147 Best Hotels in Mexico

A central location across from the Alameda Central is the main selling point for this property catering to business travelers on a budget. It features cordial service and clean, functional rooms decorated with black-and-white historical photographs and pops of bright colors, plus parquet floors and marble baths. A breakfast buffet is served daily in the simple Ikea-style café area on the ground floor, where the carnivalesque music of the city's ever-present organ grinders wafts in from the street. A small outdoor patio off the lobby with a (fake) ivy-covered wall is a nice place to sit and work while taking advantage of the free Wi-Fi available throughout the property.

Owner Valerie Pickles has carved out a lovely little paradise with six bungalows, beautifully maintained gardens, and a wonderful restaurant on the outskirts of Santa Elena. Decorated with her own paintings and topped with palapa roofs, the simply furnished Maya-style rooms are remarkably comfortable. They don’t have air-conditioning, but powerful fans, tile floors, and domed ceilings help keep them cool. A delicious breakfast of fruit, bread, mango yogurt, and coffee is included in the rate, which is hard to imagine considering how little Valerie charges. This is also the best place to stop for authentic Yucatecan cuisine en route to the ruins.

Located directly across from the beach, the Playa Linda not only has great views but also rooms that look like something straight out of an IKEA catalog, with recessed lighting, modern furnishings, and sleek kitchens. Suites have an added dining area and balcony, but not all have ocean views. Room 2 is the largest, and discounted rates are available for long-term stays. Although there's no restaurant or bar here, the hotel has arrangements with local properties for food delivery upon request.

On the plus side, this colonial-style hotel is a short walk north of Parque Juárez. Unhappily, that walk is mostly uphill, perhaps a reason why the rates are so reasonable. The rooms are simple and quiet, but some are on the small side, so look at a few before you decide.

A staircase decorated with hand-painted tiles leads you up to the second-floor rooms at this bright pink hotel. Ask for one of the spacious rooms facing the street so you can look out over the rooftops. Don't miss a meal at the seafood restaurant ($), which has tables in the beamed-ceiling dining room or on a shady porch.

The oldest building in town, this 80-year-old stone villa is also the most winsome. Constructed by the current proprietor's grandfather, it has plenty of history. This is where gangster Al Capone hid out from the government in 1927, or so it's said. The rooms are small but expertly restored, with thick wooden doors and castlelike walls.

Surprisingly plush, but small and somewhat crowded, rooms are set around two flower-filled courtyards with worn patio furniture at this budget hotel. Its location a few blocks north of Parque Juárez is ideal. The Mexican restaurant at the hotel entrance specializes in churros and is a comfortable place to have a snack and relax.

Hidden away in a quiet spot three blocks from the hustle and bustle of the Zona Rosa, this hotel is convenient to restaurants, bars, and shops, but much more affordable than some of its more central counterparts. The rooms are fresh and clean, decorated in a bright Mexican colonial style with splashes of bright purples, oranges, yellows, and blues. Suites, suitable for up to four people, are ideal for families. The Argentine restaurant hosts tango lessons on Saturday night and serves delicious steak dishes.

This small hotel is across from the water and close to all the restaurants along the malecón. Standard rooms are very sparse, with headboards that are simply painted on the walls and mattresses on cement platforms; there are also several rooms with basic kitchens designed for long-term stays. The small pool in front provides a place to relax when the beach is packed. The hotel doesn't have an on-site restaurant, but you can order a Continental breakfast (at extra charge) and snacks later in the day.

Basic yet comfortable rooms in this three-story hotel have king-size beds with dark blue, hunting-theme spreads and desks of shiny lacquered wood. The property is on the main road into town, just a few short blocks from the plaza and town hall. The price goes up slightly on weekends January through May.

It may not have the bells and whistles of other Playa hotels, but this small property, on a quiet street two blocks from the beach, is very pleasant. Surrounding an attractive pool are rooms with tile floors, cedar furnishings, and spacious baths; suites also have hot tubs. If you want a balcony, request a "standard plus" room. Considering the central location and lovely setting, this may be the one of the best values in town. Although the hotel doesn't operate its own restaurant, there is one attached near the pool.

You can smell, hear, and see the ocean from the starkly minimalist, blue-and-white rooms at this hotel, which is on the eastern malecón (boardwalk) and is one of the few on the island that overlooks the Caribbean. Since you're tucked away at the southern end of the town square, there isn't much to distract you from the water—except during Carnaval, when the music can get loud. Rooms are equipped with refrigerators, glass-walled bathrooms, and balconies; top-floor ones have the best ocean views and the most privacy, but budget travelers can choose between four with town views.

The immaculate marble lobby of the modern Royal Hotel, beloved by international travelers, is filled with plants and the exuberant conversation of its guests. Spacious rooms have large bathrooms, well-equipped work areas, and interactive TVs. The rooftop terrace and pool has a fun bar and there's a buffet breakfast each morning. 

Royal Solaris was the first all-inclusive in Los Cabos, and it runs smoothly like the established property it is, with plenty of entertainment options and sports activities offered. Although it can feel a bit like an amusement park with all the activities, many appreciate the ease of built-in entertainment options. There are four major dinner shows per week in their theater, Teatro Teotihuacan. There's a Mexican night, a Latin Show, and other theme nights as well. A complete Kids' Mini-Club area includes toboggan waterslides, dancing lessons, and kites. Guests can play tennis, basketball, and beach volleyball. There are four categories of rooms, with half facing the ocean and half facing the street.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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. 

The landscaped grounds here are lovely, as are most rooms, although, as befitting the price, there's a certain budget-hotel sparseness to the place. Several low-rise buildings framing generous lawns house the guest rooms, the largest of which have white Moorish facades and archways separating the living and sleeping areas. All rooms have sunken bathtubs and refrigerators; some have terraces or balconies shaded with red awnings. There are two small restaurants on-site, and many more are within walking distance in this tourist area. The sea is across the street from the rooms, gardens, and pool, and there's a dock for dive boats. Numerous dive shops are nearby.

Overlooking the ocean, this tidy hotel is the kind of place where you want to admire the sweeping views. That would be a shame, as it is steps away from the shops and restaurants of the town's waterfront walk. Rooms here are bright but sparsely decorated; some are excellent places to take in the sunset, but most of them actually don't have views, so take a look around first.

This refreshing retreat from El Centro's bustling streets reflects Maya culture through murals, statues, and reliefs and forms part of a complex that also includes two restaurants and a snack shop open to the general public. Rooms are brightly decorated with rustic Mexican furniture, mosaic-tiled bathrooms, and colorful murals painted by local artists. Equipped with a swimming pool and outdoor theater (shows Thursdays and Saturdays), this is Cancún's only hotel focused on art and culture.

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.