Hotel Bahia Chac Chi

For guests coming down Av. Rueda Medina from the ferry port, Hotel Bahia Chac Chic looks like a contemporary oasis. Its beige colors, polished coral-tile floors, and open-air lobby look chic after a few blocks of bright colors and cluttered souvenir shops. Even though there’s no air-conditioning, most of the hotel follows the open-air concept for a fresh feel, from the bar and courtyard pool, to the hallways. However, while the lobby and pool look contemporary, other areas of the hotel are simpler and bland, including the rooms and the restaurant. Though there’s a surprising amount of public space for such a small-sized property, it’s not a very social hotel, mostly drawing young couples and some families with older kids from the United States, Canada, and Israel. It’s a clean and convenient option, primarily popular for its ocean views and close proximity to the ferry.  

Hotel Bahia Chac Chic has a great daytime location that's just a three-minute walk south from the ferry port, past a hoard of shops, restaurants, and bars. However, come nighttime, these businesses all close, though it's only about a six-minute walk to the bustle of downtown's main area. The Turtle Farm and Icebar are about a 20-minute taxi ride south, while Punta Sur is a 25-minute drive. Playa Norte can be reached in 12 minutes on foot or in five minutes by taxi. To reach Isla Mujeres from the Cancun International Airport, travelers must take a cab from the airport to the Ultramar Ferry (also known as Gran Puerto, Isla Ferry, or Puerto Jerez. From there, guests can purchase tickets for the ferry that runs to Isla Mujeres (a 20-minute journey) throughout the day. 

The 25 rooms here keep selection simple; the balcony either has an ocean view or it doesn’t. Otherwise, all the rooms are exactly the same. Expect a bland combination of white walls, tan bedspreads and drapes, beige-tile floors, and simple wood furniture. The only real pop of color comes from red-vinyl chairs and stool cushions. A noteworthy room feature are the showers with great water pressure coming out of a panel selection of showerheads. Bathroom vanities are long, well-lit, and have magnifying mirrors. In the room proper, expect automated panel controls for the lights and drapes (though our drapes did not budge), vented ice-cold air-conditioning with wall controls, and alarms that beep when guest room doors are ajar. Small flat-screen TVs are mounted on the wall and have 100 channels that are mostly in Spanish. Noise from the halls and surrounding area can be loud, even in an interior-facing room. Standard amenities include two bottles of water on arrival, hairdryers, and digital safes. 

For a relatively small three-pearl property, Bahia Chac Chic makes good use of its space. The tiny but stylish pool area behind reception is the hotel’s central focal point. It’s sparkling clean and sports a wooden deck, showers, and a few loungers. Off to the side of reception, there’s a little bar with a few stools that slings beer and simple cocktails until late in the evening, though it didn’t see much attention during our visit. Taking the elevator to the top floor brings guests to a casual indoor restaurant with simple plastic tables and chairs, plus a great view overlooking the ocean. This is where guests can grab yogurt, cereal, coffee, and fruit at the free continental breakfast buffet. Hot breakfast items, plus lunch and dinner like burgers and nachos, are also available for dine-in or room service at a reasonable price. Board games and pool/beach towels are available for a deposit, and Wi-Fi (with the same unreliable quality found throughout the island), moped and golf cart parking, and self-dispensing purified water are free. Other features include an on-site boutique filled with most clothes and body products, a welcome drink on arrival, and a guest computer station in the lobby. There’s also a barebones meeting room with minimal audiovisual equipment and a long conference table with 12 chairs.