Feb 6-17th: Returned from a sunny/cloudy 11 days in Playa Del Carmen, our first time there. First 4 nights were spent at the 3 bedroom penthouse owned by the Acanto Hotel. I was apprehensive based on photos and reviews posted. We were to have been in the 2bedroom, but somehow ended up in the 3 bedroom (just across the street). It featured the rooftop pool. Great.

First you either taxi ($84usd for 3 of us) or take a shuttle bus ($12 or $14each). You can even take the public service (van types for maybe $2ea) we opted for the taxi… what a rip off!!!

Despite being at the remote penthouse, we still had to make our way to the Acanto Hotel (on Calle/Street 16) to check in. They did NOT (offer to) bring us to the penthouse... we managed to keep the taxi driver waiting and got him to do so (for another tip!!!)

Staff showed us the 3bedroom location – on Calle/Street 42. Main floor is on the 2nd floor of the building – up two flights of stairs. It houses a main bedroom with his and her bathrooms along with a big tub. Main floor also has a kitchen, dining area, and tv/sitting room, along with bathroom (toilet only). Up another flight of windy stairs to the penthouse level—it has one small and one larger bedroom, along with a sitting area.

Up another flight of stairs to the rooftop deck, whereby there is another bathroom and shower. Small infinity pool, 2 loungers, a table and (4) chairs, along with another seating area.

The location of the penthouse is as they say REMOVED from the center of town… and can be somewhat “seedy feeling“ at first. It takes a little getting used to!!! As does the penthouse itself.
I’ll stress not suitable for younger kids, nor for someone who has trouble with stairs or walking a lot (unless of course you rent a car, we did not).
It is a leisure 15 minute walk (on 5th Avenue) back to the Acanto and to the center of town.

There is a funky smell that you eventually get used to; musty in the stairwells. The rooftop bathroom smelled ‘foul’ the whole time we were there, and you must pass that any time you come in from the rooftop pool… I won’t miss that. I believe when a room is rented things should be ready to go… ie: we were told to call the Acanto if there was a problem, yet the phone in the condo did not work. We arrived on Wed., and on Thursday evening – the hot water still was not turned on…. No hot water for a shower!!! No phone to call them!!! One toilet exploded when flushed, water everywhere… and then the next day a 2nd toilet broke (would not flush). I was not impressed. But was impressed with how quickly they got it fixed. We also “had to ask” for extra towels, as the three in the unit got used quickly by the three of us!. The 2nd floor larger bedroom is right over the 1st floor master bedroom!!! Planks of wood with gaps whereby you can see down to the bed below…. Bedroom “Privacy” you won’t have – you can hear (feel) the person in the bedroom above (or below) you!!!

We were only there 4 nights, yet the pool turned from “clean” to “green” (see picture) before we left. Gross, it was not seen the night before, and someone went for a midnight dip. We also found out the cleaning ladies DO NOT come every day. I believe they did at the hotel, and yet not for us – Did not appreciate that either!

Another point to consider, with that many people (people to fix broken toilets) including 3 cleaning ladies coming into our rooms, and the neighbourhood… I did not like NOT having a safe in the room. We carried all our valuables (money, passport, camera) with us constantly!

We purchased much of our food, and beverages (booze) from Wal-mart. We walked there, and then taxied back with bags in tow at a cost of $5usd. Well worth it. There is also a little store just when you turn onto 5th if you are missing anything.

The guys I was with loved it (because of the grandness & pool), as did friends who visited. But I did not feel it was very clean or worth $175 night. I felt we were staying in someone’s house and bed (crappy linens). Décor, furniture (when was any of it cleaned, especially the very nasty looking cushions on rooftop – I did NOT sit or lie on them) and the very, very noisy/clunky AC unit in the bedroom leaves room to be desired.

Our friends were at the Acanto hotel, and it seemed better – same musty smell. A deposit of ½ was paid upfront by our friend, and we tried to pay the 2nd half. They refused us doing so (too complicated!). Our friend had to pay for our share. Then he finds out, they took another $600 on his card back in January. They corrected this ‘error’!!!

The guys have said, great guy place to go and chill for a long weekend! It wasn’t so bad, but it wasn’t great by any stretch of the imagination.

At the Acanto Hotel itself, they went out of their way to accommodate the needs of our friends, who hosted quite a few pre-dinner gatherings by their (tiny) pool. It is beautiful in their (small) courtyard. I was surprised at how small the premises & pool were, I imagined it much bigger from the posted pictures.


Just in passing, nothing to do with the hotel – but the taxi ride from Cancun airport to Playa was $84.00 (plus our waiting tip mentioned above)… yet our departure taxi ride cost not even ½ that!!!

I walked the beach, it is not very nice and is dirty! Broken glass, trash, etc… but you can walk (run) for quite a while if you head north (left).

Another plus was having found the Diversity Dive shop on Calle 24. Great attentive dive masters, thank you Alain, and Carlos. They went out of their way, very cordial. Wonderful experience. I suggest the Acanto add them to their roster of referrals …

In closing: I am always concerned about an owner who is quick to deny our possible negative comments & the realities of his guests experiences... rather than on accepting their comments and acting on them. This owner seems relentless AFTER the fact. He emailed us constantly after our visit to get our thoughts, yet questioned (begrudged our comments on) the reality of the 'green pool' and the 'FOUL smell' at roof top bathroom.
Not worth the cost...