16 Best Hotels in Cancún, Mexico

Top-notch luxury, extraordinary gastronomy, and a state-of-the-art spa are some of the attributes of this sprawling property in Cancún's up-and-coming Punta Sam area. Suites are huge and stylish, combining neutral colors with green and yellow accents; some include a private terrace or balcony with a hammock and plunge pool, while others come with a fully-equipped kitchenette and washer-and-dryer combo. This is the odd all-inclusive resort where you can actually feel at home.  

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.

Accommodations at this adults-only resort have rich wood furnishings and a cream-and-plum palette and feature small sitting areas that open onto balconies overlooking the lagoon or ocean. Views from the latter are better, but there’s an extra charge for an oceanfront room with a whirlpool tub and minibar. The beach is stunning, and the comfortable pool area has deck chairs and palapas. A spa offers massages and facials, plus there's an outdoor temazcal (dome-shape sweat lodge), which the Maya believe purifies the body. If you like to keep busy, you have lots of options—including tennis, themed parties, and water sports—but if you're not interested in daily activities, consider booking into one of the newer hotels that cost about the same.

You'll find a wide variety of accommodations at the Grand Park Royal, including villas with a private beach area and personal concierge. Most rooms have ocean views, and there are some stunning vistas of the Zona Hotelera's glittering lights from certain areas. Despite the lower price point, this property has an upscale feel. Even standard rooms have balconies, flat-screen TVs, and Wi-Fi; deluxe rooms and suites—some of which have terraces with plunge pools—are in the Premier Beach Front Tower and the Royal Tower. The pool in the premier area has couches under a slatted roof, a swim-up bar, and poolside beds. The main pool area, on the other side of the grounds, is ringed with cobblestone that looks pretty but is difficult to walk on.

This all-inclusive resort's lush 150-acre grounds are complete with palapa huts, hammocks, and a series of lavish, interconnected swimming pools that wind through palm-dotted lawns to Playa Delfines. Airy, vibrant accommodations are done up in white with a splash of turquoise to match the sea. Coral Level rooms are adult-only with premium services and access to a private pool. Guests enjoy discounted rates at the championship 18-hole golf course. For the ultimate in pampering, visit the on-site Sensation Spa. Children ages 4 to 12 are kept busy with the Star Camp children's program. There are tennis courts and a FIFA Regulation soccer field, too.

The atmosphere at this contemporary, service-oriented hotel on one of Cancún's best beaches is more conservative than at other Zona Hotelera properties, so you're likely to have a relaxed stay. Those looking for even more peace can take advantage of the quiet adults-only pool or a beachfront massage. The sleek, modern styling that starts in the swanky lobby—where you'll find a mixology bar—continues to the rooms, which have tan and olive accents.  For the best views, ask for one of the tower rooms. 

On the tip of Punta Cancún, this contemporary, 14-story hotel offers some of the Zona Hotelera's best views—west-facing rooms enjoy sunsets over the lagoon and bay, while east-facing rooms take in sunrises over Isla Mujeres and the Caribbean. Setting the stage is a dramatic, cylindrical lobby bar with a stained-glass dome. Draperies and throw pillows in burgundy, orange, or goldenrod lend a bit of personality to the otherwise neutral guest rooms, each of which has a stone floor, sitting area, flat-screen TV, and spacious balcony. Room 1122 has stunning views of the ocean and a bilevel pool divided by a waterfall. You can relax in the garden area or in one of the daybeds near the Beach House Spa.

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.

Situated just steps from the ferries to Isla Mujeres, this family-friendly property has lots of pool-side activities, as well as a roomy kids' clubhouse with a small outdoor play area. If you crave peace, escape to the spa, where the cold-water plunge, steam room, sauna, and whirlpool tub are free of charge. All rooms have white marble floors and orange stucco walls; the suites, which come with private whirlpool tubs, are a luxurious splurge.

Shoppers appreciate this lively resort's proximity to a couple of malls, but there’s plenty here to keep non-shoppers occupied, too—including volleyball games and water-polo matches in the activities pool. Although sound from busier areas sometimes carries, you can find a bit more peace at two other pools, one of which has built-in chaise lounges for ultimate relaxation. The salmon-color hotel is offset by bright blue accents throughout. To secure an oceanfront room, you'll have to pay extra. And don't lose your towel card, because it will cost you MX$340.

This five-star resort, which blends Maya and modern architecture, makes you feel right at home in apartment-like rooms with full kitchens, living rooms, dining areas, and spacious balconies draped with hammocks. Suites add washers and dryers, two full bathrooms, and private whirlpool tubs. Since the hotel is U-shaped, 90% of the accommodations enjoy ocean views. The center of the property has manicured gardens, three pools (one adults-only), and flower-shaped hot tubs centered with firepits. A bridge crosses over the pool area and tunnels through massive towers that are illuminated at night. On-site activities include kayaking, art classes, and salsa lessons. Although the beach is narrow, plenty of sun chairs line the soft sand, and decent snorkeling awaits just offshore.

Every unit here—four-person studio or eight-person villa—is oceanfront and equipped with a washer and dryer, full kitchen, whirlpool tub, and delightful design touches like recessed lighting and built-in shelves displaying Mexican pottery. Rooms are housed in 14 towers, but those in Building 9, Phase 4, have the best views. All of the pools are heated, and the one designated for children has a waterslide. Families can also enjoy miniature golf, tennis courts, and a playground. Connected to the property are the historic Yamil Lu'um ruins and a stunning beach. Keep in mind that this is not an all-inclusive, and the three on-site restaurants are somewhat pricey.

Pampering touches—like the white-tea mist that periodically sprays in the lobby and the beds so heavenly that some guests buy them for their own homes—are what make this hotel extraordinary. Rooms juxtapose modern and traditional, with sleek dark-wood furniture offset by bright rugs and the occasional blue or yellow wall. There are two beaches—an expansive one on the Caribbean side and a smaller one facing Laguna Nichupté—so you always have a place to sunbathe. Due to its quiet, isolated nature, this Westin outpost mainly attracts families with small children and adults in their thirties and forties.

The most basic lodging option at this resort is a spacious junior suite with a sofa bed, sitting area, flat-screen TV, stocked minibar, and balcony; family suites have bunk beds and direct access to the Kids' Club via sliding glass doors. Due to the resort's size, the pools here may feel a bit crowded, but if you're lucky (and quick) you can snag a chaise in the outdoor areas. The aqua park with a pirate ship and waterslide—one for kids and one for adults—is the perfect way to cool off.