Mahekal Beach Resort - Playa del Carmen

Nice place, relaxing, beautiful beach with big waves. Plenty of beach chairs and shade. The only not so great thing was the occasional smell of septic in our room, likely caused by our proximity to the workers' portable toilets behind the room.

Genuine Hotels.com guest review

a lot of money fo nothing !!!!

Genuine Hotels.com guest review

We like a resort or hotel that is not too large, especially if the number of guests overwhelms limited beach space. No problem at Mahekal ! There were plenty of chairs available for sitting under the palapas (thatched roof structures) for shade. The waves were stimulating but not intimidating. breakfast and lunch (or dinner) were included. We always […] like to go into town to enjoy the local restaurants. In Playa, you can find a wide variety of excellent restaurants including but not limited to traditional and contemporary Mexican food. The grounds were beautifully maintained and the thatched roof cottages were nicely designed inside and out. Read more

Genuine Expedia guest review

Paradise. Loved it . Nice and quiet as well as beautiful. Amazing food and service. So much attention done to detail here. Lighting at night beautiful. Highly recommend this place for couples.

Genuine Expedia guest review

hotel is a real gem it is in agarden setting with small thatched roof dwellings giving the impression of a small village. The food is superb particularly the breakfast with extensive buffet of fruits fresh orange juice yogourts pastries in a dining room overlooking ocean. Staff very friendly beach has nice shaded areas. Only drawback is that surrounding […] areas have been built up with hotels and condos . un fortunately this cannot be helped. hotel is inexpensive and easily reached from the states. . A little over 3 hours plane ride from the East coast cities and then a taxi ride of about 40 minutes and you are there. Excursions to surrounding vists and archeological sites can be arranged. Visitors often return many times Read more

Genuine Expedia guest review

Everything about this hotel was fantastic within the confines of the hotel. However, Playa del Carmen has become a destination point for devotees of house music. We had the great misfortune of staying there during the BPM festival, which was nonstop noise for most of the afternoon and evening. Since the hotel is fashionably minimalist (which we like), […] it is not even possible to try to fight back against the heavy bass reverberating off of the masonry walls of your room. Frustrating to say the least. The food at the hotel was good for the most part, and the staff was great. The beach not great but adequate. So the bottom line is to check out the events in town before booking a reservation here. Read more

Genuine Expedia guest review

We liked the small atmosphere. The beach resort has a great location. We could walk to all activities and town. The staff seemed more than eager to help your needs but missed the mark some of the time. We did not enjoy paying for bottled water all of the time. A small mini fridge in the room would have been great. The property was very well kept and […] beautiful. We felt very safe with the security. Read more

Genuine Expedia guest review

A beautiful cabana hotel right on the beach. Lovely tropical grounds, very well maintained. One of the highlights was the food - usually buffet-style, but excellent quality, and often themed (local specialties). Delicious! Very friendly personnel. Attention to detail in decor and service.

Genuine Expedia guest review

We've spent Christmas week in Spain, Italy, Egypt, Florida and Greece and this was the best vacation we've had.

Genuine Expedia guest review

nice place, nice location, nice bungalow, nice people but 400 usd per night seems to me a little overpriced ; no phone, no coffe machine, no wifi, no tv, no bar, beach chair orrible, etc etc . again, nice place but they can do better

Genuine Hotels.com guest review

Great Service, Kind Staff, great location and food

Genuine Expedia guest review

Loved the location... Beachfront... close to la quinta, but no noise, we were in a beachfront room, just steps from the water.. This was the first time in Mahekal and would like to come back with the kids, although it is more adult oriented, the service of the staff was excellent, and quality of the food was great. The upkeep of the hotel is great. […] The only "disadvantage" is no phones or internet in the rooms, only wifi in lobby and bar, but to me was just pleasing, so I would enjoy the beach, sea, the feel of vacation. Hope to go back again!! Read more

Genuine Expedia guest review

The Mahekal is perfectly located near the 5th Avenue of Playa del Carmen. The resort is very beautiful with well maintained and tidy gardens. Also the room is very tidy, the staff friendly and the food, especially the breakfast on a splendid terrace, very statisfying. I would recommend this resort to everyone.

