Mexico offers a wide range of accommodations to suit every budget and preference. From luxurious beachfront resorts to charming boutique hotels to budget-friendly hostels, there is something for everyone. We travel in every style and love all different experiences.

Booking.com is my preferred booking service for the ease of use, my bookings are all in one place, ease of communications with the property, the wide abundance of properties available country-wide, and the ability to easily modify or cancel. Trip.com is another complete booking service I like. If you use travel points, then you know how those work.

All cities and towns on the GEM map: Google Maps - Web-based map have Booking.com links in those icons for ease of lodging searches. How to use the map?

Luggage Tip: every hotel will hold and store bags for you if you are arriving early or are leaving late. This is an industry standard practice worldwide. Ask about early check-ins or late check-outs.

In many smaller towns and some Pueblos Magicos online bookings may not be available. You will need to use Google Maps and search for local hotels. Often small hotels will not have a website, nor even a phone number and you must show up to get a room. The good news is even the smallest of towns have hotels these days. Always ask to see the room ahead of time and if there is hot water (agua caliente).

Electrical outlets: USA standard - 2 blade (ungrounded) or 3 blade (grounded).

Luxury Resorts:

Mexico is renowned for world-class luxury resorts, particularly in destinations such as Cancun, Costa Careyes, Huatulco, Ixtapa, Riviera Maya, Los Cabos, Punta Mita, and Puerto Vallarta. These resorts boast stunning ocean views, top-notch amenities, and impeccable services. Many of these resorts feature onsite spas, golf courses, and gourmet restaurants, ensuring a truly indulgent experience for guests.

Boutique Hotels:

For those seeking a more intimate and authentic atmosphere, Mexico's boutique hotels are the perfect choice. They often showcase local art and architecture, and provide personalized attention to guests, creating a unique and memorable stay. Many Spanish Colonial era private homes in the center of Colonial cities have been refurbished and converted to boutique hotels.

• Mexico City - Polanco & Roma Norte & La Condesa

• Colonial cities - Guadalajara, Guanajuato, Patzcuaro, Puebla, Querétaro, San Miguel de Allende, Taxco and Oaxaca,

• Pueblo Magico cities - Alamos, Bernal, Real de Catorce

• Beach towns - Cozumel, Holbox, Isla Mujeres, Todos Santos, Tulum, Puerto Escondido, Mazunte, and Sayulita.

Haciendas: A central house style of lodging on an estate. Some are historical Spanish Colonial haciendas that have been refurbished, while others are more modern built in the same style. Beautiful furnishings and spacious grounds are part of the charm. Often located in rural areas. Many have a restaurant on site. Found all over Mexico. A true Mexican retreat from a busy world.

Top Haciendas in Mexico: Hacienda Acamilpa (Acamilpa, Morelos) - Hacienda Chichen (Chichén-Itzá, Yucatán) - Hacienda Cocoyoc (Cocoyoc, Morelos) - Hacienda de Cortes (Jiutepec, Morelos) - Hacienda de Los Santos (Álamos, Sonora) - Hacienda El Carmen (El Carmen, Jalisco) - Hacienda Labor de Rivera (La Mora, Jalisco) - Hacienda Petac (Petac, Yucatán) - Hacienda Misné (Mérida, Yucatán) - Hacienda San Antonio El Puente (Xochitepec, Morelos) - Hacienda San Francisco Tzacalha (Santa Francisco Manzanilla, Yucatán) - Hacienda San Gabriel de las Palmas (San Gabriel de las Palmas, Morelos) - Hacienda San Jose Cholul (Tixkokob, Yucatán) - Hacienda San Miguel (Uayma, Yucatán) - Hacienda Santa Cruz (Mérida, Yucatán) - Hacienda Santa Rosa de Lima (Santa Rosa, Yucatan) - Hacienda Sepúlveda (Lagos de Moreno, Jalisco) - Hacienda Soltepec (Ignacio Zaragoza, Tlaxcala) - Mexico Hacienda Temozón Sur (Temozón Sur, Yucatán) - Hacienda Uayamón (Uayamón, Campeche) - Hacienda Xcanatún (Xcanatún, Yucatán)

Hacienda Info: Wiki - Britanica - World Atlas - Encyclopedia - Hacienda Images - Haciendas Mexicanas Facebook

All-Inclusive Resorts:

All-inclusive resorts are very popular in Mexico, especially for travelers looking for a worry-free vacation experience. These properties include meals, drinks, and various activities, making them convenient for families and couples alike. Many all-inclusive resorts are situated in beach destinations like Cancun, Huatulco, Mazatlan, Nuevo Vallarta, Playa del Carmen, Puerto Vallarta, Ixtapa, and Los Cabos. Be cautious of timeshare talks.

