The DNA: NIZUC Resort & Spa is nestled on nearly 30 seaside acres in Cancún, just 10 minutes from the airport. A wealth of natural materials – local stone; mangrove, ziricote, and puce woods – and an earthy palette establish a placid tone. The hotel’s designer worked with Mexico City’s Museo Nacional de Antropología to reproduce a 16th-century convent mural, which graces one of the six restaurants, and the Mayan hieroglyphics that appear throughout the rooms, imbuing the retreat with a sense of history. The resort’s collection of amenities boasts multiple pools, a 30,000 square-foot ESPA facility with hydrotherapy rooms, as well as six restaurants. NIZUC has two white sand beaches with on-site water sports and is surrounded by archaeological sites and attractions including the world’s first Underwater Art Museum. The luxurious suites and private villas are dispersed throughout the property. Features include private pools, spacious terraces, lush tropical gardens, sweeping Caribbean views and free-standing soaking tubs.

Accolades: World’s Most Instagrammable Hotel 2020

✅ free WiFi • size matters: 274 suites (56-96m2) (635-1,033 sq ft), including 29 villas (115-304m2) (1,238-3,272 sq ft) • hotel opened: March 2013 • architecture & interior design: Alejandro Escudero ✅ free on-site parking • pets allowed on request • 24-hour front desk