Genuine Expedia guest review

Beautiful setting and grounds that are kept immaculate. We found easy access to the beach. The staff is helpful and friendly, and the location very good. The room was cleaned well, although little items like complementary toiletries were never restocked. The meals were good but not spectacular. However, the atmosphere was. The dining facilities are […] beautiful. We found the rooms to be poorly lit, and the bathroom quite cramped. Read more

Genuine Expedia guest review

If you are hoping for a nice beach and swimming, this is not the hotel to go - at least not in November. There are some bubbles coming out of the water with strong smell of roten eggs. Depending on the direction of the wind, it can range from totally unbearable to be on the beach or anywhere close t it to ok being on the beach (but water still smells […] nasty). The beach also has lots of crowds passing by, locals on the waterboards so totally does not feel private. The food was good but the dinner starting at 7pm was too late for us with small kid (the sun was out around 4pm at this time of the year). On the positive sides, the resort looks nice just as pictures, the guests are mainly European and pleasant, and it does not feel crowded. I would not go back though because of the smell. Read more

Genuine Hotels.com guest review

I can’t say enough good things about our stay at Mahekal Beach Resort. We were there 11/6/12 through 11/13/12. The Staff is top notch. The Hotel was finishing up the remodel of the mane reception area during our stay but that didn’t affect there ability to fulfill our every request. The food was delicious! Not having the distraction of TV is something […] I would not have expected. My wife and teen age kids enjoyed each others company and reminiscing the day in the slow swaying hammocks almost every night after dinner. The location is perfect! Not too far of a walk to the 5th Ave shops and restaurants but far enough to enjoy the serenity. We will be back! Read more

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Genuine Hotels.com guest review

Mahekal is a beautiful hotel. The "cabanas" look great and set a great atmosphere during your stay. Ours were located in the back, but it didn't matter, everything is a short walk away, lobby, bar, pool, and a great beach. The service was friendly and professional, the front desk was always helpful and quick to answer any question or to provide assistance. […] Breakfast was great, and the lunch and dinner options I tried were good too. The rooms were more than adequate, with AC and a Fan. I would start the night with the AC on and then switch to Fan halfway through, no worries. 5th Avenue is a couple of blocks away if you want to do some shopping or go eat/drink. The hotel is original, well located, right on the beach and with excellent service, I wouldn't hesitate to come back or to recommend it. Thank you! Read more

Genuine Hotels.com guest review

A few things: the roof leaked very bad when the rain came in and got our stuff soaked, no refrigerator, no radio, no TV. If you want a good relaxing time close to the beach without the amenities of home, this place was great! Dinners and food included in the price were bland, but cheap. Could have found better food on the strip.

Genuine Expedia guest review

Excellent experience! Absolutely gorgeous location and property. Food was very good overall, staff was excellent! Had a problem with our friend's room, and they had to move, but they were given a fabulous upgrade for their trouble, so no love lost. The property is one block from 5th Ave in Playa Del Carmen, so if you want dining and bars, it's there […] too. The place is very relaxed and chill, we all will definitely go back! Read more

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Genuine Hotels.com guest review

It is so peaceful. If what you are seeking is quietness, this is the place to be.

Genuine Expedia guest review

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Genuine Hotels.com guest review

IT IS THE 5TH TIME STAYING HERE IT HAS THE BEST BEACH IN PLAYA

Genuine Hotels.com guest review

The resort and grounds were beautiful. The staff were very attentive. The food was amazing. The beach was the best in Playa. Even though this is within walking distance to 5th Avenue, it was very quiet. We plan on returning with family and friends. Our favorite part was breakfasts by the beach.

