$185 for a Three-Night Stay for Two in a King or Double Suite, Breakfast, and Massage at the Bric Hotel in Mexico ($427 Value)

Tropical Opulence Steps from Pristine Beaches

A searing blue sky hangs over the barely swaying bougainvillea drooping picturesquely over white stucco walls as the heat of the afternoon stills everything. Pulling up to the Bric Hotel, lodgers find themselves shaded beneath fanning palms and lush greenery and absorbed by the gracious, open-air opulence for which Playa del Carmen is known.

Upon entering 1 of the 14 available king or double suites, travelers are greeted with the welcome chill of air conditioning and cool tile floors. Each high-ceilinged suite boasts an expansive shaded terrace and sunbathing area extending from the bedroom, overlooking the palm-dappled pool. One king-size bed or two double beds wrapped in soft, warm-weather linens proffer a space to collapse and take advantage of the TV or complimentary in-room WiFi between naps in the sun.

Downstairs, adventurers will find a complimentary continental breakfast, including scrambled eggs, bacon or sausage, pancakes, fresh fruit, yogurt, fresh-squeezed juice, coffee, and water, awaiting each morning. After the fuel-up, the hotel’s small, curvaceous pool sings its watery siren song, and the comfy wooden lounge chairs line up in the warmth of the Mexican sun, arrayed perfectly to lounge with a drink from the poolside bar or acquire sombrero-shaped tan lines. After splashing away the day, duos can arrange for the included two 30-minute in-room massages to melt away muscle tension.

Playa del Carmen, Mexico: White Beaches Bordering Ancient Mayan Ruins

Located in the heart of Playa del Carmen, the Bric Hotel sits steps away from Mamitas Beach Club, where spotless white sands and translucent turquoise warm waters beckon sun seekers to while away entire days surfside. Nearby, along the famous Fifth Street, a plethora of sidewalk cafés, restaurants, and handicraft boutiques quell growling stomachs and fulfill souvenir-hunting quests.

Adventurers can spend time snorkeling in exposed limestone caverns, and a nearby rescue sanctuary offers a look at frolicking spider monkeys. For a glimpse of the early civilizations of Playa del Carmen, history buffs can check out Xcaret, a replica of a Mayan village, or amble along Tulum, a pre-Colombian Mayan walled city with a cliff-side castle and temples filled with ancient art.