WHERE TO STAY
Luxury Hotels
Casa de los Sueños, Isla Mujeres
Carretera Garrafón • (998) 877 0651 • www.casasuenos.com • $$$
This secluded lodge is located toward the southern end of Isla Mujeres. It has ten spacious rooms, a swimming pool, and oceanside terrace, all in contemporary Mexican style. It’s stunning and supremely comfortable.
Fiesta Americana Grand Coral Beach, Cancún
Blvd Kukulcán, km 9.5 • (998) 881 3200 • www.coralbeachcancunresort.com • $$$
With cascades of greenery spilling down from its many balconies, the awesomely huge Coral Beach has 602 rooms and a thick catalog of facilities, including tennis courts and its own jogging track, as well as a private beach.
Fiesta Americana, Mérida
Paseo de Montejo 451 • (999) 942 1111 • www.fiestamericana.com • $$$
Mérida’s premier hotel is modern but built in an ornate French-mansion style, with a spectacular stained-glass atrium. Rooms are spacious and well-equipped.
Hacienda Chichén, Chichén Itzá
Carretera Mérida-Puerto Juárez, km 120 • (999) 920 8407 • www.haciendachichen.com • $$$
This place is set in an old colonial hacienda next to the site of Chichén Itzá. Most of the airy rooms are in bungalows used by archaeologists in the 1920s. It’s now an award-winning eco-resort and spa, offering organic food and holistic treatments.
Hacienda Uxmal
Old Highway Merida Campeche, km 78 • (998) 887 2495 • www.mayaland.com/hacienda-uxmal • $$$
This big hotel near the Uxmal site was built in the 1950s and has colonial-style patios. The spacious, cool, and airy rooms have verandas with wooden furniture. The service is charming.
Hotel Secreto, Isla Mujeres
Playa Norte • (998) 877 1039 • www.hotelsecreto.com • $$$
Hidden away on the far side of Isla Mujeres, this small hotel is utterly quiet, even though it is located just a few minutes’ walk from the center of town. Furnished with four-poster beds, the nine suites overlook the Caribbean. The hotel has a long pool and outdoor “living room” bar.
InterContinental Presidente, Cozumel
Carretera a Chankanaab, km 6.5 • (1) 877 660 8550 • www.presidentecozumel.com • $$$
Big for Cozumel, but smallish by Cancún standards (218 rooms), this is one of the island’s longest-established hotels. It enjoys a superb location with its own marina. Diving, snorkeling, and fishing trips can be arranged, but some sections of coral reef are within easy swimming distance of the hotel’s long stretch of private, white-sand beachfront.
JW Marriott, Cancún
Blvd Kukulcán, km 14.5 • (998) 848 9600 • www.marriott.com • $$$
This large hotel in Cancún is next door to the same company’s slightly older Casa Magna. Expect state-of-the-art facilities, from the lavish health spa to the multitude of electronic accessories in the rooms.
Ritz Carlton, Cancún
Retorno del Rey 36 • (998) 881 0808 • www.ritzcarlton.com • $$$
Top of the scale for sheer luxury in Cancún, the Ritz Carlton looks like the biggest, grandest Italian Renaissance palace ever built. All 365 rooms have ocean views, balconies, or terraces, and there’s a private beach and five restaurants, plus a spa and a cookery school.
Zoëtry Villa Rolandi, Isla Mujeres
Fraccion-amiento Laguna Mar • (998) 999 2000 • www.zoetryresorts.com/mujeres • $$$
A modest-sized hotel, Zoëtry is set on the western side of Isla’s Laguna Macax, and has its own beach and boat landing stage, with superb views across to Cancún. No children under 13 are admitted – honeymoons are a specialty. Each balcony has its own Jacuzzi.
Haciendas and Hip Hotels
Hacienda Yaxcopoil, near Mérida
Yaxcopoil village • (999) 900 1193 • www.yaxcopoil.com • $$
Once one of the region’s biggest haciendas, sprawling over some 35 sq miles (90 sq km), Yaxcopoil is an atmospheric place to spend the night. There is a casa principal (main house) filled with colonial-era art and furnishings, plus a chapel, a small Mayan museum, along with a delightful guesthouse with en-suite rooms.
