261 Best Hotels in Mexico

This all-inclusive resort's lush 150-acre grounds are complete with palapa huts, hammocks, and a series of lavish, interconnected swimming pools that wind through palm-dotted lawns to Playa Delfines. Airy, vibrant accommodations are done up in white with a splash of turquoise to match the sea. Coral Level rooms are adult-only with premium services and access to a private pool. Guests enjoy discounted rates at the championship 18-hole golf course. For the ultimate in pampering, visit the on-site Sensation Spa. Children ages 4 to 12 are kept busy with the Star Camp children's program. There are tennis courts and a FIFA Regulation soccer field, too.

The atmosphere at this contemporary, service-oriented hotel on one of Cancún's best beaches is more conservative than at other Zona Hotelera properties, so you're likely to have a relaxed stay. Those looking for even more peace can take advantage of the quiet adults-only pool or a beachfront massage. The sleek, modern styling that starts in the swanky lobby—where you'll find a mixology bar—continues to the rooms, which have tan and olive accents.  For the best views, ask for one of the tower rooms. 

As it's beyond the strip of hotels along the highway, this sprawling property is more private, with wonderful gardens to explore, a small area with crocodiles that you can study from behind a fence, and a pleasant beach that few other than fellow guests hang out on. The hotel can arrange bike and horseback rides.

On the tip of Punta Cancún, this contemporary, 14-story hotel offers some of the Zona Hotelera's best views—west-facing rooms enjoy sunsets over the lagoon and bay, while east-facing rooms take in sunrises over Isla Mujeres and the Caribbean. Setting the stage is a dramatic, cylindrical lobby bar with a stained-glass dome. Draperies and throw pillows in burgundy, orange, or goldenrod lend a bit of personality to the otherwise neutral guest rooms, each of which has a stone floor, sitting area, flat-screen TV, and spacious balcony. Room 1122 has stunning views of the ocean and a bilevel pool divided by a waterfall. You can relax in the garden area or in one of the daybeds near the Beach House Spa.

Folk-art lovers are drawn to this "house of happy spirits" for its collection of crafts. Owned by a California artist and textile collector, the lovingly restored hacienda (circa 1700) has thick stone walls and serene, almost jungle-like grounds covered with bougainvillea and calla lilies. Hand-glazed-tile baths, fireplaces, and private terraces are standard with each room, but otherwise, all rooms are unique. Marfil is a 15-minute drive from the center of town—frequent buses are available. Taxi drivers may be unfamiliar with the hotel, so come prepared with directions.

On a quiet street several blocks from the shopping district is this bed-and-breakfast with clean and cheerful rooms overlooking a garden. Upstairs rooms have private terraces. There's an open-air reading area, and complimentary continental breakfast is served in the courtyard.

With high ceilings, arched doorways, and checkered-tile floors, the elegant accommodations in this former convent retain their colonial charm, and tasteful ecclesiastical art and other items ensure they look divine. Suites have whirlpool tubs, domed ceilings, marble pillars, and a stairway leading up to the bed. Request a room on the third floor, since some of those on the lower floors tend to be dark. A wraparound balcony overlooks an open-air courtyard, which is filled with lush greenery and a pool that's illuminated at night. Web-only promotions are often available.

Well-kept gardens framed in bougainvillea define this inviting inn. Rooms are large, with high ceilings and local crafts. Villas share a courtyard and have tile kitchenettes. The bar has jazz or Caribbean music some weekend evenings. Out in the garden restaurant strands of tiny white lights set the mood for an evening meal.

Rates are reasonable considering these small studio apartments have all the creature comforts of home: the spacious kitchens come with juicers, blenders, toasters, coffeemakers, stoves, and refrigerators, and microwaves are available upon request. Each room is configured differently, but all are bright and cheerful, with private patios. Four of the units face the long, beautiful bay and sandy beach. There's a large pool and patio facing the ocean.

This is the only hotel in Kino that's actually on the beach, making it quite a find. The rooms in the Mediterranean-style whitewashed buildings are simple, but tidy and extremely well maintained: all have views of the water. The owner is mercurial, however: to preserve the peace and quiet, he's likely to turn away young people and families with children.

