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The Most Budget-Friendly Hotels to Book in Cancún

A visit to Cancún wont break the bank when you stay at one of these top budget-friendly hotels
A visit to Cancún won't break the bank when you stay at one of these top budget-friendly hotels | © Allen Brown / Alamy Stock Photo

Flashing your cash on an all-inclusive is one way to enjoy Mexico’s Yucatán Peninsula. But doing it on a budget guarantees authenticity, adventure and better accommodation options than you might have imagined. There are all sorts of ways to make the most of your Cancún adventure without breaking the bank. Eat tacos and sip tequila in no-frills bars; bus it out to jungle-cloaked Mayan temples; go swimming with dolphins in the turquoise depths for free. And you can make the belt even tighter with a stay at one of these cheap hotels in Cancún – all bookable with Culture Trip.

The Yellow Capsule, for a Japanese-style capsule experience

Hostel

Sleek futuristic pod with double bed, a safe, plug sockets and a mirror at the Yellow Capsule
Courtesy of the Yellow Capsule / Expedia

Modeled on Japan’s capsule hotels, this compact Cancún hotel is a great budget-friendly option if you’re planning to be mostly out at the area’s beaches and bars. Sleek futuristic pods with sliding doors come in singles and doubles, with foam mattresses, calming aromatherapy and basics including a safe, plug sockets, a mirror and even a micro TV. What’s more, you’re within easy reach of both the airport and downtown Cancún’s party zone.

Hotel NYX Cancún, for the beachfront location

Hotel

Blue-tiled outdoor curved swimming pool rimmed by tan lounge chairs with blue umbrellas at Hotel NYX Cancún
Courtesy of Hotel NYX Cancún / Expedia

Set overlooking the white-powder sands of Cancún’s endless beach strip, this budget-friendly resort hotel certainly doesn’t compromise on location. Unfussy good-size rooms are chic and modern, with slightly splashier options coming with lagoon- or sea-view balconies. A raft of eating and drinking options ranges from refined Italian dining to a poolside cocktail bar, or just head to the beach, flop on a lounge chair and have your refreshments brought to you.

Hotel Emporio Cancún, for the swim-up bars

Hotel

Sleek outdoor semi-circular pool with wood-roof swim-up bar, white lounge chairs and sea views at Hotel Emporio Cancún
Courtesy of Hotel Emporio Cancún / Expedia

If you’re after some real bang for your buck, check out the rates at this big beachfront hotel. It’s the trio of pools here that take center stage, particularly the frontline infinity pool that stretches almost the width of the property. Two swim-up bars also mean you can stay cool while ordering your margarita, plus a pair of sea-view restaurants make those lingering lunches and romantic dinners all the more memorable.

Hotel Adhara Cancún, for nightlife on your doorstep

Hotel

The colorful red, purple and ocher exterior of Hotel Adhara Cancún, with flags of different countries flying from the porte-cochère
Courtesy of Hotel Adhara Cancún / Expedia

Set in the heart of downtown Cancún, this colorful colonial-style hotel is strolling distance from plenty of nightlife and a short free transfer to sandy beaches. Rooms are full of traditional Mexican touches, with big US-style beds, A/C and coffee pod machines. An enclosed terrace contains a good-size pool lined with lounge chairs and palm trees, plus there’s a great-value grill restaurant serving up Mexican favorites, burgers and freshly baked bread.

Wyndham Garden Cancun Downtown, for in-room amenities

Hotel

Pleasant dining space with natural wood tables and chairs, plants and floor-to-ceiling windows at Wyndham Garden Cancun Downtown
Courtesy of Wyndham Garden Cancun Downtown / Expedia

This straightforward downtown hotel has everything you need for a comfortable, easy-on-the-wallet stay in Cancún. Rooms are streamlined and unfussy, with mini-fridges, coffee machines and microwaves to help save a few pesos on eating out. Take a dip in the outside pool or hot tub, or head to the Caribbean waters of Playa Tortugas, one of the best beaches in Cancún, only a five-minute taxi hop away.

Mayan Monkey Hostel & Bar, for socializing by the pool

Hostel

The lagoon-front outdoor plunge pool and bar on the large overwater deck at Mayan Monkey Hostel and Bar
Courtesy of Mayan Monkey Hostel and Bar / Expedia

This fun and funky lagoon-side hostel is right in the heart of Cancún’s hotel zone, just across from its glistening strip of white sand. It attracts a younger mix of backpackers, budget travelers and digital nomads with its low-cost dorms and laid-back vibe. If you prefer, you can also share a lagoon-view suite with up to three other friends. You’ll wake up to a free breakfast, too, plus regular poolside parties with DJs, live music and, of course, happy hour.

Oh! By Oasis, for a boutique feel

Hotel

The luxurious outdoor pool area with cushioned seating and lush palm trees and foliage at Oh! Cancun the Urban Oasis
Courtesy of Oh! Cancún the Urban Oasis / Expedia
The epitome of boutique on a budget, the Oh! Urban Oasis in downtown Cancún features big beds, A/C and plentiful light in its 52 en-suite bedrooms. The smart monochrome decor is upbeat and punctuated with splashes of primary colors. The vibe continues throughout: Pop-art prints and rainbow colors in the café get your day off to a good start, but the pool area is the clincher, with its relaxing daybeds and lush palms.

Beachscape Kin Ha Villas and Suites, for the Instagrammable beach

Spa Hotel

Pool area with lounge chairs, palm trees, green lawns and path to white-sand beach and aqua sea at Beachscape Kin ha Villas and Suites
Courtesy of Beachscape Kin Ha Villas and Suites / Expedia

Unlike other budget-friendly bases, Beachscape is in the heart of the hotel zone, with roomy villas, kitchen-ready suites and no-fuss rooms for sleeping off the night before. Cane furnishings nod to the Caribbean, adding character to the spotless, spare rooms, many with balconies and terraces. Throw in a restaurant-café, a generous pool for those morning laps and a spa offering massages for maximum relaxation. Meanwhile, right outside you’ll find one of the most Instagrammable beaches in Cancun, with swaying palms, soul-soothing jade waters and white sand.

Suites Malecon Cancún, for a touch of luxury

Hotel

A canopied daybed with beige cushions on a lawn outside the white building of Suites Malecon Cancún
Courtesy of Suites Malecon Cancún / Expedia

Budget travelers really do get luxury for less in these 64 hotel rooms. Spread across two mid-rise blocks, this place is part of the Americas Shopping Plaza – which means direct access to some 250 shops, restaurants, movie theaters, designer stores and supermarkets. The single-, double- or triple-bedroom apartments are functional, with views across the city on one side and the calm waters of the Nichupté Lagoon on the other. Book a room with a whirlpool tub on the balcony for extra bougie vibes while lying back and admiring the view of downtown Cancún.

This is a rewrite of an article originally by Ali Ray.
For more budget-friendly stays, check out our guide to the best hostels in Cancún, Mexico, for budget travelers, bookable on Culture Trip.

About the author

A dyed-in-the-wool Londoner now firmly rooted among the cobbled streets of old town Palma de Mallorca, left a piece of himself in Mexico some time in the last millennium and had a previous existence touring the world with a band you've probably never heard of.

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