La Palma Holbox Wellness Suites & Apartments

It brought to mind a very well-organized holiday camp for DDR party members. The rooms do the job, and the atmosphere is so carefully restrained that individuality seems politely discouraged. Clean and efficient, wonderfully overpriced, with memorable coffee. Reception also manages to divide its attention between guests and social media.

The staff were excellent and pointed us toward some good local restaurants. Our check-in took a little while because several guests arrived at once, but after that things went smoothly. We had what felt like a full suite, with two rooms, a kitchenette and separate AC units. The bed was huge and very comfortable. I didn’t care for the memory foam pillows. There was a covered seating area outside our room, nice for relaxing and useful as shelter when it rained. The rooftop terrace has amazing views, though it was so hot during our visit that we hardly used it. It could use a bit of tidying, but it’s a nice feature. The pool was clean, a good size, and great for cooling down after a day out. The ferry terminal is only a few minutes away on foot, though the sandy roads and lack of pavement make rolling luggage difficult. A golf cart taxi is an option. The main square is a couple of blocks away, and the lovely beach with bars and restaurants is a short walk beyond that. I’d definitely stay here again.

La Palma Holbox could have been a five-star stay, but a string of avoidable details brought it down to three for us. Its strongest point is the location, close to both the town center and beach. The rooms are large and have kitchens, but there was no cutlery or basic equipment unless we asked for each thing separately. That made things cumbersome. The amenities felt budget too, with one liquid soap for both hands and the shower. Cleaning only happened every third day, supposedly for environmental reasons, though it felt more like cost cutting. Our floors were visibly dirty at check-in, and even after cleaning they felt sticky, perhaps from too much product or reused water. The shaded pool didn’t look particularly clean, though being near the ocean helped make up for it. Service was mixed. Jonathan at the front desk was fantastic and gave us great restaurant tips, while the female receptionist seemed more interested in her phone and friends than helping guests. The central location also means significant street noise, so bring earplugs. That isn’t the hotel’s fault, but it’s good to know. It works well for the location alone, though they need to sort out these details to deserve a top rating.

The location is good, and we didn’t have street noise. We did have a lot of mosquitoes and cockroaches. Maybe cleaning every day would help with the latter, but they don’t do that. After three days, there was more sand in the room than the Sahara. Please make daily cleaning and emptying the bathroom bins a priority, as you would at home. Our room was on the ground floor by the pool, so it felt dark and gloomy. We kept the curtains closed for privacy. The AC unit and fridge were noisy, so earplugs came in handy. The kitchen had nothing in it, though the staff happily brought cups, glasses and plates when we asked. I have no idea why they aren’t provided in the first place. This sounds negative, but it is good value for money and I’d stay again. I’d ask for an upstairs room for more light and a bit of a view. The staff were attentive and quick to respond.