Top 10 Mexican Resorts

For anyone with a dream of sun-drenched fun, Mexico's beaches are no longer just for the well-to-do. Today, resorts on the country's Pacific and Caribbean coasts offer something for every taste, and budget. Even during the high season (October through May), room rates at the poshest resorts can start as low as $150 per night. What's more, most Americans can make the trip to Mexico in little more than a two-hour flight. So, before making plans for an adventure south of the border, read on for Travel Channel's list of the Top 10 Mexican Beach Resorts.


1. Isla Navidad Golf Course, Marina & Resort

Location : Manzanillo, Mexico
What's Cool: Located on its own private island
Where : Apartado Postal #20, Barra de Navidad, Mexico
Phone : (52-3) 35-55050
Web site : http://www.islanavidad.com/
Rates : Starting at $250 per night

Situated on its own island between the Laguna Navidad and the Pacific Ocean, the Isla Navidad offers the best of both worlds. On the one hand, the resort is completely secluded and self-contained, making for an utterly romantic atmosphere. On the other, Isla Navidad boasts luxurious facilities, including a country club with a 27-hole, championship-par golf course, a yacht marina, three pools, tennis courts and two restaurants. To top it all off, the resort has at least 200 brands of tequila and an in-house master cigar maker, in case travelers feel the need to celebrate such a choice, tropical location.

2. Le Meridien Cancun Resort & Spa

Location: Cancun, Mexico
What's Cool: A deluxe, 15,000-square-foot spa Where: Mericaribe, S.A. de C.V., Retorno del Rey Lote 37-1, Cancun, Mexico
Phone: (52-98) 81 22 00, or toll-free (800) 225-5843
Web site: http://www.starwoodhotels.com/
Rates: Starting at $200 per night, not including spa treatments

Travelers can expect exquisite cuisine, elegant décor and a Mediterranean-style flair at the French-run Le Meridien Resort & Spa. Like its Cancun neighbors, Le Meridien offers guests the opportunity to swim in cascading pools, play a round of golf at area courses or laze around on sugary beaches. But it's Le Meridien's Spa del Mar that keeps guests coming back. Just about every treatment and facility is available at the resort's 15,000-square foot spa, including hydrotherapy, massage, facials, Swiss showers, cold plunge pools and steam rooms. It's a regular slice of the Côte d'Azur on the Caribbean.

3. La Jolla de Mismaloya

Location: Puerto Vallarta, Mexico
What's Cool: The Night of the Iguana was filmed on the site where the resort now stands.
Where: Km 11.5, Zona Hotelera Sur, Puerto Vallarta, Jalisco, Mexico
Phone: (52-3) 228-0660
Web site: http://www.barcelo.com/
Rates: All-inclusive, double room rates start at $360 per night, three-night minimum

Surrounded by the jungle, the mountains and the sea, La Jolla makes the most of its natural environment. Adventurous travelers can take part in the resort's many organized excursions, including mountain biking, kayaking, snorkeling, horseback riding and deep-sea fishing. On the premises, guests can take a dip in one of La Jolla's three pools, play tennis, shop or relax with a spa treatment. Families are also catered to at La Jolla de Mismaloya, as evidenced by a myriad of activities suitable for kids and adults.

4. Casa del Mar Golf Resort & Spa

Location: Cabo San Lucas, Mexico
What's Cool: Small resort = grand service
Where: Carretera Transpeninsular, Km. 19.5, Cabo San Lucas, B. C. S., Mexico
Phone: (52-114) 40030, 40032, 40033, or toll free (800) 221-8808
Web site: http://www.casadelmargolfandspa.com/
Rates: Starting at $200 per night

With only 31 suites and 25 guest rooms, the Casa Del Mar Golf Resort & Spa proves that less is definitely more. Travelers wishing to escape the crowds, but still enjoy a tropical-resort atmosphere, will revel in the relative calm found in the Casa del Mar's six pools, verdant gardens and first-class beauty salon and spa. And, unlike larger resorts, Casa del Mar boasts two staff members per guest, ensuring that each patron receives superb service. Other luxuries include the Robert Trent Jones golf course, on-site tennis courts and private beach access.

5. Westin Regina Puerto Vallarta

Location: Puerto Vallarta, Mexico
What's Cool: The resort is sandwiched between a marina and the ocean
Where: Paseo de la Marina Sur #205, Marina Vallarta 48321, Puerto Vallarta, Jalisco, Mexico
Phone: (52-3) 226-1100, or toll free (800) 228-3000
Web site: www.starwoodhotels.com/westin
Rates: Starting at $150 per night, three-night minimum

Carved out of a coconut plantation, the Westin Regina Puerto Vallarta is a lush paradise. From the guest rooms, which are decorated in vivid mosaics, to the 600 coconut palms clustered on the resort's 21 acres, the Westin Regina oozes Mexico. Built in 1992, the resort is one of the newest in Puerto Vallarta, but it maintains a classic charm. Golfing, boating, deep-sea fishing and scuba diving are just a few of the activities available.

