3 Best Hotels in Mérida, Yucatán and Campeche States

This restored 18th-century henequen hacienda 13 km (8 miles) from Mérida has a mix of historic and new suites—all of them spacious and understatedly elegant, with beige and taupe color schemes and a design that marries Asian minimalism with Mexican details. The restaurant serves a standard breakfast as well as French, Caribbean, and Yucatecan dishes for lunch and dinner. The spa offers innovative treatments like cacao-and-honey massages. If you want to explore beyond the property's 3 acres of manicured gardens, staffers can arrange tours to nearby sites.

Declared a historical monument and a Yucatán Heritage site, the French-style "Blue House" is notable for its extraordinary antiques, luxurious fabrics, rose-filled bouquets, and superior service. The experience begins with a cordial greeting by one of three daughters who have helped restore the casa as a family project with their parents. Individually decorated rooms named after Mérida neighborhoods surround an inner courtyard; they have outstanding beds with thick mattresses and soft duvets, as well as modern conveniences like plasma TVs, Wi-Fi, and minibars. No detail has been overlooked—from the fine china used at breakfast and the personalized leather journal left in each room to the flower petals in the whirlpool tub. Rates include airport transfers and a lovely à la carte breakfast.

Designed with romance in mind, this boutique hotel has a roses-and-chocolate theme that carries from the pink exterior through to the Belgian truffles sold in the gift shop and the chocolate soaps provided in the bathrooms. All rooms have flat-screen TVs, Bose stereos, private outdoor shower-tubs, and espresso machines; three luxury suites in a private tower have spacious terraces. Common spaces are stunning, featuring clean, modern lines with antique ceramic tiles and pops of bright color. In addition to an acclaimed restaurant, there's also a courtyard terrace, a patio terrace with views of Paseo de Montejo, and an open-air rooftop lounge that often features live jazz. The spa specializes in holistic treatments, using chocolate in many of them.