Residences El Faro
1a Avenida y Calle 10 Norte, Playa del Carmen 77710 Mexico
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About
#14 of 617 Specialty lodging in Playa del Carmen
Location
4.8
Cleanliness
4.3
Service
4.0
Value
4.1
Our beautiful exclusive condominium property is nestled in the heart of downtown Playa del Carmen, and perfectly situated right on the beach. Our 65 suites have a fully equipped kitchen, dining and living room area. The complex is comprised of three buildings, Reef, Coral and Surf, with one, two and three bedroom suites. These individually owned condominiums are spacious and each offers its own distinct style. Owners and guests enjoy our expansive pool, or basking in the sun on our beach front lounge chairs. Enjoy the view from your balcony; the impressive colours of the Caribbean Sea.
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Property amenities
Paid private parking on-site
Free High Speed Internet (WiFi)
Pool
Beach
Kids pool
Car hire
Massage
Concierge
Secured parking
Wifi
Pool / beach towels
Pool with view
Outdoor pool
Shallow end in pool
Non-smoking hotel
Sun loungers / beach chairs
Sun umbrellas
Self-serve laundry
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Room features
Air conditioning
Additional bathroom
Private balcony
Safe
Kitchenette
Microwave
Refrigerator
Flatscreen TV
Kitchenware
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Room types
Ocean view
Non-smoking rooms
Suites
Family rooms
Good to know
HOTEL CLASS
HOTEL STYLE
Ocean View
Great View
Languages Spoken
English, French, Spanish
Location
100Great for walkers
Grade: 100 out of 100
291Restaurantswithin 0.3 miles
74Attractionswithin 0.3 miles
1a Avenida y Calle 10 Norte, Playa del Carmen 77710 Mexico
Name/address in local language
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See what other travelers are saying
- Danuta DumeArkansas41 contributionsMy wife and I love this place, we prefer Reef 101We love El Faro. It is the greatest location in Playa, it is right on the beach, it has the best pool, it is close to all of the best restaurants, and we love to take advantage the on site massage, as well. On our most recent trip we had great service from Roger Rivera, from Caribbean Beach Properties. Roger made sure that our dipping pool was operating optimally, and that we had bottled water, towels and cleaning service as needed. We will be returning again.Date of stay: July 2020Written July 22, 2020
- Suzanne M23 contributionsNice condo complexWe were in unit Reef 204 for 3 weeks. Had a lovely time. The unit is fairly up to date. The bed covers could use some updating and the kitchen cupboards need fixing. The balcony is wide and always in the shade so very comfortable. The grounds are impeccable, the pool is large and overlooking the ocean, the beach in front is very nice and easy to swim in the ocean. No weeds when we were there, security is adequate. The unit was very comfortable, they provide drinking water which is great. The housekeeping was very good. cons: this unit is advertized for 6 persons. We were 2 couples and were very disappointed to find the bed in the 2nd bedroom very small, (they say full size but more like a three quarter bed) adequate for 1 adult or 2 children but certainly not 2 adults. The same with the futon in the living room. Also the 2nd bedroom has no window to the outside (just the hallway at the back which is facing a brick wall). If we would have known that we would have looked for a unit that is more adequate for 2 couples. Another issue was the music from the bars until 4 in the morning but if you kept the door closed with the A/C on it was pretty good.Thank you for your review on Tripadvisor, it is detailed and your comments will be passed along to the folks at Rentals Your Way so that they may review how they market Reef 204. We are pleased you found the grounds impeccable, we do our best to make sure the common areas, including reception and security staff do their part to enhance your holiday experience. We wish you well in your future travels and hope you come stay with us again, each condominium is different in layout so you can find something to better suit your needs.Written January 30, 2020This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.Date of stay: January 2020Written January 26, 2020
- Vipse_77Toronto, Canada8 contributionsBest location in Playa del Carmen!!This complex is awesome in so many ways! Location, friendly staff, impeccable grounds/pool area, sun beds available any time, security to keep unwanted people off the property as its located directly on the beach. We stayed in unit 405 - 3 bedrooms 3 bath. Everything was as advertised. The view was awesome and everyday we loved sitting there listening to the sea below us. The unit was beautiful and clean. Only thing we'd change is that at least one of the bedrooms would have a bigger bed as we found it a little small. And having a Smart TV would have been great as we could have had access to Netflix etc. Other than that perfection! We will definitely stay at El Faro on our next trip to Playa.Thank you for your review on Tripadvisor, you described us perfectly, we do believe we are the best location in town, and it pleases us that you enjoyed your holiday. We will pass along your comments to the property manager of that condominium regarding the bedding and Smart tv. We wish you well in your future travels and hope to have you stay with us again.Written March 30, 2020This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.Date of stay: March 2020Written March 29, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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+1
