City Express Suites Playa del Carmen

The hotel is clean and felt safe, and getting around was convenient. It’s on the highway, so day trip pickups for places like Chichén Itza or Xcaret are usually right at the door. You can walk about 10 minutes to 5th Avenue, or around 15 minutes farther in the same direction to catch the ferries to Cozumel. The buffet serves the same selection every day, so keep expectations modest. One odd detail: City Express Suites and this hotel are actually in the same building. The Suites side is painted pink and has slightly better rooms. Both share a pool, but Suites guests get breakfast on ceramic plates while City Express uses sturdy paper ones, lol.

When we arrived late with our 20-month-old, we were told there were no rooms left and sent to the suites building. They called it an upgrade, though I’m not sure it really was. Later, our daughter’s shoe and an iPhone charger went missing from the room. We raised it with management, but nothing turned up. We also had a frustrating first morning trying to get information about the beach and parking. The receptionist used a phone translator because they didn’t speak English, and their manner came across as indifferent and rude. For a hotel under a major brand, I found it disappointing that the front desk couldn’t communicate in English.

We were out most of the time, so not having resort amenities didn’t bother us. There’s a breakfast room, pool, laundry, and guest computers in the lobby, but don’t book expecting a resort. Prices were very reasonable, and our last-minute booking went smoothly. I’d been unsure about staying here, but the place is super clean. Our room was spotless and freshly cleaned each evening, and the staff were very polite. It even had a kitchenette with a dishwasher.

Nothing fancy, just a clean, quiet, safe place for the night. The staff struck a nice balance between friendly and professional, and they let me check in early when I arrived ahead of time. I used Uber Eats for meals, and they deliver to the hotel. The Cancun location is nice too, and makes a good option before or after a flight since it has a free shuttle to and from the airport.