717 Best Hotels in Mexico

Marking the start of the Hotel Zone, the Sheraton was the first of the big-name resorts built in Puerto Vallarta, and ever since it has maintained its status as a Vallarta household name. Even though the building is a few decades old, rooms are renovated constantly to keep up with the times. Sometimes it can feel very business-like, as its convention center is one of the busiest in town.

The first international chain hotel in Mexico City still has an incomparable location and exemplary service. Don Antenor Patiño, the Bolivian "Tin King," inaugurated this Mexico City classic in 1969, and named it after his granddaughter, socialite Isabel Goldsmith. The marble lobby has gleaming brass fixtures. The well-maintained guest rooms feature extra-comfy Posturepedic mattresses, goose-down (or hypoallergenic) pillows, and coffee makers, while the pricier Club rooms boast free bottled water (replenished daily) and access to the fitness center and Club lounge. Penthouse suites in the 22-story tower are extra spacious and have butler service.

An hour north of Mascota, this lodge of knotty pine is a tranquil lakeside retreat. Sail or kayak or just read a book in the steamy hot tub. The spa isn’t as expansive as those in some of Sierra Lago’s Villa Group sister properties, but it does have massage, a steam room, and an outdoor hot tub. If you choose the all-inclusive plan, drinks are included, as are activities like horseback riding, kayaking, and mountain biking. There’s also fishing, and, if he has time, the chef will cook up your freshly caught fish.

For travelers on a budget, there's no better choice than Siesta Suites as all the rooms come with kitchenettes equipped to stock basic groceries, and a standard room (which has two queen beds and a wide couch) can easily sleep up to five adults. The owners happily offer discounts to repeat guests and those paying cash, visiting during summer, or booking longer stays. If you splash out on the still-affordable penthouse, you'll get a full kitchen and stellar private rooftop, to boot.

Set on a lovely beach, this property has accommodations—all adorned with Mexican pottery and other collectibles—that include two apartments with private kitchens; a secluded jungle studio (which the owners refer to as "a tree house for adults"); and a house divided into three suites that share a kitchen, dining room, sundeck, and library full of books and board games. Yogurt and homemade granola prepared with coconut from the property's trees are stocked in the refrigerator for breakfast. Kayaks (suitable for both the ocean and the two lagoons just behind the property), fat-tire beach bikes, boogie boards, and snorkel gear are included in the rate. Guests are always greeted with free, strong frozen margaritas and a warm welcome from the friendly hosts.

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.

One of the first megacomplexes in Rocky Point, this massive pink resort operates much like a hotel, but it has one-, two-, and three-bedroom, fully furnished condominiums in place of standard rooms. The Sonoran Grill ($$–$$$) serves steaks and seafood, as well as a great spicy lasagna made with chipotle chilies. The beach in front is never crowded, and you can do plenty here without leaving the resort—a good thing, since it is a bit far from the center of town.

An anomaly in fashionable Roma, this seven-story budget hotel built in the early 1970s won't win any prizes for its design, but with spacious if nondescript rooms, a friendly staff, and close proximity to the neighborhood's trendy restaurants and shops, it's a solid pick if you're looking to save money. The buffet breakfast costs extra but is pretty good. Try to get a room overlooking leafy Jardín Pushkin.

This sparkling, French country–meets–Spanish colonial hotel, owned by a Parisian interior designer, is pristine and comfortable. Each one- or two-story apartment feels like a private home, with fresh flowers, a sprinkling of carefully chosen antiques, and blue-and-white Mexican tiles. The kitchenettes are sizable, and the shared pool area is a nice place to escape the heat. Wi-Fi is free. The hotel is a five-minute walk from Playa Carrizalillo, a good beach for swimming. Tax is already included in room rates, so they may seem higher than they actually are.

For families, those spending a lot of time at UNAM or in the south of the city, or visitors with a rental car who don't mind a bit of driving, this well-maintained and attractively furnished extended-stay property offers an outstanding value and a relatively quiet location at the axis of two major roads, just across the highway from the fascinating Zona Arqueológica Cuicuilco. There's a small gym and free secure parking, and the rooftop terrace is a pretty spot to watch the sunset. The feel is that of an apartment building more than it is of a hotel, but there's staff on-hand in the reception area 24/7 to assist if you need anything.

