Where to stay in Cancun – the 13 best hotels for any budget

If you are planning your trip and you are undecided on where to stay in Cancun, this post is for you. I will share the best hotels for different budgets and different areas in Cancun to make it easy for you to decide what’s the best one for your needs and desires.

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I bet you feel overwhelmed by the long list of hotels and homes to choose from, I hear you.

In Cancun, there are about 300 hotels if you count the small ones and the bed and breakfast downtown. 

In this post, I will give you my top favorite hotels for each area in Cancun, the fancy hotel zone, the less fancy Down Town, besides the new development of Playa Mujeres.

There are many types of hotels to choose from, depending on what kind of vacation you are planning to have. A romantic experience, a friend getaway, a party weekend, or a family gathering.

I will tell you all about it and at the end of this article,  you will have a better idea of where to stay in Cancun and you will be ready to book your stay. Before that, though, make sure you check out my guide on the best time to visit Cancun to make sure you pick the right time to visit for your needs. I have also compiled a long list of the best Cancun restaurants that you will want to try for sure.

Insider tip: if you want to save some bucks, you should stay away from the hotels in the hotel zone which tend to be quite expensive. Keep in mind that there are many amazing public beaches in Cancun which allow you to enjoy the sand even though you are staying in the more affordable downtown.

Cancun Hotel Zone – Adult only All-inclusive Cancun hotels

The Hotel Zone stretches out for 26 Km along the beach and on the Av. Kukulkan. This is where the top all-inclusive hotels are located but also the spectacular beach that made Cancun one of the top beach destinations in the world. In the hotel zone, you can also find amazing nightclubs for your night entertainment, restaurants, and the luxury mall Plaza la Isla.

Live Aqua Beach Resort Cancun 

Located on one of the best stretches of beach of Cancun, Playa Marlin, and right opposite to the luxury mall La Isla, Live Aqua Beach Resort is one of the top All-inclusive Adult only Luxury hotels in Cancun. Besides the elegant spacious accommodations facing the turquoise ocean, the hotel offers world-class cuisine in its multiple restaurant choices and a personalized exceptional service.

The Aqua’s extensive spa offers hydrotherapy treatments, massage, and aromatherapy. There are also hot tubs and steam baths. There is a gym available, while yoga classes are also available.

Check rates & availability:  Booking.com I Agoda I Hotels.com 
Read reviews on TripAdvisor

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Le Blanc Spa Resort

One of the finest all-inclusive adult-only resorts, Le Blanc Spa is the crown jewel of the Palace Resorts brand. Guests are raving about the outstanding personalized service, the impeccable room equipped with modern and elegant furniture and exclusive amenities, the fine restaurants, and the pristine spacious beach.

Check rates & availability:  Booking.com I Agoda I Hotels.com I Le Blanc Spa Resort 
Read reviews on TripAdvisor

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Hyatt Zilara 

The most affordable and yet luxury all-inclusive Adult only resort in Cancun, Hyatt Zilara is part of the well renowned Playa resorts group, a guarantee of quality and high standard of service.

This relatively new property located on the spectacular Cancun beach will not disappoint you either. A little less pricy than the other hereby mentioned resorts, and still a great hotel for your luxury adult-only vacation in Cancun.

Check rates & availability:  Booking.com I Agoda I Hotels.com 
Read reviews on TripAdvisor

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Secrets TheVine 

The AAA Four Diamond Secrets TheVine Cancun Resort & Spa is a  stylish property featuring 6 restaurants, 3an outdoor swimming pools, and a spa.

I had the fortune to spend 4 nights in this amazing hotel as an internal auditor, and my favorite parts of my stay were the spacious room with a modern decor and an open shower and the amazing life-changing spa treatments

 All rooms offer sea views.

Now The Vine has developed a free connectivity app exclusively for its guests. With this app, guests can make unlimited free phone calls and send free messages around the globe from their own mobiles and tablets.

