Pelicano Inn Playa del Carmen - Beachfront Hotel

We couldn't swim during our four-night stay. There was so much sea grass on the shore and in the water, and although Booking reviews said it was cleaned, it wasn't cleared while we were there. We had paid for a beachfront hotel and couldn't use the sea. We also expected a pool based on the Booking filters, but apparently that was only for the luxury honeymoon suite. The Beach Club breakfast was delicious, and the staff there were kind and gave us a 15% discount. As far as I know, though, the Beach Club and hotel are separate services. Other hotels we've stayed at gave free purified bottled water, but here they only provided it on the first night. After that, we were told to buy it at the restaurant.

Carolina brought a bit of sunshine to every morning, and Gabriel, Isaac, Eduardo, and Daniel were great fun too. The team was quick and friendly with drinks, the food was very good, and the music had a really nice mix of vibes. We spent lots of days at Pelicano Beach Club, which is in a great spot and has everything you need for the day. Gracias señoritos!

The room was lovely, though the room service and shower could be better. The location is hard to beat, with restaurants, tourist spots, and bars all nearby. Breakfast was delicious, and the staff were friendly. Big thanks to Isaac, Eduardo, and the others who were so kind to us. They can even make drinks for you on the beach that aren't listed on the menu. I'd recommend it.

We slept well, even on busy weekends. You can hear some noise from the nearby clubs and bars, but the rooms block it out fairly well. I could hear the neighbor's kid yelling, though kids are kids. The entrance approach felt sketchy at first, but the security gate at the end of the tunnel made us feel better about it. The room was clean-smelling and comfortable, with a firm bed and air conditioning that was a real help in the heat. Housekeeping was excellent on the days we used it. I would have liked a shower curtain or door to keep water off the bathroom floor, plus a mat to wipe slippers on before coming inside. They weren't deal breakers, since housekeeping took care of things. Breakfast was just what I wanted, and I'm glad we paid extra for it. There were continental choices like eggs, omelets, bacon, ham, pancakes, French toast, mini bread, juice, and coffee, with some Mexican dishes too, though I can't remember their names. They also packed a light lunch with a sandwich, fruit, and water when early tours meant we couldn't make breakfast. Ask the front desk the day before. The upstairs gym was enough for me. I only tried the free weights as kettlebell substitutes, so I can't say how the home gym or core exercise equipment worked. The restaurant has a lovely beach view and easy access to the sand. I appreciated having an outdoor shower to wash off salt and sand before heading back to the room. Staff were friendly, especially the front desk team and Paco, and they were willing to provide useful things like a handheld iron and electric kettle. The hotel was good value and an easy pick for a budget trip if you care about service, clean rooms, breakfast, and being in the tourist area near the beach.