Vida Tulum Boho Apartment 17 with DayPass Hotel Bardo

You’ll need a car or scooter to stay here. We spent five days at Vida Tulum in March, and it was probably the best hotel or apartment we stayed in during our time in Mexico. The apartments were brand new, beautifully decorated, and very clean and tidy. Staff were responsive and ready with tips and recommendations. It isn’t cheap, like most things in Tulum, which is why tourism is declining, but it’s worth the price.

I loved my two weeks in unit 12 this January. It felt like home, and I was completely relaxed there. The place was bright, spacious, cozy, modern, and clean, with everything I needed, a comfortable bed, a lovely living room, and a small private-feeling balcony. There are three rooftop pools, and they never got too busy, so I usually had one to myself. Great for morning coffee, sunsets, and stargazing. It’s more in the jungle, but only a few minutes’ walk from Tulum town’s busy streets. There’s a lovely night food market on the way, a great source of delicious, inexpensive dinners. Hotel Bardo is right across the street, fancy and beautiful. I spent a few afternoons by its pool, and they have a morning yoga class open to everyone. If wellness is your thing, Holistika center is a magical place, about a five-minute bike ride away. I was happy with everything and can’t wait to come back and explore more of Tulum.

The apartment was cozy and nicely decorated, and that’s why I’m giving it two stars. We stayed in apartment 12. The rest of the experience was poor. We’d paid expecting a clean, ready apartment, but check-in started at 15:00 and we arrived at 15:45, yet it wasn’t ready until 16:30. Our Wi-Fi didn’t work, though after a long struggle we fixed it ourselves. There was a cockroach inside, and the washing machine in our apartment was broken, so we had to use one in another unit. The bike shed key we were given didn’t work either. Staff said to wait ten minutes for another, but it took 40, and the bike we got had a completely flat tire and a chain that kept coming off. With all that, check-in took over two hours because these basic things weren’t under control. The apartment was at a completely different address from the one listed on Air BnB, much farther from the center. If we’d known that beforehand, we wouldn’t have booked it. I hope we were just very unlucky, but based on what happened to us, I can’t recommend it. It felt far too unprofessional.

From the rooftop pools or barbecue area, the sunsets are wonderful. The apartment is bright, thoughtfully designed, and has everything you need, even a washing machine, which is rare in Tulum. Bikes are included too, so getting around is covered. It’s in a quiet jungle area that still feels quite central, with the city center just minutes away. I’d definitely recommend staying here.