Suites Gaby Hotel

Most guests at Suites Gaby Hotel are only in Cancun for a night or two before heading off to other destinations. This option is suited to budget travelers who don't need more than a quick sleep and simple breakfast. The exterior might appear a tad dated, with water stains marking the paint underneath the name plate, but the lobby gives way to clean tile floors, the reception desk, an ATM, the restaurant, and the stairs up. Just don’t expect the air-conditioning in the lobby to be running; some guests note that the hotel usually keeps the front doors open to keep the electric bill as low as possible.  

There haven’t been any updates in recent years, and there is some visible wear, such as cracks in the plaster finish, and some grout missing from tiles, but otherwise the hotel is kept clean. While the restaurant does serve breakfast, the lack of lunch and dinner on-site may be a downside for some, but there are plenty of other eateries nearby. Located across the street from Market 28, the hotel is set in the perfect spot for exploring what downtown Cancun has to offer -- especially if you enjoy true Mexican cuisine, as there are dozens of restaurants within walking distance.

For exploring what makes the downtown section of Cancun authentically Mexican, Suites Gaby is in the perfect location. Nearby are Market 28 with its various shops selling anything from knickknacks to low-cost silver jewelry mined from within Mexico. Tree-lined Sunyaxchen Avenue, which is just out front of the hotel and runs all the way from the post office up to Yaxchilan Avenue, transforms every Saturday afternoon with the local artist consortium known as Pasearte. Guests will find paintings, books, poetry, live music, sculptures, and more, all from local talent. A local supermarket, Super Aki, is around 10 minutes away on foot, just on the other side of Market 28, and there is an Oxxo convenience store less than five minutes away.

The primary downtown event park, Parque Las Palapas, is less than 10 minutes away on foot; on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday nights expect to find live performances, clothing merchants, and street food vendors. The ADO bus station is around 10 minutes away on foot, and from there or Tulum Avenue guests can catch the R1 bus down to the Hotel Zone and the beaches, which will take roughly 30 minutes depending on traffic.  

There are 54 rooms -- 32 Standard Rooms with a single queen-size bed, and 22 Superior Rooms with two queen-size beds. The rooms are simply decorated with off-white tile floors, white walls, muted orange bedding and curtains, and basic wood trim and cabinetry.

Bathrooms have showers (no tubs), with shampoo, conditioner, and soap. Flat-screen TVs are mounted on the walls, and the rooms come with air-conditioning as well as Wi-Fi. In-room safes are located within the closets, but there are no coffeemakers, mini-fridges, or other amenities. 

Rooms that have windows typically have unappealing views, sometimes of air-conditioning machinery or interior corridors. The best guests can expect are views of the street or surrounding neighborhood. 

A continental breakfast and coffee are available as part of many room rates, though it's possible to book a room-only rate. No room service is available.

There are roughly 20 parking spaces available for guests in the covered garage, although it can be a bit tricky to navigate the square U shape if there are other vehicles parked within. The area is gated and locked to keep vehicles safe.

Guests can smoke out front of the hotel, and there are a few seats available just outside the doors to the lobby, but the primary smoking area is the rooftop terrace; follow the signs up the stairs until you see the open doors. Plastic tables and chairs are available, along with views out over the surrounding downtown district. All of the rooms are non-smoking.