Tukan Hotel Playa del Carmen

The suite was huge, with a living room, full kitchen, separate bedrooms and a nice bathroom. There were three exits to two balconies. The colonial-style hotel is just off 5th Avenue and around a block and a half from the ocean, with restaurants and nightlife only a minute or two away. Jose the concierge will answer your questions and look after you. One unusual extra: a very large bat takes a nightly dip in the pool.

For the price, it's a good option for a family staying a while near downtown and 5th avenue. Room cleaning is available if you request it. Breakfast was cold, and the small buffet-style setup didn't feel very welcoming or convenient. Be careful with excursions: they say they'll arrange certain activities, but don't follow through. They oversell the tourist services, so do your own research.

The hotel's strongest point is its location. The property is older and could use updates, and the TV screens are small. Our room faced the pool, so it was dark, and the pool itself stays in the shade, with no sun to count on. The rooms are large and have appliances, but breakfast was nothing special. I wouldn't stay again.

The view from the roof was beautiful, especially at sunrise over the water. The common areas were pretty and comfortable, and our unit had a spacious bedroom plus a living room and kitchen. It was centrally located for the beach, nightlife and attractions. We like quiet, so we were a little concerned about facing the street in such a lively area. In the end, it wasn't a problem: the windows muted the street noise quite well. We also used the background-noise feature on a phone, as we often do when traveling. Miguel was the heart of the resort for us. He was incredibly kind, always made time to help right away, and shared local tips. He also patiently helped me with my Spanish. We were glad to meet him and stay here.