Genuine Expedia guest review

Overall hotel is OK, not for the luxury or comfort seeker. Rooms has no TV, phone, internet connections. The top rooms palapas leaks when it rains, and it can be noisy in the evening as the room is not sound proofs (baby cries, rain drops, winds, people talking next door, etc). Basic anemities, food is basic, there is no variety at all. At most 3 star […] hotel in a 4 star environment setting. Read more

Genuine Expedia guest review

Beautiful low key property with a spectacular beach and great amenities.... The best!

Genuine Hotels.com guest review

This was our first vacation without our 4 children in 14 years and we couldn't have asked for better! It was so peaceful and inviting! The pair of hammocks on our porch were wonderful for one of the rainy nights we had. The beach was so blue & clean! I would have liked for smoking to at least be relegated to a separate section of the beach but maybe […] that's too much to ask for. We only visited the pools to relax in the hot tub but it was wonderful. We did eat breakfast around the pool in the morning overlooking the beach; which was truly beautiful. The food was excellent the whole week & the staff was wonderful! There are not enough adjectives for this place!!! We loved being unplugged (other than when my husband watched the hockey game in the bar). We fell asleep & woke to the sounds of the birds since there are only screen windows. It would have been nice to have ice or cold water in the room but it wasn't an issue since everything is pretty central to the bar so we just walked down to get cups of ice whenever we needed them. Our package included breakfast & dinner so we didn't feel like we had to stay for lunch. We had lunch at the restaurant next door (which was Delicious) & went shopping down the street. The prices are SO much lower than in Cancun. We had the most Amazing tour with Edventures while we were there, too! I would highly recommend this resort to anyone who wants to get away from it all! We will Definitely return as soon as we can! :D Read more

Genuine Expedia guest review

It was our first visit to Mahekal and first impressions happen only once, so the, "here's this, here's that; any questions?" routine from the desk clerk was poor. The hotel is on a public beach but there was no problem finding a palapa. No 6am towel brigade for chairs but there's a sewer smell as the seaweed comes ashore. Also, beware of the sand fleas […] on the beach. Pack a good insect repellant. We were pleased that the food was very good. Not 5-star but tasty and filling. Be sure to take in Mexican Fiesta night (Sundays) with the mariache band. Some nights were buffet and other nights we ate off the menu. It rained each afternoon or evening but dinner under the palapa with the rain was a lot of fun. Same for the couples massage we had on the beach. Thunder and lightning just made it all the more romantic. Overall, the hotel has aged well. It's quaint with singing birds, plantation shutters and colorful Mexican tiles. The maid provided us with cute 'towel animals' each day.This small hotel is quite the opposite of those mega-resorts but the only person who really went over and above in the service department was the concierge. He was easy to work with recommending a tour through EZ Tours that was excellent. Rooms. Oceanfront rooms are a bit too close to the general public for me but, the penthouses are above the treetops with ideal views. Definitely upgrade to at least a 2nd floor room. If you want relaxation and desire a more primitive beach experience, this is it. Read more

Genuine Expedia guest review

Fabulous stay at the Mahekal! What makes this place so wonderful is the excellent and attentive staff. Location is unbeatable. Right on the beach, and within 5 minutes walk to bustling 5th Ave. Breakfast and dinner were excellent - they seem to take all feedback seriously and continuously strive to improve to please the customer. Please note - there […] is NO internet, TV, or phone in the rooms. There is WiFi in the reception/lounge area. Beware, rooms close to the bar are LOUD Read more

Genuine Expedia guest review

The place needs clocks, tvs and working phones in each room. Wi-Fi throughout is also becoming an increasing need. Staff was nice and professional but the place needs those bare bone amenities if it wants to make it to the big leagues for resorts.