Casa Azul, Mérida
Calle 60, No. 343 by 35 and 37 • (999) 925 5016 • www.casaazulhotel.com • $$$
This colonial-era house, named for its rich blue hue, is an exclusive property decorated with period antiques throughout. Guests can experience luxurious amenities and the utmost privacy during their stay. Service is formal but warm.
The Diplomat Boutique Hotel, Mérida
Calle 78, No. 493A by 59 and 59A • (999) 117 2972 • www.thediplomatmerida.com • $$$
This colonial-era boutique hotel, run by Canadian expats, has four spacious suites. The original tiles and carefully selected antiques, along with the decor, create an ambience of an earlier era. Knowledgeable and warm service.
Hacienda Puerta Campeche, Campeche
C/59, No. 71 • (981) 816 7508 • www.puertacampeche.com • $$$
A set of 17th-century houses have been transformed into the area’s most original hotel. Rooms and suites have satellite TV, and the place also boasts a restaurant, lounge bar, and pool.
Hacienda San José Cholul, near Mérida
18 miles (29 km) E of Mérida • (999) 924 1333 • www.haciendasanjosecholul.com • $$$
This 17th-century estate is one of several aristocratic haciendas now converted into hotels. Rooms are spacious, with colonial-style furniture. There’s an outdoor spa and a swimming pool in the grounds.
Hacienda Santa Rosa, near Mérida
Carretera Mérida Campeche • (999) 923 1923 • www.marriott.com • $$$
Just west of the Mérida to Campeche road, is another hacienda hotel featuring 11 rooms and suites. The lofty, colonial-style rooms are gorgeous, and some come complete with their own little garden. The gourmet restaurant, bar (located in the estate’s old chapel), and pool are in perfect harmony.
Hacienda Temozón, near Uxmal
Carretera Merida-Uxmal • (999) 923 8089 • www.marriott.com • $$$
This hacienda is the most luxurious place to stay near Uxmal, 27 miles (43 km) north of the site. The 17th-century main house, terrace restaurant, and pool are spectacular.
Hacienda Uayamón, Campeche
Carretera Uayamon-China-Edzna • (981) 813 0530 • www.marriott.com • $$$
This is the most isolated of all the Plan haciendas, situated on a former henequen (sisal, used for ropemaking) plantation. The conversion has been done with style, and the swimming pool – set in a ruined, roofless building – is astonishing.
Hacienda Xcanatún, near Mérida
Xcanatún, 7 miles (12 km) N of Mérida • (999) 930 2140 • www.xcanatun.com • $$$
This lovely 18th-century hacienda, five minutes from Mérida, offers 18 suites, each with a terrace and Jacuzzi, in luxuriant gardens. There’s a terrace bar, two pools, a spa, and a superb restaurant, the Casa de Piedra, or Stone House.
Maroma Resort & Spa, Punta Maroma
Carretera Cancún-Tulum, km 51 • (998) 872 8200 • www.belmond.com • $$$
This retreat is frequented by celebrities attracted to its lush jungle and stretch of private beach. Rooms are vast, and there are three pools plus a choice of restaurants and bars. Beauty-therapy enthusiasts and honeymooners are well catered for.
Resort Hotels
Akumal Bay Beach & Wellness Resort, Akumal
Carretera Cancun-Chetumal, km 104 • (984) 875 7500 • www.akumalbayresort.com • $$$
This medium-sized resort features a large pool that snakes along beside some of the rooms. It’s a short walk from Akumal village along the beach, so those who want the convenience of staying at a resort can also get a taste of local life whenever they wish.
Barceló Maya Beach Resort, Puerto Aventuras
Carretera Chetumal Puerto Juárez, km 266 • (984) 875 1500 • www.barcelo.com • $$$
This complex is made up of four hotels – the Beach, the Caribe, the Tropical and the Colonial. They share over a mile (2 km) of beach and offer a range of on-site options at all-inclusive rates. The idea is that you “stay at one, play at four.” Highlights include a nightclub under a giant palapa plant and a luxurious beachside buffet.
