Hotels in Cancún

Hotels in Cancún: prices, timing and areas

When to book a stay in Cancún for less

Cancún is cheapest in late summer. August is usually the bottom of the market, about 22 percent below the peak season, even though it can be humid and hot. December is the priciest, the winter peak, when guests escape the cold for the Caribbean and rates can run almost double those of August. Autumn, especially October, is cheap too, in the quieter window between seasons. The day of the week matters too, though in Cancún it is safer to aim for midweek than a weekend. Interestingly, for many properties good rates appear close to the date, so booking even about a week ahead can pay off, but in December and around the holidays it is better to book well in advance.

What a stay costs by property type

Cancún has a huge spread of prices, so a hostel bed in the centre and a five-star all-inclusive by the beach are worlds apart. The cheapest sleep is in hostels and simple hotels Downtown; you pay the most for all-inclusive resorts in the Hotel Zone. Below are indicative nightly rates for two people.

Where a stay is cheaper and where it costs more

The cheapest sleep is Downtown, the city centre away from the beach, where prices drop well below the average. By the ferry to Isla Mujeres, around Puerto Juarez, it is a little dearer. The Hotel Zone, the long strip by the beach along Boulevard Kukulcan, costs noticeably more, as this is where the seafront all-inclusive resorts cluster. The priciest is the luxury Costa Mujeres strip to the north. Below are indicative rates by area.

Indicative rates for a double room, from summer dates. In Cancún the gap between a quiet August and the December peak can be very large, and all-inclusive resorts price a package with meals, so check the real price for your dates in the search above.

Which stay in Cancún suits whom

• First time in Cancún. For a beach holiday the Hotel Zone is the easiest base, near Playa Delfines and Playa Tortugas. From here you have the sea at your window and most resorts along Boulevard Kukulcan.
• On a budget. Downtown is the cheapest to sleep, and a bus reaches the beach in around fifteen minutes. It is close to the Mercado 28 market and local food.
• For families. All-inclusive resorts in the Hotel Zone with pools and a beach simplify a holiday with children. It is close to the interactive aquarium and water parks.
• For couples. Adults-only resorts, such as the Haven Riviera Cancun, focus on quiet, a spa and beachfront dinners. Handy for a romantic trip.
• For all-inclusive. The beachfront strip clusters hotels with meals and drinks included, from the Riu Caribe to the Fiesta Americana Condesa. Handy when you do not want to think about meals.
• Near the airport. Properties nearer Cancún airport suit an early flight or a first night before heading on down the riviera.

Example hotels in Cancún with prices

From a cheap room Downtown to an all-inclusive resort by the beach, a few Cancún names with a from price. Just a starting point, as rates can climb noticeably in winter and around the holidays.

From prices for a double room, from summer dates. All-inclusive resorts price a package with meals, and December and the holidays can be a lot dearer, so check your exact dates in the search.

When Cancún costs more

The priciest time is winter and early spring, December to April, when the weather is dry and warm and guests from the northern hemisphere escape the cold for the Caribbean. The peak falls in December, around the holidays and New Year. In November the Cancún Jazz Festival draws crowds with seafront concerts. The kindest time for your wallet is late summer and autumn, in August and October, when prices drop despite occasional showers. It is a good window if you want the beach without winter rates.