Surf 304 is NOT what you see in the pictures! In the photos, there is a table with 4 chairs on the balcony, but when we arrived, there was only three. I assume it’s because one of the chairs was in such bad shape they had to throw it away, but the other three were just as bad and should be thrown away. Moving into the living room, the television didn’t work, the whole time we were there, so no relaxing before bed watching TV in the living room. In the bedroom, the safe is held together with two pieces of duct tape, which doesn’t give me a sense of security while staying there. If you want to take a bath, you can’t do it here because the stopper for the bathtub doesn’t work and don’t count on taking a long hot shower because you will only get about 3 1/2 to 4 minutes of hot water. The kitchen is a disgrace. The cabinets are falling apart. There weren’t handles on some of the cupboards none of the silverware matches, the microwave that is installed above the stove is completely out of service with a Velcroed and laminated sign on it. They did put a countertop microwave in, but it isn’t in very good shape either. So cooking on the stove, there is no fan or light and there’s not much light in the kitchen. The kitchen is not very well equipped at all, not one item to bake with, stovetop cookware only. In all of the bathrooms, the once permanently installed soap dish and cupholders, which were made from glass have broken and they’ve merely broken off the sharp edges, but left what was there. The last word I would use to describe this unit is luxury, yet that’s how the listing describes it! NOT A NICE CONDO AT ALL!…
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Date of stay: February 2023Trip type: Traveled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Helpful
We did a lot of research on where to stay in Playa del Carmen. We had been to the area before but stayed at an all inclusive resort. This time we wanted to be closer to down town and 5th Avenue. We chose the El Faro. One reason we chose this location is that it was right next door to the Hyatt Thompson Beach House. We figured if it was next door to the beach Hyatt, then the location was going to be a good one. I have to admit I was very concerned about our stay because of recent negative reviews about the unit we had booked. The bad review showed up after we had made our reservations. We called the front desk prior to our stay. The feedback and their helpfulness put our minds at ease. After staying in the unit (read more below), we realized we had nothing to worry about and were very happy with the unit. When arriving at the El Faro, the front desk made check in very easy. We found the resort well maintained. As other reviews have mentioned, this is one of the best locations in all of Playa del Carmen. You are steps from 5th Avenue (why we chose this location) and still right on the beach. The unit we chose- Coral 401 was perfect for our vacation. We had two couples. It was just the right size. The master bedroom faced the ocean and the pool and the second bedroom did not have a view and was right off the kitchen. There were good ocean views from the living room and balcony. We chose this unit because of the private penthouse area upstairs with a small pool. The penthouse area also had a covered BBQ area with a dining table and 4 chairs. There were two sun loungers also which were perfect for laying out and tanning. There were only four adults so we did not use the sleeper futon in the living room. The complex is laid out in a U-shape and Coral building is probably the best building, in my opinion. The Surf and the Reef buildings face each other and the Coral building faces straight out to the pool and ocean. It was important for us to have ocean views for our vacation. Also- the Reef building backs up to the street and we were concerned about noise. Same with the Surf building that backs up to the Hyatt. After staying- noise was definitely not an issue even though the location is very close (mere steps) from 5th Avenue. Just as the complex was well maintained we found that the unit was well maintained as well. There was bottle/jug water for us to fill our water bottles from and they had extras available for us. The AC kept the unit very cold and there was a unit in the master bedroom, 2nd bedroom, and living area. This was nice because at night each couple could adjust their own bedrooms to their desired temperatures. The TV in the living room was very big (maybe 65") and the one in the master bedroom was a good size too (but not as big as the living area. The unit had all the necessities for our stay: plates, cups, utensils, and cooking pans. We didn't really use them as we went out most of the time. The front of the frig looked a little worn but it worked perfectly (all of our adult beverages were very cold) and the oven/stove looked to be almost brand new. The unit was clean and had everything we needed. The property management company was good and we had no issues. We had all of our cleanings and when we asked for extra towels they were provided. There were bath towels and also beach towels for the pool. This was good because in some other places beach towels are not provided. The cleaning ladies were very nice. After our stay, we decided that we definitely would return to the El Faro and would (if possible) stay in this unit again. We really enjoyed having the penthouse area with the little pool and the balcony. The whole trip was wonderful and would absolutely return to Coral 401. Don't worry about negatives reviews, Go! I think this is a really great complex and location. You probably can't go wrong with any unit but we think the Coral building is our favorite. Other tips: try out the Kascabal restaurant for really good ceviche. Massage by the pool were very good and I think they were about $35.…
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Date of stay: March 2023Trip type: Traveled as a couple
Value
Location
Service
Room Tip: Stay in the Coral building; it faces the ocean. The top floors (rooms in the 400) have the best...