Club Med Cancún
Punta Nizuc, Blvd Kukulcán, km 20 • (998) 881 8200 • www.clubmed.com • $$$
This spacious site has the typical Club Med range of sports facilities – enough even when the 456 rooms fill up – and offers youth-oriented entertainment including a techno disco.
Grand Oasis, Cancún
Blvd Kukulcán, km 16.5 • (998) 881 7000 • www.grandoasiscancunresort.com • $$$
Boasting 1,320 rooms, this hotel-resort is built on a grand scale. Three giant pyramids make up the main buildings. There are 18 restaurants and bars, and the Up & Down nightclub. The resort’s swimming pool is one of Latin America’s biggest. A vast range of water-sports and theme parties completes the picture.
Iberostar, Cozumel
San Miguel de Cozumel • (987) 872 9900 • www.iberostar.com • $$$
The 293-room Iberostar faces an especially fine beach and is well located for diving and snorkeling in the west corner of the island, near Punta Francesa. Like the Tucán, it offers a wide range of activities.
Marina and Spa El Cid Riviera Maya, Puerto Morelos
Blvd El Cid Unidad 15, Puerto Morelos • (998) 872 8999 • www.elcid.com • $$$
Set right on the ocean, this hotel combines colonial and modern architecture. Guests can go snorkeling at the Puerto Morelos National Reef Park in front of the hotel.
Moon Palace Golf & Spa Resort, near Cancún
Carretera Cancún-Chetumal, km 36.5 • (998) 881 6000 • www.moonpalacecancun.com • $$$
The biggest all-inclusive resort of them all, the Moon Palace has 2,131 luxurious rooms in beach-house style. It offers every possible activity, 14 restaurants, and a 27-hole golf course. It regularly hosts major music and theatrical acts, including Cirque Du Soleil.
Reef Resort, Playacar
Av Xaman Ha, Playacar • (984) 873 4120 • www.thereefplayacar.com • $$$
A good-value spot when compared to most places, this resort offers an all-meals-included plan. Rooms and food are relatively basic, but it has a great beach location and a fine pool. Its simple style and all inclusive meals have won it many fans.
Royal Hideaway, Playa del Carmen
Lote 6, Playacar • (984) 873 4500 • www.barcelo.com • $$$
This all-inclusive, adults-only resort prides itself on its excellent food, with a tempting choice of gourmet Spanish, Asian, and also Italian restaurants. The rooms come with ceiling fans, wicker furniture, and wood porches.
Secrets Capri Riviera Cancun, Playa del Carmen
Carretera Federal 387, km 299 • (984) 873 4880 • www.secretsresorts.com • $$$
Only a few minutes north of Playa del Carmen, this adults-only all-inclusive resort still feels secluded, owing to its setting in tropical oceanfront grounds. It has five excellent à la carte restaurants, an indulgent spa, and a beautiful beach.
Cabaña Hotels
Cabañas Costa del Sol, Punta Allen
Carretera Tulum, km 57.5 • (984) 876 9395 • $
Five beachside bungalows located inside the biosphere reserve make a brilliant base for exploring this side of the Yucatán peninsula.
Coco’s Cabañas, Punta Bete
Xcalacoco, Lte 2 • (998) 874 7056 • www.cocoscabanas.com • $
Experience exceptional service at this simple property, with six cozy bungalows. There’s a popular on-site restaurant that gets rave reviews.
Cabañas Paamul, Playa del Carmen
Carretera Federal Cancun-Tulum, km 85 • (984) 875 1053 • www.paamul.com • $$
Spacious beach rooms are set amid a campsite here; some are in a modern building, others in palm-roofed huts. There’s a bar-restaurant, and an uncrowded beach.
Genesis Retreat, Ek-Balam
Off the NE corner of the town plaza • (985) 100 4805 • www.genesisretreat.com • $$
A beautiful eco-lodge, Genesis is a lush garden set around a bio-filtered pool, with rooms tucked away in the greenery. Bird-watching trips and tours to meet the Mayan neighbors are offered. Food is sourced from a local organic farm.
Xamach Dos, Boca Paila
Beach Road, km 32 • (719) 602 9414 • www.xamachdos.com • $$
This rustic, eco-friendly property features six unique casitas (wooden cabins). Its seaside location guarantees amazing views and there is a beautiful open-air restaurant.