Check rates & availability:  Booking.com I Agoda I Hotels.com
Read reviews on TripAdvisor

Cancun Hotel Zone: family resorts

Hyatt Ziva 

I have to admit that although I am not a big fan of All-Inclusive I reckon that there are brands that are able to make the all-inclusive a very exclusive experience (pun intended) HYATT resorts is one of them.

I know the brand as I have stayed in one of their resort in Jamaica when they opened and it was impeccable, in service, culinary choices, and quality of the room and amenities.

I know they keep their standard throughout their resorts especially the new ones, like the ones in Cancun. Another thing I like about  Hyatt is that they keep separated the family resort suitable for kids from the adults’ resort, suitable for couples and adults alike in search of peace and tranquillity.

In this way, they can differentiate the services that they offer and specifically aim to satisfy their audience in a better way, almost personalizing the service.

Therefore if you have kids you can choose the HYATT ZIVA, which is actually located in Punta Cancun, 5 minutes walk to the night entertainments, but still far from the noise of the main road, so you can enjoy peace and tranquillity on one of the best stretch of beaches of Cancun.

Check rates & availability: Booking.com I Agoda I Hotels.com

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Fiesta Americana Condesa 

This family-friendly resort offers an over-the-top service to make the entire family feel at home. The new spa is known as one of the best in Cancun to pumper the adults while the kids are well entertained in the Kids club.

Check rates & availability:  Booking.com I Agoda I Hotel.com

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Cancun Down Town Area Hotels 

The downtown area in Cancun revolves around Avenida Tulum, where the Plaza Las Americas mall is, so popular among locals and tourists alike, and located right in front of the Malecon, a promenade by the Nichupte Lagoon where people gather for exercising in the morning or evening when the temperature lowers.

Downtown Cancun is also where you can check out the colorful Mercado 28 for souvenirs shopping and Mercado 23 where locals do their errands.

Avenida Nader is the new cool, where you would want to go for the best restaurants in Cancun and bars and coffee shops.

From there, you are only a few km from the Cancun beach zone through the Avenida Kukulkan, where buses run daily every few minutes.

Hotel Kavia 

Strategically located right behind the Avenida Tulum, the main close to the colorful Mercado 28 and the ADO bus station, this convenient hotel offers decent modern rooms for a modest price. Perfect for the laidback travelers who prefer to live like a local and are budget conscious but still love comfort.

Check rates & availability:  Booking.com I Agoda I Hotels.com 

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Selina Down Town Cancun 

Selina hotels have made a name for themselves for their artsy colorful properties, with modern design and entertainment for the young crowd. They offer a hostel type of accommodation with dormitories but also private rooms. I have stayed at the downtown Salina hotel in Cancun and I was quite impressed.

The private room was quite spacious and comfortable and the entire property walls were painted with beautiful artworks. The common area around the pool was pretty nice too although I didn’t have the time to enjoy it. 

I can totally recommend it. It’s also conveniently located at one block from the ADO bus station and to Mercado 28.

Check rates & availability:  Booking.com I Agoda I Hotels.com

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Adhara Hacienda Cancun 

Located in the heart of Cancun, at a short walk from Mercado 28, ADO bus station, and the vibrant Avenida Nader that has become the heart of the nightlife in Cancun, with fancy bars and restaurants.  The hotel provides free shuttle service to the beach along with on-site dining options a pool and many modern amenities.

Check rates & availability:  Booking.com I Agoda I Hotels.com 

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Oh! The Urban Oasis 

This modern and trendy hotel, together with its sister property Smart by Oasis Cancun offers a special place of peace and tranquillity in the chaotic downtown Cancun and at a few steps from the bus stop to the beach and hotel zone. The spacious modern rooms also make it a great hotel for corporate stays, while the nightclub is one of the top venues for a night out in Cancun.

Check rates & availability:  Agoda I Hotels.com

Cancun Luxury Hotels in Playa Mujeres

Playa Mujeres or also called Costa Mujeres is a new development where many popular brands have built a new addition to their All-inclusive fleet. It’s a secluded area on the northern coast of Cancun.

Here you will find the top luxury all-inclusive properties new and with the most modern amenities.

This location is recommendable only for those who are not interested to go out every day and exploring, as it’s quite far away from everything else.