This well-designed, whitewashed hotel is the most elegant along the strip. Each spacious room has a TV, DVD player, and balcony overlooking the hotel pool, which is just off the beach. White walls and white linens contrast with a few pieces of dark-colored furniture. The hotel has a DVD library and a palapa with video games, a pool table, and board games like chess and Scrabble. The small third-story bar, overlooking the water, hosts karaoke on Friday and Saturday.

Located on a slightly busy street corner just a few blocks from charming Avenida Amsterdam, this early 20th-century inn has attractively priced, spacious rooms, some of which are interconnected with access to kitchens and can be rented together as two- or three-bedroom suites. In fact, the entire house can be rented out (it sleeps 12 total), which makes this an excellent choice for a big family or group of friends. A very tasty breakfast is included in the rates.

Beyond the lavender fields and orange groves of this 12-acre property are ranch-style adobe suites insulated with bales of hay and equipped with surprising amenities like organic bath products, plush robes, and private terraces. Sustainability at its best, the B&B runs on solar, uses only biodegradable products, and sources its water from an underground well. Rooms are spacious and soundproof thanks to the insulation, which keeps rooms cool in summer and warm in winter. Guests have 24-hour access to a communal kitchen and mountain bikes for exploring nearby vineyards. Expect to be greeted with a glass of wine upon arrival and treated to a glorious breakfast between 8:30 and 10 am. Homemade marmalades, eggs, breads, olives, and fruit—all from the farm—are just a few of the delights that might make you extend your stay.

For a white-stucco link in a hotel chain—admittedly a small Mexican chain—this resort manages to exude some real personality. The rooms are handsome, the number of activities is dizzying, and the location on La Audiencia is sweet. A poolside snack bar doubles as a midnight disco; before that, hit the predictable floor show or the lounge, where the piano man sings corny-but-cool Mexican and American standards. All rooms have balconies, but not all have views. Take a look before you bring up the luggage.

This small, cheerful beachfront boutique hotel owned by a mother and her two daughters sits right in the center of town, across from the wonderful La Mexicana restaurant. The atmosphere is laid-back and sociable: an outdoor wood-burning oven is fired up for community pizza nights, and an intimate palapa lounge near the small infinity pool encourages sunset socializing. Rooms are done up in bright colors with wood furnishings and open-beam ceilings; each one has its own small patio and private open-air bathroom.

This chilled-out, eco-friendly compound near a top surf spot is an affordable and sociable alternative in Troncones. Partially off the grid, the hostel has solar panels for electricity, outdoor showers, composting toilets, and a gray-water system for watering the plants. If the bunk-bed dorms aren't your style, there are also two private rooms with a private en suite bath and their own patios and hammocks. A tiny camping area offers a "luxury" tent for rent—complete with deluxe queen-sized blow-up mattress—as well as room to pitch your own. The lofted ocean-view communal palapa is the perfect spot to cook a group dinner, grab a beer from the honor bar, lounge with a book, or check out how the waves are breaking.

Formerly known as Hotel Villanueva and now part of the Wyndham family, this basic property is a good, functional base for exploring the region. Amenities include a cute indoor swimming pool and a Starbucks counter. Rooms are very simple, but clean, comfortable, and equipped with air-conditioning and TV. 

Built in 1924 and beautifully designed and furnished, this is a great choice for those looking for comfort and style in the area.

Nestled in thriving mangrove forests, this adults-only all-inclusive is one of the few in the region that still embraces Mexican tradition. Marking the entrance are brick archways and terra-cotta walkways inlaid with mosaic tile. In hacienda fashion, the grand lobby features more than a dozen wrought-iron chandeliers suspended above marble floors. Wooden paths lead to private palafitos (structures on stilts), where couples can enjoy romantic dinners. Jazz or classical music echoes throughout the resort's 75 unspoiled acres. Standard rooms are richly decorated with teak furnishings and include sitting areas with plasma TVs and terraces with spacious hot tubs. The surf at the beach can be somewhat rough, but there are two huge pools, one with an artificial island.

