Since the implementation of Mexico's strict General Law for Tobacco Control in January 2023, smoking in public places—including all hotel "public areas"—is technically banned. This means that at almost every resort in Mexico in 2026, you cannot smoke on the beach, by the pool, at outdoor restaurants, or even on your private room balcony. However, most major resorts have created Designated Smoking Areas (DSAs) that are tucked away from common areas to accommodate guests. For example, resorts like Secrets, Dreams, and Hard Rock Hotel in the Riviera Maya typically have a specific "smoking lounge" or a designated section of the parking lot/garden area where smoking is permitted. Some smaller, boutique "adults-only" properties are occasionally more lenient, but the federal law is strict, and fines for the hotel can be massive. If you are a smoker, it is essential to ask the front desk upon arrival for a map of the DSAs; "stealth smoking" on a balcony is highly discouraged as most rooms are now equipped with highly sensitive smoke detectors and can lead to a cleaning fee of $250 or more.