Secrets Playa Mujeres Golf & Spa Resort All Inclusive – Adults Only 

Tucked away from the busy Cancun city center, this Secret playa offers an array of activities to its guests to keep them busy from morning to night for their entire holiday. Not to mention that Secrets Playa Mujeres guests have also access to the sister property Dreams, a family hotel of the same company, offering great options and multiple choices. 

Among all the hotel features Secrets Playa Mujeres offers 2 outdoor pools, 4 hot tubs, and a spa and wellness center. The ultra-luxury resort is also strategically situated right next to an 18-hole, signature Greg Norman golf course.

Each suite besides a flat-screen cable TV, coffee maker, and iPod dock also boasts a spa bath, minibar, and a small seating area. Tablets are featured in all suites with complete hotel information.

You also have a dining choice among 9 fine restaurants.

Check rates & availability:  Booking.com I Agoda I Hotels.com 

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Villa del Palmar Cancun All Inclusive Beach Resort and Spa 

This great hotel at only a few miles from Punta Sam ferry to Isla Mujeres, is one of the first establishments in this area, an extended property with all the facilities to entertain their guests. The spacious rooms are more like apartments as they include a full kitchen and a dining area, besides a spacious balcony with stunning views.

A buffet breakfast is served on the terrace or in the dining room plus the hotel includes a Deli and 6 restaurants serving international food.

Check rates & availability:  Booking.com I Agoda I Hotels.com

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Majestic Elegance Costa Mujeres – All Inclusive 

Majestic Elegance is one of the finest all-inclusive resorts offering outstanding service, and a superb dining experience. The spectacular and spacious rooms are finely decorated with a modern and elegant feel and include world-class amenities.

Watersport activities and day and night entertainment are available as well.

Check rates & availability:  Booking.com I Agoda I Hotel.com 

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Choose an apartment on Airbnb

Staying in an apartment in Cancun could be another amazing alternative to a hotel.

I use Airbnb a lot during my journey because as a long-term traveler I love the comfort of being in my own home, and cooking my own meals when I am not trying local restaurants.

Also, I am attracted by the amazing houses that you can find on Airbnb.

In Cancun as well you can find any sort of place for any price and location.

The website is very user-friendly and it shows the reviews from previous clients so that you can make sure it’s the right place for you.

Otherwise use the below box to explore your apartment options in Cancun. 

First time in Cancun?

Here are my top travel tips for a quick overview!

 Top Things to do in Cancun

• Take a stroll on the immaculate Cancun beach.
• Visit the archeological site.
• Spend a day in Puerto Morelos and visit a couple of  Cenotes.
• Enjoy the countless dining options.

 Cancun Travel Tips

• November to April is the best time of the year to visit Cancun because it’s a less humid and lower chance of rain, while September and October are the rainiest months. However, I wouldn’t really bother. You never know with the weather.

• You can pay with credit cards almost everywhere, but it’s better to travel with some local cash to pay in markets or street vendors.

• Make sure you book your transfer before your arrival in Cancun or check the ADO bus schedule.

• Cancun is a great destination either for family, couples, or solo travelers. There’s everything for every taste and budget.

• Watersport lovers will find their heaven on earth as both on the beachside or on the lagoon, there are plenty of activities to choose from, including kayaking, paddle boarding, surfing, kite surfing, jetpack, and much more.

• Don’t miss to visit the local market, Mercado 23, where real life happens.
• Cancun is still a safe city to travel to, despite some recent facts, but you still need to use common sense.

• If you feel safer with organized tours, check out these Cancun tours that will take you around exploring this amazing region.

• Make sure you visit Playa del Carmen, Tulum, and take a dive or a bike ride in Cozumel

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For Further Reading

• Cabo vs Tulum: where to go on a beach vacation in Mexico?
• How to visit Los Rapidos – Bacalar – the complete guide [2022]
• The Top 11 Sites to Go Snorkeling in Cozumel [2022]
• The top 11 Tulum all-inclusive resorts in 2022
• 4 Ways to Get From Tulum to Bacalar in 2022

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