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Mexico seems to be increasing in popularity year after year and season after season. There’s simply no reason to stop travelers from flocking to the country’s pristine beaches and phenomenal cities.
Summer tends to see one of the biggest peaks, especially for the country’s incredible beach destinations.
Now that the chaos of spring break is over, summer is on the agenda.
We’ve rounded up the seven cheapest destinations in Mexico for a summer vacation, and here’s a hint: there definitely is not Cape!
Between 3 great cultural cities and 4 great beach spots, travelers have to make some tough decisions to get the most out of their travel budget.
To find Mexico’s cheapest summer destinations, we focused on places with affordable hotels, convenient transportation, and plenty of budget-friendly activities.
We’ve included a mix of popular beach spots and lesser-known cultural cities to give travelers diverse and exciting options without breaking the bank.
Let’s start with Mexico’s most affordable cultural cities:
Mexico City
They say bigger isn’t always better, but it might be in terms of savings. One of the largest countries in the world is also one of the most accessible in Mexico.
Considering how cheap it is to get around on the subway, you can stretch your travel budget and spend more on experiences than scam taxis and the rising Ubers.
This action-packed city never ceases to amaze travelers, which is why it is consistently one of Mexico’s most visited destinations.
It’s not hard to find a cheap, cozy Airbnb and/or incredible value at name-brand hotels, like the Sheraton Mexico City Maria Isabel Hotel, for under $100 a night.
Guanajuato
San Miguel de Allende may be the trendiest city in the state of Guanajuato, but the city of the same name is where travelers will experience the most savings.
This timeless city is easy to get to and even easier to walk if you don’t mind some hills. With its breathtaking architecture and mouth-watering cuisine, this is an unforgettable, inexpensive getaway.
Some streets are more reminiscent of Europe than you might think Real Mexico. From cheap attractions, such as the Museum of the Mummiesto lavish boutique hotels next to all the action, like Hotel San Diego with double-digit nightly rates, this historic, sunny city is budget-friendly all around.
Merida
Merida’s claim to fame is that it is the ‘safest’ city in Mexico, and the statistics back it up.
And as trendy as this city has become, it’s still not as mainstream as it probably should be.
An additional motivator for travelers to give this beautiful city a try may be how cheap it is to stay here this summer.
While it’s not technically a beach town, it’s close enough to spend time strolling historic cobblestone streets and end up along the coast at some point during your trip.
However, downtown Merida is best for budget travelers with outrageous boutique hotel rates starting from $20 per night, with perhaps the best option the acclaimed Hotel Boutique La Misión de Fray Diego for just $71.
Sun, sand, and savings:
Puerto Vallarta
Surprise, surprise. Indeed, there are some of the most sought-after destinations that are still affordable for vacationers this summer.
While Los Cabos and Cancun don’t skimp on the savings, as fun as they are to visit, Puerto Vallarta isn’t a bad fallback option when it comes to incredible beach resorts at affordable prices.
Given the abundance of flight options and the conveniently located airport, this only adds to the appeal of such an incredible place to take a trip.
Not to mention easy access to the trendy Riviera Nayarit with even more fantastic beaches to visit. Staying here is much cheaper than expected, with boutique hotels as low as $50 and beach resorts like the beachfront Sheraton Buganvilias Resort & Convention Center for $150.
Mazatlan
Mazatlan was one of the most popular places to witness the solar eclipse.
Since those tricks are now out of the way, soaring flight and hotel prices have dropped, making it a great time to plan a trip to Sinaloa’s most beloved destination.
This underrated, sunny beach town has become increasingly popular as a base, and if it’s good enough for a long-term stay, it’s definitely worth a week’s holiday.
Mazatlan has plenty of beachfront hotels to choose from without breaking the bank, including household names like Riu, DoubleTree and heck, even Holiday Inn has a beachfront resort.
These all cost $100 per night, or you can choose a boutique hotel or Airbnb for even cheaper.
Bacalar
One of the most notable destinations in Mexico is none other than the small but beautiful town of Bacalar, home to world-famous lagoons that truly seem out of this world.
This bucket list destination just got much easier to reach with new flights to Tulum, and sorry Tulum, you’re just too expensive to make this list now!
Travelers can stay here, spend the day in paradise exploring cenotes and majestic blue waters, and rest their heads at night in very affordable hotels ranging from boutique hotels like Villa Balu Hotel Boutique under $50 or more luxurious from $75 up to $300.
Acapulco
Acapulco?! Yes, Acapulco. You may be thinking: “Isn’t it dangerous?”. Well, that all depends on whether you believe this iconic beach town will stay true to its promise to make a historic comeback.
In an effort to clean up their act and attract vacationers again, the city has taken the right steps to do just that.
It may take a long time for the city to see visitor numbers near other popular beaches, but travelers should take advantage of the insanely affordable waterfront hotels now anyway.
This summer, those looking to live their best life along sunny beaches in Acapulco can stay for anywhere from $50 a night to $200, from the top-rated Monyoli Hotel & Boutique to the beachfront hotel Princess Mundo Imperial.
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This article originally appeared on TravelOffPath.com
The opinions expressed here are solely those of the author, and not those of any bank, credit card issuer, hotel, airline or other entity. This content has not been reviewed, approved, or otherwise endorsed by any of the entities included in the post.