6. Fairmont Acapulco Princess

Location: Acapulco, Mexico
What's Cool: Relaxing underneath the waterfalls in the resort's pools
Where: Playa Revolcadero S/N, Granjas del Marques, Acapulco, Guerrero, Mexico
Phone: (52-7) 469-1000
Web site: http://www.fairmont.com/
Rates: Starting at $150 per night

Acapulco is known for its cliff divers, its swank high rises and the Acapulco Princess. This 1,019-room mega-resort, designed to resemble an Aztec temple, lays claim to seven restaurants, seven bars, seven tennis courts, five pools, an 18-hole golf course, a shopping arcade and a recently inaugurated fitness center. What's more, in November 2001, the Princess will open a new 14,000 square-foot, state-of-the-art spa. Despite the grand surroundings, however, guest rooms are intimate. Tropical foliage, cane furniture, tasteful décor in muted tones of green and beige and private terraces with views of the Sierra Madre mountains or the Pacific Ocean create a peaceful atmosphere amid the hustle and bustle of the resort.

7. Fiesta Americana Grand Coral Beach

Location: Cancun, Mexico
What's Cool: World-class dining in the resort's La Joya restaurant
Where: Blvd. Kukulkan, Km. 9.5, Lote 6, Zona Hotelera, Cancun, Mexico
Phone: (52-98) 83 29 00 or (800) 343-7821
Web site: http://www.fiestamericana.com/
Rates: Starting at $175 per night

Awarded the coveted AAA five-diamond rating seven years in a row, the Fiesta Americana Grand Coral Beach is tops in terms of service and accommodations. Even though it's just a stroll from the non-stop entertainment along Cancun's strip, the Fiesta Americana offers its own exhaustive roster of activities, including swimming, snorkeling and jet skiing. Guests who prefer to take it easy can enjoy ocean views from any of the resort's 602 rooms, or enjoy a gourmet meal at La Joya, the first restaurant in Cancun to score a five-diamond rating from AAA.

8. Camino Real Las Hadas

Location: Manzanillo, Mexico
What's Cool: The movie 10 featuring Bo Derek was shot here.
Where: Avenida de los Ricos y Vista Hermosa, Peninsula de Santiago, Manzanillo, Mexico
Phone: (52-3) 331-01-01 or toll free (800) 722-6466
Web site: http://www.brisas.com.mx/
Rates: Starting at $215 per night

Mexico's southwest coast is home to the Camino Real Las Hadas, a resort whose beach was made famous by Bo Derek in the film 10. Luckily, Hollywood didn't spoil this magical stretch of shore, enabling Las Hadas to retain its romantic, tropical charm. Moorish-style white stucco architecture and palm-fringed walkways make Las Hadas a tropical paradise, while its private beach and marina add an understated elegance. All the guest rooms have terraces, and each of the five suites has a private plunge pool. Most spectacular is the Minaret Suite, which has unmatched views of the Mexican Riviera.

9. Westin Regina Golf & Beach Resort

Location: Los Cabos, Mexico
What's Cool: Seven hotel pools
Where: Carretera Transpeninsular 22.5, Los Cabos, Mexico
Phone: (52-114) 29000
Web site: www.starwoodhotels.com/westin Rates: Starting at $264 per night, two-night minimum

Curves are what seem to define the Westin Regina — from the enormous, shapely, terracotta building to the undulating shapes of its seven pools. When building this resort, designers tried to follow the natural contours of the coastline, creating a getaway that is in tune with land and the ocean. Guest rooms also received a local touch, and are decorated in traditional bright colors and accented with Mexican handicrafts. Not surprisingly, activities at the Westin Regina reflect a "back to nature" ethos, with swimming, snorkeling and horseback riding the most popular distractions.

10. Meliá Cabo Real Beach & Golf Resort

Location: Los Cabos, Mexico
What's Cool: Environmental features, such as an indigenous 500-year-old cactus, were incorporated into the resort's design.
Where: Carretera Transpeninsular, km. 19.5, Los Cabos, Mexico
Phone: (52-114) 400 00
Web site: http://www.solmelia.es/
Rates: Starting at $250 per night, two-night minimum

Located in the "corridor" between the towns of Cabo San Lucas and San José del Cabo, this resort is the largest beach retreat in Los Cabos, with more than 300 rooms and one of the largest hotel pools in Mexico. However, many travelers are attracted to the Meliá's greens, not its deep blue. Nearby, the "El Dorado" and the "Cabo Real," designed by Jack Nicklaus and Robert Trent Jones, respectively, offer professional-grade links, as well as phenomenal views of the Pacific Ocean.