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| Luxury: Private villas in rural setting by beach |
| Location: PLAYA DEL CARMEN; on stunning coastline north of town |
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| With private villas surrounded by indigenous low-growing forest, this hidden hotel has outdoor showers, private pools and tasteful interiors. The restaurant serves a fresh fusion of Mediterranean and Mexican cuisine next to the excellent beach but the real star of the show is the spa, offering an imaginative range of treatments drawing heavily from Mayan tradition that should keep even the most over-pampered spa-junkie purring. |
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| Luxury: Peaceful and private coastal hotel with character |
| Location: ISLA MUJERES; a short ferry ride from Cancun |
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| A very private and peaceful hotel. The reception area and pool terrace are decorated in deep ochre reds, bright yellows and dark blues offset by plants, paintings and interesting objects. Rooms follow the theme, with excellent yoga and meditation facilities and treatments on offer. The hotel tumbles down the steep coastline to a jetty, sundeck and thatch-roofed restaurant specialising in Asia-Mexican fusion food. |
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| Luxury: A secluded hotel with beautiful beach and facilities |
| Location: CANCUN; 45 minutes south of the city on the coast |
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| Between beach and jungle, this hotel's huge rooms and amazing facilities give it a touch of the big American resort, but the beach is renowned as one of the best in the region and it’s a sophisticated place within a protected ecological zone. An endless number of pools and restaurants, a jaw-droppingly beautiful spa and a massive range of activities and treatments make it ideal if you like your creature comforts. |
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| Luxury: Lovingly restored hacienda in the jungle |
| Location: A short drive from Merida |
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| A ruined hacienda deep in the scrubland forest of the Yucatan, now transformed into an exclusive hotel with rooms built from the former workers’ quarters, a tiny well-preserved chapel and a world-class spa within a traditional thatched house. Elsewhere on the estate the Casitas Mayas are ultra-romantic self-contained cottages with a hanging double bed, private jacuzzi pools surrounded by the garden and a large walk-through shower. |
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| Luxury: Tropical forest hideaway by picture postacard beach |
| Location: PLAYA DEL CARMEN; just north of |
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| Brand new offering from one of Asia’s foremost luxury hotel chains spread out over a vast area of mangrove complete with its own cenote (deep water sinkhole), lake and white picture-postcard-perfect beach. Suites range from huge to palatial decorated with luxurious mother of pearl mosaic tiles and travertine floors and feature private pools and gardens. The sensitively-constructed resort also has three restaurants and a high-spec spa. |
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| Mid Price: Stylish seaside hotel in the heart of town |
| Location: PLAYA DEL CARMEN; on the main shopping street |
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| Local limestone, wooden decking and floating cotton sails create the feel of the beach even though you’re in the centre of touristy Playa del Carmen. The rooftop pool is a plus, rooms are full of fun little extras and you can walk the two blocks to the sea or just relax in the hammock on your balcony before heading out for some serious retail therapy. Chic and cool, the perfect fiesta getaway. |
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| Mid Price: inventive contemporary design, excellent seafood |
| Location: PLAYA DEL CARMEN; close to the beach |
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| Basico is a witty take on contemporary Mexican culture that feels halfway between a ship and a factory with raw concrete, exposed pipework and recycled tyre floors. Every detail is amusing from the multi-functional beds to the do not disturb signs adapted from Mexico city taxis and the restaurant set up like a market vendor and serving ceviches and seafood to die for. Young and fun. |
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| Mid Price: A hidden gem on the beach |
| Location: ISLA MUJERES; near the main town and close to Cancun |
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| A modern white cubist building, Secreto would be so much more appealing were it not hemmed in by less attractive developments. Nevertheless, the hotel has received a huge amount of press coverage and there’s no doubt that the rooms are stylish with four-poster beds, crisp white linen, limestone floors and huge mirrors inside and huge day-beds on the balconies that overlook the beach, infinity pool and bar area below. |
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| Mid Price: A trendy beach hotel with character |
| Location: TULUM; an up and coming backpacker's bolthole |
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| A small but perfectly formed beachside hotel where cream walls, traditional thatched roofs and granite stone offset the youthful feel of the place. Rooms have a funky split-level design and outside there is a small but gorgeous mosaic-tiled pool and a popular restaurant. Friday nights see DJ’s and party crowd move in to try the great cocktails and recreate a little of Tulum’s once legendary beach-party reputation. |
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| Mid Price: Top notch small friendly hotel and restaurant |
| Location: OAXACA; in old centre of beautiful colonial town |
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| Exclusive and private hotel and restaurant in the centre of foodie paradise Oaxaca. With just six rooms arrayed around a pretty courtyard, this colonial building has been revamped in an elegant and understated style with a roof terrace and a pool within a private garden. Guests can buy ingredients at the local market and learn to cook Mexican style with talented chef and manager Alejandro Ruiz. |
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| Mid Price: 19th century mansion offering the feel of a colonial home |
| Location: MERIDA; on a quiet street in Yucatan capital |
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| Beautifully-restored rust-red 19th century mansion with fountain and plant-filled courtyards, lofty ceilings and four-poster beds close to the centre of pretty colonial town Merida. Rooms on the upper level share a broad gallery with seating overlooking the pristine tropical garden and clover-shaped pool. Breakfast of freshly-made bread is served on the terrace and for dinner the in-house chef prepares classic Yucatan dishes such as red snapper with achiote. |
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| Mid Price: New 20 bedroom boutique hotel - no restaurant |
| Location: PLAYA DEL CARMEN; on a quiet street |
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| Smart new hotel in central Playa with large rooms decorated in accents of deep red and orange with huge beds and walk-in showers. The courtyard swimming pool, sheltered from the street by a dramatic wall of dark volcanic stone, is a great place to cool off after a day’s shopping and although there’s no restaurant, with dozens of places to eat on your doorstep, who cares? |
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| Inexpensive: Beautiful old colonial town house hotel |
| Location: CHIAPAS; in quiet back street of traditional town |
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| This fascinating place works to support the local indigenous community so don’t expect hotel service. You get a beautiful old colonial house filled with interesting things, a private library and museum and a chance to learn more about Mexico’s vibrant culture. Only two rooms are worth a look; Trudy’s and Jatate, but falling asleep while a fire roars in the corner is an unforgettable experience. |
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| Inexpensive: Charming family-run bed and breakfast |
| Location: OAXACA; in the centre |
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| Charming family-run hotel tucked away in the centre of traditional Oaxaca with just ten rooms all decorated in a spare, considered style and finished with eclectic objects and vibrant pieces of local handicrafts. Some rooms have traditional tiled bathrooms and others have access to a balcony or courtyard. Restaurant La Olla serves classic Mexican dishes made with local organic ingredients in a rustic setting. |
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