My wife and I stayed in the "Shell" suite in mid Jan 2012. The trip from the Cancun airport to the airport took about 3 hrs. The shuttle drive lasted just over 2 hrs, although on the way, we were stopped at a military checkpoint; the soldiers asked my wife and I to get out of the vehicle and open our suitcases. One soldier looked through our belongings, searching for drugs. Finding nothing, he let us continue -- no big deal, really. The driver said there was no doubt they searched us because we were foreigners. Arriving in Chiquila, we jumped on a ferry, and 20 minutes later got on a taxi for the 5 minute ride to the hotel.
The hotel property is undoubtedly scenic and beautiful, while simply appointed. After a week here, I think this hotel is the best situated of any of the others I saw. There were many things I enjoyed about the hotel. One that stands out is the availability of seating; there are chairs, loungers, hammocks, and beach beds all over the property -- all very comfortable. I liked that they removed the hammocks and cushions each night -- they were clean.
The restaurant is very good. I'd say their food is every bit as good as the best food in town; at least that was my experience. Continental breakfast was free and, actually filled us up nicely. I especially enjoyed their orange juice -- it is fresh-squeezed every morning, and you can tell. In town, I have only one real recommendation: Las Flores. It is run by Alex, and he is very hospitable and speaks excellent English. In addition, I must admit I first went into his restaurant because I saw he had American football on a 42" screen (he subscribes to Sky). We had 2 ribeyes (very good tasting) and an excellent Caesar's Salad (as good as any I've ever had) while we watched the Patriots whoop the Broncos. One restaurant I will go out of my way to NOT recommend is La Isla del Colibri. It sits on one of the Plaza street corners, across the street from the police station and upstairs ATM. Their food was pretty bad. Moreover, when I chose to pay with US dollars, they tried to exchange them at 10 pesos to 1 dollar, which is a very poor exchange rate. At the time, the official rate was 13.8 pesos to the dollar; I don't expect that kind of rate, however, as the hotel told me, the island rate is 12.5 to the dollar. In reality, it varies from business to business, but 10 to 1 is outside the norm. So, my advice is to pay for as many things as possible with pesos, but if you choose to use dollars, ask beforehand what exchange rate they offer. Otherwise, they might take advantage of you. Btw, I had no problem using the ATM -- it was always available with cash.
The rooms were nicely furnished and comfortable. I wouldn't say the beds are the most comfortable I've ever slept in, but they're adequate, and surrounded by mosquito netting. Outside there are definitely no-seeums that bite on occasion, so it would be wise to bring some bug spray as a precaution. While the hotel furnished a couple of small bottles of water, we bought a gallon of water in town to bring back to the room for hydration and brushing.
Lastly, a note on excursions. We obviously went when the Whale sharks were not around (they go to Belize in the winter), which meant there are not many things to do. The excursions are, in general, expensive for what they comprise. But, there's horseback riding, kite-boarding, and sightseeing available.
So, if relaxing is what you're into, then this is the place for you -- a leisurely breakfast, followed by lounging on the beach while reading a novel, followed by lunch, walking on the beach, etc.,...that's what this place is about.
Room Tip: All the rooms are so close to the beach, you could save some money by renting a room that might be i...
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This review is the subjective opinion of a TripAdvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC
