15 Best Hotels in Side Trips from Mexico City, Mexico

Set in an affluent, outlying neighborhood, this fashionable adults-only resort is set in a cloistered 1600s Spanish colonial hacienda but has been made over with a minimalist, contemporary Italian flair that extends to its chic bar and restaurant. After treating yourself to a soothing treatment (or several) in the exceptional Maikiki Spa, relax by the angular infinity pool. The staff make every effort to anticipate the needs of guests, many who come to celebrate special occasions. Although expensive, the hotel often offers significantly lower advance-purchase rates and packages that include breakfast and massage.

Set in an imaginatively updated 19th-century building with stone walls, high ceilings, and floor-to-ceiling windows, this posh and peaceful urban oasis on the edge of Centro Históric abounds with pleasing amenities, including three excellent restaurants, two bars, and a sublime spa offering Thai-style massages and body treatments. Even the standard rooms are spacious and have deep soaking tubs. The rooftop bar is a wonderful spot for cocktails at sunset, with views of Puebla's historic skyline. Some larger rooms can sleep four and are a great option for families. Valet parking is included in the rate.

Occupying a magnificently transformed pair of 17th-century buildings, one of which formerly held a ceramic-tile factory, this plush urban oasis with a rooftop pool and a soothing spa is part of Puebla's new wave of chic—and surprisingly affordable—boutique hotels. The hotel is on a beautiful street in Centro Histórico, just a block from the craft shops of colorful Sapos Alley. Artfully outfitted rooms contain plenty of modern perks, including minibars stocked with complementary beverages. There are two fantastic restaurants in the hotel, including the celebrated Salón Mezcalli. This is a sister property to the exclusive Chablé Resort & Spa, near Mérida in the Yucatan. 

Resembling an old castle, this hacienda was made famous as the backdrop for the 1955 film La Escondida. Converted into an elegant and welcoming hotel, it is a true gem seemingly in the middle of nowhere—51 km (32 miles) from Tlaxcala—but a five-minute bus ride from the hotel to the charming pueblo mágico of Huamantla. The stately restaurant ($$), watched over by two stuffed bulls, serves delicious regional fare and has a cozy fireplace to warm up the chilly winter nights. It is a hive of activity on Sunday, when people from around the area come here to lunch. Best of all, the hotel gives tours to other remote haciendas of Tlaxcala State, an eye-opener into the history of the rural region, along with other activities like hot-air ballooning and horseback rides.

Among Tepoztlán's several holistic-minded spa resorts, this centrally located boutique hotel known for its polished service and peaceful setting is one of the best, thanks to its soothing spa and first-rate restaurant, La Veladora, which is worth seeking out even if you aren’t an overnight guest. Set amid carefully tended gardens, Casa Fernanda offers a dozen individually appointed rooms with sleek, uncluttered designs, slippers and robes, and top-of-the-line bath products; many have deep soaking tubs. 

This 1620 converted monastery just a short uphill stroll from Plaza Borda offers simple but pleasantly decorated rooms with traditional furnishings, but the stars of the show here are the inviting restaurant in the tree-shaded courtyard and the expansive rooftop terrace that's absolutely perfect for stargazing or taking in views of Santa Prisca's spires.

The chic, contemporary rooms in this imaginatively transformed mansion in the center of Taxco---just down the hill from Plaza Borda---are decorated with green-tile floors, high beds with plush linens, and soft lighting, and amenities include an excellent shop specializing in locally crafted silver jewelry and a fashionable restaurant and bar. With attentive and friendly service, the well-located hotel is worth the price, which is considerably higher than most of its neighbors.

Sustainably designed and located on a central street just a few blocks south of the pyramid, this hotel set in an updated Spanish colonial house offers plenty of pleasing amenities for a small property, including an all-day restaurant and a small spa offering a good variety of treatments. There are several inviting common spaces, including a patio with a fireplace and an upper terrace that's lovely for stargazing.

Wandering around the gardens and discovering cascades, fountains, abandoned pillars, and sculptures in this 16th-century former sugar mill that once belonged to the famed conquistador makes for an enchanting experience, especially at dusk. Ask for a room in the old part of the building to fully immerse yourself in the flavor of the place. Rooms have traditional Mexican furnishings and lovely patios or balconies. The restaurant is within old fort walls draped with vines—it's like dining inside a ruined castle. Facials, wraps, and massages are available in the plush spa, which also contains a cedar dry sauna.

This small, moderately priced hotel just down the hill from Santa Prisca has spacious, pleasant rooms with tile floors, colorful fabrics and curtains, and in some cases kitchenettes, but the best reasons to stay here are the superb restaurant and the outstanding views from the pool and terraces.

This fine hotel, with its sunny, cobblestone courtyard and appealing restaurant, tops the rest. Guest rooms have wood furniture and small balconies for views over the town or of the flourishing, overgrown yard with cackling turkeys. The staff will help you hire guides to the nearby waterfall or Yohualichan. The hotel is less than two blocks from the zócalo.

Centrally located and well established, this cheerful hotel has colorful rooms, a pair of lovely patio gardens, and a busy restaurant. The staff can help organize cave tours and horseback rides to the pyramids and local waterfalls.

Part of the trendy Grupo Habita brand, this striking hotel set in a former 19th-century water-purification plant helped put Puebla on the map with fans of design and architecture when it opened in 2008, and although it's been somewhat overshadowed by even newer and swankier properties in recent years, it's still a memorable place to spend the night without spending a fortune. Ultramodern materials were used for the building's transformation by famed architect Ricardo Legorreta; rough-hewn stone walls are paired with brushed metal and polished glass. The place has a whimsical attitude, with wonderful touches like the glass-sided rooftop pool, which you can view from the hip bar. The restaurant on the ground floor serves very good contemporary cuisine.

Although located on the south side of town along the main road connecting Malinalco to Chalma and beyond, this friendly and informal spa retreat is quiet and surrounded by lush gardens, lawns, and terraces with grand vistas of the countryside. The simple but spacious rooms have high ceilings, adobe brick walls, tile floors, and colorful tapestries. Guests are treated to a complimentary full breakfast in the restaurant, which also serves à la carte lunch and dinner later in the day. A favorite feature are the heated and cool plunge pools, solarium terrace, and small spa where you can book aromatherapy massage and hydromassage treatments. 

Enjoy splendid views of both the village and the pyramid as you stroll through the terraced gardens of this grand and historic hotel that has hosted numerous celebrities over the years---including Diego Rivera, Dolores Del Rio, and Gael García Bernal---and enjoys an ideal hilltop setting steps from downtown restaurants, shops, and attractions. A honeymooners' favorite, the inn is also a good place for families, with its pool table, pool, and several rooms with two beds. Most rooms have balconies and some have hot tubs---try to request one with views of the pyramid. The patio restaurant has a lovely setting, though somewhat mediocre food.