2 Best Hotels in Cuernavaca, Side Trips from Mexico City

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.

An American expat opened this hacienda-style hotel in the 1950s, and it remains one of the most exclusive lodgings in Cuernavaca, even though its somewhat stodgy personality doesn't appeal to every taste, especially younger travelers. The ample rooms are outfitted with traditional fireplaces, hand-carved bedsteads, hand-painted tiles in the bathrooms, and gilded crafts. The restaurant, with its spectacular open-air terraces and garden inhabited by flamingos, peacocks, parrots, and African cranes, is a wonderful place to spend an afternoon enjoying a leisurely meal. Again, though, the very traditional food is less a reason to dine here than the chance to soak up the splendid scenery.