Casa Caribe Cancun

I wouldn't book here again because of the awful smelling, salty tap water. I couldn't shower during my whole stay of five days, and even brushing my teeth each morning was hard. I first thought the limestone meant Cancun water was like that everywhere, but other places I stayed were fine. The building is old, and the pipes really need maintenance. The location is right by the beach, though there's only a beach view and no real access. The platform is raised with no steps up or down. There's a tiny pool in the backyard beside the beach and a small, overpriced restaurant. Nearby, there's no grocery store or pharmacy. A 7-Eleven is within walking distance, and there's an Oxxo at the ferry point. I got groceries from Soriana. I saw mostly local Spanish-speaking people from other parts of Mexico during my stay, and just one American family over a weekend. I booked a one-bedroom with a kitchen at the last minute after seeing its seven-star Hotels.com rating. At about $55 USD a night, it wasn't cheap, and was about the same as other Airbnbs. On Isla Mujeres I'd paid a similar amount for much better amenities and location. The staff were okay and moved me to a balcony room with a beach view. The bed and AC were comfortable, and the fridge, AC, and TV worked fine. One friendly man at reception lent me a couple of old, worn utensils for cooking. There were only two plates and two cups on the table, and the very old stove had to be lit with matches. I managed to cook after buying water at the nearby 7-Eleven. The manager, a woman, was often absent and didn't speak any English. Other staff also struggled with English, so I had to use Google Translate many times. When I asked to extend checkout by two hours, the cleaning lady, who spoke better English than the staff and manager, decided what I had to pay. TotalPlay Wi-Fi went out in the early morning during my five days there and didn't return until 11 AM. Since I was working, I asked the same receptionist to let me use his office Wi-Fi for a couple of hours. There was also one brief power cut, about ten seconds. The paid airport shuttle advertised online wasn't available. This might suit people traveling on a budget who just need somewhere to sleep and don't mind the water or the old building.

The mattress was comfortable and the room had plenty of space, almost like a mini apartment. Everything else made this the worst hotel experience of my life. The place felt run down, with old rooms that need renovating and didn't feel clean. It seemed like nobody knew how to run a hotel, and there was no care for the space or the guests. I booked online and had a confirmation, and the money had left my account, but reception tried to charge me again. We had also agreed on a late checkout, then they wanted more money in the morning. The service was awful. There was no airport shuttle as the booking page said, the restaurant was very bad, and the pool shower was dirty. The beachfront wasn't accessible, and what you see is a harbor view. I asked for help with my luggage, but nobody seemed interested, so they asked another hotel guest to help me. Salvatore, who sells tours and doesn't even work at reception, was the only person who helped me through the process. Without him, I would have lost my mind. For this price, there are so many nicer places in Cancun, and the area isn't recommended if you're visiting Cancun. I'd never stay here again.

The staff were so kind and did everything they could to make us feel welcome. The hotel is gorgeous, with beautiful decor, a pool, a gazebo out on the water, and access to a mini-beach. There are delicious restaurants and street food nearby, a few grocery stores a short walk away, and the ferry is right next door. Our room was spacious, with a little kitchenette and a beautiful view. It's sparsely furnished and a bit worn, but clean and had what we needed. We'd absolutely stay again.

I stayed two nights, and it felt safe, quiet, and fairly clean. It's right beside the piers where boats leave for the island. The place has seen better days and could be improved easily with some paint or decor. The owner seemed to be trying hard, almost as if he worked around the clock, seven days a week.