Pros

  • Excellent location just a half-block from both 5th Avenue and the beach
  • 45 spacious and contemporary rooms; some with kitchens
  • Rooftop sundeck with small pool, bar, tiny massage room, and panoramic views
  • Adjacent restaurant with health-conscious continental breakfast buffet (for a fee)
  • 24-hour reception and 24-hour coffee and tea in the lobby
  • Business center, concierge service, and bike rental
  • Reciprocal access to Hacienda Paradise Boutqiue
  • Discounts and deals to local beach clubs
  • Free Wi-Fi throughout
  • Glass elevator that looks out onto the garden courtyard and waterfall
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Cons

  • Fee for breakfast
  • Mix of both contemporary and dated decor; large discrepancy in rooms
  • Pool is small
See More Cons

Bottom Line

A super convenient spot with comfortable features, the 45-room mid-range Illusion Boutique is just a half-block from both 5th Avenue and the beach. The sunny rooftop deck with small pool and smaller bar has wide city views out to the ocean. Other features include a tiny massage room and a garden courtyard to grab a quick and healthy breakfast for a fee. There’s also 24-reception and tea and coffee, public computer, concierge, and bike rentals. The fifth floor has the newest and most contemporary rooms, while generally, the hotel is in various shades of dated and contemporary decor. For all-inclusive rates and beach access, check rates at Hotel Riu Cancun. 

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Amenities

  • Internet
  • Pool

Oyster Hotel Review

Illusion Boutique Hotel by Xperience Hotels

Scene

A chilled-out boutique filled bright public spaces, varying decor, and marketing speak

Built around 2005, the Illusion Boutique Hotel by Xperience Hotels seems trapped in a purgatory of past and present, with a telling variance of furniture and spaces -- from the lobby, to the rooms, to the roof -- ranging between a somewhat dated feel and lower-end upscale look. Although the hotel has been a part of the Xperience group for over half a decade, in places it feels as if it's still a hotel being slowly transferred, transformed, and updated. The rooftop sun deck, a small and awkward pool, and the fifth floor’s newer, more contemporary rooms are a move in the right direction, but some of the “chic” decor, such as golden yellow marble floors you'd find at a remodeled Super8, come off only as genuine as any mid-range spot with room names like Prestige Suite and Vision Cabana can.

Decor aside, the vibe in the hotel is chill, unpretentious, and spacious. It’s a nice escape from the dense madness happening just a half-block around the corner on La Quinta Avenida. The hotel is built around a small and bright garden courtyard area filled with tables and chairs and a rustic but decorative stone wall waterfall that makes riding up the glass elevator a treat. Though there are a few lounge spaces hidden here and there, there’s not much socializing outside of the courtyard area and rooftop bar, so this place is best suited for quiet groups of friends or couples. Be aware that this hotel group likes its fancy marketing names, so guests are known as "Ambassadors" and rooms are named things like "Vision Cabana" and "Mirage". 

See More Scene

Location

Superb and central off-strip location, under a minute to the beach and La Quinta

Located on 8th Street, about an equidistant half-block off the heart of La Quinta Avenida and to the beach, the Illusion Boutique Hotel by Xperience an ideal spot for those who want to be on either the strip or the beach in under a minute without having the hornet’s nest of a pedestrian-only parade that is La Quinta Avenida right outside their front door. The hotel is within 15 to 20 minute’s walk from either side of the strip, the ADO bus stop, and ferry to Cozumel. Cancun is 45 minutes north by car, while Akumal and Tulum are 30 and 45-minute south, respectively.

