Motto by Hilton Tulum

The rooftop pool and bar were a highlight, and I recommend the Margarita maracuya, or passion fruit margarita. They also offer a great free cocktail class. This little Hilton village has a few food choices and cute places right there, plus an excellent spa called Quinto. The Hilton staff were kind and helpful. They can also book a day at one of their partner beach clubs. We had a junior suite that felt roomy enough for two. One room might have been a bit cramped, but still doable. Having a car was easy, with free garage parking. We drove to dinner in the hotel zone a couple of times and paid 100-200 pesos for parking. The hotel is near the hotel zone, and there’s also a great grocery store nearby for snacks, drinks, and more. You can pick up snorkel gear, clothes, or use an ATM there. We went for sandwich supplies, including excellent coffee, lattes, and bread. It’s called Selecto Chaudrai. Great place to stay!

The location was very convenient, with large grocery stores within walking distance and plenty of restaurants and shops nearby, including a good men’s barbershop. After spending a week exploring Tulum, I think this area is probably the best home base if you’re new to town. I also used the free bike rental to ride to the beach club, which was great fun. The room was clean and comfortable, with an efficient layout and WiFi fast enough for my work calls. The pool deck and bar were top notch, and service throughout the hotel was consistently excellent. Fantastic hotel.

I’d happily stay here again. The rooftop cocktails were great, the pool was clean, and the views were amazing. As a solo traveler, I felt safe in the room and appreciated having a food court and bar on site for a late meal or drink. The location sits between the beach and Main Street, which was fairly convenient. I didn’t feel comfortable renting my own transport, so I used taxis. The front desk kindly arranged them and helped set up my pickup. Everyone, from the cleaners to the restaurant staff, was patient with my broken Spanish and when I needed help. I could have used more wall space for hangers, especially since I needed somewhere to dry four swimsuits. The overhead rainfall shower also wasn’t my favorite.

The breakfast staff were attentive and friendly, but getting help by the pool was another story. I had to track someone down to use my Hilton resort credit. The Honors internet was also intermittent all week. The hotel still seems to be under construction. There was scaffolding outside, and workers were plastering and painting the halls. Hotel indigo is meant to share the pool area, but its doors lead to a partly finished construction site behind signs that say “opening 2023,” even though it’s 2026. We also heard a couple of loud late events in the courtyard this week, a concert and an MMA match. Pool bass carries during the day too, so the place can feel like a club. Then we went six hours without water or air conditioning, with repeated promises that it would be fixed in “one more hour.” It was cooler outside than in our room, but we couldn’t open a window. The little trickle of water had turned green, which would have made for a fun shower if I’d had one before leaving. I’d initially rated the stay better, but this left me hot and bothered. Two stars.