261 Best Hotels in Mexico

A large natural pool forms in a bend in the Río Nututún, which runs through the grounds of this hotel. The rooms in the low-slung main building are plain but ample. Book a suite and you'll have a terrace overlooking the gardens.

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.

About the size of Teotihuacán's Pyramid of the Sun, this sleek, low-slung, 8-acre megalith was designed by Mexico's modern master, Ricardo Legorreta. Mostly used by business travelers, the whole place is one big sculpture punctuated by fountains, splashes of canary yellow and electric pink, and impressive artwork that includes Rufino Tamayo's mural Man Facing Infinity and a Calder sculpture. Rooms have gorgeous marble bathrooms and pops of vibrant color. For dinner, consider the popular steak house, BeefBar or teppanyaki at Marimoto. After your meal, have a drink in the cool Blue Blue, where one area is perched over water and has transparent floors. 

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.

Gracious gardens, tinkling fountains, bright colors, and arched windows give the traveler a sense of sleeping in a Mexican hacienda while also enjoying the comforts of home. The hotel's basic rooms are cheerful and tastefully decorated with blonde-wood furnishings, and the grounds include two patios for guest use. A small, upscale bar provides drinks, quick food options, and flat-screen TVs for watching sports. Continental breakfast is included, and four of the eight rooms have a kitchenette.

In a colonial house with most rooms facing the large central patio, complete with plants and bubbling fountain, this family-run pension offers excellent location and a homey atmosphere. Rooms are good-sized, but the furnishings are a bit on the basic side. Prices include a full breakfast plus a family-style three-course luncheon—nothing fancy. In the library check your email or select a book and enjoy a complimentary morning coffee, afternoon tea, or postprandial tequila.

An oasis of home-style tranquillity wedged among Zona Dorada's high-energy high-rises, Casa Contenta consists of two buildings: one with seven one-bedroom apartments (some with waterfront terraces) and the other a house that can accommodate up to eight people with its three bedrooms, three baths, and living-dining room. The live-like-a-local quality is authentic down to the cheerful Mexican furniture, well-stocked kitchens, and meticulously tended gardens.

Owned by Canadian expats, this small guesthouse directly on the beach has accommodations with fully equipped kitchens, purified water, Wi-Fi, and ocean views. Although there's no air-conditioning, oversized windows and ceiling fans keep rooms rather cool. Guests have access to numerous amenities including bikes, kayaks, hammocks, a library, and an outdoor kitchen. The eco-friendly owners recycle rainwater and have bathrooms equipped with low-consumption flush toilets and water-saving showerheads. Meals, prepared by a Swiss chef, are available upon request.

Both this attractive B&B and its resident restaurant, La Olla, are run by chef-personality Pilar Cabrera. In Las Bugambilias, one of three houses that make up this B&B, every room is different, but they're all brightly painted and comfortably outfitted. Some rooms have little terraces or patios. All rooms are no-smoking. Guests get both free Wi-Fi and some international calls (including to the United States and Canada).

The grand, old, Centro Histórico home of a prominent Mazatlán doctor and former mayor is now this excellent bed-and-breakfast. A stay here puts you across from two museums, a block from the beach, and three blocks from Plazuela Machado. Each of its six rooms is dedicated to a different Mexican personage, Pancho Villa and Frida Kahlo among them. Rooms don't have TVs—more reason to head out and explore—but there's a media center with cable TV and a DVD. There's also a central courtyard and a rooftop terrace.

Its architecture may nod to traditional but this small hotel feels every bit as modern as it is. Seven suites surround the open-air restaurant in the hotel's courtyard, which is candlelit by night. Rooms have shiny hardwood floors and bright colors.

This hotel, whose name means the "House of Treasures," is an idyllic and romantic converted 18th-century convent. The rooms were once nuns' cells, but they're no longer austere—they've now got fireplaces, tile baths, antique furnishings, and striking local art. The restaurant is excellent, and the in-house guitar trio provides the mood music.