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This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
2 Helpful votes
Helpful
Response from Aristi Hatzievagelou, General Manager at Residences El Faro
Responded Mar 21, 2023
Thank you for your review on TripAdvisor, it pleases us greatly to know that you enjoyed your holiday and got to experience what Coral 401 is really like. The only comment we have, other than thank you, is that the Surf building is the one next to the street and the Reef building next to the Thompson. We do hope you come back and stay with us and we wish you happy memories in your future travels.
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This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
This was the 2nd time staying at El Faro. The first time was May/June 2018 and I posted a review immediately following. What follows is mainly that 2018 review, as little has changed. The only real difference was based on the fact that they were 2 different units and 2 different owners. Fabulous Location & Pool 5 Stars Plus Location: If all your off-beach activities (restaurants, clubs, shopping, etc.) are south of Constitution, there's no better location. You're directly on the beach and a half block from Quinta Avenida, half-way between Constitution and Benito Juarez. We patronized 8 upscale restaurants for dinner & brunch and never took a taxi. Our only taxi of the week was the return from Walmart with groceries. In addition, if you need it, there's a taxi stand a half-block away. 5 Stars Plus Pool: It may not be the best in the Caribbean, but it's the best we've experienced for what we want to do. Yes, it's too shallow for a deep dive (4 1/2 ft.), but it's right on the beach, very large, interesting irregular shape, heated, with numerous lounge chairs placed in various configurations, and with umbrellas on demand. The beach in front of El Faro is about 30 ft. from the property to the shoreline, and El Faro places a row of lounge chairs for guests on the beach. Although there is an unending parade of tourists walking up & down the beach in front of El Faro, there are no vendors. It is next door to a water sports vendor and a popular beach club (Zenzi). ((In 2018 I did not mention the sargassum issue even though it was there, as I mistakenly thought it was temporary. I was wrong, as it is an ongoing problem)) ((The following section is revised from my 2018 review)) El Faro opened in early 2010. As a condo hotel, you typically rent from one of numerous owners, who may be on the other side of the globe, although some may actually be local. There are only minor differences among unit interiors, suggesting that owners have only limited control over how they furnish their unit. All units have either a balcony or patio and all face the pool and the Caribbean. Most first-time renters select a unit based on number of bedrooms and price, with some consideration given to location within the complex. Once you stay there, you find that there are additional factors worth considering. ((The following section is revised from my 2018 review)) Inasmuch as the owners are rarely, if ever, on site, there are numerous management companies that represent them, each with its own representative. This sets up an inconvenience for the guest as you must deal with 3 separate administrative/management entities. There's the El Faro staff (front desk, security, housekeeping, maintenance), there's the off-site management company rep, and then there's the unit owner. Depending on which unit you rent, the requirements for who to contact differ. For us this time (2023), what we were told in advance by email and what informative documentation was available in the unit was quite different than what we experienced in 2018. The only constant is that the El Faro staff, while quite pleasant, routinely refers you to either of the other two entities (unit owner or management company rep) for almost everything. The result is that the probability of obsolete, erroneous, or contradictory information is high. This is not a deal breaker, but depending on your issues it can be an inconvenience, and is the rationale for my rating of 4 stars rather than 5. …
