Accommodation in Mexico: Safe Budget-Friendly Sleeps for Riders
- Antonia Issa
- Sep 15
- 4 min read
Updated: Sep 16
Part of the adventure when riding in Mexico happens off the bike. After a long day on the roads, you'll need to find a place to eat, shower, stretch (don't forget this part!), and sleep.
When I look for accommodation, I focus on: cost, cleanliness, walkability to food and laundry, and secure covered parking for the motorcycle.
Cost: My range runs from free (or the price of buying dinner for a friend), to about $120 USD in the US and MXN $700 in Mexico.
Cleanliness: I want to walk barefoot without contracting athlete's foot, and sleep in sheets that smell like bleach. A little old or worn is fine, I’m usually only there for 1 night, and the priority is hygiene, not luxury.
Walkability: After a day of riding, I want to be out of my gear and off the saddle! I like to be in the centre of town or a busy neighbourhood as walking helps me get to know a place, stretch out my body, and discover the best local food.
Secure covered parking: My motorcycle is an extension of me; I want to protect its well-being along with mine. If something goes wrong with my bike, it can ruin an entire trip. While I consider myself a pretty trusting person, I'm also not naive to risk.
I look for parking spaces secured by a locked gate and ideally covered. Failing that, I park as close to the main door as possible. I've also been known to ride my motorcycle right into my Airbnb (with permission, of course!).
When to book: Everyone is different. Some riders plan every night. Some plan nothing—both give me anxiety.
Too rigid an itinerary? I then don't have the flexibility to adjust to a last-minute great recommendation, an unexpected road bloqueo (blockade) or just a desire to stay an extra day.
Too loosey goosey? Hangry-me is not a happy me, and after 8+ hours of riding, I need to know I have a place to crash and refuel.
So, I like to aim for the 'Goldilocks' approach. Booking accommodation:
1 night in advance if it's a hostal (more on those later) or a hostel
2-4 days in advance, if it's a touristy area or high season
5-7 days in advance, if it's a bunk-a-biker, couchsurfing, or friends or family situation
Types of accommodation
Over the years I’ve found many options so I’ve outlined them here.
Staying with friends and friends of friends
Post your route online, and magic can happen. Ask your network if anyone is open to hosting you. I've reconnected with friends I haven't seen in years, and even stayed with friends of friends this way. As a people person, after riding alone all day, this can be rejuvenating, refilling my social battery with shared stories.
Check out communities like Bunk-a-biker or Couchsurfing
Bunk-a-biker: Strangers (who ride) host you, giving you food, a cozy place to stay, and a hot shower. Special shout-out to Zee, who started Bunk-a-biker. These stays usually require a full social battery, but are so rewarding. I've adapted my route more than a few times based upon my host's local knowledge and recommendations.
Couchsurfing: Requires more effort with sign-up online and a subscription fee. Screening hosts takes more time (especially solo as a woman), but it can be a great way to have local adventures. I've had some fabulous couchsurfing hosts in Mexico (and one terrible one!), so if you are open to the couchsurfing way, it can be a great experience.
Boondocking and wild camping ( US and Canada)
Can be fun in the US/Canada, less so in Mexico (most land is owned, and cheap rooms are everywhere). If you love sleeping outdoors on the ground, more power to you! Me? I prefer four walls, a door lock, and a shower.
Paid camping
In the US, a campsite can sometimes cost as much as a fancy hotel in Mexico. I won't linger on this point for long. But if you're chasing iconic parks or riding in high season, book months out or show up at dawn, and in Mexico, unless you camp on principle - you can probably pay for a palapa roof over your head.
Hotels & Airbnb
Google Maps hotel searches, booking sites, Airbnb, and VRBO all provide a multitude of accommodation options across the US and Mexico. Airbnb works in a pinch (full context: I was an Airbnb host for 13 years), but I tend to try it last, as it can be very inconsistent in terms of quality and amenities in Mexico.
Hostales
A hostal, not to be confused with a hostel, is a type of small hotel. Family-run, clean, cheap, and everywhere in Mexico. They are often my top choice when riding solo, and can be booked a day in advance or the morning of.
Chain hotels
Hotel chains are usually clean, affordable, and predictable in the bigger cities. Ibis has become my go-to chain (No, they don't sponsor me — though if you're reading this, I'm open to it!). Secure parking, modern rooms, and buffet breakfasts so big you can ride all day without another meal.
At the end of the day, your choice of accommodation in Mexico comes down to balance—safety for you and your bike, a fair price, and a little comfort to reset before the next ride. Whether it’s a hostal in a bustling centro, a friend-of-a-friend’s spare room, or rolling your bike right into the Airbnb living room, rest assured: Mexico has plenty of safe, budget-friendly sleeps waiting for riders.
