Aventura Mexicana

After opening in 2006, Hotel Aventura Mexicano quickly acquired the property next door and broke down a wall to add an adult-only section with a soft Greco-Roman Mediterranean style. This expansion also brought another pool, full-service restaurant, and additional sundecks. The hotel has funky and traditional colonial style on its older family side, and more upscale style in the adult-only section, but despite the two distinct spaces there is a common laid-back vibe.

Guests first enter the colonial-style lobby. This side of the building is heavy on solid wood, wrought-iron, and painted Talavera-style tiles. Bold colors include bright lime, oranges, pinks, and blues. Landscaping on the family side of the resort is lush and tropical, with lots of shady palm trees, vines, and a few banana trees. It’s also home to two pools and a non-heated whirlpool, the yoga studio, weekly market, and small spa palapa. Through a small hallway, guests can reach both the restaurant and the adult-only section. This side has a a slightly softer, more romantic feel, with hordes of bushy bougainvilleas and hibiscus plants, whitewashed walls, and beautiful painted tile accents. No matter which side you end up on, one thing is for sure -- you’ll feel miles away from La Quinta Avenida’s craziness and noise.

Located on a side street just a half-block from the packed pedestrian-only La Quinta Avenida, guests at Hotel Aventura Mexicana are in an ideal spot. They're just around the corner from a plethora of restaurants, bars, clubs, shops, and everything else the strip has to offer, yet set among some of the most relaxing garden grounds in the area. The city’s ADO bus station is about a 10-minute walk south, while a 10-minute walk north takes you to the end of the strip. Cancun Airport is around a 45-minute drive north on the main highway, while Akumal’s famous snorkeling and Tulum’s beachside ruins are 30 and 50 minutes south, respectively.  

All 49 guestrooms have either two double beds or a king, flat-screen TVs with (mostly Spanish) cable channels, free continental breakfast and Wi-Fi, safes, and mini-fridges. Some rooms have small balconies or terraces overlooking the gardens and a pool. Toiletry kits are organic and include a nice selection ranging from shampoo to after-sun gel. However, there is a huge discrepancy between the style and quality of rooms on either side. Rooms in the traditional, family side of the hotel are dated and have lots of visible wear. Dark wood furniture and poor lighting don’t help with the overall dimness, either. They do, however, have plenty of colonial charm. In contrast, rooms on the adult-only side of the property have a beautiful and classic Greco-Roman and Cycladic style with whitewashed walls, curves, and built-ins, and are well lit. Upgrades to Honeymoon Suites get you full kitchens, in-room columns, and a stereo system. 

Technically, Aventura is not a beach hotel. While it may say it’s only two blocks from the beach, you’ve actually got to do a five-block zig-zag down a few longer-than-average streets to reach the closest public beach. The public beaches are mostly unexceptional, and usually have no loungers but lots of seaweed. However, Aventura has worked out deals with local beach clubs such as Indigo (offering free entry for guests) and Kool Club (offering discounted entry) where there are food, drinks, and plenty of places to sunbathe on Playa’s famous white sands.

It may seem odd to say, but Aventura’s best feature might be its gorgeous garden grounds. With an exotic tropical landscape on the family side and a delicate Mediterranean oasis on the adult-only side -- swaying palm trees, banana-bearing trees, climbing vines, tufts of brightly colored bougainvilleas covering walls and winding around trellises -- the hotel allows guests to feel so immersed in nature that they just might forget they're in the city. All three pools and the above-ground (non-heated) hot tub, the Mayan Bistro Restaurant, spa palapa, and yoga studio/Kava bar are all surrounded by green gardens.

Two unique features of the hotel are its daily donation-based yoga classes and weekly market featuring local vendors. There's also a lending library in the lobby along with free international Skype phone calls and a tours desk -- if you’re looking for more ways to occupy your time.

Free continental breakfast is served at the Mayan Bistro, which is also open for lunch and dinner. There’s also free Wi-Fi throughout the property, a business center with printing (for a fee), and extremely limited free parking (i.e., one spot) out front. Also, keep your eyes peeled for Olivia the cat. She’s an old tortoiseshell calico who refused to move after the original owner sold the place and spends her time lounging in the sun waiting for snacks from the kitchen or guests.