Hotel Faranda Dos Playas

Housed in a nondescript white building at the end of the parking lot, the reception area has little ambience. Spanish clay roof tiles and dark wooden ceiling beams provide a few decorative touches to the otherwise bland space. The cramped seating area and travel desks where guests can book excursions get crowded, particularly in the afternoons. 

Hotel grounds are attractively landscaped but unexceptional. Palm trees, stone paths, flowers, and a large lawn area surround the property. But two unusual details stand out --  a peacock habitat and a Mayan artifact statue (by the restaurant). Three-story motel-like white buildings with green awnings house the guest rooms.

To the right of the lobby is a path leading up to the pool and restaurant area, easily the most popular part of the resort. Given the pool's size (on the smaller side) and its popularity, loungers get snapped up quickly. Up the hill behind the pool is the other main attraction: the beach. Guest can also make use of the facilities at the next door sister property, Maya Caribe Hotel, which includes a small snack bar, another pool, and a more traditional sandy beach. 

Dos Playas draws retired folks, families, and budget travelers who are just looking for a place to sleep while exploring Cancun during the day. The hotel also sees a number of regional travelers from other areas of Central America, making the clientele a multinational group. 

Cancun’s Hotel Zone is shaped like a “7,” and Dos Playas is located at the top (or northern part) of the zone. Most resorts are located on the narrow stretch of land between the Nichupte Lagoon and Caribbean Sea (the base of the “7”), making Dos Playas a five to 10-minute drive from central restaurants, shops, and attractions. But taxis are readily available, and plenty of buses run up and down the neighborhoods main strip. 

• 15-minute drive to downtown Cancun
• 25-minute drive to Cancun International Airport
• Five-minute drive to the commercial heart of the Hotel Zone
• 38-minute drive to Puerto Morelos, with quiet beaches and great snorkeling spots
• 60-minute drive to Playa del Carmen, a vibrant town with great shopping and a tony crowd
• One-hour-40 minute drive to Tulum ruins
• Two-hour-10-minute drive to Chichen Itza ruins
• Two-hour-20-minute drive to Coba ruins

Plain and no-frills, the hotel's 132 guest rooms are decorated in a combination of white-washed walls, beige tile floors, reddish-brown wood furnishings, and funky Caribbean art. The bathrooms are outdated and not particularly inviting with rose marble vanities, off-white tiles, and plastic shower curtains. Toiletries are limited to shampoo and soap. Arguably the best feature is the private balcony or terrace in every guest room. And sea views from some rooms are especially nice, as the hotel grounds are slightly elevated from the ocean. 

The rooms at Dos Playas come in two categories: Standard Rooms and Standard Double Rooms. Double Rooms are more spacious with two beds and a writing desk. Standard Rooms have just one bed, a small dresser, and dated decor, like loud electric-blue bedspreads.

The hotel is older and guests report some maintenance issues such as leaky ceilings, noisy AC units, and peeling grout around the toilet. Hotel Casa Maya, also located in the northern part of the Hotel Zone, has better quality rooms without these issues.

For a budget hotel, Dos Playas has its share of activities and features. Deep blue and inviting, the circular Main Pool is ringed on one side by blue-and-white striped loungers under a cabana with white curtains. While this pool is decently sized, it can't quite accommodate a 132-room property, and loungers can be hard to come by in the afternoons. Next door, the kidney-shaped kiddy pool gives a small space for children to splash around, and a couple tables and chairs for families. On our visit, this pool was also populated with adults and families who couldn't find a spot by the main pool. (In addition to the two pools on the property, guests are able to use the pool at the sister property, Maya Caribe, next door.)

The restaurant serves as the pool bar and has a window where guests can get refreshments. And when it's not taking drink orders, Dos Playas’s Iguana Restaurant is open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner serving buffet-style fare. As of our visit in winter 2015, the restaurant was undergoing renovations to expand. Currently, some guests have to wait in line in order to eat in the restaurant due to space limitations.

Open two days a week, the hotel's second restaurant serves Thai cuisine in an open-air setting with Asian-inspired decor. Note: Reservations are essential as it can only fit 12 people. 

Guests looking to break a sweat can make use of the hotel's small gym with stationary bikes, ellipticals, and a few free weights, or they can visit the two large tennis courts. And anyone brushing up their backhand will bump into the hotel's most surprising feature, a small peacock habitat next door to the courts.

Forget the broad sandy beaches you picture at most resorts. The beach at Dos Playas is made up of multiple levels that go down to the water like a series of wide steps. Loungers and cabanas are placed throughout the area for sunbathing, some by the water, some on a paved level above, some even on grass. But there are some bonuses to this setup -- a few cabanas on the highest level overlooking the water have lovely views. For guests that want to feel the sand between their toes, there is one longer stretch of sand that can hold a few loungers. But keep in mind that the beach isn’t the nicest here -- the shoreline can get covered in seaweed and entry into the water can be a bit rough. Ocean Spa Hotel, a low-cost all-inclusive located nearby, has a more traditional stretch of sand.

Dos Playas offers an all-inclusive option that comprises three meals and drinks. Keep in mind that premium liquor is not included. Since the hotel has only one on-site restaurant that's open regularly (a second restaurant is open two nights a week and requires reservations), this option may be too limiting for some.