Villas Tiburon by The Beach

We booked through Booking.com, but the photos and room description were completely misleading. The listing says all rooms have balconies. That wasn’t true for ours. It showed large, bright rooms with private balconies, while we got a room more like a private hostel: sharply sloped ceilings, barely enough space to walk around the bed, no balcony, and only a small low window with very little natural light. The bathroom ceiling sloped so low I couldn’t stand upright or sit comfortably on the toilet. People in the hall could see into the shower through its window. Our thin metal-and-glass door offered no soundproofing or privacy. Guests across the hall treated it as their space, leaving luggage and sports gear there and hanging clothes to dry. People were in the hallway at all hours going through their things, and the noise made sleep nearly impossible. We could barely talk in our own room. We’re checking out four nights early and moving hotels because the stay was so uncomfortable, at significant and unnecessary expense. The staff were friendly but offered no fix, saying Booking.com had listed the room inaccurately. Don’t book expecting the rooms in the photos. Only stay if you want a hostel-style experience, or get photos of your room in advance.

The location is good, farther from El Centro and generally quieter, and everyone was friendly. But after several visits, I’ve watched this hotel decline badly. The restaurant next door was demolished two years ago, an employee told me, and the wreckage is still plainly visible. The place felt run down compared with my last stay, even though the rooms were cleaned daily. I hope they put some money into maintenance; I can’t recommend staying here now, though I have before. The beds were so firm I woke with a bad backache every morning. I’m fairly sure there was mold in my room: each morning I woke congested, coughing, and with sinus pain, then felt much better after leaving. Alma Bar upstairs had a pool I’d enjoyed on earlier visits, but this time the water looked cloudy and disgusting.

I liked being tucked away from Holbox’s main streets, and it was fun to see the raccoon family messing around by the pool early in the morning. The room was fine, and the reception staff were helpful and nice. Alma Bar seems to have well-rated tacos, but after breakfast I didn’t want to risk spoiling another day in paradise. The breakfast bar was my main problem. The coffee was bland, toast came with either marmalade or butter but not both, and the plate had just a few slices of papaya and melon. I paid an extra 160$ for Huevos Rancheros, which was depressing, with no garlic or spices. I also tried a 150$ margarita by the sea and a 150$ mezcal shot, but got none of the buzz or enjoyment I’d normally expect. The staff weren’t pleasant to be around either. They barely smiled or said “Buenos Dias,” mostly sitting in their huts scrolling on their phones and looking bored.

We had a really nice stay. The location is a bit far from el Centro in Holbox, but being closer to the sandbanks is lovely in the mornings. If you work remotely, though, the wifi is strong only by the entrance. Our room had no wifi.