Casa Bonita Boutique Stay Near Beach

We loved the interior, the flat is very comfortable and you can find everything you need there - hairdryer, coffee machine, big tv. The apartment was very clean and check in straightforward. The location is great as it’s situated between 5th and 10th avenue, 5 mins to Paya 88 and around 10 mins to playa Esmeralda. It’s quite far from the city center, but it only takes around 15/20 mins to get there on a bike, that is provided. A huge supermarket is also around 10 mins by bike. For us being a bit far from the city center was an advantage as it can be too loud at night, but all the restaurants and shops are still within a walking distance and very easy to cycle to. Also the host was very helpful and responsive and helped us with recommendations.

The only downside is that there is no direct sun on the terrace, but you can use terrace upstairs if you want a sunny place to chill.

The room itself is attached to the kitchen, which wasn’t an issue for us. Security-wise, the building has a coded gate, a second door, and CCTV, providing a reasonable level of safety. As for the location, it’s about a 20–30 minute walk from the city center. The immediate surroundings are an older Latin-style street—not unsafe, but not particularly impressive either. There’s an OXXO supermarket just two minutes up the street and a nice small café, Rocco’s, two minutes down. If you’re planning to visit Xcaret or other attractions, a taxi is the best option. Punta Esmeralda Beach is about a 15-minute walk, though it gets crowded after 11 AM. The stay was reasonable for the price. We wouldn’t return, but we also don’t regret booking. It’s not a luxury stay, but for the cost, it’s fine. Luvia, the housemaid, was very kind, and the host was always responsive via WhatsApp. If you plan to use the bicycles, note that a $100 deposit is required, and it’s best not to leave it unattended without a lock. The room itself has good AC, a TV with Netflix, a functional kitchen, and a large fridge—practical amenities that made our stay comfortable. Would we come back? - No. But if you're looking for a budget-friendly stay with basic comforts, it’s an option to consider.

We spent nearly a week at this property and wanted to share an honest review. The listing can be misleading. You might assume this is an upper-floor, penthouse-style apartment with a private pool, but it’s actually on the ground floor, with no views. The pool is on the 5th floor, accessible to everyone in the building, and during our stay, it wasn’t properly cleaned or usable. Even if it were, it’s still a shared space, not private as the listing might suggest. One downside was the lack of cleaning service or even a bin change and toilet paper rolls during our entire stay. The provided shampoo and washing soap are low-quality, so you might want to buy your own from the OXXO nearby.

I loved the layout and the clean list and location of the unit as well as the upstairs pool

Everything was perfect!

1. Very clean, nice, modern-looking room. No weird smells. 2. Very close to a GREAT BEACH (playa 88). One of the best beaches in PDC. We tried a few our beach was the best. Not many tourists, mostly locals. Very calm, clean, workers were cleaning seaweed each day. You can rent Palapas (shaded place) for free, you just need to arrive early and bring your ID. But I recommend to go to supermarket and buy your own beach umbrella for $20. I recommend this location for people who want to mostly spend time on the beach, families with kids etc. Not great for young people who want to party. 3. Good water pressure. 4. Great host. Good communication and he was very helpful. 5. Personal parking spot under the shade. We rented a car and it was cool not to look for parking on the streets. 6. You can rent a bike. Good strong wi-fi. 7. Tiny convenience store around the corner. Oxxo. 8. This place is located outside the main tourist area, in a residential area, so to buy groceries or eat out, you would need a taxi or rental car. Keep it in mind. Stay here if you are ok with cooking at your unit, or have a rental car and ok driving to 5th-10th avenue each time. Two tiny cafe nearby but you cant rely on them for food for a week or two.

1. No washer/dryer in the unit or anywhere in the building. No direct sunlight on the patio, so if you wash your shirt and put it on a balcony, it will stay wet for days. Your only option to dry it would be to bring it to the lavanderia (washeteria) or place it in the bathroom, turn on the dehumidifier and wait 2 days. So bring multiple swimsuits and outfits as you will not be able to sun dry it on a patio. 2. Our unit was on the 1st floor. Balcony/patio has zero view. Only tall concrete wall (see picture). No direct sunlight reaches the patio. Try to get a unit not on the 1st floor with direct sunlight. 3. Salt/paper shakers but no salt/pepper. No sun umbrella or beach chairs. We bought our own big beach umbrella and left it at the unit for the next guests. Nearby beach has only 12 palapas (shaded spots) and they are always occupied. 4. No dishwasher. I had to do all dishes by hand.

When I enter the room, it was amazing, super nice design and comfortable space. Just the day after I realized that was an incredible rooftop with few outdoor tables and fornitures, a barbecue, a fridge and a fantastic swimming pool. The apartment it is literally 5 minutes walking to a stunning beach, and 15 minutes from the Main Street. It got useful bicycles available to use for any needs for free. The chicken have got all the tools you need and the bad and bathroom are super comfortable. I loved it.

Beautiful apartment, great location if you love the beach. It was a three minute bike ride away. Sandra the host was amazing. I will definitely stay there next time I go to Playa del Carmen.

Would have liked a little couch.