Genuine Expedia guest review

This is my third time at Mahekal. It's the only hotel in town that has bungalows for hotel rooms which I love versus a room in a building. It's so quaint and lovely, right on the beach! The food is good and the staff is very pleasant and lovely. It's at the end of the fifth avenue so you're not getting the foot traffic from the more commercial part […] of playa. I highly recommend it. Read more

Genuine Hotels.com guest review

Great place, great food and great service! A very charming resort that I will definitely recommend. Breakfast, lunch and dinner menus are great and huge. The beach and the garden as extremely well kept by the gardeners and the whole staff was very friendly and always smily. There was some noise coming from the air-conditionning but apart from that, […] I give it 10 out of 10! Read more

Genuine Expedia guest review

We went to Mahekal to celebrate a 70th birthday with three families including an infant and two small children. We were told at check in that one room would have a third bed and a second room would have a crib. Neither of these extra beds materialized. Also, I asked at reception to have the plastic mattress pad replaced with a normal cloth one (the […] other bed had one of these), and had I not met the chambermaid as she was making up the room later in the day, this change would not have occurred. So, this is what I have to say about the hotel: the facilities are generally good for small children since the beach is so close and the pools uncrowded. The food situation is flexible and fairly good, but service is slow or lacking entirely. There were many children when we were there, so I would not recommend it for couples who want an adult experience. I would go back again. Read more

Genuine Expedia guest review

Loved it!!! Very relaxing and clean. Everyone was very pleasant and helpful. The food was also wonderful. Only wish there were an 'all-inclusive' option. Read two full books and still experienced Xel-ha, Tulum, and 5th Ave.

Genuine Expedia guest review

We just arrived home from our 7 ngt stay. The resort had a very relaxing atmosphere, it was located just a few steps from 5th which was a nice option if we decided to opt out of dinner at the resort and hit the a resturants. The drinks were great..not watered down but you do pay a pretty good price for one so that is a good thing. Also the dinner was […] not very kid friendly, except for the Itialian night was great otherwise our children were not impressed. As for us adults we thought our food was great. All in all we would go back..cant wait! Read more

Genuine Expedia guest review

The Hotel is amazing. Hands down the best hotel I´ve ever stayed. It is not a luxury resort but you get a gorgeous cabin and you are literally "on the beach". Right on the sand, this is priceless for me!!! I wouldn´t recommend the pueblito rooms since they are far from the beach and the price difference doesn´t compensate. The food was good only the […] drinks are not included. It´s a hotel to relax, don´t go if youre expecting party. Being able to sleep so close to the ocean in your private cabana is an excellent experience. The staff is also very nice and they will make you have a great and relaxing time. I would also note that it is pretty laid back, they are not asking for bracelet of controlling all the time which makes it quite relaxing and nice. Its also 1 block away from 5ta avenida which is the main street of playa so everything is nice...I belive it´s fully worth its price!!! Read more

Genuine Expedia guest review

I could not have been more pleasantly surprised upon arrival to the hotel. Throughout my stay, the staff were friendly, helpful, and our garden view pueblito was cleaned every single day, even adorned with a different animal each day made out of various-sized towels. The setting was absolutely magnificent, right on the beach (the website tells the truth […] about its proximity to the beach), and was always quiet and tranquil. We could even lay outside of our pueblito on two hammocks and enjoy the warm breeze. My only complaint is that dinner (included in our room charge, as well as breakfast) ended way to earlier. Vacationers often sleep in or eat lunch very late in the day on group excursions, therefore, are not hungry enough to eat during the designated dinner hours, 7:00 - 9:30 pm. My boyfriend and I always tried to arrive at dinner the latest possible (however, without making the dinner staff anxious to close up the restaurant and go home). Despite this effort, we felt forced to eat extremely quickly so that the wait staff didn't get incredibly annoyed by us. Frankly, I feel like we paid a lot of money to stay at the resort and should be able to stay in the restaurant until at least 10:30 pm and be able to digest our food at a relaxing pace. In summation, Mahekal should be aware that vacationers are on a very different time schedule (often a few hours behind!) and that they don't even feel like eating dinner until at least 9 or 9:30. Read more

