Tao Tulum 111 By Lockey

A clean, relaxing place with lovely people. The staff are always ready to help and give directions. Restaurants, coffee shops, small markets, and parks are all close by.

Shops and restaurants are nearby, and you can bike to the beach and shopping centers. The development is quiet, with 24/7 security and good amenities.

Finding our apartment took ages. The gatekeepers couldn't point us in the right direction, and other arrivals were wandering around too. I happened to spot a map in the gatehouse showing apartment numbers, and taking a photo of it helped us and the people who came after us. The place is in the jungle, behind barriers and gates, and the apartments themselves are fairly new and seem well intentioned. Inside, the musty smell was strong enough that an air freshener had been put out to cover it. The next day I checked the building inside and out, including other ground floor units. The land is very damp, which is typical of the jungle, but the walls showed signs of moisture rising because there was no proper sealing. That damp had reached our apartment, and even the window blinds were moldy. Our long-term neighbor didn't seem to be in good health either. The whole area had an uneasy feeling to it. Parking is plentiful and assigned by apartment. Unfortunately, the cabinet for utility lines was set into the wall right behind our space, and part of its frame had come loose. Its doors kept swinging open and hitting our rental car, leaving scratches and dents. I can't recommend TAO Tulum. Avoid it. And to @TAO Tulum, thanks for the clever reply to my review, it was no help at all. Rather than attack a customer personally, I suggest drying the whole complex with wall-injection sealants.

The condo complex is pleasant, fairly new, and in one of Tulum's nicer neighborhoods, Aldea Zama. There are two pools and an outdoor kitchen and barbecue area. The gym is small but works for a quick workout. The water was a problem. I know it isn't drinkable, but even bathing in it felt unpleasant. I saw trucks deliver it into huge plastic rooftop tanks, and in the heat and humidity I can't imagine those tanks were sanitary. My skin and hair felt awful, and hard water left cement-like marks all over the shower. There was no washer or dryer in the unit either. I stayed two months and got only two bath towels. The biggest issue was a male security guard. I'm a solo female traveler, white and American, and fluent in Spanish, though he didn't know that at first. Because of Tulum's humidity and frequent rain, I brought my own bicycle up to the condo instead of leaving it outside to rust. The guard watched me on camera and harassed me nearly every day over this minor rule. One day I parked it in my condo's vehicle space, which seemed to push him over the edge. He confronted me as if I'd broken a serious law. I then told him in Spanish that I knew the rule was petty and he needed to leave me alone. His behavior felt like an attempt to extort money from me so he'd stop, but I never paid him. After that, he came into the gym while I was there, or stood outside the panoramic windows facing the guard booth, staring at me with what felt like threatening looks. It seemed meant to intimidate me. These guards don't make the building feel safer at all. I even wondered if they were watching the property for organized crime. The condo doors also have no deadbolt or chain that can be locked only from inside. Once I realized guards probably had keys to every unit and I couldn't add an inside-only lock, I felt even less safe. I don't recommend this place. They need to replace this security company, and I doubt I'm the only person who has had this experience.