165 Best Hotels in Mexico

With an obvious attention to detail and exceptional service, the Círculo Mexicano stands out in Centro Histórico. One of the few hotels in the area with both a bar and a pool on the rooftop, this hotel is a prime spot for a weekend with friends. 

A couple of friendly American expats run this charming cliff-top hideaway with gorgeous views of the ocean and Boca de Iguanas Beach below. The furniture is stylish, and homey touches like lamps and aquatic wall decorations make the snug apartments just right for holing up. The two apartments upstairs, with thatched roofs and kitchen and living room open to the elements, are not usually available in summer due to the rain; the rest of the year they're highly coveted.

This family-oriented all-inclusive resort features a pirate-theme water park as its main attraction. The Baby Paradise and the teens’ club are also well appointed. Rooms aren’t spectacular but they offer ample space and include kid-size bunk beds. All restaurants feature their own kids’ menu. An adults-only sister hotel is available next door, for those looking something a bit more peaceful.

The lobby in this high-rise on Playa Mocambo is adorned with glass sculptures. Many of the rooms face the ocean, and the suites also have small balconies. The poolside fountain and the activities in the play area make this a good bet for families traveling with young children. It's across from Las Americas mall.

Husband and wife duo Fabrizio Cavallo and Nilú Feregrino have dedicated their lives to "conscious living," and Desierto Azul ("where the desert meets the ocean") is their brainchild. Not a single detail was overlooked when designing this four-room microhotel ("we're not boutique, but petite," they say): the property is solar-powered, the beds are fitted with organic sheets and linens, the bath products are locally made and reef-safe, and the bar serves natural wine. They also offer plant-based nutrition workshops twice a month at an on-site cooking studio.

This casual, unfussy resort is touted as a romantic getaway, but with an average of five weddings a week, it's more a destination for families and wedding parties with guests of all ages in attendance. Guests simply check in at the restaurant or bar of their choice, rather than having to wear the brightly colored wristbands synonymous with all-inclusives. The best restaurant of the six is Bordeaux, however, no children under 18 are permitted. Rooms have poster beds, faux-oak furnishings, a lounge area, and stocked minibar and microwave. The U-shape building wraps around two huge pools, with one set aside just for families. The spa, tennis courts, and nightly entertainment keep guests happy for days. Roughly a third of the rooms are timeshare properties, so expect to be pitched with an offer to buy. Wedding and honeymoon packages are offered.

Hidden four blocks off the busy malecón, this '60s-era villa has apartments of various sizes filled with modern Mexican art and comfortable, if well-worn, furniture. All apartments have well-equipped kitchens, and a few rooms have ocean-view terraces; the largest has three bedrooms, two baths, and a separate dining room. There's a red-tile pool and tropical gardens. In high season the property accepts only weeklong bookings.

Named after Spain's legendary medieval leader, Mazatlán's largest resort has four properties, three of which are together in the Zona Dorada. The most upscale are the all-inclusive La Castilla and El Moro. The Granada costs less because it's the oldest, has no beachfront, and operates on the European Plan (that is, no meals included). A free shuttle connects these to the upscale, all-inclusive Marina El Cid Hotel and Yacht Club, at the north end of town, overlooking the 100-slip marina. Staying at any El Cid property gets you access to the full-service spa and fitness center, the city's best golf school and course, tennis and racquetball courts, and the aquatics center. Among readers, the Marina seems to be the favorite of the properties for its friendly staff, superior upkeep, and serene mood.

This splashy hotel reclines on the soft sand at Playa Costa de Oro. Its marble corridors all seem to lead to the giant serpentine pool, maze of bridges, and lush gardens facing the ocean. The brightly colored rooms all overlook the beach. You have access to a 9-hole golf course 20 minutes away. Note that quoted prices often include breakfast; let them know your preference.

The dramatic glass facade of this high-rise faces the Minerva Fountain and Los Arcos monument. Four glass-enclosed elevators ascend dizzyingly above a 14-story atrium lobby to the guest rooms, which have dignified modern furnishings, small marble bathrooms with bathtub, and, for the most part, arresting views (Rooms 1211–17 have the absolute best). The lobby bar has live music every night. Executive-floor rooms come with continental breakfast and canapés in the lounge, and there's a fully equipped business center.