Genuine Expedia guest review

Great place for those who like smaller resorts. Everybody is very friendly and helpful. On the beach and a few minute walk to downtown Playa. Actually had the pool to ourselves for 3 of 8 days. MOst people hang out at the cabanas on the beach. We did both. The half board was great, usually ate breakfast and lunch at hotel. However, the two dinners we […] had were also very good. Will definitely go back. Read more

Genuine Expedia guest review

My husband and I opted to stay at Mahekal instead of a typical resort for our Honeymoon so that we would be within walking distance of shops and restaurants but by the end of our stay that seemed like one of the only perks. It is within blocks of the busy 5th Avenue where there are a lot of delicious dining options. The palapa style rooms are cute and […] the decks with hammocks are comfortable, the beds aren't bad either. BUT, for the money it really isn't worth the stay. Our first clue should have been that several couples were trying to change rooms when we checked in. So do note that the rooms do not all have palapa ceilings, nor do many of them have ocean views, you will pay double for that. We weren't concerned about it since the ocean is just up the path from your room. When we entered the room (33B) there was a lingering smell of urine that remained throughout the week. Maid service was excellent the first day, but declined each day after. Maybe tip them each day instead of at the end of the week? We took the option to have lunch at the restaurant instead of the nightly buffet after reading the reviews. It was mediocre and breakfast wasn't great either. Definitely dine in town. The beach is beautiful white sand and turquoise water, but it smells something horrible. I know it was dirty because my feet broke out in an itchy rash, my husband didn't even want to swim in it. Upon checkout, they overcharged us for our lame spa services, turned sour on us, we left angry! NO Read more

Genuine Expedia guest review

The resort is a bit small, but unlike all the big luxe resorts this one is very close to downtown, which is very convenient. Most of the people we've met during our trip who stayed outside of the city complained that they were trapped in their hotel. A 10 minute walk will get you to all the restaurants, bars and clubs. Couples might enjoy walking on […] the beach instead of going through noisy downtown area. Hotel was very clean - palm trees and white sand and I loved lying in my hammock. The breakfast was very good, some evenings there would be great Mexican live music at the restaurant. The staff was very friendly. What is worth pointing out is that there are no tv's, no telephone and no internet in bungalows. There is however wi-fi near bar/pool area and in the lounge, which was great I thought because it gave me a chance to enjoy a truly stress free days with no work emails arriving in the middle of the night. We had a great time at Mehekal, it's small but picture perfect and I would definitely recommend it to people who want to enjoy Playa's nightlife yet still can forget about the outer world at daytime. Read more

Genuine Expedia guest review

Everything about this place is perfect. What I love about Mahekal is the fact that they keep it simple. There is no need to go over-the-top on the food, drinks, decor, presentation, etc. and at Mahekal, they don't. What they have is very good and in just the right quantity. The food is delicious, the location is convenient and beautiful, the rooms are […] very clean and the whole resort is immaculately maintained. As for the staff, one word, "wonderful". They were kind, considerate, helpful, patient and professional at all times. We were only there for a week and half-way through our stay they all knew our 4 year old daughter's name which made us feel very welcome. We are planning to go back to Mahekal again this year because our stay there was so incredible. Read more

Genuine Expedia guest review

This resort is just as beautiful in person as it is in pictures. The staff were very friendly and helpful. The food was great, although drinks (cokes, alcoholic drinks) are not included in the all-inclusive price. The beach is beautiful and very well kept. I highly recommend this resort to anyone looking for a nice relaxing stay. It's not as "busy" […] as the bigger all-inclusive hotels which makes this resort even nicer. Read more

Genuine Expedia guest review

peacefull. No TV, no noise, just relaxing, we had a wonderful vacation.

