Alito Hotel Tulum

David, the front desk Manager, was especially helpful, and everyone was attentive. The beach setting in the national park was peaceful and beautiful, with the Mayan ruins an easy walk away. Breakfast was simple, included, and just right. We loved staying here. Our bungalow shower was temperamental, switching from no hot water to too hot, but staff did try to sort it out.

The water situation made our stay difficult. Since plastic bottles have to be thrown away when entering the Zona Archeologica, guests need a reliable source of drinking water. Alito Hotel had one dispenser by the front desk. We refilled our glasses and reusable bottle there, but after about six trips in one day, staff started giving us pointed looks. Twice, the dispenser was empty and nobody was at reception. The restaurant refused to give us water unless we bought something. Luckily, I'd brought an old filter, or I don't know what we would've done. It felt like Alito wanted us to buy all drinks from the restaurant at its set prices. With no markets close by, we were stuck worrying about basic hydration. Bring a couple of large reusable bottles, because you can't count on water being available on site. There are good things here too. The price is decent for this strip, and the place is comfortable enough. The beach is lovely, breakfast is included and pretty darn good, and the location is hard to beat if the ruins are on your bucket list. Rooms are dated, though I thought that added some charm. Staff were pleasant, as long as we didn't go to the water cooler too many times.

We visited the beachclub three times in one week. On the last visit they said a 15% tip was expected. We offered 10%, but they insisted it had to be 15%, so it didn't feel optional. Their greed got them no tip from us. Next time, be more humble and accept whatever the guest chooses to leave. You're already charging UK/US prices for barely a snack.

Breakfast was consistently very good: coffee or tea, juice or fresh fruit, plus a choice of sweet or savory dishes. The hotel sent useful details over WhatsApp right away, including a map, meal times and excursions, and Wi-Fi was available immediately. We spent most of our time relaxing on the huge beach loungers. There was a lot of seaweed and a slight smell, though it wasn't as bad as some reviews made it sound. The water looked very green and algae-filled, but that's not the hotel's fault. The beach is also nice for walking toward the Tulum ruins. The hotel sits on a very quiet stretch of beach, right by the sea and a good distance from the town center. Rooms are spacious and decent, with a simple style that adds to the charm. There is a park entrance fee: one payment for the car covers the whole stay, then it's 120 pesos per person each day. After 5 pm they don't sell wristbands, and only check the hotel reservation. We were very satisfied with our stay.