Hotel La Semilla, Playa del Carmen, a Member of Design Hotels - Adults Only

Breakfast was the best part of our stay. The staff there and the chef were warm, welcoming, and made creative, well-prepared food. Still, after another very loud night, we asked if we could cancel our third night and were told no, that the area is just loud. We left early and gave up that night for our own comfort. I was excited to book three nights at Hotel Semilla because I love boutique hotels and liked the property's look. Check-in was frustrating: our room wasn't ready, we were first given the wrong room, and then shown one that didn't match the booking. We'd reserved a quiet garden-view room but were initially put in a street-facing room on a busy road. No one helped with luggage up three flights of stairs, and asking to move to the right room seemed like a huge inconvenience to the staff. The room we eventually got faced the garden, but had a double bed instead of the queen or king in our reservation. It was cute, though there was no mini-fridge and not enough filtered water. The biggest issue was the sound carrying through the walls. Loud bass and music from nearby places kept us up late, nearly until 4 a.m. This hotel has potential, but better guest service and soundproofing would make a real difference.

The breakfast was very good, and the staff were friendly, but communicating with them was difficult since their English wasn't very strong. In a place with so many American tourists, management should hire people who speak English better. I usually don't need much to be happy, but this stay was poor. The stylish decor looks good in Instagram photos, yet the basics for a comfortable visit weren't there. After getting back late from a wedding on the second night, I wanted a hot shower before bed. I let it run for 10-15 minutes and the water stayed cold. I reported it downstairs; someone fiddled with pipes and signaled that it was fixed, but it wasn't. The next day there was no water at all. There were mosquitoes in the room. I got at least 4-5 bites the first night and slept badly, wearing long sleeves, socks, and a hat like I was camping. The internet was unreliable too. It cut out in the middle of a Zoom meeting, so I had to switch to cellular data. It's hard to believe this run-down place is affiliated with Marriott. Looking at other reviews, the same problems seem to show up month after month.

The garden in the middle is gorgeous, and the staff were so helpful and nice. Our room was quiet, and I loved the unusual interior design. Breakfast was included and really good. It's a lovely boutique hotel, close to the beach and some great restaurants and bars. I'd highly recommend staying here.

Breakfast was my favorite part of the stay, it was delicious and convenient. We stayed in the suite with the outdoor bath, which has a great view and a tub that's perfect for cooling off or unwinding in the evening. The hotel is beautiful and the service was amazing. Claudia was kind and helped with all our questions.