Cabañas María del Mar, Isla Mujeres
Av Carlos Lazo 1 • (998) 877 0179 • www.cabanasmariadelmar.com • $$$
A little island of mellow comfort just behind Isla’s Playa Norte, with the most popular bar on the beach, Buho’s, attached. There’s a main building with rooms or cabaña-bungalows; some are on the small side, but they are all attractive. Health treatments and massages are a specialty.
Eco-Paraíso Xixim, near Celestún
Calle 12 Antigua • (988) 916 2100, (55) 55 68 8246 • www.hotelxixim.com • $$$
Standing between coconut groves and a remote beach north of Celestún, this eco-retreat is best accessed by four-wheel drive. Nature and archaeological guided tours are a specialty, and all cabins have beach terraces.
Mahekal Beach, Playa del Carmen
C/38 Norte by 5th Av • US: (984) 873 0579; Canada: (1) 877 235 4452 • www.mahekalbeachresort.com • $$$
The ultimate in cabaña luxury, Mahekal has palm-roofed beach lodges with traditional Mexican fittings and five-star comforts. The penthouses in particular are superb.
Papaya Playa, Tulum
Tulum Boca Paila, km 4.5 • (1) 984 182 7389 • www.papayaplayaproject.com • $$$
This long-established cabaña hotel offers everything from a basic sand-floor cabin with a shared bathroom to private villas big enough for a family. Strung out along a wide stretch of uncrowded beach, most of the 80 cabañas have views directly onto the Caribbean Sea.
Rancho Sak Ol, Puerto Morelos
Mz 1 Lt 3, sm 3 • (998) 871 0181 • www.ranchosakol.com • $$$
Equipped with their trademark “hanging beds” – solid beds on ropes that swing – the cabins have a typical beachcomber look. The use of an open kitchen is included, and yoga is offered.
Mid-Range Hotels on the Riviera
Amaité Hotel & Spa, Isla Holbox
C/Juárez, on the beach • (984) 875 2217 • www.amaitehotelholbox.com • $$
Just two blocks from the main street, this hotel offers 15 comfortable rooms. The Mexican-style rooms are a real pleasure: the doubles and twins upstairs have balconies; the suites below have kitchenettes and terraces. There’s a great restaurant, too.
Casa Tucán, Playa del Carmen
C/4, between Av 10 and Av 15 • (984) 873 0283 • www.casatucan.de • $$
Casa Tucán seems small from the street, but with-in it is a maze of gardens, patios, and spiral staircases, leading to a shaded pool. All of the 30 rooms are cozy and colorful – some are palm-roofed cabañas; others are studios with a small kitchen. The friendly German owners offer dive packages arranged with the Yucatek Divers school.
Hotel Flamingo, Cozumel
Calle 6 N, No. 81 • (987) 872 1264 • www.hotelflamingo.com • $$
Hotel Flamingo began as a dive hotel and still offers a good range of packages for divers. Even if you’re not a scuba nut, it’s a comfortable place, with well-cared-for rooms and a bar and rooftop sundeck and lounge.
Ibis Cancún Centro, Cancún
Av Tulum s/n • (998) 272 8500 • www.ibis.com • $$
The Cancún branch of the international chain is a solid, good-value choice amid a sea of overpriced mid-range options. The en-suites are clean and comfortable, the staff are efficient, and the hotel’s downtown location is convenient for transport connections (including the airport). There is a mini-supermarket next to the hotel entrance.
Mom’s Hotel, Playa del Carmen
Av 30, by C/4 • (984) 873 0315 • $$
Texan Ricco Merkle’s long-running hotel is, as its name suggests, a welcoming home-from-home. The rooms have been going a few years but are comfortable and pretty, and there’s a tiny pool in the courtyard, plus a rooftop bar that’s a great place for meeting up with people.
Plaza Caribe, Cancún
Av Tulum 19, corner of Av Uxmal • (998) 884 1377 • www.hotelplazacaribe.com • $$
This large hotel’s main selling point is that it is right opposite the bus station in Ciudad Cancún, and so is always popular. Despite being in such a traffic-heavy area, it’s surprisingly peaceful inside, with attractive and comfortable rooms, pretty gardens, a pleasant pool, a gym, and dining on-site.