The lights of San Miguel are a distant glow on the horizon when you look west from the windward coast's only lodging, a small rustic inn that's run on generator power and has spacious, simply furnished rooms with patios or balconies. Two-story suites have a bedroom and full bath upstairs plus a living area, half bath, and kitchenette downstairs. Mexican-style meals are served on the open-air deck. Sleeping with the doors and windows open allows you to be lulled by the pounding surf. Sea turtles nest on the long beach beside the hotel in summer, and tropical fish gather by the rocky point.

Understated luxury and an open-to-nature building design describe this 10-suite boutique property located in a jungle about an hour south of Vallarta. Built into the hillside overlooking lovely Yelapa Bay, Verana is sleek and contemporary yet surrounded by nature and built of locally available materials. Each of the freestanding suites has a different view and feel; several have outdoor showers and all are warm, inviting, and romantic. Every room has a ceiling fan, but just a few have air conditioning.

This impressive hotel is an excellent choice for both families with kids and couples looking for a place to get away from it all. Modern and well-appointed rooms can range from single to multifamily suites, and may have a tub in the balcony overlooking the resort grounds and ocean (if you're above the fourth level) or the mountains behind. The resort caters mostly to all-inclusive vacationers but lodging-only is also available. There's a slow river, a wave pool, several restaurants, slides for kids, gyms, tennis courts, a golf course, and a fantastic beach where weddings take place. The resort has expanded even more in the past few years, and now there's a water park in the making and a permanent Cirque du Soleil, among other secret projects that are being developed.

This homey hotel is on a hill above quiet La Cruz de Huanacaxtle, and offers garden-view or ocean-facing suites; several have a terrace overlooking the coast, and a large dining area/kitchen and living room. A big breakfast is served in the open-air dining room; the adjacent common area has a computer with Internet access. The small swimming pool overlooks a tropical hillside, the marina, and the town of La Cruz.

Across from one of the nicer sections of the downtown beach, this hotel lets you enjoy the sun of Veracruz without the scene of Boca del Río. As you might guess when you see the small playground, it caters mostly to families. The spacious rooms surround a garden with a tennis court, swimming pool, and hot tub.

Villa del Palmar Beach Resort and Spa is a big, family-friendly, all-inclusive resort that has a bit of everything without excessive luxury. Rooms offer ample space and colorful Mexican decor. Among other amenities, Villa del Palmar includes a well-appointed fitness center, a spa with a diversity of services, three swimming pools, a kids' club, four restaurants, one cantina, and a couple of delis. 

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.

Villa Lala is gorgeous little oceanfront hotel with only seven suites but lots of personality. Each suite has its own style and amenities, all spacious with tasteful Mexican design. The two love nests are luxurious treehouses with amazing ocean views, perfect for honeymooners. The beach is rocky, but kayaks are available and the Boca beach is just meters away. An infinity swimming pool and a Zen garden complement this charming place.

In contrast to the traditional-looking, blue-and-white exterior of this hotel, which is part of Hilton's Curio Collection, its lobby is austerely modern, and its guest rooms are contemporary, though with little to remind you that you're in Mexico. On-site amenities include the Asai Japanese restaurant, an outdoor pool, and a fitness center.

This comfortable hotel is one of the newest in the area. Spacious, modern, and clean rooms are distributed in 16 large buildings with thatch roofs that they call bungalows. The inviting lobby is also under a palapa roof, as is the large adjacent restaurant. You can access Wi-Fi in the lobby.

French count Philippe de Reiset fitted this villa with all the trappings of an informal Mexican estate. High above Morelia in the Santa María hills, its five impeccably groomed acres are studded with stone sculptures, although the rooms themselves are less impressive. Each unit has at least one piece of antique furniture, and most have a fireplace and private patio, but the furnishings are rather clunky and plain. The hotel's restaurant serves North American, French, and Mexican cuisine (but these don't get rave reviews); from its huge windows you'll have a marvelous view of Morelia, especially at night.