Avenida Constituyentes, Playa del Carmen, Mexico | (618) 248-8274
Central setting on corner of 5th Avenue and Constituyentes Avenue
Mall, restaurants, bars, and shops on the hotel's doorstep
Clean and spacious rooms with AC; some with balconies
In-room flat-screen TVs, hairdryers, and hand soap
Second-floor pool with views over Constituyentes Avenue
Free Wi-Fi
Hotspot location is noisy, particularly at night
Intermittent Wi-Fi signal
Some complaints of maintenance issues
No elevator for three floors
No in-room mini-fridges
No full restaurant (but many nearby)
This no-fuss two-and-a-half-pearl property has an excellent location for party-minded travelers, as it's on the corner of 5th Avenue and Constituyentes Avenue. Unfortunately, this naturally leads to nighttime noise and most past guests recommend bringing earplugs. The 45 clean, spacious rooms are decked out in basic decor sporting strong air-conditioning. Shower-only rooms with one or two double beds keep things simple, though Deluxe Rooms feature small balconies and pool or street views. Wi-Fi is free, but reportedly spotty in rooms, and a small pool has a surprisingly charming vibe. On the downside, there is no full restaurant or elevator, though a coffee shop is by the hotel's entrance. For an affordable alternative on the southern side of the strip, check out Hotel Hacienda del Caribe, which also has an on-site bar.
Scene
Budget hotel popular with friends and couples
Hotel Caribbean Paradise Boutique & Dive Center is a low-frills spot popular with folks who want to be right in the middle of the action of Playa del Carmen's main drag without breaking the bank. Guests will need to walk through the Ah Cacao storefront to reach reception, where they are greeted by a colorful Mother Guadalupe mural and upbeat music. There's little to this budget property, and the lack of elevators might be a problem for those on the second and third floors. Additionally, its central setting means nighttime noise is a constant issue.
Location
Noisy location right at the corner of 5th Avenue and Constituyentes Avenue
Depending who you ask, Hotel Caribbean Paradise Boutique & Dive Center either has one of the area's best locations or the worst, though no one can deny the convenience. Resting right on the corner of 5th Avenue at Constituyentes Avenue, this small hotel is within seconds of a handful of restaurants, bars, shops, and ATMs. The Quinta Algeria Shopping Mall is across the street, and Walmart is a 13-minute walk away. Within five minutes on foot, guests can reach Coco Bongo and the beachfront, while the ferry port to Cozumel and the main ADO bus station are a 15-minute walk south. Cancun International Airport is a 50-minute drive north on the main highway, and the poplar destinations of Akumal and Tulum are within a 35- and 55-minute drive south, respectively.
Rooms
Basic budget rooms with flat-screen TVs and AC, but no fridges
This small property has 45 rooms sporting the minimal decor and basic furniture you'd expect in a budget hotel. There are no king or queen-sized beds here, as all rooms have either one or two doubles. Standard Rooms start things off with walk-in showers, AC, and flat-screen TV with international channels, while private balconies and views over the pool or 5th Avenue are reserved for Deluxe Rooms. These rooms are also equipped with individual air-conditioning controls and have more natural light. On the downside, all rooms lack fridges.Given the late-night noise, most guests recommend bringing earplugs.
Features
An outdoor pool and free (if spotty) Wi-Fi
Hotel Caribbean Paradise Boutique & Dive Center's biggest feature is its value for location, though the second-floor pool is a big plus. This small pool is flanked by a few Deluxe rooms and has views of the mall across Constituyentes. Views of the mall's living wall and the green palm tree tops gives the pool area a surprisingly relaxing vibe that, when coupled with the hotel's warm-yellow walls and black wrought-iron balconies, feels rather charming. Guests here get free Wi-Fi, though its connectivity can be an issue and often doesn't reach all rooms. The hotel does not have a full restaurant, but a coffee shop is at its entrance, and many more restaurants are bars are close by.