Villa Kiin, Isla Mujeres
C/Zazil-Ha, No. 129, Playa Norte • (998) 877 1024 • www.villakiin.com • $$
This villa has a variety of rooms, some of which are like separate little beach houses. All rooms are comfortable and furnished with Mexican textiles. Villa Kiin is in a delightful location, facing the placid Playa Secreto lagoon; snorkel gear is available for guests’ use.
Piedra Escondida, Tulum
Tulum Ruinas, Boca Paila Rd, km 3.5 • (984) 100 1443 • www.piedraescondida.com • $$$
Nine rooms, in two-story cabaña-style beach huts, all with decent showers and entrancing views. The restaurant serves a range of Italian and Mexican food.
Villas de Rosa Beach Resort, Akumal
Carrt. Puerto Aventuras–Akuma, km 115 • (984) 875 9020 • www.cenotes.com • $$$
Owners Nancy and Tony de Rosa are the foremost cave-diving specialists on the Riviera, and many of their guests come here to dive. The hotel is also well equipped for families.
Mid-Range Hotels Elsewhere
Casa Hamaca, Valladolid
Parque San Juan, C/49, No. 202A at C/40 • (985) 100 4272 • www.casahamaca.com • $$
This large guesthouse, with its tree-shaded garden, has a countryside feel. It offers not just comfortable beds, but also full spa services and healthy breakfasts.
Eclipse, Mérida
Calle 57, No. 491 • (999) 923 1600 • www.hoteleclipsemerida.com.mx • $$
Unlike most hotels in the city, the Eclipse is strikingly modern. Rooms are bright and breezy, and each one has a themed mural (Andy Warhol, Las Vegas, Zen, and Cinema are some styles). There’s a small swimming pool, and the location is convenient for the city’s main attractions.
Ecotel Quinta Regia, Valladolid
C/40, No. 160A, between C/27 and C/29 • (985) 856 3476 • www.ecotelquintaregia.com.mx • $$
Neo-colonial in style, this hotel combines a colorful Mexican look with modern facilities. Lush gardens are overlooked by the best rooms. There is a secluded pool, and the restaurant makes use of seasonal garden produce.
Hacienda Uxmal, Uxmal
Highway Merida Cancun, km 120 • (997) 976 2040 • www.mayaland.com • $$
This hacienda is part of a small chain of hotels located at some of the ancient Mayan sites. All are built in old-Mexican, hacienda style, complete with charming rooms and lush and well-tended gardens. The Uxmal branch offers exceptional value for money.
Hotel Baluartes, Campeche
Av 16 de Septiembre 128 • (981) 816 3911 • $$
Campeche has only a limited selection of hotels. This lofty 1970s building on the seafront is more comfortable than most. Be sure to ask for a room with a sea view to catch the magnificent sunsets over the Gulf of Mexico.
Hotel Dolores Alba, Chichén Itzá
Hwy 180, 2 miles (3 km) E of Chichén Itzá • (985) 858 1555 • www.doloresalba.com • $$
The best-value place to stay near Chichén, this roadside hotel has 40 bright and comfortable bungalow rooms, a restaurant, and two pools. Mérida has a sister hotel of the same name – don’t confuse the two when booking your stay.
Hotel El Mesón Marqués, Valladolid
C/39, No. 203, Parque Principal • (985) 856 2073 • www.mesondelmarques.com • $$
Valladolid’s classic hotel is in one of its finest old colonial houses, with rooms set around elegant patios. There’s a great restaurant and a pool.
Hotel Marionetas, Mérida
C/49, No. 516, between C/62 & C/64 • (999) 928 3377 • www.hotelmarionetas.com • $$
Once a puppet theater, the beautiful colonial building that forms the core of this hotel has rooms painted in pastel shades with rustic ceramics. The hotel has a large pool, and staff serve a delicious breakfast.
Hotel San Felipe, San Felipe
C/9, between C/14 and C/16 • (986) 862 2027 • $$
Staying near Río Lagartos used to be a problem, so this hotel is a welcome arrival. The waterside restaurant serves the catch of the day, and all the rooms have sitting areas. Ask for a lagoon-view balcony.
