165 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.

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.

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.

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

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.

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. 

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.

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.

What used to be a fishermen's village is now a hip hotel consisting of thatched-roof bungalows that make great use of local woods and offer rustic-but-classy luxury and an overall feeling of authenticity. A lively atmosphere around the beach and restaurant sets the tone for the rest of the place. 

This sophisticated white tower is one of the island's most luxurious hotels, with ultramodern decor and incredible ocean views. Dine in luxury at the Mayan-named Cuzamil restaurant offering Mexican-Mediterranean-fusion cuisine or enjoy a more casual meal at the water's-edge palapa restaurant. A rooftop bar and pool offer excellent views of the sunset and of the mainland 19 km (12 miles) away. A beachfront pool, kids' club, and small sandy beach complete the ground-floor area. An added bonus are three popular restaurants located directly across the street.

Built by prominent Mexican artist Javier Sordo Madaleno, the colorful design and architecture reflecting the famous Arco (arch) make this Westin more memorable than some of the others in the Corridor. The rooms, some set high above the beach, are among the best in their price range and have ocean views and Westin's trademark Heavenly Beds with cushy pillows and comforters. Junior suites have balcony Jacuzzis, marble floors, extra pullout beds, and connecting rooms for families or larger parties. The dramatic setting of the hotel means you'll get plenty of exercise moving from one area to another, which is good for some and less appealing for others. The restaurants receive mixed reviews, with most leaning toward the expensive but mediocre in terms of satisfaction.

There's not a bad vantage point anywhere at the Westin, whether you're gazing out to the leafy courtyard or down an orange-tile, brightly painted corridor lined with Mexican art. In the spacious, balconied rooms concrete-and-stone floors massage bare feet, and top-of-the-line mattresses with soft duvets make for heavenly siestas. Guest quarters above the sixth floor have ocean views; those below face the 600 palm trees surrounding four beautiful pools.

This relatively new contemporary-style boutique hotel is just a few minutes away from the zócalo in the city center, and while it's expensive, the quality of accommodations is high even if some of the rooms are small. The 15 rooms, each designed around a particular Oaxacan textile, are bright and clean, and situated around a series of courtyards. The restaurant is excellent and produces innovative flavors, particularly for breakfast, which can be served on the main patio. The sound of the fountains trickling and the view of azure sky make the experience a memorable one. For all-around quality of experience, the design, restaurant, and service make this one of the best places to stay in the city. The only downside here is that children under 12 are not accepted, meaning the hotel is not suitable for families.

On wild Punta Piedra (Rock Point), Zamas has small, rustic cabanas—with palapa roofs and ocean views as far as the eye can see—jungle-side rooms overlooking a garden, palapas facing a coconut grove strung with colorful hammocks, and two spacious private houses that sleep up to 11. Comfortable beds, tile bathrooms, beautiful murals, and bright Mexican colors make them a chic-bohemian alternative for budget travelers. Committed to sustainability, Zamas provides biodegradable bath products, runs on solar power, has a gray-water system, and employs local staff. The restaurant, known for its powerful margaritas, has an eclectic Italian-Mexican-Yucatecan menu, romantic views of the coast, live music five times a week during high season, and tasty portobello jerky. Ping-Pong, foosball, a selection of paperbacks, two small cenotes, several shops featuring local handicrafts and women's wear, and a dive shop round out the property. If you're looking for off-the-beaten-track activity suggestions, the owners are a wealth of information.

What began as a hilltop home has slowly become an amalgam of unusual, rustic, but luxurious suites with indoor and outdoor living spaces. The higher up your room, the more beautiful the view of Sayulita's coast. The trade-off for such beauty? A long walk up a seemingly endless staircase and the dearth of room phones make contacting the front desk frustrating. Accommodations, managed by different owners, range from basic to honeymoon suites with terraces and plunge pools. Details like recessed color-glass light fixtures, Talavera sinks in bathrooms, brick ceilings, wrought-iron table lamps, art in wall niches, and colorful cement floors add a lot of class. The property overlooks a rocky cove where you can fish from shore; a beautiful sandy beach is a few minutes' walk. The staff lends out kayaks, boogie boards, and snorkeling gear.