363 Best Hotels in Mexico

This hotel couldn't have a better location—it's right on the Zócalo and close to a gaggle of museums, restaurants, and historic buildings. You'd expect nothing less than to be in the heart of the city, given that one wing of the building was once the home of Hernán Cortés. Rooms are very small, but the most recently renovated ones are nicely appointed, with wood floors, crisp white bedspreads, and flat-screen TVs. The restaurant and bar have sweeping views of the Catedral Metropolitana and Palacio Nacional.  And rooms have double pane windows so while it may be in a busy part of town, it is quiet inside. Cafe Central in the lobby supplies food and drinks to all guests 24-hours a day at no extra fee.

Aside from the luxurious and costly Grand Bay Isla Navidad and the behemoth Hotel Alondra, Barra de Navidad has mostly basic hotels with few rooms, and the majority aren't a particularly good value compared to similar hotels elsewhere. This hotel with a domed brick ceiling, comfortable beds, and remote-control air-conditioning is among the best choices. The two largest rooms have two twin beds as well as a king, plus a DVD player and a mini-refrigerator.

What began as a hilltop home has slowly become an amalgam of unusual, rustic, but luxurious suites with indoor and outdoor living spaces. The higher up your room, the more beautiful the view of Sayulita's coast. The trade-off for such beauty? A long walk up a seemingly endless staircase and the dearth of room phones make contacting the front desk frustrating. Accommodations, managed by different owners, range from basic to honeymoon suites with terraces and plunge pools. Details like recessed color-glass light fixtures, Talavera sinks in bathrooms, brick ceilings, wrought-iron table lamps, art in wall niches, and colorful cement floors add a lot of class. The property overlooks a rocky cove where you can fish from shore; a beautiful sandy beach is a few minutes' walk. The staff lends out kayaks, boogie boards, and snorkeling gear.