13 Best Hotels in Cancún, Mexico

This hip Marriott property near the convention center has a fresh, modern concept that generates quite a social scene. The funky lobby features bright mismatched furniture, cement floors, exposed ductwork, modern art, and a lounge bar. Smallish rooms have leather benches, ergonomic desk chairs, white duvets, and all the basic amenities (minibars, Wi-Fi, TVs, and safes). Although there's only one restaurant, the 24-hour snack bar lets you grab and go. Aloft isn't on the beach, but guests receive access to the neighboring beach club. The 360-degree view from the rooftop pool is unparalleled.

Branding itself as "your home and office" and catering mostly to business travelers, this modern hotel just two blocks from the Plaza Las Américas shopping center has guest rooms with a plasma TV, minibar, coffeemaker, and Wi-Fi. Although suites also have a sitting area and a microwave, only those overlooking the pool have a pleasant view. There's a cocktail bar on the first floor and a tiny pool that forms an oasis in the property's center. Complimentary continental breakfasts are served poolside, plus there's a small on-site restaurant with an à la carte menu.

Sandwiched amid several looming resorts, this low-rise condo-hotel complex is a wonderful place for families thanks to its nicely planted grounds, tranquil beach, and relaxed atmosphere. Rooms are comfortable, clean, and simply decorated with light-wood furniture and vibrant artwork that brightens up the white walls. Suites have spacious dining–living rooms, large terraces, and well-equipped kitchens.

Shopaholics will love staying at this luxury lifestyle hotel overlooking Laguna Nichupté and with direct access to the trendy shops of La Isla Entertainment Village. Although it's part of a chain, it eschews cookie-cutter decor in favor of local flavor, as evidenced by the lobby where Mexican textiles and folk art complement a modern design. Head to the rooftop pool and bar to enjoy panoramic city views, or head to the open-kitchen restaurant to enjoy artisanal dishes that incorporate local ingredients. Although the hotel isn't on the beach, it provides free transportation to the Mandala Beach Club.

The draw of this deluxe property is that it's five minutes from the airport and offers free round-trip airport shuttle service, making it ideal for those who are vacationing in Playa del Carmen or Tulum and who have an early flight. Rooms are equipped with free Wi-Fi, large desks with ergonomic chairs, laptop safes, and 32-inch plasma TVs; suites have a lounge area, dining room, kitchenette, and private steam room. Given its location, the hotel is surprisingly quiet—even in the garden courtyard, outdoor pool, and palapa lounge. As it's on a relatively undeveloped stretch of highway, however, the 20-minute commute to central Cancún creates a sense of isolation. If you're longing for the beach, use your Courtyard towel as an "entrance pass" at the Omni Hotel, where you can enjoy pools, bars, and a beach area.

Thanks to the use of solar energy, a water-recycling system, and composting toilets, this tranquil hotel has little impact on the environment—and its luxuriant garden blocks the heat and noise of downtown. Hammocks hang poolside, and wrought-iron tables and chairs dot the grounds. There's artwork throughout, much of it painted by the owner herself. Standard rooms are small and dated (think lace curtains and floral bedding) but all are clean and have kitchenettes; newer executive rooms are larger and have hardwood floors. Rooms on the second or third floor overlook the pool, while those on the first floor are dedicated to families. Another perk is the small spa, where you can get honey massages for a third of what you'd pay in the Zona Hotelera.

Not only does the circular lobby of this hip, hacienda-style property have a martini bar but it's also decorated with illuminated onyx stone, marble floors, and teak furnishings accented with gray and cream cushions. Many of the rooms, which are done in neutral colors, are pleasantly decorated with Mexican wall prints and wrought-iron beds. All pool-facing rooms have balconies; fourth-floor executive rooms are larger, quieter, and have smart TVs, but they lack the pool view. The hotel's second Margaritas wing has a more casual feel than the main building.

On a hill overlooking the ocean, this all-suites boutique hotel doubles as an impressive gallery showcasing works by famous artists. A far cry from the towering all-inclusives lining the boulevard, it resembles a royal villa with marble floors, bronze statues, a grand piano, ornate chandeliers, and a winding staircase leading to the top-floor rooms. Each has a private terrace with a whirlpool tub; bathrooms are enormous with a vanity area and separate tub and shower. In addition to two on-site restaurants, there's a pool bar, and a meal plan is available on request. A business center and spa round out the offerings. Although children are permitted, the hotel caters mainly to adults.

Within walking distance of Las Américas Shopping Center and next to a grocery store, this hotel is perfect for mixing business with pleasure at a very reasonable price. Rooms are modern yet cozy, with hardwood floors, plasma TVs, free Wi-Fi, comfy duvets, and either city or lagoon views; rooms on the seventh and eighth floors are best. Despite its location, this chain hotel is surprisingly quiet. Rates are about one-fourth what you'd pay in the Hotel Zone, so expect shortcuts like shampoo dispensers rather than bottles and showers rather than tubs. A buffet breakfast (extra charge) is served from 6:30 to 10; guests with the midnight munchies can take advantage of the 24-hour restaurant.

At this tranquil resort, 12 white-stucco buildings house spacious suites equipped with kitchens, dining areas, and living rooms that have 42-inch flat-screen TVs and pullout couches. Centering the grounds are a sundeck, large pool, and swim-up bar. Use of facilities at the spa, located at the Ocean Spa Hotel sister property, costs extra. Note, too, that only six rooms have lagoon views, and the closest beach is a 20-minute walk away.

This fresh, hip hotel greets you with a pop art–style lobby and vibrant hallways that lead to guest rooms with marble floors, 42-inch flat-screen TVs, minibars, and small balconies. Compared to the common areas, accommodations are subdued in shades of cream, beige, and olive. Although you’re not on the ocean, you can lounge at the pool or use the amenities at Oasis Palm in the Hotel Zone. Families with underage offspring can book at the connecting Oasis Smart, as Oh! Cancún The Urban Oasis only allows guests over 21.

Oasis Smart caters to business travelers with a location 20 minutes from the airport and 10 minutes from the Zona Hotelera. Rooms are average in size, and all except the ones on the sixth floor have small balconies. Rooms in the connecting sister hotel Oh! Cancún The Oasis are worth checking into if you like hip, contemporary decor and you're over age 21. You're allowed access to the beach, restaurant, and gym at the Oasis Palm Resort in the Zona Hotelera.

This refreshing retreat from El Centro's bustling streets reflects Maya culture through murals, statues, and reliefs and forms part of a complex that also includes two restaurants and a snack shop open to the general public. Rooms are brightly decorated with rustic Mexican furniture, mosaic-tiled bathrooms, and colorful murals painted by local artists. Equipped with a swimming pool and outdoor theater (shows Thursdays and Saturdays), this is Cancún's only hotel focused on art and culture.