Hotel Las Golondrinas

Hotel Las Golondrinas is housed in a Mexican Colonial style building with a Spanish tile roof and a charming fountain at its entrance. The lobby contains all the usual suspects: the reception desk, a few sofas, a table with brochures, and a computer for guests’ use -- otherwise it’s rather nondescript. Adjacent to the lobby is the hotel’s breakfast room, which also has a lovely outdoor patio where guests can enjoy their morning meal. The real stunner here is the hotel’s gorgeous interior courtyard. Draped in green leafy plants, with dark wood decking, white cafe tables, and an apparent butterfly motif, the courtyard feels like a mystical garden, especially at night. This “secret garden” courtyard is also home to one of the hotel’s pools, and is a popular spot for guests to hang out throughout the day. The hotel is popular with couples and families, usually tourists. 

There are few small hotels in Playa del Carmen with better locations than Hotel Las Golondrinas. Located on Avenida Constituyentes, a busy thoroughfare that runs straight to the beach, the hotel is perfectly situated for guests looking to “do it all” in Playa. Guests can easily walk to the beach, La Quinta Avenida, shops, restaurants, and even the nearby Walmart. The hotel is about a 45-minute drive from Cancun Airport, and about an hour’s drive from Tulum.  Playa del Carmen is generally safe, and travelers typically feel comfortable to roam as they please. However, at night, it’s best to stay within the touristy realms of the city, especially if traveling alone. Hotel staff members will be happy to show guests a map of town and point out where it’s safe to wander. Avenida Constituyentes and the immediate areas surrounding the hotel are well lit and typically very safe at night. There's free limited parking in a small lot in front of the hotel. 

All rooms at Las Golondrinas face the hotel’s beautiful interior courtyard, giving them lovely views but little natural light. For the most part, rooms are spacious and feature charming Mexican touches like hand-painted tile headboards and colorful bedspreads. Though sleeping can be difficult on the hotel’s rock-hard beds, rooms are good for little else. Desk chairs do not fit properly underneath the desks, and available outlets are scarce, making these rooms a business traveler’s nightmare. Also, rooms with multiple bedrooms only have one wall-mounted air conditioner, which makes cooling the entire unit a difficult task. Bathrooms typically feature tiled floors and showers, one sink, one toilet, and an array of sustainable toiletries. The hotel considers itself eco-friendly, and therefore asks guests to use the air conditioner only when necessary, to turn it off when not in the room, and to throw away used toilet paper in the provided receptacles instead of flushing it down the toilet. While these requests may seem burdensome to some guests, they are common practices at many similar hotels in the area. Most guest rooms are equipped with two queen-size beds, but other rooms offer multiple bedrooms. Some suites have separate living and dining areas, along with fully equipped kitchens, though the furniture and appliances in these rooms are rather dated. Guest rooms are located on one of three floors, and there is an elevator -- an uncommon find at hotels in this price range.     

Besides its stellar location, Hotel Las Golondrinas’ two pools are without a doubt its best features. The larger of the two pools is located in the interior courtyard, where there are a few cushioned lounge chairs and cafe tables for guests’ use. The second pool is located in an outdoor garden, is much smaller, and tends to be less crowded. Pool towels are free, which is a nice perk in Mexico. Adjacent to the lobby is a small breakfast room with an outdoor patio. Breakfast is served buffet-style each morning, and usually consists of one hot item such as pancakes or eggs, and other cold items like cereals, fresh fruit, and pastries. While not too expensive, breakfast still incurs an extra charge. There isn't a full restaurant or bar on-site. The hotel also offers free Wi-Fi. Las Golondrinas partners with one of Playa’s most popular beach clubs, Mamita’s, and offers guests exclusive discounts and benefits. Mamita’s is about a 15-minute walk from the hotel.