Good location right across from Kukulcan Plaza mall
Most units have full kitchens and spacious living areas
Reasonable rates for an entire apartment
Large pool with a snackbar and two smaller pools
Wide, scenic, wavy beach
Gated community with 24-hour security
Mini-market and tennis courts
Quality of the rooms varies upon owner or rental company
Lacks the amenities of a resort such as a spa or restaurant
Property is older and without a lot of landscaping
Villas Marlin is a gated, mid-range condominium community at KM 13 of
the Hotel Zone. The villas have a good location across the street from a large
mall and in front of a beautiful stretch of beach. All units are privately
owned and individually furnished, so the quality of the villas varies greatly.
As with most condo properties, the Villas Marlin lacks the amenities of a full resort -- it doesn’t have an on-site restaurant, fitness center, spa, or water sports provider.
Guests who desire apartment-style living or who are coming for a longer stay
would do well here, and most rental agencies offer reasonable rates for the
units. Just note that this is an older property, and it shows in places.
Disclaimer: This content was accurate at the time the hotel was reviewed. Please check our partner sites when booking to verify that details are still correct.
Scene
Large high-rise condo buildings need updating
Built in the mid-1980s, Villas Marlin was one of Cancun’s
first high-rise condo properties. The villas are housed in seven-story white
buildings that are fairly nondescript -- they look like condos you’d find
anywhere. Unfortunately, the age of the property shows in some areas -- the
balconies don’t match (some have railings, some have glass) and there are
cracks and water discoloration in the concrete. The tennis courts look
particularly unkempt with tons of cracks and patchwork. There is also a bunch
of unused retail space on the ground floor, which can be disconcerting to walk
by.There is little to no landscaping on the property and a lot
of concrete. The street side of the condos faces the back of Kukulcan mall and it looks as
you would expect -- industrial and gray. The hallways on the higher floors have an unattractive view of the mall's roof.With the exception of the pools and beach,
Villas Marlin lacks common areas, which isn’t unusual for a condo property.
There is no lobby or front office, or any kind of indoor common spot to lounge. Guests
comprise mostly couples, families, and folks coming for a longer stay (as well
as the condo owners). Don’t expect any kind of nightlife here -- most guests
choose to hang out in their condos or patio at night, or seek entertainment
elsewhere along the strip.
Location
Slightly south of the heart of the Hotel Zone
Villas Marlin has a convenient location in the southern area
of the Hotel Zone. The resort is across the street from Kulkucan Plaza, an
upscale shopping mall with a handful of eateries and a grocery story. Taxis are
easy to find and plenty of buses run up and down the strip. The villas are
on a side street off of the main road, behind the mall.- Eight-minute drive to the heart of the Hotel Zone
Rooms
Varying room quality, with beach views from many rooms
Villas Marlin offers a range of units to fit most groups,
with Studios, One-, Two-, Three-, and Four-Bedroom Condos available. Many of the condos
also have beautiful ocean views, depending on the floor (our
condo on the fifth floor had a slightly obstructed view). The beach here is stunning
with turquoise water and white sand. Many of the units are fairly spacious with
a large living area, fully stocked kitchen (with pots, pans, utensils, plates,
and glassware), and good-size bathrooms. Some units also have laundry
facilities and free Wi-Fi.The similarities end there. Since all the villas
are individually owned and many are managed through different rental companies,
the quality of the rooms vary. While some guests have units that are updated
and modern with contemporary furnishings, light beachy decor, and
well-maintained infrastructure, other rooms are not as polished.
Our unit was dated but very large with an open concept kitchen and living area
and three good-size bedrooms downstairs. It had clean tile floors, dark wood
cabinets in the kitchens, and a leather sofa and chairs. Picture collages of
travel photos filled the rooms and knickknacks of lizards and turtles in
tropical colors adorned the walls.
Features
Three great pools, a beautiful beach, and not much else
The pools are a popular feature at the Villas. The main pool
sits at the center of the property and faces the ocean. It is large and
inviting, and has lounge chairs and straw umbrellas set up around the
perimeter as well as a snack bar that is open during the day. The front of
the pool, however, has an oddly discolored entry area that
appears yellow and greenish. The other pools are smaller but have an attractive
circular design. The main pool is where most of the activity is during the day;
the smaller pools are quieter and more relaxing.The beach is extremely wide, and you feel like you have to
walk down a ways to get to the water. There is plenty of room to play
volleyball or sunbathe. The water is a beautiful turquoise blue but is a bit
wavy and there are a good amount of yellow and red flags warnings for swimmers.
There is a lifeguard in front of the hotel during the day. We did not see lounge chairs or umbrellas set up on the beach for guests.There is a convenience store on the first floor that sells
packaged food, cold beverages, coffee, and toiletries. The villas are a gated
community with 24-hour security.
