Hotel Dos Playas Faranda Cancun

Jaky (Jacqueline) at the towel stand was a bright spot every day. She was warm, attentive, and always had a smile. Johan at breakfast and lunch was just as memorable: he picked up our usual juice and coffee orders by watching us come in, anticipated what we needed, and gave useful tips for getting around Cancun and places to visit. Dinner service, though, was terrible, and the staff seemed not to care. The beach was beautiful, with clear water, white sand, and no sargassum. Our room was plain and small, but clean and comfortable, recently painted, and with no visible mould. The bed felt a little too hard for me. The buffet at Iguanas Restaurant was tasty, though some repetition is normal at a resort, and breakfast and lunch were the best meals. We only tried the pools once, for about two minutes. They were very cold and looked quite dirty, with leaves, bird droppings, and other debris. The stay felt pretty standard, about what you'd expect for the price.

There was something fun to do each evening, and the food was excellent, with lots of choice and very little spicy food, which worked well for families. The hotel has three restaurants. Its location is a real plus too: it has its own beachfront and direct access to the piers where the yacht activity companies operate. The rooms show their age. You can pay extra for an upgraded, more modern option. It's an older property among newer giant resorts, but the location, meals, and atmosphere still made for a solid stay.

Over my 10 days here, I liked having several food choices: a buffet, Mexican à la carte restaurant, burger bar, pizza place, and a small Japanese bar. That kept things varied, though I wish there had been a few more meat-free options. The grounds were green and pleasant, and the room was OK for what I paid. The hotel itself was really nice, with five pools, a gym, a small play area, and access straight onto the beach.

We first had a room without a balcony that felt too small for four of us. After I asked, the receptionist did her best and moved us to a spacious room with two balconies. That helped make the stay comfortable, and thank you to everyone for that. The staff were fabulous, welcoming, attentive, helpful, and clearly worked hard to look after guests. The indoor and outdoor areas were spotless. Rooms were cleaned every day, with fresh towels and water bottles. They had AC, a fridge, TV, and safe, though they could probably use some renovation. There was plenty to keep guests busy daily, from water aerobics, zumba and pool volleyball to music shows and cooking classes. Iguana Restaurant had lots of tasty choices at breakfast, lunch, and dinner, and the dishes changed each day. The surroundings were lovely, with two pools, a beach, gym, hammocks, iguanas, and peacocks wandering around. There's a bus stop right by the hotel and a grocery shop nearby. Dos Playas Faranda had a really good vibe.