Ramada Cancun City

Ramada Cancun City sits on a lively street near the city's main bus terminal, which makes it easy to connect to sights in the Yucatan Peninsula and throughout Mexico. The hotel draws Mexican families, young backpacker couples, and occasionally business travelers. The hotel has a design utilizing lots of white and bright pops of color. This is first seen in the airy white-walled lobby with red faux-leather seating on white tile. A bamboo rack acts as a partition between the reception space and the restaurant, which is decked out in all-white tables and chairs. Rooms have more colorful pops of red, orange, and/or green. The outdoor pool area is arguably the prettiest spot, featuring a stone deck with bright-blue-tiled pool and lots of palm trees. Overall, it's a cheerful vibe that fits its beach-town setting. 

Situated on one of the city's major nightlife streets, the Ramada Cancun City is not for travelers seeking quiet and seclusion, especially on weekends. A six-minute walk from the ADO bus terminal, it's convenient for short stopovers, flight layovers, and regional sightseeing. The hotel is a five-minute walk to Mercado 28, a typical market with handcrafts, restaurants, and affordable shopping, especially when compared with prices in the Hotel Zone. A pharmacy is right next door, and convenience stores and restaurants are in walking distance. Avenida Tulum, where buses to the Hotel Zone stop, is about an eight-minute walk away. 

Avenue Coba is about six blocks south, with buses that stop at Walmart in less than two minutes. Parque de las Palapas, a large square with food stands, local festivals, and a Catholic church, is also about a five-minute walk from the hotel. Buses from Avenida Tulum head south to Las Americas shopping mall, about a five-minute ride, while the beaches and nightclubs in the Hotel Zone are about 20 minutes away. Cancun International Airport, about a 25-minute drive, can also be reached by bus from the ADO terminal near the hotel.

Distributed among the hotel's four floors, the 101 rooms at Ramada Cancun have a cheerful design that incorporates lots of bright colors. They're decked out in white tile floors, wood furniture and paneling along the walls behind beds, and bright pops of orange, red, and lime-green in the bedding, drapes, accent walls, and chairs. Big canvas prints of beach scenes add to the sunny vibe. Some of the furnishings border on dated and worn, but rooms are still pleasant and clean. They come with either one king-size bed or two double beds. There's also an Executive Floor, which does not allow children, presumably making it quieter.

All rooms have large windows, and some have balconies with city or pool views -- rooms facing the street may pick up noise, especially on weekend nights. Standard amenities include air-conditioning, MP3 docking stations (not iPod), flat-screen TVs, and free, reliable Wi-Fi, as well as small work desks with chairs, ironing facilities, and electronic safes. Coffeemakers and bottles of water are also provided, but there are no mini-fridges. Bathrooms are a bit small, but mosaic-tiled showers have good water pressure. Toiletries are available through dispensers in the showers. 

Amenities aren't extensive for this downtown hotel, but the outdoor pool is pleasant and there's a small kiddy pool. Loungers and a few umbrellas line the deck. The air-conditioned gym features two Universal machines, a stationary bike, and free weights. The hotel also has a business center with two PC stations and printing services, plus an event space. The hotel offers a free shuttle service to and from a beach club and to the airport for a fee. Wi-Fi is through throughout the property.

The on-site, all-day restaurant is located off the lobby and serves both buffet and a la carte meals. It also has a bar with ample stool seating.