The Mermaid Hostel Beach - Adults Only

The staff were a big help and really tried to make everything easy and enjoyable. The room was fine, with a clean bed and bathroom, and the AC worked. I didn't get to try breakfast. It's a cheap, clean place to stay, and I'd come back if I needed somewhere like that.

Giacinto, the Italian host, was especially helpful. He sorted out any questions or problems quickly, helped me store my kite surfing gear, and gave me good restaurant suggestions. He was also great to talk with. The place is simple but very clean and has the basics for a vacation: a shower, a bed with clean sheets, and a kitchen with a fridge for making your own food. I could store my kite equipment there, too. They also serve a generous continental breakfast in the morning.

A quiet, cozy hostel for a couple of nights in Cancún before heading somewhere else. The rooftop deck is a nice spot for sunset, and the kitchen has everything you need to cook. They can arrange daily tours. Breakfast isn't ready until 9 am, so early risers won't get any. There's not much to do nearby, but getting a cab or bus into downtown is easy.

The rooftop terrace was nice, but the hostel didn't live up to the image it presented. Its website made it look much better, and being promoted as a top spot for backpackers left us expecting more. At the front desk, people tried to help but often couldn't answer questions, and sometimes seemed unwilling to. One man kept pushing us to book an activity and was unpleasant to talk to. He was rude, and even told people not to cook meat because he was vegan and didn't like it. When he was around, I wanted to spend as little time as possible near reception. The kitchen is tiny, right by the front desk, and they charge for water. In all my previous hostels during that month of travel, I'd never had that happen. Their exchange rate is also very poor, so paying in pesos costs more than expected. They should disclose that on the website or booking pages so travelers on tight budgets can plan ahead. I emailed them about the complaints and exchange rate, but never got a reply. It wasn't awful, but it wasn't good either.