Only one of the famous old iron keys and antique locks remain, but the vibe that permeates this bright-pink beachfront lodging is as special as ever. Hoteliers Lisa and Juan Martínez have carefully applied their personal touch to a place that has been a favorite with North Americans since 1957. The large, open-air living-dining-bar area has rustic walls and equipale (pigskin and wood) furnishings. Only a few rooms have balconies, but all have screened windows. There's an honor-system beer and soda bar. You'll find a real sense of community among staff and guests, around the pool and over the complimentary morning breakfast. You receive a slight discount if you opt for no air-conditioning, but you'll need it here.

Part of the trendy Grupo Habita brand, this striking hotel set in a former 19th-century water-purification plant helped put Puebla on the map with fans of design and architecture when it opened in 2008, and although it's been somewhat overshadowed by even newer and swankier properties in recent years, it's still a memorable place to spend the night without spending a fortune. Ultramodern materials were used for the building's transformation by famed architect Ricardo Legorreta; rough-hewn stone walls are paired with brushed metal and polished glass. The place has a whimsical attitude, with wonderful touches like the glass-sided rooftop pool, which you can view from the hip bar. The restaurant on the ground floor serves very good contemporary cuisine.

Though the namesake owner of this small, sharp hideaway overlooking Playa Madera passed away in 2005, the family has stayed true to the founder's high standards. Rooms have pristine white walls, tile floors, and balconies. The little suites still have wonderful sitting areas, bedrooms, mini-patios, and small dining areas (toasters, blenders, and coffeemakers available upon request).

A 10-minute walk from Tlaquepaque's center, this intimate B&B is near lots of shopping. The restored 19th-century hacienda has thick, white adobe walls, exposed-beam ceilings, and plants in huge unglazed pots. Smokers should request a room with private balcony; smoking isn't allowed anywhere inside the hotel. Room rates include a full, hot breakfast.

At this tranquil resort, 12 white-stucco buildings house spacious suites equipped with kitchens, dining areas, and living rooms that have 42-inch flat-screen TVs and pullout couches. Centering the grounds are a sundeck, large pool, and swim-up bar. Use of facilities at the spa, located at the Ocean Spa Hotel sister property, costs extra. Note, too, that only six rooms have lagoon views, and the closest beach is a 20-minute walk away.

Three of the four rooms in this restored mansion face the shore; all have high ceilings and whitewashed oak furniture. Rates include an English-style breakfast (with a continental breakfast on Sunday).

This intimate hotel north of Ensenada has rooms facing the ocean, but it's the infinity pool spilling into the sea that will take your breath away. Paying tribute to "Las Rosas," the atrium lobby has rose-color walls and mint-green railings leading to rooms on four floors. Those on the top have A-frame ceilings and the best views, but all rooms have queen beds with white duvets, flat-screen TVs, green tiled bathrooms, and small balconies facing the ocean. The pool, bar, spa, tennis court, and restaurant will likely keep you out of your room, many of which have an '80s feel that will take you back to when the hotel was in its prime.

If you like your accommodations to feel like a warm embrace, you'll love being welcomed at this hillside property, which is completely covered in color between blooming, bird-filled gardens and original wall mosaics. It's also one of the most affordable properties in Todos Santos, and owners Bryan and Sergio Jáuregui are among the friendliest faces you'll find. Every casita (which has one- to two bedrooms) has a unique layout and design, and offers the privacy and comfort of a vacation home along with the services and amenities of a boutique hotel. Overlooking the lagoon and ocean, you'll see and hear some interesting wildlife from the grounds (including whales, when in season) as well as a brilliantly starry night sky.

It’s love that launched this stunning Nordic-inspired container hotel, starting with a romance between a Finnish woman and a Mexican man who turned their marriage into a passion project that beautifully blended both cultures. The result is Lumi (“snow” in Finnish) that visually captures you even before reaching the six container cabins at the end of a dusty road. The Nordic design is impressive to say the least, with rooftop decks where homemade breakfast is served from 8 to 10 am. Across the horizon is their 9-acre vineyard and orchard where four canvas tents are perched for an affordable glamping experience. Each has "wall-to-wall" carpeting, a king-size bed, and shared bathroom. The container cabins have narrow lounge areas, small but adequate bathrooms, and either one- or two bedrooms. In true Finnish style, a sauna is available to guests. A six-person house is also available for a two-night minimum. This property is a favorite among families and pet owners who capitalize on the owners' love for babies and dogs.

