The Most Budget-Friendly Hotels to Book in Cancún

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.