The central courtyard in this colonial-era mansion is certainly memorable, with lush vines tumbling down over stone arches; rooms are equally interesting, with traditional style and modern amenities. Other touches of note include a wrought-iron gate and leaded-glass windows. Each room is different, so look at a few before you decide; one thing they have in common are the extremely high ceilings. The restaurant in the courtyard offers a wide range of appetizing Mexican and international food.

The theme of this three-story hotel across from La Compania church and just down the street from the University of Guanajuato is clearly maritime, with a light-blue color scheme and blue glass floor tiles in the downstairs lobby. Rooms have a tranquil blue-gray–and-cream color scheme, high ceilings, pleasingly modern wood furnishings, and comfortable beds. Those facing outward have balconies, some with excellent views. Its location just behind Jardín de la Unión puts you right within access of the square's vibrancy, but without the all the noise.

The only hotel in town on the Río Papaloapan is in a 19th-century house that's considered a historic monument. Rooms are simple, with beige ceramic floors and white bedcovers. The joys here are in the details: linens are high quality, towels are fluffy, and service is extremely attentive. Owners Francisco and Elena speak English quite well; other staffers have a harder time but always make an effort. You can rent bikes and arrange rafting trips through the hotel.

The House of the Smiling Dolphin was one of the first hotels in Troncones, and it remains a small, family-friendly place with a bright exterior and personalized service. Downstairs rooms are sparsely decorated with Mexican crafts, but each is different. The two upstairs suites have chairs and shelves filled with books; they don't have air-conditioning, but fans and breezes off the water keep things cool. If you like, you can buy produce from the truck that passes in front of the hotel and prepare it in the communal kitchen. There are plenty of surfboards for rent, and it's a good place to take them out, since there can be excellent beach breaks.

With a panoramic view near the church of La Valenciana, this American-owned house is an upmarket B&B—and one of the classiest lodgings in the city. One room has a whirlpool tub, another its own steam room, and all have a terrace with a stunning view. The only downside is its distance from the city, but, on the other hand, it's nice to get away from the hustle and bustle.

Sustainably designed and located on a central street just a few blocks south of the pyramid, this hotel set in an updated Spanish colonial house offers plenty of pleasing amenities for a small property, including an all-day restaurant and a small spa offering a good variety of treatments. There are several inviting common spaces, including a patio with a fireplace and an upper terrace that's lovely for stargazing.

Within this refined early 20th-century mansion, graciously appointed rooms with tastefully neutral color schemes, plush linens, and original architectural details appeal to a discerning crowd who wish to be close to Roma's fantastic restaurants but in a quieter section that's slightly removed from the neighborhood's sometimes frenetic nightlife. Imagine you're staying at your wealthy and welcoming aunt's house, and for a splurge, treat yourself to the roomy master suite, with its separate living room and a balcony overlooking the street. Note that only a couple of rooms fall within the moderate price category; most are considerably more expensive.

Palms and plants edge the walkways lining the swimming pool and goldfish ponds, while balconies look down on this idyllic garden scene. Suites have full kitchens, shower-only baths, and tropical-style furniture. The hotel is on a cobblestoned street off the highway; if you don't want to hoof it into Puerto Vallarta, take one of the local buses that pass by every 10 minutes. The beach is a five-minute walk away on the other side of the highway.

Each bungalow at this homey haven has a patio with hammocks, table, and chairs, and there's also a house with a full kitchen, two bedrooms, two baths, and a long porch looking right onto the sand and waves—not to mention a coterie of friendly cats who call the property home. All guests have access to a communal kitchen and dining room, as well as barbecue facilities and a cozy reading nook with shelves packed full of beachy paperbacks.

Some of the pleasant rooms overlook the beach from a balcony or terrace, but most people stay here for easy access to the good burgers, guacamole, and seafood platter for two ($13) at the adjoining El Alebrije restaurant. The bar, with its cool, brick-floor interior open to the beach, is also popular. Other perks: the long beach, large pool, and hiking and other outdoor activities.