La Misión de Fray Diego, Mérida
C/61, No. 524, between C/64 and C/66 • (999) 924 1111 • www.lamisiondefraydiego.com • $$
This grand 17th-century former monastery has been converted with a mix of antiques and modern bathrooms, a pool, and other services. Some rooms have a Spanish-mansion air; others are a little less exciting, and prices vary accordingly.
Guesthouses and B&Bs
Amar Inn, Puerto Morelos
Av Rojo Gómez • (998) 871 0026 • www.amarinn.mx • $$
This seafront B&B has lovely views and offers its guests a delighfully rustic atmosphere. The decor is very traditional and each room has been painted a different color. The inn can arrange tours to nearby tourist spots. This is just the right place for travelers looking for a welcoming and homey spot typical of the region.
Amigo’s Hostel, Cozumel
Calle 7 Sur, No. 571, between Av 30 and 25, Centro, Cozumel • (987) 872 3868 • www.cozumelhostel.com • $$
This hostel offers two large mixed dormitories and one private room with a kitchenette and private terrace, all set around a pool and lovely garden. The place is especially suited to family groups: breakfasts are included and are served in a garden palapa or in a palm-roofed gazebo.
Casa del Maya B&B, Mérida
C/66, No. 410A, between C/45 and C/47 Centro • (1) 999 181 1880 • www.casadelmaya.com • $$
Once the home of an old Mérida family, this 19th-century house has been delightfully restored with six charming, lofty-ceilinged rooms and a casita (little house). There’s also a lovely garden and pool on the premises.Breakfast on the terrace includes home-baked cinnamon rolls.
Casa Mexilio, Mérida
C/68, No. 495, between C/59 and C/57 • (999) 928 2505 • www.casamexilio.com • $$
Set in a fine old building, the Casa Mexilio is a special guesthouse. The hallways and seven rooms have traditional furniture and antiques, including some four-poster beds, and the owners, who are Mexican-American, have added many original touches, including a magical, fern-bedecked swimming pool.
Flycatcher Inn, Santa Elena
Calle 20, off Hwy-261 • (997) 978 5350 • www.flycatcherinn.com • $$
This pretty little B&B is decorated with locally made furniture and wall hangings. The owners are very knowledgeable about the archaeological sites located nearby.
Julamis, Mérida
Calle 53, No. 475B • (999) 924 1818 • www.hoteljulamis.com • $$
Based in a charming colonial-era building, this is an award-winning, adults-only guesthouse. Each of the nine immaculate rooms has been decorated in a different style, but all are elegant and comfortable. Mini-fridges stocked with free beer, water, and soft drinks are a nice touch.
Luz en Yucatán, Mérida
C/55, No. 499, between C/58 and C/60 • (999) 924 0035 • www.luzenyucatan.com • $$
Once part of a convent, this house is now a quirky and charming urban retreat featuring a lovely pool and modern apartments at bargain prices.
Macan ché, Izamal
C/22, No. 305, between C/33 and C/35 • (988) 954 0287 • www.macanche.com • $$
Izamal is a tranquil town in any case, but the pretty walled garden, within which hides this B&B, is especially soothing. The lttle bungalows are dotted about the garden, each imaginatively decorated; one has a kitchen.
Posada Sirena, Punta Allen
Fax (984) 139 1241 • www.casasirena.com • $$
Punta Allen is about the most beachcomberish destination imaginable, and this guesthouse hits the appropriate note, with a stay-as-long-as-you-want feel from owner Serena, a real character. The four cabins each have their own kitchen and the obligatory hammocks. She can also arrange fishing and diving trips.
Tamarindo, Cozumel
Calle 4 Norte, No. 421, between 20 and 25 • (987) 872 3614 • www.tamarindobedandbreakfast.com • $$
A stylish property, with a sheltered garden, run by Mexican-French owners. Each of the five pretty rooms has its own character, there’s an open kitchen and ample breakfasts, and they have many happy clients. They also run Palapas Amaranto nearby, which offers self-contained suites ideal for families or friends.
