Fodor's Expert Review Coco Hacienda

Slip through the nondescript entrance, and you'll find a charming property with a lush, sprawling garden with partly tiled pathways, lights strung up from palm trees, two inviting pools, and a spacious central palapa with whirring ceiling fans. Rooms encircle the garden, and all are large, clean, colorful, and decorated with furniture purchased secondhand from Mexican haciendas in neighboring states. Being in town instead of at the beachfront has its perks, more local color and much better prices chief among them. Plus, guests here can take advantage of a day at the beach at one of this property's sister hotels. If you're traveling with kids, ask about adjacent rooms. If you're feeling like a splurge, ask about rooms with whirlpool tubs. And if you're sensitive to noise, ask for something at the back of the property (away from the busy road out front).