Villas HM Palapas del Mar

We’ve been coming to Holbox since 2021 and have tried a couple of properties, always looking to see if there’s a better fit. Palapas Del Mar gets the balance right for us: close enough, but not right by the town square, with good value and quality. We like the comfortable, clean rooms, which have what we need, and the staff are kind. The breakfast buffet is good, and the dedicated beach area with palapas and a chair always available is the real draw. Beach service can be slow at island pace, but we’re on vacation, so that’s fine. The place still looked as fresh as on our first visit, and we saw several rooms being renovated. The daytime construction didn’t bother us. We usually eat breakfast and sometimes lunch from the hotel on the beach, but not dinner there. Guests seem more European than at some other hotels with more Americans, and we enjoy the mix of languages and people. We don’t drink much, but the all-inclusive option might be worthwhile if you do, even without eating dinner at the hotel. From December through March, when it’s coldest and the weather can be unpredictable, we don’t use the private pool because it isn’t warm enough. In other seasons we like the beach during the day and the room pool in the evening after dinner in town, or when it’s windy on the beach. Friends staying elsewhere at the Royalton paid for a day pass to join us because they felt the service and amenities were better. We’ll be back.

The rooms at Villas HM Palapas del Mar were comfortable, stylish, and thoughtfully laid out, a lovely place to unwind. We were extremely happy with our stay and would gladly return. The beach was wide and beautiful, with a relaxed feel that made it great for the sea and sunsets. Breakfast had a good range of high-quality options, and the service was friendly, attentive, and helpful throughout. We can highly recommend the hotel.

We paid good money for the room and expected a basic level of comfort, but the stay was deeply frustrating. For two days, renovation work in the room next door was unbearably loud, and an engine or machine by our entrance made it impossible to sleep. We raised the issue with reception twice. Both times they said they’d deal with it, but nothing changed. We also spoke to the hotel manager, Jose, and didn’t get a proper or satisfactory response. The noise completely ruined our stay. Poor handling and no consideration for guests. Future visitors should be careful, as they could face the same situation. Definitely not worth the price.

After a full day of travel, we arrived to find there was no hot water. We asked reception to fix it or move us, but things got worse. The first day brought constant repairs and no hot water; the next, no water came from the tap at all. Maintenance would only come if we stayed in the room, saying each visit would take “20 minutes.” Instead, we spent hours over two days waiting there without water or a solution. They refused to move us and falsely said we’d agreed to that. We got no refund or compensation, not even a bottle of water, after losing two full days of our trip. We were told to wait for a manager, who later said he wouldn’t do anything. I’ve never experienced service so disrespectful and dismissive. We basically paid to sit in a room waiting for repairs that never came. Absolutely unacceptable.