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Date of stay: March 2023Trip type: Traveled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Helpful
Response from Aristi Hatzievagelou, General Manager at Residences El Faro
Responded Mar 21, 2023
Thank you for your review on TripAdvisor, SeriousTravelPlanner, it's well detailed and we appreciate that you shared your experience from both 2018 and 2023. Since you took the time to provide information to other potential guests, let us just make some adjustments so that all the information is accurate. You mention that our pool is heated, and actually that's the sun helping us out as we do not heat our pool. We are a condominium complex and do not refer to ourselves as a hotel, that implies there is one owner and as you mentioned, these are individually owned condominiums. When the property was built the developer offered furniture packages to the owners, which is why the majority of the units have the same furniture, and over the years many have made upgrades to their units. Although all the units on the ground floor have a patio and the rest a balcony, not all face the ocean, we have six one bedroom condominiums that face the street. The HOA staff takes care of the common areas, this includes the security, maintenance, cleaning and front desk staff. As you mentioned, we have several property managers who take care of the interior of the units as well as their rentals. Our front desk staff work with the property managers, we are the first point of contact when guests arrive and handle access to the units. Each property manager has their preferred method of contact with the client when they need anything, and that is usually directly with them. Our staff is there to assist as best possible the guests and work with the property managers, some of whom offer an on site concierge, so that they receive the service required from the property manager. Thank you again for your review, we hope you come stay with us again and we wish you well in your future travels.
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This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
There were six of us who stayed in Coral 103 at the El Faro. I wasn't sure about staying on the ground floor because of security. After a lot of research, we wanted to be at this location. It was right on the beach at right at 5th Avenue. Because of availably (we booked late) this was the only unit that was available to us. It was was nice to be able to walk off the patio to the pool and beach, but there wasn't too much of a view because you are at the bottom of the complex. This is an older complex, but everything at the El Faro is well maintained. You can't get a condo downtown in Playa AND on 5th Avenue AND have brand new. Don't let comments about the age of the property turn you off. It is 100% well maintained. All the newer condos and hotels are further away from downtown and the ferry to Cozumel. This place is perfect for families or couples. Lots to do, just steps away from the condo. I definitely recommend this place for young and old. It has everything! The front desk made check in easy and answered our questions, the property management was very friendly and was very responsive to all our questions before our stay, and security team was present and made you feel safe. I would 100% recommend the El Faro to any traveler. …
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Date of stay: April 2022
Value
Location
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Room Tip: Book a penthouse. They are high up so you have great views. Even better- book a penthouse that...
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This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Helpful
Response from Aristi Hatzievagelou, General Manager at Residences El Faro
Responded Mar 13, 2023
Thank you for your review on TripAdvisor, it pleases us to know you were able to experience Residences El Faro and appreciate our location and the care taken to keep it well maintained. We opened in December 2009 so by Playa standards I suppose we are an older complex, we prefer aged like fine wine! We wish you well for your future travels and hope you come stay with us again.
