

In the endless quest for the family beach getaway that’s easy yet tasteful, designer Naina Shah combined two very different stays on the Yucatán coast: one social and polished, the other slower and more elemental.

On the southern coast of the Riviera Nayarit, Sayulita’s barefoot, bohemian beach culture and Punta Mita’s ingredient-driven food scene have been attracting surfers, chefs, and the creative crowds that tend to follow them for years.

Once known more for budget beach tourism than beauty, Mazatlán is gradually re-emerging as one of Mexico’s most interesting coastal cities.

With its faded 19th-century grandeur, laid-back Yucatecan culture, and deep-rooted food traditions, Mérida has long been a draw for creatives in search of a slower pace of life. Mexico City native Carlos Huber, who has a house there, shares his favorites.

Housed in a beautiful heritage structure—the second-oldest textile factory in Mexico—Hotel Hércules combines old-world charm with industrial chic, creating an otherworldly adaptive reuse complex that also includes a craft brewery, boutiques, and artist studios and workshops. Trisha Cole checks in.

A stylish, beach-spa getaway on the Riviera Maya that’s ideal for families, friend groups and solo travelers alike.

An easy getaway in the Riviera Nayarit, Rosewood’s newest Mexican outpost is well suited for adventure or unwinding, with design and experiences grounded in the region’s Indigenous art and healing traditions.

At Ser Casasandra, the soulful 18-room retreat on Isla Holbox with electric-blue water and easygoing vibe, the shrimp aguachile—a spicy Mexican riff on ceviche—is the house specialty.

Holbox’s OG hotel still feels like the most soulful and stylish place to stay on this laid-back—if increasingly touristed—bohemian beach haven.