See More Location

Rooms

Large rooms with fancy names and basic amenities

Of the Illusion's 45 rooms, the digs built in 2014 on the fifth floor are newest and most contemporary. With slightly pretentious marketing-driven names like Vision Cabana, Mirage, and Prestige Suites, some rooms fail to live up to the hype their snazzy names present. Lower category Mirage rooms overlook the garden courtyard and have peach and sand colored marble floors with dated Caribbean-style wicker furnishings. Upgrades to the Vision and Prestige categories will buy you pool and/or sea views, coffeemakers, microwaves, iPod docks, and DVD players. The Prestige Suite is the largest room and lies poolside on the rooftop. Unlike all other rooms, it features a dedicated sofa sitting area, dining table, and kitchenette with four-burner stove, utensils, and dishes. Surprisingly, the suite is not the most stylish of the bunch -- it's decor lies someplace between the dated look of the Mirage rooms and the chicer upscale white marble floor, dark wood furniture, and smooth design of the Vision Cabanas. 

All rooms are large, feel spacious, and have mini-bars, makeup mirrors, organic Mayan toiletries, hairdryers, rain showers, and cable TVs. Irons, if not present, are available on request. Wi-Fi and Internet connections as well as VoIP telephone calls (for a fee) are available in all rooms. 

See More Rooms

Beach

Fully unequipped public beach lined with local businesses

Illusion is located a half-block from one of Playa’s busier and quieter public beaches. Just turn right out of the front door and you can be toes in the soft white sand in under a minute. There’s a lifeguard station at the entrance of the beach, but don’t expect someone to be manning the post -- or for there to be much more than just a wide stretch of sand to throw a towel down on. The public beaches are bare bones -- which is why many opt for entrance into an equipped beach club -- however, there is a massage palapa and the Playa Maya hotel bar and restaurant just to the right of the beach entrance.

See More Beach

Features

Great rooftop area with pool, bar, and views, and 24-hour reception

Illusion’s hottest commodity, aside from its location, can be found all the way up the glass elevator on the rooftop. Here, guests will find a tiny bar, sundeck area with loungers and a small, slightly awkwardly positioned dipping pool. A massage room is tucked away in the back by the elevator and guests can peep sweeping views over the city and out to sea. There’s also a small garden courtyard area on the ground floor with a scattering of tables and chairs from the adjacent restaurant and a small waterfall. 

In the morning the hotel serves a long continental breakfast buffet with yogurts, cereals, fruit, juices, and granola a well as a hot items menu, all for an extra fee. For those who like freebies, you can snag free Wi-Fi throughout the hotel, 24-hour coffee and tea in the 24-hour lobby and reception area, and use the single computer business center. There’s also a concierge service to help book tours, arrange reservations, or just point guests in the direction of the best beach clubs (many of which the hotel has discounts and deals with) and a bike rental service (fee).

See More Features

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Oyster Hotel Review

Illusion Boutique Hotel by Xperience Hotels

Scene

A chilled-out boutique filled bright public spaces, varying decor, and marketing speak

Built around 2005, the Illusion Boutique Hotel by Xperience Hotels seems trapped in a purgatory of past and present, with a telling variance of furniture and spaces -- from the lobby, to the rooms, to the roof -- ranging between a somewhat dated feel and lower-end upscale look. Although the hotel has been a part of the Xperience group for over half a decade, in places it feels as if it's still a hotel being slowly transferred, transformed, and updated. The rooftop sun deck, a small and awkward pool, and the fifth floor’s newer, more contemporary rooms are a move in the right direction, but some of the “chic” decor, such as golden yellow marble floors you'd find at a remodeled Super8, come off only as genuine as any mid-range spot with room names like Prestige Suite and Vision Cabana can.

Decor aside, the vibe in the hotel is chill, unpretentious, and spacious. It’s a nice escape from the dense madness happening just a half-block around the corner on La Quinta Avenida. The hotel is built around a small and bright garden courtyard area filled with tables and chairs and a rustic but decorative stone wall waterfall that makes riding up the glass elevator a treat. Though there are a few lounge spaces hidden here and there, there’s not much socializing outside of the courtyard area and rooftop bar, so this place is best suited for quiet groups of friends or couples. Be aware that this hotel group likes its fancy marketing names, so guests are known as "Ambassadors" and rooms are named things like "Vision Cabana" and "Mirage". 