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This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
We recently stayed at 401 Coral. I found the actual complex quite good. The pool was beautiful and the development itself was well maintained. The staff at the front desk were friendly and helpful. Our issue was with the management of 401 Coral, 5-Star properties. The room was not in good shape. One of the showers did not drain properly because the drain is the highest part of the floor. We paid extra money to have daily room cleaning and this was not done. The rooftop did not have umbrellas. In addition, due to the design if you sit down you cannot see anything because the wall blocks your view. I read one of the comments that referred to a roof top pool. This is not true. It looks like an old hot tub that no longer has functioning jets or heat. The pictures are deceiving. One of the bedrooms does have view of the ocean. The other bedroom has a view of the hallway. I cannot imagine the scenario where a person would have the blinds open to a hallway when it is their bedroom. Our biggest concern was with 5 star property management. One of the air conditioners leaked water all over the place. while we were out for the evening. We returned to a big mess which we cleaned up. We turned the air conditioner off as it was the source of the water. After we had returned home we were blamed for ruining the TV that was under the air conditioner and they took the money out of our damage deposit. They did this "inspection" after we had already left Mexico. We had previously been to Playa del Carmen countless times but had always stayed in hotels. I really disliked staying in this condo. The management is dishonest and unhelpful. I'm pissed off that I had money stolen from me, but part of me is thankful that I am home and don't have to deal with those scammers anymore. I had thought of taking them to court. But the cost for a Canadian to get their money back from an American who owns a condo in Mexico, would be prohibitive. There are lots of nice places to stay in Playa and at this development. I would avoid all properties owned by 5 star properties. You'll get scammed.…
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Date of stay: February 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Helpful
Response from Aristi Hatzievagelou, General Manager at Residences El Faro
Responded Mar 9, 2023
Thank you for your review on TripAdvisor regarding your stay at Residences El Faro. We are pleased to know that you found our complex quite good, and you enjoyed our beautiful pool. The focus of the staff who take care of the common areas and reception is to make sure everything is well maintained. It is unfortunate that you did not feel the same about your stay with 5-Star Properties. They are in fact one of our preferred property managers, with onsite staff and concierge, all of whom we work well with. Our property is U shaped and as such not all bedrooms in the condominiums have a view of the ocean. Coral 401 is perfectly located in the middle of the property directly facing the ocean, with the living room area, master bedroom, balcony, and rooftop with a direct view of the ocean. The private rooftop does not have any umbrellas but has a permanent built-in shade covering over the BBQ, tables, and chairs in the dining area. What is not covered are the sun loungers. Since our experience with 5-Star Properties is only a positive one we reached out to them to inquire about your stay. Before an arrival the units are checked to ensure everything is in place, and in the case of the Jacuzzi, it was working properly. Of course, things may arise during a guest’s stay, and it is important to let them know so that they may take care of any situation. They did not receive any report regarding the Jacuzzi, nor any leak with the air conditioner. It may be that the terrace door or a window was left open and caused condensation. You did in fact pay for four extra cleanings, which were provided, along with the cleanings included with the rental. The television was not damaged by water, rather the screen was hit and caused some LED to fail, resulting in lines on the screen. With guests leaving at different times during the day property managers may only do inspections once departed, which was done in this case, and why the damages to the television were applied from the deposit paid, which is exactly for these instances. With an onsite team and concierge readily available to assist, in addition to our front desk staff who will assist in communicating with them, the goal of our property and the managers of the units is to provide service, not scam. The word scammers refer to fraudulent activity, which is not the case, to use that term is incorrect and inappropriate. Both Coral 401 and the property manager are options enjoyed by many guests, it is unfortunate your recollection of your stay is different. We wish you well in your future travels.
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This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
+1
This is the kind of 1-star you'd expect in Cuba. Super dated, delapidated, and soiled furniture from the 1940s, full of dents and chipped paint. The kitchen was done in 1980 and shows all the wear and tear since then. The walls are so thin you hear everything. The rickety old doors don't close properly. You can't flush toilet paper down the toilet - literally (the front desk staff actually told us this during check-in). Management tried to convince us every place is like this in Playa - it is not (we visit here often). The "bell boy" brought our luggage up in a an old shopping cart. Everything is rusting and soiled and leaning over. Tiles are missing everywhere. Landscape is dried up and muddy. The place is an absolute tear-down. There are many gorgeous accommodations in Playa. Avoid this one!! …
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Date of stay: February 2023Trip type: Traveled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Helpful
Response from Aristi Hatzievagelou, General Manager at Residences El Faro
Responded Feb 20, 2023
Thank you for your review on TripAdvisor, although I have to wonder where you stayed, because the words you use are not us. We are Residences El Faro, a condominium complex that has been welcoming guests since 2009. They are individually owned and decorated differently. There are some owners who do not make frequent upgrades to their units, and some do indeed have some wear and tear. They are managed by different property managers and our front desk staff will do their best to assist in helping guests communicate with them for any issues in the unit. I would agree with our staff in regards to not throwing a lot of toilet paper in the toilet, that may cause a problem. I suppose you didn't go outside the unit and see our lush gardens, the care taken for the common areas, to say we are an absolute tear down is inappropriate and dishonest. You refer to tiles missing everywhere, what is a rather broad statement. We had some tiles fall off one small section of the building recently which has already been repaired. We hope you find more suitable accommodations for you in the future and wish you well in your future travels.