Part of a reliable Mexican chain and more laid-back than its sister property, the Grand Fiesta Americana Coral Beach, this hotel is easily recognized by the 118-foot-tall palapa that covers its lobby. But don't let the rustic roof fool you—the rest of the architecture here is extravagant, featuring things like marble pillars and inner plant-filled courtyards. There's also a massive pool, a good-size gym, a movie theater, and a spa with indoor and outdoor treatment rooms (alas, there's also a MX$290 fee to use the spa facilities). Activities include pool volleyball, art classes, and yoga. Rooms are a decent size, but not all have balconies, and ocean views cost extra.

This contemporary tower with plush rooms and myriad amenities—a member of Mexico's largest hotel brand—rises 12 floors above the fashionable Toreo shopping center in Lomas de Sotelo, a short drive northwest of Polanco and Lomas de Chapultepec. On the border between Mexico City and the state of Mexico, it's a good choice if you're seeking an upscale retreat reasonably close to city attractions but a little removed from noise and traffic. Guests with dogs receive a pet bed and water and food bowls to use throughout their stay. 

This brick-red hotel is a 10-minute drive from the center of town, but it has hard-to-find (for Xalapa) amenities like a swimming pool. The modern guest rooms in the three-story, colonial-style structure get plenty of morning sunlight.

This family-friendly, optional all-inclusive resort is a standout in every sense of the word and every aspect of the experience offered to guests; it’s luxury mixed with class and upscale service. With four gourmet restaurants and three snack bars, the dining options are hard to match in the region, and the "optional" label of the all-inclusive program allows guests to explore the famous dining scene of Los Cabos. However, the best part is the huge size of the rooms---two-bedroom suites come at 1,980 square-foot and include every little amenity you can think of, from a freestanding bathtub, separate rain shower, terrace with a hammock, and even a Nespresso machine. Eight swimming pools, including one for kids and one for adults on a spectacular rooftop terrace, round out an overall remarkable experience for guests of this resort.

Sleek and contemporary, this stylish hotel stands opposite the Bosque de Chapultepec, close to the city's main shopping area, and five minutes from the Auditorio Nacional. Plush rooms are done in muted tones of brown and cream. The spa, beauty salon, and barbershop guarantee that you will be presentable for the modern Azur Restaurant.

Set on the spectacular end of a peninsula, this resort (hands-down the best hotel in the area) overlooks the Pacific Ocean to the west and the Navidad lagoon to the east. Rooms are big and luxurious, although the decor feels more mid-20th-century Europe than modern tropical Mexico.

Architecture melds perfectly with natural surroundings as hotel suites dramatically hug cliff and sea and subterranean stone passages open to infinity pools framed by cactus gardens and raked sand. The resort is practically on top of its namesake rock formation, a sight that will not cease to amaze at any point of your stay. Solmar has been owned by one of Cabo's founding families (before becoming a hotelier, patriarch Don Luis Bulnes Molleda managed the old fish cannery; today, there's a statue by the marina in his honor) for over 50 years; though the property has been rebuilt and reimagined since, it's still a special slice of San Lucas history.

Its design strikes a harmonious balance between style statements and minimalism, but the location of this hotel, on one of the city's poshest avenues, is its main selling point. Service ranges from cool to indifferent, with a few exceptions, and some areas could use more upkeep. The swanky rooftop bar attracts international celebs and chic chilangos every night of the week thanks to its open-air views, fireplace, and selection of mezcals. 

Small domes and barrel tile roofs top eight buildings at this lovely, hacienda-style resort in the Cabo Del Sol development. Make your way past tiered fountains to the rooms with wrought iron and wood furnishing, Mexican textiles, and terra-cotta floors. The whirlpool tubs and large balconies with ocean views take the hotel beyond chain standards. Standard rooms have either two double beds or one queen, with ocean or garden views. Huge, luxurious pools are surrounded by palms and all the chaise lounges guests need. The 450-yard beach is beautiful, and sometimes the sea in this sheltered cove is calm enough for a swim.

Built in 1882, this beautifully restored mansion turned hotel was once part of a large hacienda. The restoration is stunning: surrounding a pretty, plant-filled courtyard is a covered veranda of lovely floor tiles, with lazily rotating ceiling fans, antique furniture, and groupings of chairs for a casual conversation. Opening off the veranda, elegant suites have also been restored to their original glory. It's right across from the cultural center and near the market and town plaza.

