Nautibeach Condos

The entrance to Nautibeach Condos is a little disorienting at first, requiring guests to cross a parking lot and walk through the property’s garden to reach the hotel’s small lobby. The lobby looks like a cross between an office and a shop, with branded T-shirts and local guidebooks for sale near the reception desk. There’s a wall of DVDs that guests are free to borrow, as well as a table offering free coffee and water.

The grounds are actually more intimate than they initially seem, with a garden of tropical plants and sandy paths separating the condos from the beach and pool area. Despite the pleasant rooms, attractive pool, and fantastic location, the hotel has an inescapable mid-range feel. It meets expectations without pushing to exceed them.

Reasonable prices and large units understandably draw a lot of families. The atmosphere at the pool and beach was quite lively during our visit, busy with kids of all ages. 

Nautibeach Condos is set on the island’s largest and loveliest beach, Playa Norte. The hotel is located at a quiet end of Avenida Rueda Medina which, despite being one of the island’s main roads, feels more like a side street than a traffic clogged main artery. 

The restaurants, bars, and shops of downtown are located less than five minutes away on foot, with the largest concentration of options found along nearby Avenida Hidalgo. The Ultramar Ferry Terminal is less than half-a-mile, or eight-minute walk away. Continuing towards the south end of the island, Dolphin Discovery and National Reef Park Garrafon are both under a 20-minute drive away.

The condos are privately-owned, and therefore the layout, decor, and amenities vary significantly from room to room. Pastel colors, wood furniture, and tile flooring are a reoccurring trend throughout. The most basic unit is the Regular Single, which includes a mini-fridge, microwave, and coffeemaker. At the other end of the spectrum are the enormous Two-Bedroom Suites, which offer kitchens with full-size fridges, cutlery, and two-burner stovetops, in addition to separate dining areas, living rooms, and scenic balconies or patios.

Some rooms are quite stylish, such as the Deluxe Single, which makes a striking impression with its mint green walls and whitewashed wood furniture. Other units look a touch more dated, but appear tidy and bright nonetheless. In most cases, Caribbean-inspired artwork adds interest to rooms with blander color schemes. Bathrooms are equally diverse, but all include showers and bio2 bath products. In most two-bedroom condos, the sink and countertop is positioned just outside a small room containing the shower and water closet.

The hotel offers a square lap pool surrounded by dozens of lounge chairs and beach umbrellas. A palapa bar is set on one corner of the pool, although it was unstaffed during our visit. The independently-owned Mayan Beach Club restaurant is also located beside the pool, open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. A low wall separates the hotel property from the beach, allowing guests relaxing around the pool to see pretty views of the coast.

Beyond the pool, the property opens up onto a beautiful stretch of Playa Norte, which is dotted with more of the hotel’s signature blue lounge chairs and umbrellas.

The hotel also offers in-room massage services, free DVD rentals, and wedding planning services. Free Wi-Fi is available by the pool, and a number of guests report also receiving signals in their rooms.