The 81-room Bahia Hotel isn't directly on the beach, but it's just a block away, and is home to a trendy, delicious restaurant, and relaxing pool area with cabanas and swim-up bar. Although more basic rooms have older tube TVs, and some rooms are more in need of an update than others, all are decorated with airy color palates, emphasizing the contrast between dark woods and white walls (including the indigenous-style stucco cubbyholes). The rest of the hotel has equally chic decor (demonstrated in details such as the dozens of ceiling-hung lanterns in the restaurant). There's a nice coffee shop on-site, too. Affordable nightly rates and free parking make it a solid value pick.

The 390-room, mid-range Royal Solaris is an affordable all-inclusive option on the beach geared toward families. This attractive time-share property (beware of sales pitches) has ample amenities, including four pools, four bars, and four restaurants, two of which are a la carte (though food, overall, is not a highlight). Rooms have traditional furnishings, mini-fridges stocked with free beer and water, and balconies -- though some are tiny. Daily activities keep the masses occupied, and while the beautiful beach is typically not swimmable, it offers tons of sandy space and loungers under thatched umbrellas. Thanks to a kids' and teens' club, nightly entertainment, dance classes, and a water park, families are the norm -- but couples can relax at the spa or adult-only pool. 

Open nearly 30 years, this locally-owned 152-room resort is one of the lowest-priced options along the Sea of Cortez in San José del Cabo. All-inclusive packages offer decent food and basic liquors with nightly entertainment, which gets lively participation from a mostly Canadian crowd. Simple rooms have balconies (all have partial ocean views) and mini-fridges, although bathrooms could stand some updates. When not using the outdoor pool with swim-up bar, guests can take long walks on the pristine beach, or hit balls on the putting green. Breakfast, lunch, and dinner are served in the Cactus Restaurant, while beachside Wahoo Taco Bar provides snacks during the day. Free parking and Wi-Fi are provided. 

Pueblo Bonito Los Cabos is a quiet resort that is mere seconds away from the lively action of downtown Cabo. This Mediterranean-inspired property looks like something that belongs on the Greek Islands, with stark white walls and spherical, blue-tiled roofs. The lobby features ornate moldings and carvings, as well as high, curved arches and black accent chandeliers. Calming colors of pale grays, beiges, and blues give the hotel a natural and tropical feel, while hand-painted details make it seem homey. The 174 rooms are a bit more kitschy than they are modern, with matching floral quilts and drapes, older TVs and built-in seating -- though the private balconies overlooking the pool and ocean are lovely. With a long freeform pool, on-site salon and market, and plenty of activities, the quaint (if not contemporary) Pueblo Bonito a good value.

Set around a flower- and tree-filled courtyard, the 14-room Casa Bella Boutique Hotel is a calm oasis within wild Cabo San Lucas; stepping inside provides Cabo-weary travelers an immediate respite. Homey, hacienda-style rooms range from simple Standard Rooms to breezy suites; all are air-conditioned and have free Wi-Fi access, but there are no TVs. Each room also comes with two free bottles of water per day, and a free continental breakfast is included in the rates. There is a small pool in the courtyard and Mexico-inspired treatments available in the one-room spa.

This laid-back, mid-range boutique hotel has just 16 suites (all with kitchenettes, some with two bedrooms), plenty of authentic Mexican charm, and a central courtyard pool. It has an inland location on the outskirts of downtown Cabo San Lucas. There is no full-service restaurant but rates include daily breakfast on the patio and several dining options are within walking distance. We encountered extremely hospitable service (hugs were common!). Taxis are readily available, but a car rental would be helpful for exploring the area. 

Travel through Los Cabos and chances are that if you tell people you're staying at the Tropicana Inn, they'll know exactly what you're talking about. The quaint 39-room hotel -- right near the town's main plaza and a short walk from dozens of galleries and cafes -- is one of San Jose del Cabo's most well-known spots. The hotel also has one of the most popular restaurants in town, with live music and dinner shows regularly in high season. Rooms are simple but pleasant, with a blend of rustic and more elegant details, though some -- like the Gardenia Suite -- are more upmarket than others. The hotel has a lovely courtyard swimming pool, swim-up bar, and romantic Cabana Troje can be booked for those celebrating special occasions. 

This mid-range all-inclusive property is on the smaller side, so guests get all of the perks of an all-inclusive in a more intimate environment. It also means guests don't get multiple food choices -- there is just one restaurant at the hotel (though guests are entitled to eat free at a few nearby restaurants as well). The real highlight is the hotel's beachfront location, within walking distance of the marina and downtown. All rooms are suites, with kitchenettes, but decor-wise they are a bit out-of-date. The bathrooms show some wear and tear, and the bedrooms feature old, small tube TVs. Although the pool has a swim-up bar, the Solmar attracts both couples and families.

This reliable, mid-range all-inclusive resort at the very end of San Jose del Cabo's Hotel Row sees a range of leisure travelers -- tequila-ordering partiers, romancing couples, and families with rambunctious children -- and the hotel has three distinct pools to cater to each type. The three pools are great to have, as the massive beach is not swimmable (as is the case for all hotels on this coast because of dangerous riptides). Still, solid property features include two modern restaurants and six bars spread out to avoid overcrowding. Though their decor is a bit bland, air-conditioned rooms have flat-screen TVs, free Wi-Fi, and balconies, and some first-floor units have hammocks. There are also tennis and basketball courts and a 24-hour fitness center.

The 12 suites at the budget-friendly San Angel hotel are set up like a small apartment complex, and overlook a central courtyard with a large Jacuzzi, well-kept grounds, and a communal grill. The hotel is often used by guests visiting the area for an extended stay, and lacks resort-like amenities such as a pool and a fitness center. But the suites are large, with up-to-date kitchens, and the hotel is (just) within walking distance of the beach and downtown Cabo. However, most guests bring a car, which can be kept in the free parking lot.

The words "luxury" and "central location" by no means belong as part of Hotel Quinta de Sol's advertising vernacular, but it is certainly one of the best deals in town, and with an all-day restaurant and a freeform pool with hot tubs, it has more to offer than most nearby budget hotels. The 72 no-frills, studio-style rooms come with kitchenettes, separate dining areas, flat-screen TVs, and bottled water. That, on top of great freebies like continental breakfast and Wi-Fi, make it an excellent value for the money. But Cabo's downtown area is a 20-minute walk; the beach is half that distance, though you have to trek a hot stretch of street to get there.

This Holiday Inn Express outpost is popular with business travelers, but also makes a budget-friendly base for vacationers looking to explore Los Cabos. On a busy highway that's a five-minute drive from downtown Cabo San Lucas, rates here are far lower than at its competitors in town. The 95 modern rooms -- with mostly spacious layouts, flat-screen TVs, and free Wi-Fi -- are a fresh (if generic) alternative to the lower-category hotels downtown. The hotel's free breakfast buffet includes rotating local options, and the rooftop pool has distant sea views. We loved the unaffiliated cafe located downstairs, and parking is free.