See More Scene

Location

Superb and central off-strip location, under a minute to the beach and La Quinta

Located on 8th Street, about an equidistant half-block off the heart of La Quinta Avenida and to the beach, the Illusion Boutique Hotel by Xperience an ideal spot for those who want to be on either the strip or the beach in under a minute without having the hornet’s nest of a pedestrian-only parade that is La Quinta Avenida right outside their front door. The hotel is within 15 to 20 minute’s walk from either side of the strip, the ADO bus stop, and ferry to Cozumel. Cancun is 45 minutes north by car, while Akumal and Tulum are 30 and 45-minute south, respectively.

See More Location

Rooms

Large rooms with fancy names and basic amenities

Of the Illusion's 45 rooms, the digs built in 2014 on the fifth floor are newest and most contemporary. With slightly pretentious marketing-driven names like Vision Cabana, Mirage, and Prestige Suites, some rooms fail to live up to the hype their snazzy names present. Lower category Mirage rooms overlook the garden courtyard and have peach and sand colored marble floors with dated Caribbean-style wicker furnishings. Upgrades to the Vision and Prestige categories will buy you pool and/or sea views, coffeemakers, microwaves, iPod docks, and DVD players. The Prestige Suite is the largest room and lies poolside on the rooftop. Unlike all other rooms, it features a dedicated sofa sitting area, dining table, and kitchenette with four-burner stove, utensils, and dishes. Surprisingly, the suite is not the most stylish of the bunch -- it's decor lies someplace between the dated look of the Mirage rooms and the chicer upscale white marble floor, dark wood furniture, and smooth design of the Vision Cabanas. 

All rooms are large, feel spacious, and have mini-bars, makeup mirrors, organic Mayan toiletries, hairdryers, rain showers, and cable TVs. Irons, if not present, are available on request. Wi-Fi and Internet connections as well as VoIP telephone calls (for a fee) are available in all rooms. 

See More Rooms

Beach

Fully unequipped public beach lined with local businesses

Illusion is located a half-block from one of Playa’s busier and quieter public beaches. Just turn right out of the front door and you can be toes in the soft white sand in under a minute. There’s a lifeguard station at the entrance of the beach, but don’t expect someone to be manning the post -- or for there to be much more than just a wide stretch of sand to throw a towel down on. The public beaches are bare bones -- which is why many opt for entrance into an equipped beach club -- however, there is a massage palapa and the Playa Maya hotel bar and restaurant just to the right of the beach entrance.

See More Beach

Features

Great rooftop area with pool, bar, and views, and 24-hour reception

Illusion’s hottest commodity, aside from its location, can be found all the way up the glass elevator on the rooftop. Here, guests will find a tiny bar, sundeck area with loungers and a small, slightly awkwardly positioned dipping pool. A massage room is tucked away in the back by the elevator and guests can peep sweeping views over the city and out to sea. There’s also a small garden courtyard area on the ground floor with a scattering of tables and chairs from the adjacent restaurant and a small waterfall. 

In the morning the hotel serves a long continental breakfast buffet with yogurts, cereals, fruit, juices, and granola a well as a hot items menu, all for an extra fee. For those who like freebies, you can snag free Wi-Fi throughout the hotel, 24-hour coffee and tea in the 24-hour lobby and reception area, and use the single computer business center. There’s also a concierge service to help book tours, arrange reservations, or just point guests in the direction of the best beach clubs (many of which the hotel has discounts and deals with) and a bike rental service (fee).

See More Features

Best Rates

Amenities

  • Air Conditioner

  • Airport Transportation

  • Business Center

  • Cable

  • Concierge

  • Dry Cleaning

  • Internet

  • Kids Allowed

  • Laundry

  • Pool

  • Separate Bedroom / Living Room Space

Disclaimer: This content was accurate at the time the hotel was reviewed. Please check our partner sites when booking to verify that details are still correct.