Alaya Beachfront Tulum Hotel

If you look at the pictures, that is exactly how the place looks, super nice with the huge tropical plants and vines you feel like in the tropics right on the beach - very cool. You are also right on the beach. The staff was all super nice and helpful. If you come here: check the season and why you are coming to Tulum (because if it is the beach, you need to check for the season)

1) car: you will need a car if you are here, as you are in the hotel zone you can still only walk that much, so either you need a taxi, rent a bike or have a car. There are some restaurants and a minimarket nearby. But without a car you don't go anywhere. 2) swimming: you have two options the ocean or tiny pool (for cool down not swimming): if you are here during the sea weed time which we were (and check it, it only gets worse) we were unable to go into the ocean - so you can sit in the beach and cool down in the pool that's it. They were super nice and gave us a day pass for a hotel inside the Jaguar park, where we could park for free and here it is better, as they have netting in the ocean and clean up - still we didn't want to go in the ocean it is not like on the pictures. 3) fridge versus balcony: when we booked we took the apartment which had a fridge (as we really like cold drinks) and a coffee maker - but then you do not have a balcony - so you are either inside your AC'd room or at the beach - but can't relax, the nice Garden villas: are cute but in trade for the balcony you have no fridge. And as we were here in the "humid" season there were tons of mosquitos/flies: we got a lot of bites: so even if we would traded in for the balcony room - we wouldn't sat outside. Because we came for the beach (which was not existing, we checked out 3 days earlier, even we couldn't get a refund - and were happy as we headed north to Cancun where there is nearly no sea weed and we got an all-inclusive for the same price.

It was in a beautiful setting right on the beach and backed by the jungle. It was very chilled and quiet. We are not fans of blaring music while sunbathing, reading etc, so we were pleased they didn’t play music. The staff were very welcoming and friendly, always asking if we were happy and if they could do anything for us. The concierge team were very informative and found quieter restaurants that didn’t pump out the music. We loved having a morning drink brought to our balcony. The views were stunning We loved how accessible it was to walk to restaurants in the evening compared to Tulum centro

The bathroom/shower facilities were fairly basic, eg a wonky tap on the sink. We experienced a lot of wind and crashing waves, so it made it quite hard to sleep. I do appreciate it’s in a natural setting though. We found Tulum South beach very expensive. It’s a shame because it makes you order less drinks etc. We were also disappointed that there was a lack of live music. We avoided some restaurants because the music was just too loud. We love music, but not when you can’t have a conversation

Everything was amazing! The room was clean and comfortable. The beach was private and gorgeous with lounge chairs. The servers were attentive and funny. Breakfast was delicious with fresh fruit and juice. Coffee delivered to our room was a highlight every morning. It was a friend's Bday and they brought out mimosas and cake to the beach to celebrate. Lots of great food in close walking distance. 24 hour security so we felt very safe. All the staff were helpful.

Very minor- the door locks and safe were older key-style. But we still felt extremely safe and secure!

The location & beach was beautiful . Coffee & Ginger shot in the morning and free 9am yoga was a touch.

Felt overpriced for what you are getting