Ocean Plaza 18 by Praia

The security guard was the worst part of our stay. On the first night, a man wearing an unmarked shirt told the four of us to be quiet in the street, then followed us into the building and only identified himself as security once inside. We apologized and whispered while waiting for the elevator, but he turned off the lights on us. The next night, when we tried to speak with him about other noisy guests, he got aggressive, shooed us out, recorded us, and grabbed one of us, knocking her phone from her hand. Another guard intervened, apologized for him, and said he would handle it. We told the host, who said they’d contact the security company. The same guard was still there when we came back that night but left us alone. A more professional guard was on duty the following night. There were other drawbacks. Water from what seemed to be a leaking A.C. pooled in the upstairs bedroom and soaked my friend’s clothes more than once. Noise carried through the downstairs room, including loud club music until around 3:30 AM. We couldn’t swim at the beach because heavy seaweed wasn’t being cleaned daily, and the area smelled fishy, though we got used to it. There were good things too: the host was very communicative and helpful, the location was close to everything, and the private rooftop pool was incredible. The beds were comfortable, showers had strong hot water, and the A.C. worked well in every room. The property has a lot of potential, but the security incident, maintenance issue, and noise affected our stay. I hope they address them.

The apartments are spacious and have amenities, and the service was great. Just keep in mind that some of the photos are exaggerated: the balconies mostly look toward neighboring buildings, and the pictured beachfront views are really of a dock.

Alejandro made my stay even better with his detailed knowledge of Playa del Carmen's tourist area and bars. The service was exceptional, and the sea views were lovely, though seaweed season affected them. A fantastic place to unwind on vacation.

There’s a pretty pool, interesting architecture, and clean, well-equipped rooms. The hotel felt safe, with security around the clock, despite how the area looks in the online and Google Maps photos. It’s a very short walk to the shops and restaurants, but far enough away that nighttime activity didn’t carry over. The main drawback is the eroding shoreline, which has left very little beach. At high tide the water came right up to the buildings. Still, we were very satisfied with our stay.