Watch My Full Hotel Review

If you want to see the hotel, the room, and the surrounding area properly, I also made a full YouTube review about staying at Hotel Las Golondrinas.

Location: Central, But Slightly Chaotic

One of the biggest advantages of this hotel is how central it is. You’re within easy walking distance of Fifth Avenue, the beach, and pretty much everything you’d need during your stay. If you want somewhere that lets you explore Playa del Carmen on foot, it definitely works well.

Fifth Avenue, or La Quinta Avenida, is the main hub of Playa del Carmen and honestly, it’s a bit of a sensory overload. As someone who is very British, the vibe didn’t quite match my temperament. There’s loud music everywhere, even louder crowds, and it’s extremely touristy. In fact, it might be one of the least Mexican-feeling places in Mexico.

That said, it’s still worth experiencing at least once. There are some fun bars scattered along the strip, and it’s a good place for people-watching, even if it’s not somewhere I’d want to spend all of my time.

Staying central makes it easy to walk to Fifth Avenue and the beach, even if the main strip can feel a bit full-on.

The Beaches: Beautiful… Then Busy

You can’t talk about Playa del Carmen without mentioning the beaches, because they’re the main reason most people come here. During the morning and early afternoon, they’re exactly what you’d hope for. The water is bright turquoise, the sand is soft and white, and the atmosphere feels relatively calm.

As the day goes on though, things start to shift. Music from nearby hotels and beach bars gets louder, and the whole area becomes more of a party scene than a place to properly relax. That might be ideal for some people, and I did enjoy a few beers on the beach myself, but if you’re after something more peaceful and natural, the main Playa del Carmen beaches probably won’t be your favourite.

The beaches look fantastic earlier in the day, but the atmosphere gets much busier later on.

If you’d rather do something more active in the water, this turtle and cenote snorkeling tour is another good option for getting beyond the town beaches.

The Riviera Maya’s cenotes and snorkeling spots are far more memorable than staying on the main town beach all day.

Is There Much to Do in Playa del Carmen?

This is where things get a bit more honest. Once you’ve spent some time on the beach, walked along Fifth Avenue, and done a bit of shopping, there isn’t actually a huge amount left to do in Playa del Carmen itself. There are a few smaller attractions, like a church, a central square with a sculpture, and some street art, but none of them are especially memorable.

There are also the Playacar ruins, but these are fairly underwhelming compared to what you can see elsewhere in Mexico. In my opinion, the best way to enjoy Playa del Carmen is to use it as a base rather than the main event. The town isn’t bad, but the surrounding Riviera Maya is just much more interesting.

I’ve also put together a guide on the best free things to do in Playa del Carmen if you want a few more ideas before deciding how long to stay.

Playa del Carmen works better as a practical base for exploring the Riviera Maya than as a destination packed with sights of its own.

Why I Chose Hotel Las Golondrinas

I wasn’t looking for anything fancy when booking this hotel. The goal was simple: find somewhere affordable, in a good location, that would work as a base while I spent most of my time exploring. From the outside, the hotel looks pretty basic and doesn’t immediately stand out. But once you step inside, it improves slightly and has a bit more character than expected.

It doesn’t feel luxurious, but it also doesn’t feel completely soulless. There’s just enough style in the reception and shared areas to make it feel a little more interesting than a standard budget stay.

The Best Part: The Pool Area

The highlight of the hotel is easily the central courtyard. All of the rooms face inward toward a pool surrounded by tropical plants and trees, which gives the whole place a surprisingly relaxed, almost jungle-like atmosphere. It feels much calmer than you’d expect considering how close it is to the centre of Playa del Carmen.

The layout reminded me a bit of an American motel, but with a much nicer setting. It’s one of those spaces that feels far more inviting than the price suggests. Interestingly, I barely used the pool during my stay. Most days were spent swimming in cenotes or exploring elsewhere, so by the time I got back, the last thing I wanted to do was more swimming.

Even so, the pool area is a genuine plus. It’s a good place to unwind in the evening, and there’s also a second quieter pool tucked away around the corner, along with extra seating areas and water features that make the hotel feel more pleasant than the room rate implies.

Breakfast: Not Worth It

I did try the hotel breakfast once, and it’s probably the easiest part of the review to summarise: it’s not worth it. For around 200 pesos, you get access to a buffet, but the options were limited and not particularly appealing. The room itself was completely empty when I went, which usually tells you everything you need to know.

You’re much better off grabbing something simple from a nearby convenience store or supermarket, both of which are within easy walking distance of the hotel. For anyone trying to keep costs down, that’s the better move.

The Room: Basic With a Few Issues

The first thing that stood out about the room was how dark it felt. Even taking into account the time of day, it definitely had a slightly dim and dated atmosphere. Still, it had everything I needed for a short stay. The bed was comfortable, I slept well, and there was a desk area, a fridge for snacks, and air conditioning that worked properly, which matters a lot in this climate.

One detail I did appreciate was that you didn’t need to leave your key card in to keep the electricity running. That meant I could leave the air conditioning on while I was out and come back to a cool room, which makes a bigger difference than you might think after a hot day in Mexico.

The Bathroom: The Weak Point

The bathroom was easily the weakest part of the room. It felt dated, a bit dingy, and not particularly pleasant to use. The shower didn’t work especially well, getting hot water wasn’t always straightforward, and overall it just felt like the part of the hotel most in need of updating.

The hairdryer also had a habit of falling off the wall whenever I tried to use it, which summed up the general experience fairly well.

Final Thoughts on the Hotel

Despite its flaws, I actually ended up liking this hotel. It’s not luxurious, the rooms are a bit outdated, and the bathroom could definitely be improved. But at the same time, the location is excellent, the pool area is genuinely nice, and for around £43 to £46 a night, it’s hard to argue with the value.

If you’re looking for a simple, affordable place to stay while spending most of your time out exploring, it does the job well. You just need to go in with realistic expectations.

My Biggest Tip for Playa del Carmen

If you’re planning a trip here, my biggest recommendation would be to rent a car and explore beyond the town itself. Some of the best experiences in the region aren’t actually in Playa del Carmen, but in the surrounding areas. The cenotes, nature spots, quieter beaches, and larger day trips are far more memorable.

If you don’t want the hassle of sorting transport after landing, this private transfer from Cancun Airport is worth a look.

And if you do rent a car, you can easily visit Chichén Itzá. I’ve written a very detailed guide on driving to Chichén Itzá from Playa del Carmen, including what to expect on the route and the cost of toll roads.

A car gives you access to far better day trips than staying in Playa del Carmen all the time.

You can also use a car to reach quieter spots such as lesser-known cenotes. For one of my favourites, have a look at my guide to Balamché Park, one of the least busy cenotes near Playa del Carmen.