147 Best Hotels in Mexico

This small hotel right off Parque Lincoln and not far from Chapultepec park offers an exclusive Polanco zip code at a much better price than the larger hotels nearby. Marble floors and dark-wood furniture accent the cozy lobby, which leads to five floors of tidy, carpeted rooms with flat-screen TVs and serviceable furnishings.

Centrally located and well established, this cheerful hotel has colorful rooms, a pair of lovely patio gardens, and a busy restaurant. The staff can help organize cave tours and horseback rides to the pyramids and local waterfalls.

Rooms in this basic, budget-priced, 19th-century inn are simply furnished in a colonial style; they're nothing fancy, but this is a good option for travelers on a budget. Several in the old wing are uncomfortably dark and cramped, but others are more open and have fireplaces. Head up to the rooftop public terrace for city views; the building is near the hulking dome of the Iglesia de la Concepción. There's a communal TV in the lobby, which looks like a formal Mexican living room.

This two-story, motel-style property is the nicest in Oxcutzcab. Rooms are plain but clean, with comfy beds, blond-wood furniture, and decoupage scenes of Puuc-area ruins; 21st-century perks include flat-screen TVs, strong air-conditioning, and high-speed Wi-Fi. All have a shower and toilet crammed into a tiny room around the corner from a sink (the upside is that there’s plenty of hot water). Noise from the street, front desk, and other rooms creeps in through thin walls. The property has a decent pool, a Ping-Pong table, and basketball court. The international food at Peregrino Restaurant is as simple as the accommodations, but portions are generous and the wait staff, like most of the town, is friendly.

A few kilometers from the beach, this spacious hotel hosts weddings and events and acts as a getaway destination for those who live in Tomatlán.

The four rooms in this restored hacienda are gorgeous, with antique furnishings and wood-and-glass doors leading outdoors. A small courtyard holds a café and a tiny pool not much bigger than a hot tub. The American owners, a bird expert and a yoga teacher, are building El Pedregal, a 20-acre retreat just outside of town.

This clean and comfortable hotel comes with all the expected amenities as well as a rooftop pool and terrace that offers an excellent view of the Reforma Avenue skyscraper district. A hip boutique hotel it is not, but it's not one of the questionable, cheap motels that dominated the area's lodging scene for decades. It's safe and well-situated to explore the San Rafael and Cuauhtémoc neighborhoods. 

Right on the plaza, this hotel has a bright center courtyard covered with skylights that allow light to shine on the tables where breakfast is served. The downside, however, is that all guest rooms face this atrium and noise carries all hours of the day. Although rooms are rather dated, they have comfy beds and a squeaky-clean paint job. Only a few rooms have balconies, but all have air-conditioning, fans, and cable TV; two rooms have kitchenettes for those who want to prepare their own meals. The water is only a few blocks away.

The trick at this hillside hotel is getting the right room; the dozen or so rooms with views of the town are the best, but check the mattress for firmness and be sure to specify whether you want air conditioning, before you settle in. All rooms are spic-and-span though the décor feels dated and a little stark. Although the staff does not speak English, they go out of their way to figure out what you need and deliver it promptly.

Rooms at the nicest hotel in Río Lagartos have private balconies, water views, colorful decor and stone walls and tile floors that keep them rather cool, though there are fans and air-conditioning as well. The property's rooftop bar and lookout tower are closed to children for safety reasons. The guests-only restaurant (open for breakfast and dinner) serves seafood, salads, and vegetarian dishes for guests only. Beach chairs and coolers are available free of charge at the front desk.

This small hotel is made up of small cottages with palapa roofs grouped around two pools. Rooms are sparsely decorated, but the bright colors are cheerful and the rooms are clean and spacious.

Quirky furniture and the only replica of the tomb of Pakal make this hotel unique. A newer section of the hotel has simple rooms without the character of the older ones, which have painted murals and an area where you can watch the street in hip chairs with treelike sculptures around you.

With lower rates than most properties in the corporate-centered Santa Fe district, this eight-story hotel is a great deal considering the roomy accommodations, attractive pool and fitness center, and safe and relatively quiet location. Even the one- and two-bedroom suites, with full kitchens, cost only slightly more than standard rooms. 

Within walking distance of Las Américas Shopping Center and next to a grocery store, this hotel is perfect for mixing business with pleasure at a very reasonable price. Rooms are modern yet cozy, with hardwood floors, plasma TVs, free Wi-Fi, comfy duvets, and either city or lagoon views; rooms on the seventh and eighth floors are best. Despite its location, this chain hotel is surprisingly quiet. Rates are about one-fourth what you'd pay in the Hotel Zone, so expect shortcuts like shampoo dispensers rather than bottles and showers rather than tubs. A buffet breakfast (extra charge) is served from 6:30 to 10; guests with the midnight munchies can take advantage of the 24-hour restaurant.

Billed as a hotel and spa, this is an old, but extremely well-kept hotel. You might fancy yourself in a miniature tropical paradise: the hotel is built around a lush tropical garden complete with a pair of toucans. Get a room in the back facing the garden, and you will awake to a rooster crowing and a view of palms.

Although it was built in the 1950s, this New Orleans–style hotel feels a century older. Facing the Alameda and just steps from the public market, the hotel's wrought-iron-and-marble courtyard calls to mind a more refined era. The owner, who named the place after his late father, plays acoustic guitar and violin in the comfortable wood-paneled lobby upstairs.