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This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
El Faro Residences is a beautiful condominium complex. The grounds are well taken care of and the common areas are kept very clean. Front desk staff were very friendly/helpful as were the security and grounds keepers. Many of the units are managed by a number of different vacation companies. There are a few that are managed by owners. The two units that we spent time in were comfortable and spacious. Each with it's own pros and cons. Each needing some updating, maintenance and care but the overall experience was positive. The shock of the erosion of the beach due to rising ocean levels was quite something to see (first time back in Playa del Carmen since 2014). The seaweed was definitely still an issue but workers diligently clear the beach early in the morning when needed which was almost daily. Thankfully the complex has a gorgeous infinity pool which we enjoyed daily. The only time the pool was not so great to be in was when guests were drinking their alcohol while floating in the water. Security was on it for keeping things safe and secure. Umbrellas are available and the view is gorgeous. This is a spectacular place for a short and or long vacation stay. You will be within walking distance to many bars and restaurants but also Walmart for groceries. The taxi's outside the complex will charge you a little more to get around than if you walk up the street a few blocks. The prices for each unit vary and in my opinion are set a bit too high due to the fact that many units have not been updated in several years and need repair and maintenance but if you can look beyond this and this type of thing doesn't put you off too much, you'll have a wonderful time! You may experience an issue with very tiny bugs (we were told they were ants) in the kitchens. They come out when you prepare food on the counters. I guess it's a thing in Playa del Carmen. I've stayed in resorts and have never had any issues like this, but a quick wipe down helps. After cooking, put your leftovers in the fridge asap! One more notable thing was the furniture in the two units we stayed in... very uncomfortable couches (can feel the wooden frame under the cushions). Not a deal breaker but on a rainy day(s), terrible. One of the units king bed had a perfectly firm mattress, the other way too soft. Preference I guess. We had to move from one unit to another for a few nights due an unforeseen issue in our first rental. It was addressed as quickly as it could be but we wonder what would have happened had we visited during high season. All in all, very lovely and memorable vacation. We will be back one day!…
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Date of stay: September 2022Trip type: Traveled as a couple
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This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Helpful
Response from Aristi Hatzievagelou, General Manager at Residences El Faro
Responded Nov 2, 2022
Thank you for your detailed review of our property, it is very much appreciated, and more importantly, we are pleased to know you will come back one day.
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This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Would leave 0 stars if I could. Horrible experience - booked 19 days May 10-29. Couldn't get out of there fast enough. We had to wait when we got there due to cleaning and the place was disgusting. Ants everywhere, mold all over, dirty towels (mind you this is AFTER they cleaned the place while we waited). Mold was an issue for my wife as she's allergic so we left the next day - booked with Susan Mattingly from Playaluxuryrentals.com. Not only did she cancel my reservation after I left, but she re-listed it for the same days I had already paid her for. Check out elfarocoral103playadelcarmen.com for photos and videos. Her unit is marketed as luxury and there is NOTHING luxurious about it. I have never left a review on anything ever (good or bad), but this was such a bad experience, I had to say something.…
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Date of stay: May 2022
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This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
1 Helpful vote
Helpful
We stayed in 104 Reef; 2 bedroom on ground floor. Proximity to pool is unmatched. Walk out deck provides easy access to the pool area. Beach view pool. On site massages for $35 plus tip. Entire operation is clean. Rooms are very comfortable. We felt very secured at all times. Walking distance to 5th Avenue and close to shopping & restaurants. Silvia was phenomenal & quick to respond to any questions or needs. They will arrange transportation to & from the airport, schedule Covid rapid test antigen, etc. Only reason I rated it a 4 was because Wifi was non-existent in this unit.
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Date of stay: April 2022
Cleanliness
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Sleep Quality
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Helpful
Response from Aristi Hatzievagelou, General Manager at Residences El Faro
Responded Apr 26, 2022
Thank you so much for your review on TripAdvisor, it pleases us to know that despite internet issues in the unit you enjoyed the facility, could enjoy the pool area and felt secure.. Silvia at Dream Zone Travel Mexico is indeed an excellent property manager and is always attentive. We hope you stay with us again!
