Villas Delfines

The staff were friendly, and the location is handy, just steps from the beach. The restaurant next door, mantarraya, had amazing seafood. Still, I was disappointed and expected more for the price. I only stayed one night, and honestly, that was probably for the best. The room had three fans, but it still got hot at night, and sleep wasn’t great. There were mosquitoes too. I wasn’t bitten badly, but my girlfriend was. Though the room had plenty of lamps, it felt dark. I hadn’t known my girlfriend booked a room with a composting toilet; I didn’t mind it, but it felt a little strange. The eco approach was interesting. Breakfast was decent but plain, with fruit, bread, yogurt, ham, and cheese. The pool looked pretty but needed cleaning. Behind it, the paths were flooded and the grounds looked awful, though that area had been temporarily closed. I hope management works on these problems so the property can live up to its potential.

The staff were friendly and the place was clean, but for more than $200 a night, the standard felt poor, breakfast included. We stayed in a sea-view bungalow, and the sunset from the veranda was fantastic. After three or four days, though, we really missed having a regular hotel room. The solar water heater didn’t give us warm water during two days of bad weather, so showers had to be short. You could ask for the electric heating to be turned on, but that was inconvenient. The composting toilet worked fine, although the bungalow lost some of its romance when the wind picked up.

Our first time on Isla Holbox, and my brother and I chose Villas Delfines. The hotel is beautiful, just a minute’s walk from the beach and around a 15-minute walk into town along a dirt road. Each morning the sand was raked, leaving it fresh for early risers. The small patio-style restaurant was clean, traditionally decorated, and well stocked. You could rent paddleboards, kayaks, and bocce balls right at the hotel. Israel and Juan Jose at the front desk made things especially easy. They helped us feel at home, with suggestions for things to do and places to eat, help exchanging money, and plenty of other thoughtful assistance. A+.

We arrived with our suitcases to find the place closed off with yellow police tape. People there told us it had shut the day before because of legal issues, which was pretty vague. They also said it was probably for the best, since the place didn’t look as good in reality as it did online. We ended up staying at Xaloc Resort instead, a little paradise with very nice staff.