Genuine Expedia guest review

You can't beat the location for the money. We stayed in ocean view room and you walk right out of your room and your on the beach. The food is good. We opted for lunch instead of dinner, since we liked to go into town for dinner each night. Breakfast is great with sit down choices. We liked to eat out on pool deck with view of ocean. Rooms are not luxurious […] but adequate...no tv or phone, but did not spend much time in room. Beds were very comfy and clean. The rooms could use some renovating. Showers got a little tricky with the water changing from hot to cold at peak shower times, at least in our room. Staff was great and very friendly. Overall, I think I would stay again. Read more

Genuine Hotels.com guest review

tropical. romantic, lush grounds, well kept. safe, secure, peaceful and relaxing!!!! I read all the reviews on this and other hotels before making this hotel our choice. The other reviews are not lying. beautiful and serene. If you want a high rise hotel w an elevator to wait on, lots of people and kids to fight thru, want to feel like a number>>>then […] this is not you're hotel. We felt welcome and part of their family. It felt like a small town at this superb location. Right down the street was one of the best kept secret restaraunts, "the cave of the monkey" reasonably priced, gourmet additions to the menu, lush tropical relaxed atmosphere. Read more

Genuine Expedia guest review

This is the second time we stayed here. It's more like renting cabins than staying in a hotel. We went a couple weeks earlier than last time and I think things were a little greener than February. The north side of fifth avenue expanded quite a bit since last year but there are still quite a few empty spaces. There are some pretty great places to eat […] around the hotel. In my opinion they are better than you will find on fifth avenue. We are looking forward to going there again next year. Read more

Genuine Expedia guest review

My wife and I recently stayed at Mahekal Beach Resort for one week and we had a great stay. We had previously only stayed at all-inclusive resorts so this was quite a change. It was a lot quieter than we were used to. Staff was very nice and did a great job accommodating guests. We really liked the grounds and the theme of the hotel. Everything was […] kept up very neatly on a daily basis. The architecture of the guest rooms are very unique and neat looking. The whole resort is in sand which we thought was really cool. The rooms are simple. No tv or electronics, which we liked. There was no fridge included, so we opted to walk up to the corner store and buy a small cooler and fill it daily with ice, beers, water etc.. We had an ocean view room (28 P) and loved our terrace. It was surpisingly large and we had a great view of the ocean. We really enjoyed all of our meals, especially lunch. It was nice to be able to each breakfast and lunch outside right by the ocean! The beach was nice but very busy. It is a public beach so there was usually a lot of activity. Nice white sand and turquoise waters! Getting chairs under a palapa was never an issue for us. The bar was alright but I wish they would have played some more upbeat music, at least at happy hour. The music they played could put a guy to sleep. Read more

Genuine Expedia guest review

A very nice, low key, vacation hotel. The food offerings are excellent. All of the staff we met were helpful and friendly. The room was very comfortable and clean. The beach is very nice and the hotel is located close to entertainment and restaraunts. There are no TVs or phones in the room - free wireless internet is available in the reception area […] and bar. Overall, we enjoyed our stay very much and highly recommend the Mahekal. The attached photo is of our hut/room - we were on the second floor. Each room comes with a large deck and two hammocks. Read more

Genuine Expedia guest review

At first arrival the staff member let us in the room and attempted to turn the AC on but it was not functional. He apologized and quickly resolved the problem within 30 minutes. After unpacking we decided to shower but realized there was no hot water. I walked over to the front desk to let them know (no phone in the room). The front desk person took […] note and immediately called it in but to my surprise there was no apology or estimation on when it would be fixed. I was expecting to be offered another room for an immediate resolution. Other than that technicality, hotel/resort was very pleasant overall. Hammocks on the porch are fun and the tropical theme is very well done but it can be somewhat difficult to navigate at night. Lots of children running around day and night but that didn't bother us. Read more

Genuine Expedia guest review