Arba Condo

The hosts handled our complaints very professionally and replied right away, even late at night. There were AC stains on the bedsheets, which normally would have cost the apartment a star, but they sorted everything out promptly and with care. Apart from the sheets in the master bedroom, the unit was clean and well maintained. It's a beautiful apartment, not far from Tulum Centro or the beach zone. A scooter or car is ideal, since the surrounding area is very dark at night and doesn't feel safe to walk around. We enjoyed the stay and would book again.

The apartment itself was lovely and clean, definitely 5/5. We booked directly, and after a 24-hour power cut we were promised a refund for that night. People we were staying with got refunds through Airbnb or Vbro, but we never did, and now the owner isn't responding to my messages. A sad end to what was otherwise a great stay.

The roof deck and wading pool were great, and the shower skylight made bathing feel like a treat. I liked how this modern concrete and wood place seems designed around the jungle. The kitchen was good, though there was no oven, which didn't really matter. It's close to the beach and downtown by bike or car. I took off a star because they skimped on toilet paper and there was no curtain on the kitchen window facing the neighbor's door. It wasn't a safety problem, but it did affect privacy. One night my neighbor and I kept accidentally looking at each other. Pretty creepy.

Arba is in a great, secluded part of Aldea Zama, with bike rentals, trendy cafes and restaurants, pharmacies, and small supermarkets about a five-minute walk away. Parking is available in four spots in front or along the road. Wi-Fi was fast, around 100 Mbps down and 20-50 Mbps up, with a choice of 2.4 or 5 GHz. For the living standard and location, it felt like good value, especially since an apartment can fit up to five people. We booked ten nights through Booking. Before check-in, they emailed asking for my phone number for WhatsApp, and Carolina, our concierge, sent the instructions by the time we reached Cancun airport. Access was easy: a pin code for the main entrance, then a chip card in a small safe by the apartment door, also opened with a code. Arba has three buildings. We were in apartment 301, the one furthest right, on the ground floor with a small front patio. The staff equipment shed right next door wasn't a great view, and construction materials stayed in our outside area throughout the stay. After a 22-hour trip, we found the AC set to fan mode and over 30C, so we lowered it quickly. There are three units, in the living room and both bedrooms. The kitchen had a bean coffee machine, mixer, and six sets of dishes and cutlery, but no kettle. I asked for one and couldn't get it, so I boiled water in a pot for tea each morning. Most guests seemed to be in their twenties or early thirties, with one or two older families around. It was mostly quiet, but there were one or two nights of very loud music and parties until early morning. The walls carry a lot of sound, so bring earplugs. Bedrooms had only light curtains, and there were no curtains in the living room, meaning people could see in from outside on the ground floor. Housekeeping was another problem. Towels, sheets, and toilet paper had to be requested through the concierge, and it took a day to get the towels we asked for. We had to empty and take out the trash ourselves. There was no cleaning or restocking during our ten nights, and the apartment was getting pretty unpleasant by the end. Guests staying only two to four days may not notice this as much. The sofa pillows had holes, and some sheets were stained. We asked for fresh sheets but never got them. On checkout day, with an 11 a.m. departure, we got no instructions about where to leave the key, or even a thank-you message. We left the key where we had picked it up. During ten nights, there were no check-ins or follow-ups from the concierge either. That lack of personal contact, and the disappointing goodbye, left a bad impression.