraluxe villas or bungalows, which have private plunge pools. A shuttle runs frequently to the adjacent Princess, where you can use all facilities.

This white, all-suites hotel is popular with families, and comprises seven low-rise buildings—most four or five stories. Units sleep four, six, or eight and have terraces; some also have kitchenettes. There's a cable car to the hotel's beach club, which is on the bay and next to the Club de Yates and its 330-foot-long toboggan run.

This stunning hotel is at the foot of a lush hill on exclusive Playa Pichilingue, far from the typical beach crowds. All rooms are done in pastels and have tile floors, luxurious baths, and up-to-date amenities such as laptop-size safes outfitted with chargers. All rooms also have balconies or terraces with a view of peaceful Puerto Marques Bay. Eleven extra-spacious club rooms have their own concierge and extra amenities.

All of the rooms at this hotel are comfortably spacious, with marble floors and bathrooms, modern contemporary furniture, and balconies with ocean views. The lobby, restaurant, and bar are comfortable for both guests dressed up for a night on the town and families in shorts and T-shirts. There are two pools with swim-up bars—one is geared to families, with a waterslide, while the other is strictly for adults. The all-inclusive plan is a good deal, especially if you're planning to spend most of your time at the resort pools and beach, but there are some restrictions about what and when you can eat (each restaurant has a different schedule, not all are part of the AI plan, and not all dishes and drinks are covered, though many are).

On Cerro Pinzona (Pinzona Hill), a five-minute walk from La Quebrada, the Etel has outstanding views of Bahía de Acapulco and spacious, if plain, rooms with sturdy cedar furniture. All accommodations sleep three, and you can rent a full kitchen and dining room to turn your room into a suite. One studio has a kitchenette. There's a garden on the roof and a children's play area by the pool. The gracious owner is a descendant of John Augustus Sutter, whose gold mine launched the Gold Rush of 1849.

In the thick of the main Costera shopping and restaurant district, this hotel is popular with tour groups and singles. All are welcome, of course, because there's really something for everybody here. It has a lively lobby bar and is on Playa Condesa, one of the most popular beaches in town. Pastel-color rooms have light-wood furniture and tile floors.

This large hotel is popular with business travelers, conventioneers, and—thanks to its bold Caribbean color schemes and striking design—TV producers, who have opted to use it as the backdrop for many a Mexican soap opera. It has four outstanding eateries, a spa, and a deluxe shopping area. It's also the only hotel in Mexico with an on-site synagogue (it's Orthodox). The west side of the property insulates you from the noise of the nearby naval base.

Restored to its original 1950s glamour, this perennial favorite has bright and cheery rooms with white-tile floors and modern bathrooms. There's a beachside restaurant with an outstanding breakfast buffet, a more elegant indoor restaurant, and a gorgeous pool that not only seems to float above the bay, but also has whirlpools built into its corners.

Often considered Acapulco's signature resort, this hilltop haven is particularly popular with honeymooners, though all are welcome, of course. There are a variety of rooms, from one-bedroom units to deluxe private casitas complete with small private pools. Room interiors are a little dated, but nobody seems to mind because of the enchanting bay views. Since the property is extremely spread out (all rooms are at ground level), transportation is by pink-and-white Jeeps. Though not right on the water, the hotel also provides a shuttle every 20 minutes to its private beach club. A continental breakfast is delivered to your room each morning.

One of Acapulco’s most famous hotels (Howard Hughes once hid away in a suite here) continues its long tradition of great service to this day. Near the reception desk, fantastic ponds with waterfalls and a slatted bridge hint at the luxury throughout the property. Large, airy rooms have cane furniture, marble floors, and wireless Internet access. You can dine in six excellent restaurants, then burn off the calories in a match at the tennis center, which sometimes hosts international tournaments. The superb spa, open to guests and nonguests, has aromatherapy, thalassotherapy, and body wraps, plus a fitness center, Swiss showers, a hair salon, and a Jacuzzi. A shuttle runs frequently to the adjacent Pierre Mundo Imperial Hotel, where you can use all the facilities there.

This low-slung hillside resort, a member of one of Mexico’s best hotel chains, overlooks the sea and sits at the western end of Playa Revolcadero. The 62 suites have balconies, Mexican-made hardwood furniture, and closet door handles shaped like iguanas—the chain's signature motif. Six suites have private hot tubs and small pools on their balconies. If you can snag one of those, they don't cost much more than the standard suites.