María Teresa Villarreal, the owner and operator of this pleasant little place, proudly shows off her restored colonial-style home, which is not fancy but has the lived-in feeling that many people are looking for in Oaxaca. You can mingle with other guests (some long-term) on the open patio gladdened with laurel and lemon trees. Those staying in standard rooms share a brightly colored outdoor kitchen, while those who have booked studios get kitchenettes with coffeemakers and other essentials.

This comfortable, all-suites hotel right in the middle of the Reforma Avenue action is perfectly located to get you just about anywhere in the city in no time. It is within walking distance of the Zona Rosa, and some rooms offer scenic views of the nearby Monumento a la Revolución, which is lit up at night. Formerly owned by Air France, the chain maintains an aeronautical motif, with the property's geographical coordinates embedded in the lobby floor, and a mezzanine bar named Latitude. Rooms are spacious, furnished with queen- or king-size beds, marble bathrooms, sleeper sofas, and flat-screen TVs; each floor has a Premier Suite with panoramic views of Reforma Avenue.

If you're looking for a reliable and comfortable place to spend the night, this old-school hotel certainly does the trick. Though the rooms each have two queen beds, there is a flat per person rate for anyone who stays over; solo travelers pay $85, while couples are charged $100. A third or fourth guest (including children over five) are each an additional $25/nightly. The palm-shaded swimming pool has a marlin painted on the bottom, and a bar area with cable television is a good spot to hangout if you want to watch a game, since rooms lack TVs. Guests will have to buy their own booze, but there are a few well-stocked minigroceries nearby. Fishing boat rentals can be arranged in the office, which also has a few books on hand for those in need of a beach read.

Tucked away on a side street in the middle of the most happening part of town, this humble but charming boutique hotel is dripping in brilliant purple bougainvillea and orange lipstick vines that line the central patio. The rooms are basic but comfortable; book a junior suite for just $20/night more to score a walk-in closet and spacious kitchenette. The best part of the property is the communal courtyard spaces, where guests relax in the fresh air and fraternize with fellow travelers. 

Each artsy bungalow here has its own themed decor—the Asian room has a Chinese checkers board and origami decorations, while the Safari room has artifacts from Mexico and Africa. Some have skylights or hammock chairs on a front porch; all have screened windows and are surrounded by gardens with bamboo, birds-of-paradise, and bougainvillea. As a result, the gated property feels like a hidden village, with bungalows spread throughout. The "hacienda building" at the back of the grounds has five rooms that can also be rented by the month. There is a cenotelike pool and a palapa restaurant offering salads and other healthy fare.

Stone archways ring plant-filled courtyards in this 17th-century mansion. Rooms, with large wood-and-glass doors, are partially carpeted. The owners are an excellent source of information regarding Pátzcuaro and the surrounding areas. Be sure to check out the restaurant, Doña Paca, and its tasty coffee drinks.

The town’s first boutique property, Mantra is a welcome fresh face to an otherwise dated Los Barriles. Owner Gunnar Williamson is building the property himself from the ground up, and not a single detail has been overlooked including the design and comfort of the spacious studio-style villas and the provided amenities, like a stocked kitchenette and full set of beach gear. Expansion plans include more rooms and the installation of a pool and spa.

Location, location, location: Marina Fiesta's may be the very best in town, and that, coupled with an extraordinarily reasonable nightly rate make it a top choice for an interesting mix of guests: fishermen, families, and college-age partiers. An optional all-inclusive add-on gives you unlimited access to not only the bars and restaurant on-site, but the neighboring venues that line a stretch of Marina Cabo San Lucas called the Golden Zone. It's a bit of a tourist trap, however, so true foodies are advised to spend their coin dining elsewhere.

A royal lieutenant of the Spanish viceroy lived in this colonial house some 200 years ago. Now it's a gem of a small hotel, restored with earthenware tiles, rustic wood beams, and lime-pigment washes on the walls. Rooms surround three small bougainvillea-covered courtyards and have lovely hand-carved wood headboards, Talavera lamps, and hand-loomed bedspreads. Mesón's friendly, dedicated founders have also opened additional hotels in Xalapa and Coatepec, which can be found at the Web site.

If any of the antiques that decorate your room in this beautifully converted colonial mansion strike your fancy, you might consider taking home a souvenir; they're all for sale. The rich colors of folk art pervade the cozy but stylish bar, and a lovely restaurant with live music in the evening serves tasty regional dishes. Cooking classes are also offered.

Although huge by Oaxaca standards, this hotel is still very close to the city center and manages to exude a cozy feel once you enter the peaceful gardens. Rooms are arranged in small blocks around the gardens so guests can enjoy the quiet, the tennis courts, and the swimming pool throughout the day. For lunch, you can order food at the poolside bar. The rooms are slightly old-fashioned but are light and comfortable with a rustic feel. The restaurant is excellent, serving classic Oaxacan and other Mexican standards. There is a good family vibe here, with lots of things for children to do.

There's a stylish lobby cocktail lounge and a restaurant that serves excellent international cuisine in this 1960s-era business hotel. Rooms have business travelers in mind, and the newly refreshed look imparts a minimalist vibe, with neutral colors and dark hardwood floors. 

This fresh, hip hotel greets you with a pop art–style lobby and vibrant hallways that lead to guest rooms with marble floors, 42-inch flat-screen TVs, minibars, and small balconies. Compared to the common areas, accommodations are subdued in shades of cream, beige, and olive. Although you’re not on the ocean, you can lounge at the pool or use the amenities at Oasis Palm in the Hotel Zone. Families with underage offspring can book at the connecting Oasis Smart, as Oh! Cancún The Urban Oasis only allows guests over 21.