For a truly Mexican experience in a town where international tastes prevail, book a room in this small B&B on quiet Calle Jesus. Although constructed in 2002 as a small hotel, it really does feel like someone's home, right down to the standard Walmart toilet set (matching rug, tank, and toilet-lid covers), crucifixes and religious paintings on the walls, and in one room, even a Barbie doll with crocheted outfit. A library provides novels and DVDs for guests to enjoy: each room has a flat-screen TV and DVD player. The rooftop terrace offers excellent, 360-degree views of town.

This road less traveled leads to four cozy cabins in a farmy setting with donkeys, vegetable gardens, and hammocks swaying under the shade of an orange grove. Rooms are simple but cleverly designed with brick walls, open trusses, and plenty of windows flooding natural light. Closer to the highway is a two-bedroom house with a kitchen and deck overlooking the orchard. The helpful owners can point you in all the wine directions, and can even arrange for private dinners prepared by local chefs; advance notice is required. If you need pampering and plenty of creature comforts (there are no TVs), look elsewhere since this place is about nature, tranquillity, and a bit of rustic living. You can also bring your fur babies to this pet-friendly property where rescue dogs are part of the staff.

On a quiet side street a few blocks east of Coyoacán's historic plazas, this elegant red hacienda captures the neighborhood’s Spanish Colonial charm while offering modern in-room amenities like kitchens and fast Wi-Fi. Rooms are quite spacious, and some of them are lofts with two levels and two queen beds. Guests can relax in the cloistered garden courtyard, which is illuminated with lanterns in the evening. Though they're not included in the rates, the breakfasts are reasonably priced and excellent, featuring traditional Mexican fare and fresh fruit.

Although they're starting to feel a bit dated, these Mediterranean-style rooms with private terraces are spacious and thoughtfully equipped with everything from small kitchens to Wi-Fi. Satellite TV—rare for the area—is available. The lounge and restaurant, under a big palapa, have cushy sofas and an infinity pool overlooking the ocean. Note that the hotel is a challenging (read: hilly) 20-minute walk, or about a third of a mile, west of San Agustinillo and east of the heart of Mazunte. Because of its cliff-side location, children aren't allowed. The on-site restaurant serves delicious breakfasts and snacks (try the crepes) until 4 pm.

A fantasy villa buried in the wooded hills about 30 minutes north of the city center, Casa Raab is ideal for traveling groups. You can rent rooms in the main house or take over a casita that's perfect for a family of four. Hiking trails surround the house, which has breathtaking mountain views. You'll feel part of the family as you eat meals together in the dining room. Owner Tony Raab grows his own agave plants, produces his own artisanal mezcal, and helps to organize excursions. To really get around, though, you need to rent a car.

This is an attractive little enclave of cozy and clean (albeit basic) cottages with screened windows. Full kitchens with lots of pots and pans invite cooking, but the real draws are the lovingly tended gardens surrounding the lodgings, the covered patio, and the sparkling, three-lane lap pool. If you love it, settle in for a while; monthly rates are usually available.

Set at the southern end of Paseo de Montejo, this small hotel has an open-air central courtyard and uniquely decorated rooms, each with a hammock, foot massager, and flat-screen TV. Ceramic tile details can be found in every bathroom, and shower floors are encrusted with river stones; rooms No. 3, No. 104, and No. 108 have whirlpool tubs, too. On-site amenities include a bakery, a restaurant that serves organic foods, and a quaint boutique that sells folk art and exclusive fashion designs from Pineda Covalin. If you're sensitive to noise, request a room toward the back.

This new seven-room B&B is one of the more remote in Zihuatanejo, and the location has its plusses (tranquillity, sweeping bay views) and its minuses (it's a long walk to get anywhere, so expect to take a lot of cabs). Suites are spacious and airy, nicely decorated in neutral tones and polished concrete, each with its own private entrance, though the cheapest garden-view room is a bit cavelike. The grand suites have vaulted, exposed-beam ceilings, outdoor showers, and bay-view terraces equipped with lounge chairs and hammocks. A tasty breakfast is served daily in a palapa overlooking the infinity pool and small sundeck; with only a few snack options available (guacamole, quesadillas), it's not the best place to lounge poolside all day, though there is an honor bar stocked with beer, wine, and juice for those who want to do just that.