Privacy, comfort, and quality are the pillars of this hacienda-style property that draws a loyal clientele for the central location and reasonable rates. Housed in a two-story building, rooms overlook the pool and vineyard where grapes are produced for their private Melchum label. Four stand-alone rooms at the back are slightly larger and more modern. When not wine tasting, guests can explore the hiking trails or dine at the popular main restaurant (closed Tuesday) where pork, fish, beef, and weekend brunch are served. With an elegant on-site winery, you can sample from their seven labels and enjoy chocolate and wine pairing. For cocktails and simple fare, visit their newest restaurant-bar Aledaño, open for lunch and dinner (closed Monday). 

The perfect base for exploring the Aké ruins and Izamal to the east, as well as Mérida, a short drive west, this restored cattle ranch transports you back in time with its hammock-adorned sitting areas, 18-foot ceilings, exposed beams, wooden double doors, canopy beds, and tile floors. For a truly unique stay, request Room 9, which has a massive ceiba tree growing through its ceiling, or one of the Maya-style palapa villas.

With stunning views and acres of trees, as well as blissful breezes off the Pacific Ocean, Haramara Retreat is an oasis of tranquility just south of Sayulita. Originally a retreat for yoga groups, Haramara—which means "Grandmother Sea" in the Huichol language—is now open to individual travelers. With its own private beach and several large pergolas for meditation, Haramara is a wonderful venue for a rejuvenating vacation away from technology. Included in the price are three healthy meals daily at the ocean-view restaurant, which specializes in vegetarian cuisine but offers seafood as well. Expert bodyworkers give several types of massage, and private yoga lessons are available, as are surfing lessons and surf safaris. A packed dirt path leads up and down the hilly, 12-acre property to thatch-roofed bungalows that open to the sea breezes. The showers also are open-sided so you can admire the views as you bathe. Comfortable beds are surrounded by mosquito netting; hardwood floors, bamboo siding, and thatch roofs complete the Robinson Crusoe feel of the place.

Chic rooms and a fantastic rooftop pool area are two of the highlights of this new(ish) hotel in Guadalajara. It has all the facilities you might find on a beach resort (minus the beach), and the food and cocktails are tasty, too. The elevators are on the slow side, but the good service makes up for it.

In keeping with Hard Rock tradition and fitting right into Cancún's energetic atmosphere, this property showcases musical memorabilia, offers a variety of entertainment experiences, and hosts an ongoing slate of celebrity-driven soirees. Unlike other lively local hotels, though, the Hard Rock caters more to families and music lovers than partiers. All rooms have a marble-framed Jacuzzi, 24-hour room service, and balcony, but only 60% offer ocean views. The chic lobby bar comes alive at night from 10 pm to 1 am with music, dancing, and twirling disco lights. The Hard Rock Roxity Kids Club and Cavern Club have a number of activities that keep kids and teens occupied. The Sound of Your Stay Program is free of charge and includes guitar rentals, record players with a selection of vinyls, and use of DJ turntables.

This AAA Four-Diamond award-winning hotel is located within Guadalajara’s World Trade Center and just across the street from Expo Guadalajara, the city’s convention center. Hilton Guadalajara offers 450 guest rooms, a two-level presidential suite, seven master suites, and four executive rooms. Even though this is a business-centered hotel, featuring nine meeting rooms and an auditorium, it’s also a great option for families as it boasts a heated outdoor pool, solarium, fitness center, spa, cantina-style restaurant, and buffet dining.

The abstract red-and-blue mural in the lobby and cantilevered gray facade add a dramatic flourish to this hotel in the city's historic center. Geared to conventions, everything is oversized here, from the lobby to the five food-and-beverage outlets. Plush Italian furniture, gray-green carpeting, and Spanish marble are features of the guest rooms. Rooms display old photos of Centro Histórico. 

This chic little hotel set right in front of the lagoon offers its guests creature comforts, an excellent restaurant, and lots of tranquility. Rooms are equipped with both air-conditioning and ceiling fans and are decorated with handcrafted furniture made of local wood. On-site amenities include a snack bar, a swimming pool, and a private dock.

Back in the 1960s, Pablo Bush Romero established this resort as a place for his diving buddies to crash, and it still offers pleasant accommodations and a congenial staff. The ocean view trumps the room decor, which is simple and functional. Multi-unit bungalows are surrounded by gardens and standard rooms in the three-story building have pool or bay views. There are also two restaurants and a large swimming pool here.