Budget Accommodations
Albergue La Candelaria, Valladolid
C/35, No. 201F, between C/42 and C/44 • (985) 856 2267 • www.hostelvalladolidyucatan.com • $
Set in a pretty, old house, this hostel offers excellent, bright dormitory rooms, shared bathrooms, and a generous breakfast. There’s also a lounge and a hammock-strung garden for the use of guests.
El Jardin de Frida, Tulum
Av Tulum s/n Manzana • (984) 871 2816 • www.fridastulum.com • $
Frida Kahlo lives on at this colorful, budget-friendly hostel, where private rooms, suites, and dorm options are all available. Eat at the on-site restaurant or cook your own meals in the common kitchen. Free Wi-Fi, a garden, and a library are part of the offerings.
Hostel Quetzal, Cancún
Orquideas 10, Mz 14 • (998) 883 9821 • www.hostelquetzal.com • $
Centrally located, this popular hostel offers both private and dormitory-style rooms with air-conditioning, and with en-suite bathrooms. Breakfast and dinner are included in the cost and there are nightly cocktail parties.
Hotel Carmelina, Isla Mujeres
Isla Town, between Av Abasolo and Av Guerrero • (998) 877 0006 • $
This laid-back place has been welcoming budget travelers for years. Set around a big patio, its rooms are simple and cheerful. All have showers, air-conditioning, ceiling fans, and mini-fridges.
Hotel Pepita, Cozumel
Av 15A Sur, No. 120 • (987) 872 0098 • www.hotelpepitacozumel.com • $
Friendly, helpful owners make the difference in this big, popular hotel. Rooms are well cared for and have air-conditioning and small fridges. Complimentary coffee is provided.
Nómadas Hostel, Mérida
C/62, No. 433, by C/51 • (999) 924 5223 • www.nomadastravel.com • $
Challenging the cheap hotels of Mérida for value, this hostel has bright, airy dorm rooms as well as 20 private doubles. There’s also an open kitchen, a lounge space, and cheap Internet access.
Tribu Hostel, Isla Holbox
Av Pedro Joaquin Coldwell s/n • (984) 875 2507 • www.tribuhostel.com • $
One of the best hostels in the region, Tribu has well-maintained dorms and private rooms, as well as a hammock-strewn garden, roof terrace, lively bar, and kitchen for guests to use. Movie nights, barbecues, salsa dances, Spanish classes, yoga, and kite-surfing are among the many activities on offer.
Hotel Casa del Balam, Mérida
Calle 60, No. 468 • (999) 924 8844 • www.casadelbalam.com • $$
One of the oldest hotels in Mérida, Casa del Balam retains its erstwhile charm, thanks in part to its tranquil courtyard. Rooms are spacious with air-conditioning and bright decor. There’s a good on-site restaurant, and the hotel is also located near some of the major sights of Centro. Guests can enjoy a homely ambience and attentive service.
Hotel Rinconada del Convento, Izamal
Calle 33, No. 294 • (988) 954 0151 • www.hotelizamal.com • $$
Centrally located, this hotel is within walking distance of major attractions and restaurants. Rooms have minimal decor and are furnished with basic necessities, making this a good base for those who wish to go out and explore. Some rooms offer views. Guests can relax in the garden or enjoy themselves at the pool.
Popol Vuh, Playa del Carmen
C/2, between Av 5 and the beach • No air-conditioning in some rooms; no en-suite • (984) 803 2149 • www.popol-vuh.hotelsplayadelcarmen.net/en • $$
A survivor from Playa’s hippy days, clinging on to its great beach location in the face of glossier developments. Set inside two garden enclosures are simple cabañas (with or without showers), a private room, and a shared dormitory.
Posada Amor, Puerto Morelos
On the plaza • (998) 871 0033 • No air-conditioning in some rooms • posada-amor.wix.com/puertom • $$
Featuring Puerto Morelos’ best low-priced rooms, Posada Amor has a friendly feel and popular restaurant. The rooms come in a range of shapes and sizes.
PRICE CATEGORIES
For a standard, double room per night (with breakfast if included), taxes, and extra charges.
$ under $60 $$ $60–$150 $$$ Over $150