Winter Escapes: Mexico Edition

It’s that time of year when it’s summer one day and winter the next, and I start to think about where I’ll want to escape to in the depths of winter. Usually I do nothing about it, because once I start to do the research I get so annoyed with how booked up and how expensive everything is. Then it’s January and I’m really desperate, and it’s the worst time to try and find something. Since I’m probably not alone in this quandary, I decided to make a post with some places that are on my escape list. As I started doing my research, I realized that I had too many for one post, and decided to break it up into two posts focusing on different regions. Today I’ll start with Mexico, and next week I’ll do the Caribbean. I’m going to keep doing these kind of themed posts to alternate with the Black Books, because I think they’re helpful in triggering ideas, whereas Black Books are obviously very specific.—Y.E.

MEXICO

My escape list requires some kind of view of the sea, and definitely a pool in case the sea is too wavy. (I like looking at and listening to waves, but not swimming in them.) I’m only putting in places that tick the boxes of escape—not warm city destinations. There’s one tiny exception in Merida, because I love this house so much and it’s just an hour’s drive to the beach. When I was pulling this together, I used a week in late January to gauge availability and pricing, and for the most part these are all in the under $500 range—some are less than $300 and some inch above the $500 mark. There are a couple, like Esencia and the Rosewood Mayakoba, that are much more, but in general I’m staying away from the usual suspect 5-star beach resorts, because you don’t need me for that. Also, this is a wish list. I haven’t been to most of these places! But I have friends who have, and I trust them. As always, I’d love to hear your favorites if you don’t mind giving them up, and your comments/feedback on any you’ve been to.

Casona Sforza, Puerto Escondido: Ten years in the making, this new small hotel by Mexico City architect Alberto Kalach is the latest in an area on the Oaxacan coast that is becoming defined by great design.

Casa Las Tortugas, Holbox: When I was the travel editor at Cookie magazine, probably in 2005, we did a story about inexpensive beach destinations and included this little island off the Yucatan coast. Back then, nobody had heard of it, and there were only two good places to stay. Luckily it hasn’t gone the way of Tulum (which I’m not including in this list), and still feels like a discovery.

Hotel San Cristobal, Todos Santos: Liz Lambert who creates some of the coolest properties (Hotel Saint Cecilia in Austin!) opened this up in 2017.

Hotel Escondido, Puerto Escondido

Verana, Yelapa

Hacienda Los Olivos. Todos Santos: Our friend Kate wrote about this rental in an early issue of Yolo—it’s a lovely property at a great price.

La Tropical, Merida: Please don’t book this before I do!

Cala de Mar, Ixtapa: Really great value—our friend who lives in Mexico City suggested it. All rooms have an ocean view, the food is really great, excellent massages, and even a sweat lodge.

Cangrejo y Toro, Troncones: I’m a fan of the Welcome Beyond rental site, and this property is fantastic.

The White Lodge, East Cape of Baja: A new spot on the east side of Baja, just an hour and a half up the coast from the Cabo airport.

Hotel Esencia, Akumal: A little piece of heaven 30 minutes north of Tulum.

Rosewood Mayakoba: I recommend this to families with younger kids. If you get a laguna one bedroom that has a pull-out couch in the other room, it sleeps four. They have a plunge pool which is kind of all you need to keep them occupied when you’re back in the room—and I actually love looking at the mangroves here (more than the sea) as it’s incredibly peaceful. The food is great, the kids club is genius—right by the pool and the beach—so you can pull them out to eat lunch with them, or if they’re having a meltdown, you’re super close. It’s also a nonstop flight (Cancun) from many cities.