Oasis Tulum Lite

Once inside the gates, guests are led down a long driveway -- past the Casa Club, driving range, putting green, and tennis courts. At the end of the road, guests turn left for Oasis Tulum, or keep straight for Grand Tulum (the more upscale, neighboring resort).  Already from here, you can see the differences between the two properties: The Oasis entrance feels desolate and abandoned in comparison to the attended grand entrance on the other side.

The Oasis’ lobby is large, a little dim, and feels slightly motel-like. The floors are shiny golden orange travertine and the overall decor is a bit sterile, lacking, and flat. Besides a basic front desk, a few tour operators have set up shop in various spots, even sharing space with the front desk. Off to the side, there’s a bright, but usually empty and unattended lobby bar.

On the grounds, people buzz about constantly; the space feels cramped (more so than next door), especially in the restaurant, pool, and beach spaces shared with next door. This is probably because of the nonreciprocal access Grand Oasis has to the limited space at Oasis. Although there are open hallways here, the majority of the covered walkways feel dim thanks to close placed buildings blocking the natural light.

Overall, the vibe is casual, with people happily sunbathing, snacking, and drinking.

Located directly off of Highway 307 just over an hour and 15 minutes south of Cancun (you’ll need to flip a U-turn to access its northbound entrance), Oasis Tulum is clearly marked by a geometrical turquoise tower. Despite its name, the resort is actually located in Akumal, about 20 minutes north of the beachside ruins of Tulum. The exit to Playa del Carmen is 30 minutes north, but budget extras time for traffic, especially if you are planning on hitting the downtown area. Popular parks like Xplor, Xel-Ha, and Xcaret dot the freeway between Playa del Carmen and Cancun and are easy to spot from the road. 

All 161 rooms are spacious with contemporary but simple decor. The most stylish thing in these rooms is the wispy, thin fabric hanging off the wall, above the head of the beds. Otherwise, expect basic tile floors, slightly decorative metal headboards, clock radios, flat-screen TVs, and poorly stocked minibars (fees apply). Even with the renovations, there is obvious (but not egregious) wear and tear. Artwork hangs on white walls and the bold bedding provides a much-needed splash of color. However, if you are get a room with a "king" bed, be prepared for two individually dressed twin beds shoved together. 

All rooms have private terrace space, although, if you are looking for privacy, it’s hard to find in beachfront and pool-facing rooms thanks to the constant foot traffic. Only a fraction of the rooms at Oasis Tulum are in the Oceanfront View category, with most facing the gardens. If you want things like makeup mirrors, straight construction lines, and minibars with included items and more options, upgrade to the Grand Oasis side.

Oasis Tulum lies in front of a fabulous stretch of white sand beach and turquoise waters. Unfortunately, the space for Oasis guests is limited and shared with neighboring Grand Oasis Tulum (Grand Oasis guests, in contrast, also have an exclusive section of beach where Oasis guests aren't allowed). While the sandy beach section is quite wide at points (between the condo pool and dipping pools), it is covered in beige and white plastic beach loungers, rustling palapa huts, and shady palm trees. A possible buzzkill for some is that there's a lot of seaweed along the shore. 

Volleyball and bocce are available at the far side of the sand, near the condo pool, while a traditional Mayan sweat lodge can be found in the Sian Ka’an section of the Grand Tulum. Oasis guests can book sessions through the spa. A water sports vendor can be found smack in the center of the Oasis beach.

Oasis Tulum has three pool areas on-site. The main pool is located just beyond the lobby, near the Kids' Club and guest rooms. This pool is the largest on the property and is split into sections: an active section where dance lessons are given, kids' activities take place, and the volleyball net hangs; and a quieter section with the most loungers, a shallow dipping pool, and deeper area that's home to the Nori swim-up bar.  While the patrons of the bar can get a bit rowdy, overall the vibe is relaxing, and most most people can be found reading books on loungers or taking an occasional dip.

In the hubbub of restaurant row, two small, jetted dipping pools sit along the edge of the beach lounger area, while on the other side of this area, a small, zig-zag shaped condo pool sits sans loungers, overlooking the beach.

There are many dining options at Oasis Tulum, although guests may find it frustrating that a few are reserved solely for guests staying next door at the Grand Oasis. The main buffet, Arrecifes, is open for three meals a day, but it quite small compared to other all-inclusive buffets, especially when you consider it services two resorts. Luckily, unlike at similar resorts, this is not the only spot to grab a bite during breakfast and lunch -- Dos Lunas is open briefly for breakfast, and there are three snack bars and a sushi bar open for lunch. At dinner time a la carte spots Dos Lunas (Italian) and Al Sur (Mediterranean) require reservations, but if you aren’t feeling the buffet, you can still grab something off the Mexican menu at Sarape.

If you’re looking for a spot to grab a drink, Oasis doesn’t make you venture too far. With five bars -- Sports Bar, Nori (pool bar), Arkeru Asian Lounge (beach bar), a lobby bar, and Sarape Bar -- plus a coffee bar open from early morning 'til night, and a nighttime dance club, a drink is never too far away. The only occasional difficulty is finding a server behind some of the bars during posted opening hours.

While many people come to Oasis Tulum to relax, especially by the beach, the resort is well-equipped for active guests as well. On the Oasis property there is a small gym with machines and weights and a stash of push bikes guests can grab and ride up to the Casa Club or sports area. Although guests can use the ping-pong, foosball, and basketball courts for free, it costs extra to partake in a game of tennis or swing at the driving range and putting green (both which are a bit lacking). The Casa Club is also home to an additional pool, Sports Bar, and Wimpy’s snack bar.

Oasis guests have access to the spa on the Grand Oasis side of the resort property. Though a small space for servicing two resorts, the spa has a wide selection of body, beauty, and massage treatments, a sauna, and a traditional sweat lodge-style Mayan sauna.

Family-friendly features include a decent-size kids' club just off of the main pool area. Kids have a playground area near the gym, an indoor/outdoor activity center with computers, games, and crafts, and a special “kids only” snack spot.

If you’ve forgotten any sundries, or want to shop for a few souvenirs to bring back, there’s a small Tobacco and gift shop located just behind the lobby.  Smartcars are available for rent directly from the hotel, and free push bikes are racked out front for easy peddling up to the Casa Club.

Parking is free (and a little bit of a hike), though Wi-Fi will cost you.