Casa Jaguar

We had a great time at Casa Jaguar. The bedrooms are spacious, each has its own AC, and our housekeeper came every day and did a wonderful job. The house was beautiful and well cared for, just like the photos, maybe even better. The kitchen has its own AC unit, though I don't think the main living room does. I borrowed someone's Mexican Netflix account to watch TV, but don't count on using the TVs much. The pool and patio are lovely, but the pool isn't heated, so it was pretty chilly to get into in December. The water at the beach was much warmer. The roof hot tub is nice, but it's small, really meant for one person, and took exactly 20 minutes to fill when I timed it. Not the place for a rooftop party. The house is right beside the golf course, where two water ponds seem to attract mosquitoes. I got bitten badly even with bug spray around, so a bug zapper would help. A few things surprised me. I live in NYC and have spent holidays and spring breaks with family and friends, usually on the west coast around Sayulita or San Pedro. This time we tried the east coast, and I hadn't expected a gated community with mostly white residents rather than locals. That wasn't necessarily bad, just unexpected. You also have to walk past or through the Omni hotel to reach the beach, so it isn't right outside the door. The beach itself was too crowded for my taste, and I prefer Sayulita. For a beach chair, you can buy a hotel pass that includes food and drinks, or find a spot on the public part of the beach. We weren't told any of this when we booked. Food is easy to find nearby, about a five-minute walk to three places. La Caleta, by the boat ramp, was especially good. We also had chefs come over a few days and picked up takeout at the harbor, where there are plenty of good options. For evenings out, there are bars at the harbor restaurants. The complex centers on the golf course and all-inclusive resorts; some resorts let you in and others don't, so we mostly stuck to the harbor. You'll need a car if you want to leave the complex. I'm glad we had one for Xplore, which was amazing, but I would've been just as happy, maybe happier, staying put and getting around by golf cart like everyone else.

We wanted a luxurious getaway and the house delivered. The owners clearly love their home, and Jovana deserves a special thank you for helping and cleaning up after us.

We had such a lovely holiday here, with wonderful hospitality and attentive service. Thanks for making us feel welcome. I hope we can return soon.

We found Casa Jaguar spotless and received excellent service. It's a spacious, comfortable, luxurious home in a natural setting, ideal for unwinding. The marina is only a few steps away, and one of the Riviera Maya's most beautiful beaches is close by.