Hotels in Mexico

Watching the sun rise over the sea, looking out over the city from a high-rise in downtown Mexico City, or hunkering down in a cosy cabaña (cabin) on a mountain in the heart of the country’s silver mining region – whatever you’re after, hotels in Mexico are likely to offer it.

The nation’s “mi casa es tu casa” (“my house is your house”) mentality translates exceedingly well to the hospitality industry, and you’ll also find your money goes a remarkably long way.

American students on spring break have a reputation for knowing how to have a good time, so it comes as no surprise that the best Mexico beach resorts are a firm favourite with the college crowd.

Travel outside of the peak spring break season (one to two weeks in March/April) and you’ll see how cheap Mexico can really get.

Stunning beachside resorts line the verdant hills that topple into the Pacific Ocean at Puerto Vallarta. This classy old resort has the tradition to match the splendour, not to mention some of Mexico’s best nightclubs.

For even more of a party vibe and some of the cheapest accommodation in Mexico, head to Cancun. Stretching along vast ribbons of golden sand on the fascinating Yucatán Peninsula, this area is renowned for a host of beach resorts, including Playa del Carmen and the diving haven of Isla Mujeres.

The Yucatán Peninsula is also home to some of Native America’s most iconic sites. Chichén Itzá is considered a modern wonder of the world, and there’s a romantic beauty to Palenque, where the tips of stone temples jut out from the forest canopy.

Surprisingly, hotels in these areas are among some of the cheapest in Mexico. More often than not, they’re small and cosy, and ideal bases from which to explore the country’s wilderness.

Revel in the grandeur of Hispanic architecture in one of the hotels around Mexico City’s central Zócalo Square, which often feature ornate Art-Deco facades and airy interiors.

You might not expect prices here to be cheap by Mexico standards, but there are a surprising number of hotels with tariffs that’ll make you smile, thanks to stiff local competition.

Mexico’s second city, Guadalajara, sits in the heart of the country’s beer and tequila producing region. The pleasant city centre is renowned for its Orozco murals and old cathedral, and the same old school glamour can be found here too.

You can take things to the next level by checking into a five-star hotel in Mexico in resorts such as Cancun, the Mayan Riviera and Los Cabos. Many of downtown Mexico City’s top hotels also have world-class restaurants to boot.

Up in the mountains, Mexico’s silver-mining industry was a lucrative business for the Spanish crown. The result is a series of elegant towns with fine architecture, pleasant climates and fancy old hotels.

Guanajuato is chic and sophisticated, and the hotels reflect that. Zacatecas and San Luis Potosi are larger and attract a good range of travellers looking for nightlife as well as culture.