Where to Stay in Mexico

Playa Delfines, the public beach of Cancun's hotel zone. Photo via Wikimedia Commons.

Mexico has every kind of stay: Caribbean all-inclusives, colonial boutique hotels, haciendas, and budget posadas. Prices are generally good value outside the luxury resort corridors.

Resorts

The Riviera Maya and Los Cabos are all-inclusive country: compare what's actually included before booking, and check the beach situation (sargassum seaweed affects the Caribbean coast seasonally).

Adults-only properties cluster in Cancun, Playa del Carmen and Los Cabos.

Boutique and colonial hotels

Colonial cities (Oaxaca, San Miguel, Puebla, Merida) are full of converted mansions and convents turned boutique hotels: the best value-for-atmosphere stays in the country.

Hacienda hotels around Merida and in the Bajio offer estate stays with pools and grounds.

Budget

Posadas and hostels cover every tourist town; dorms in places like Tulum and Oaxaca run very cheap.

Airbnb is strong in Mexico City, Guadalajara and the beach towns, but check reviews carefully in party areas.