Situated as it is at the eastern end of El Cuyo, LunArena offers a trade-off—on the one hand, the beach here is quiet, but, on the other hand, the location means that you'll have to walk a ways to reach other area amenities. Rooms have white plaster walls, understated furnishings, and small kitchenettes. The hotel restaurant serves breakfast and Mexican, Italian, and American favorites in the evening. The small pool is best for just a quick dip after a swim in the ocean. 

An elegant entrance, Spanish-tile floors, and hand-crafted Guadalajara furnishings greet you at this classy inn, where guest rooms have terraces, as well as sitting areas with dark hardwood furnishings and interesting local crafts. Although all rooms have been upgraded with soundproofed windows, some noise does get through those overlooking Avenida 5 rather than the garden. Breakfast is basic, but hotel offers designated parking ($12 per day) and free access to several beach clubs. Book direct for a 15% discount.

This hotel about 6 km (4 miles) north of Troncones is best suited to travelers who want seclusion; there are few neighboring hotels. But with a bar and a restaurant (that mainly serves fresh seafood and Mexican dishes), many guests feel they have everything they need on the resort grounds. Even the simple, clean bungalows feel private, as they're in palapas separated from other palapas by redbrick footpaths and well-manicured lawns.

This laid-back but sophisticated boutique hotel on a slightly busy street corner features 16 rooms that have been designed with locally crafted products. A very tasty breakfast is served on the fifth-floor terrace, and there's a wonderful wine bar, NIV, on the ground floor.

This resort overlooks the San Carlos marina and has a commanding view of Cerro Tetakawi. Pastels soften the rooms, most of which have tiny kitchenettes. Some corner rooms have hot tubs on outdoor patios at no extra cost. A shuttle takes guests to the hotel beach club, which is a great place to hang out poolside or take a walk on the beach. El Embarcadero restaurant ($–$$) is a good place to try hearty, traditional Mexican soups like the caldo Xochitl, a steaming chicken consommé with white rice and avocado, garnished with chili.

Far from the boardwalk, this small inn on the beach is a quiet, relaxing place, where the cabanas have simple concrete rooms—with private roof decks where you watch the moon rise from the sea—and the decor is a mishmash of styles with painted murals and Mexican blankets. You'll be tempted to spend much of your time outside, though, perhaps in one of the hammocks that sway under palapa umbrellas. Families might want to request Room 3, which accommodates four people. The Dutch owners are often in their small restaurant, where photos of Frida Kahlo, Pancho Villa, Emiliano Zapata, and other Mexican notables line the walls. Guests are served complimentary breakfast there; nonguests often show up between 3:30 and 8 pm to dine on specialties like the stuffed pineapple and get away from the bustle of town.

Although this hotel is uninspiring, it's quiet and well located on a posh suburban street, La Cañada. The spacious terrace is marked by a huge thatch-roofed sitting area where people meet for coffee in the morning or drinks in the afternoon. Nearby is the tree-shaded pool, which has a mosaic of a hibiscus blossom. Rooms are adequate, marred only by fluorescent lights.

Located 50 meters from the beach, this hotel offers low-key lodging in bungalows at affordable rates. Each bungalow comes with two bedrooms and a kitchenette, so you won’t miss the lack of a restaurant on the premises. All rooms include air conditioning and Wi-Fi. A long free-form swimming pool sits at the center of the property.

Once an early-19th-century apartment building, this hotel is absolutely sprawling, with courtyard upon courtyard giving way to more rooms than you imagined could exist here. There are two levels of guest rooms, all of which are done in tasteful, if somewhat bland, furnishings. The Mesón's placement on a little plaza set back from and above the street enhances its tranquil quality.

This funky inn a short block from the main square, once a convent, absolutely oozes charm, from the fresh flowers strewn throughout the cabinlike rooms to the overgrown courtyard where the exceptional breakfast buffet is served. Room 11's large terrace was built around a massive tree, lending dappled shade and giving the effect of living in a tree-house suite. Rates are discounted by about a third during the week.

Beautiful rooms in this converted 19th-century house have lovely old tile floors, beige cotton drapes covering huge windows, rag-rolled walls, and wonderful tile floors and sinks. The dining room has old-fashioned cupboards, and there are dining tables inside and out on two patios festooned with flowers and large potted plants. Second-floor rooms have views of fields and mountains to the west.