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This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Have stayed there many times and been nothing but happy! This time was horrible ! First night we had to leave doors open to air out unit thinking it was a musty smell or sewer gas we slept outside and in the other bedroom in a twin bed. We went and bought air freshners which did no good. This particular unit had major toxic smell which was found by us after searching for the smell to be coming from master bedroom namely the bed which had been urine and feces stained and never really cleaned up but rather covered up leaving a strong toxic odor enough to burn your eyes and throat when we closed up the room to try to keep smell contained. Not sure what exactly happened in that unit but it was good! I will spare you all the picutres of the mattress when we uncovered it! All our clothes needed to be washed as they absorbed the smell as well. We were not offered a new unit when we said we could not stay in this but rather were told they would come steam clean the mattress for us - totally unacceptable! Then their cleaners did not even show so they brought in a mattress from another unit to replace it (not sure how that happened when they did not have a unit to move us to). After receiving a new mattress still odors and were coming from the blinds and air unit in room just not as strong and it never went away. They came back to clean the blinds and again to clean filter in air unit, not replace it and next day had to come back to charge it as it still blew warm air only but could never totally get the smell coming from it to go away nor fix the blower on it as it was either on off or hi not matter what we set it at. Sinks, showers and drains all had issues, out of 3 bath sinks only one worked enough to get water out of it to brush your teeth, showers did not drain and 2nd bath shower did not even spray water and to top it off after cleaning drains we had gnats in master bath every morning. We tried to contact them on day two of our stay after the first night and it took until day 3 for them to respond. Property Manager Dream Zone Travel, Silvia, whom never came to us but rather waited for us to go to her about continued issues seemed to be annoyed and inconvenienced that we were still complaining. So We slept in twin beds in the front bedroom for the first 5 nights and my husband alone moved back to the master king bed after the air unit started cooling but still complained of a stench in room and he uses a cpap so he was getting filtered air on top of it, me i chose to stay in twin bedroom as my allergies/sinus issues could not handle it in master bedroom. 5 of the 10 day stay was dealing with staff in and out of unit at their convenience not ours to make this unit manageable to stay in as they offered us no other options and we could not find rooms available at other resorts we checked into, so we were stuck making the best of it! Definitely wont forget this last trip!…
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Date of stay: February 2022
Cleanliness
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Sleep Quality
Room Tip: Dream Zone Travel Property Reef 206 - Do not rent!
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PRICE RANGE
$145 - $373 (Based on Average Rates for a Standard Room)
ALSO KNOWN AS
encanto el faro hotel playa del carmen
FORMERLY KNOWN AS
Encanto El Faro
LOCATION
MexicoYucatan PeninsulaQuintana RooRiviera MayaPlaya del Carmen
NUMBER OF ROOMS
65
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Claim Your ListingRESIDENCES EL FARO - Updated 2023 Prices & Condominium Reviews (Riviera Maya/Playa del Carmen, Mexico)
Frequently Asked Questions about Residences El Faro
Which popular attractions are close to Residences El Faro?
Nearby attractions include Quinta Avenida (0.08 miles), Playacrawl (0.10 miles), and L'Ambassade (0.10 miles).
What are some of the property amenities at Residences El Faro?
Some of the more popular amenities offered include free wifi, a pool, and kids pool.
Which room amenities are available at Residences El Faro?
Top room amenities include a kitchenette, air conditioning, and a flat screen TV.
Is parking available at Residences El Faro?
Yes, paid private parking on-site and secured parking are available to guests.
What are some restaurants close to Residences El Faro?
Conveniently located restaurants include Po Thai Restaurant, Harry's Prime Steakhouse & Raw Bar, and Señor Frog's Playa del Carmen 5ta y 8va.
Are there opportunities to exercise at Residences El Faro?
Yes, guests have access to a pool during their stay.
Is Residences El Faro located near the city center?
Yes, it is 0.4 miles away from the center of Playa del Carmen.
Which languages are spoken by the staff at Residences El Faro?
The staff speaks multiple languages, including English, Spanish, and French.
Are there any historical sites close to Residences El Faro?
Many travelers enjoy visiting Zona Arqueológica Playa del Carmen (0.7 miles).
Does Residences El Faro have any great views?
Yes, guests often enjoy the ocean view available here.
Is Residences El Faro accessible?
Yes, it offers wheelchair access. For specific inquiries, we recommend calling ahead to confirm.