IIK Tulum by The Spot Rentals

The room was very clean and the kitchen was well equipped, but the rest of the experience was worrying. We booked a suite for four nights with a balcony pool, but after check-in they put us in a tiny room without a pool. We couldn’t get an answer from the concierge until we called him. Then we waited over an hour while he said, “i'm checking what i can do for you.” Eventually we got the room we’d booked. It felt like they might be trying the wrong room first to see if guests notice. The QR code system needed to enter the building wasn’t working during our stay, so all the doors stayed open. There was no security, and we felt concerned about safety both day and night. The building didn’t look like the photos anymore, and nobody seemed to look after it or repair broken things like the elevator and sunbeds. The rooftop pool area was dirty, and the sunbeds were broken. The receptionist couldn’t help with room problems either. The driveway was awful. Without an SUV it was nearly impossible to get through, especially after rain, when it was more like a lake than a street. I wouldn’t expect safety or help here.

The rooftop pools and the sunrise and sunset views were lovely, and we enjoyed having a patio on the ground floor. We even made friends with the stray cats nearby, which was the best part. But the building is in poor repair, and the room was far from soundproof. We heard our upstairs neighbor moving around and using the bathroom, music and voices, and people in the hallways and pool area. Light sleepers should avoid it. The loungers were filthy with bird droppings and mold, there was mold in the shower, and we had no spare blankets, towels, or toilet paper.

We felt safe here thanks to the 24-hour security and friendly staff, and the location made getting around easy. Chedraui, local restaurants, and food trucks are nearby, and the beach is a 10-15 minute bike ride away. We treated the trip like a wellness retreat, so the hot and cold plunge, sauna, and hot tub were a big part of why we loved it. Allan at reception was especially attentive and friendly, answered all our questions, and helped us book bikes through the building. We booked through Airbnb, and the whole place was amazing, with amenities that were hard to beat. iik was the highlight of our trip, and we’ll definitely stay again.

The rooms were really clean, and they had shampoo, conditioner, and body wash, though no soap. There are all the basics for cooking if you need them. We did find there weren’t enough towels, so bring your own. The roads nearby are awful, so take a jeep if you can.