Hotels in Cancún, Mexico

Best places to stay in Cancun

If you have never been to Cancun, picture a long, narrow, land mass surrounded by water, dedicated almost exclusively to tourism. One side of the street is packed with hotels, traditional resorts and massive all-inclusive resorts, while across the street are hundreds of chain restaurants, shopping centers, attractions and nightclubs. Most Cancun hotels are concentrated in just a couple of large neighborhoods, making it quite easy to choose where to stay.

Downtown Cancun (El Centro)

Downtown Cancun is a uniquely Mexican and budget-friendly locality with moderately priced hotels and several open-air markets. This area also offers a vibrant nightlife and restaurant scene. The beaches are about a 20-minute bus or taxi ride from downtown. Consider the Krystal Urban Cancun Hotel, set in a modern high-rise, just a minute’s walk from Plaza de Toro’s bullfighting arena, and less than a kilometer away from the Malecón Tajamar boardwalk. Check out the Mayan-themed Xbalamqué Cancun Downtown Hotel & Spa that features individually decorated rooms and suites, just a 5-minute drive from the Hotel Zone entrance. In the heart of downtown, you have Adhara Hacienda Cancún Hotel, a hacienda-style accommodation with colonial architecture, bright, airy rooms, and a host of complimentary extras.

Hotel Zone (Zona Hotelera)

Hotel Zone’s most prominent palm-lined street, Boulevard Kukulcan is where you will find most of the luxurious hotels, massive amenities-laden resorts and a host of up-scale shopping options. Popular beaches in this area include Playa Langosta and Playa Tortugas in the north, Playa Gaviota and Playa Chacmool in the middle of the strip, and Playa Delfines on the southeastern side. For families traveling with kids, check out the various all-inclusive beachfront properties offered by Palace Resorts or Club Med. For an uber-cool and vibrant ambience, consider the Hard-Rock Hotel Cancun or the Melia hotel, Paradisus Cancun. Indulge in ultra-luxurious, amenity-rich properties, such as The Ritz-Carlton, Cancun that features an exclusive private beach, or Le Blanc Spa Resort, an all-inclusive, adult-only property. You can also look at Hyatt Ziva Cancun that is surrounded by the glorious Caribbean Sea on 3 sides, or Grand Fiesta Americana Coral Beach Cancun located in the heart of the Hotel Zone close to popular nightlife venues. Both are luxurious, all-inclusive, beachfront properties where you can experience excellent amenities and extraordinary service.

Cheap hotels in Cancun

With over 150 hotels and resorts, Cancun caters to a wide range of budgets. For the most part, pocket-friendly properties will translate into fewer in-room amenities or fewer on-site restaurants and facilities. You will still be able to enjoy good beachfront locations and proximity to shopping, dining and entertainment. Check out the casual, all-inclusive, beachfront property of Hotel Imperial Las Perlas on Las Perlas Beach, just 10 minutes from Downtown Cancun. Midway between downtown and the Hotel Zone, you have the family-friendly Dos Playas Beach House Hotel by Faranda. In the heart of the Hotel Zone, consider the more compact, beachfront hotels such as Flamingo Cancun Resort or Holiday Inn Cancun Arenas. For absolute rock-bottom rates, especially for young students on a back-packing trip, stay in Hostel Ka’beh, a Hola Hostels property in Downtown Cancun.