The Best Hotels in North America

Los Cabos

Three hotels sit on the tip of Baja California Sur. Waldorf Astoria Los Cabos Pedregal in Cabo San Lucas is reached by a private tunnel through the mountain, and whales are seen from the property. Le Blanc Spa Resort Los Cabos in San José del Cabo is adults-only and all-inclusive, with butler service, and timeshare sales pitches are made. Las Ventanas al Paraiso, also in San José del Cabo, is set along the beach with suites and several pools.

Mainland Mexico Coast

Six hotels line Mexico's mainland coasts, from Nayarit on the Pacific to the Riviera Maya. Grand Velas Riviera Nayarit in Nuevo Nayarit is all-inclusive and beachfront, and Secrets Akumal Riviera Maya in Akumal sits in jungle gardens with sargassum present. In Playa del Carmen, Grand Velas Riviera Maya has Ambassador, Zen and Grand Class sections, Rosewood Mayakoba is reached by boat through a jungle lagoon, and Secrets Maroma Beach Riviera Cancun is adults-only with six restaurants. One&Only Mandarina, in Nayarit about an hour from Puerto Vallarta, has private villas among cliffs and trees, and service and bugs are problems.

Hawaii and California

Two hotels are on Maui, both in Wailea. Four Seasons Resort Maui at Wailea in Kihei stands on Wailea Beach and has the Spago and Ferraro's restaurants. Hotel Wailea sits on a hilltop about a mile inland from the beaches, with roughly 70 suites in small villa-style buildings. Rosewood Miramar Beach in Montecito, California, is set on the Pacific with bungalow-style buildings and a spa.