All Budgets:

Mexico caters to travelers with an wide array of lodging options. From traditional hotels, villas (holiday house), posadas (inns), cabañas (cabin), bungalows (cottage), casitas (guest house), palapa (soft sided structure), family-run bed and breakfasts to backpacker-friendly hostels & camping. Travelers can find comfortable places to stay throughout the country.

• For city and Pueblo Magico travels, I find Booking.com has the largest hotel selection in Mexico. If we are driving and need a hotel with parking, I can easily find those. If we are backpacking and traveling with buses & public transport, I focus on lodging in the center of town. Your lodging dollar goes farther in Mexico and just like restaurants, there are many of choices.

• When traveling away from cities and towns, you will find local hotels and cabañas. I locate these with Google Maps or I will show up and ask around. When in need, pay a taxi driver and follow them as they will know where to go. Even the smallest of towns, pueblos and ranchos will often have a room (cuarto, habatacion) or bed (cama) for the night, if you ask around.

• Hostel booking sites: Booking.com - Hostel World - Hostel Club

• Camping is always a great option. Along the coast, formal/informal campsites and camping palapas are plentiful. In remote areas, if you stop at a beach restaurant and start eating, they will most always allow you to camp along-side for free. Baja offers miles of wild beaches where you can camp for free or minimal cost. In the center of the country, you will need to ask around. Can I camp here? = Puedo acampar aquí ? iOverlander is a great resource to find camping for travelers and Overlanders. Camping supplies are not as plentiful as in the US, so bring what you need.

Travel Hotels:

Hand picked recommended ‘travel hotels’ are found on the GEM map: Google Maps - Web-based map. These are the edge of big cities and are quality hotels with large parking areas. Most all have secure enclosed parking and if not a nigh-time security guard. Locations and the ability to book a reservation are found in the hotel icons. These hotels are ideal if you are traveling thru or want to stay at the edge of cities and take a cab in to explore. Selections will increase over time to cover the whole country.

Love Hotels:

Love Hotels at the edge of towns and cities are key if you are traveling thru and need an easy & secure place to park for the night. Each room has it’s own attached garage. Understand there is no traditional restaurant/food available, however many have food & booze delivery. You will recognize Love Hotels with big drive-in looking opening and not much else of a traditional hotel front facade. The older ones still have a red light. With Google Maps (satellite view) you will recognize these hotels by the large parking garage blocks and drive thru loop design. No pre-booking is available, you often pay (cash pesos) thru a voice-only counter/window/portal and park in your assigned garage for the night. You pay by blocks of time (3,6,12 hr) or all night depending on how much sleep you need. What you do inside is your own business. Safe and secure.

Air BnB:

AirBnB is available all over Mexico, especially in cities. My experience has been hotels in Mexico often have more amenities, are often easier to check in / out, and have no extra fees added on. At times an AirBnB can be the best value in town. Your experiences may be different. Restaurants are abundant and part of the Mexico experience, so a kitchen is often not needed. I do use AirBnB for long-term stays or traveling with a large group, where I need multiple bedrooms. Booking.com lists apartments too, so I compare. I tend to only book with SuperHosts to guarantee a quality experience, as I have had a few poor ones. AirBnB Mexico.

Finding Long-term stays:

AirBnB has long-term stay pricing. This works for weeks or a few months. Cleaning fees apply, but usually not deposits. Talk to the owner of smaller locally-owned hotels/lodging and ask about long-term pricing too. This works for a week or two, but you will want a kitchen for longer stays. You will find many apartments with Booking.com. Connect with locals on Facebook groups for that city/area. Many have rental units, you might not find otherwise. Often to find the best deals, you need to show up and be there. Book a hotel for a few days and start by asking around and checking. You will find for rent (Se Renta) signs and rent notice boards around town too. If you are moving to a coastal tourist town or city, arrive before high-season starts to secure lodging more easily. This means be in town by October, not December. Long-term rentals can be more challenging in larger cities as these places do not have the extra rental supply to deal with seasonal tourists. Facebook groups or AirBnB long-term works best. When you are there, discuss extending your stay, if desired, and you may get a better rate. In Mexico, deals happen when you discuss face to face with an owner vs online. Always ask what’s included in the price, as sometimes electric or gas is not. Deposit refunds seem to be an issue for some as some landlords always keep deposits. Be very clear with this as your last month approaches!