Izla Hotel

Opened in December 2017, the beachfront Izla Hotel occupies a towering, crescent-shaped building with an off-white facade. The design throughout is chid, modern, and minimalist, with a light design incorporating pops of color. The lobby is simple but elegant, with lots of cushy chairs and bench seating in shades of orange and blue; huge bookshelves and wooden screens divide the space up, and there's a high table with bar stools all around it for guests to congregate. Other common areas include the hotel's main restaurant, Izla Cafe, which features striking colorful murals and wall hangings. Although breakfast and half-board rates are available, some travelers may be disappointed that this property lacks all-inclusive packages. Outside, there's a large grassy lawn that leads out to the hotel's huge pool deck and the white-sand beach beyond. Guests are a mix of couples and families with kids. 

Izla Hotel is located right on a white-sand beach on the western shores of Isla Mujeres, just off the coast of Cancun, in an area it shares with a few other hotels and a smattering of restaurants. It's a five-minute walk from the Tortugranja Aquarium, while getting to the city center, where there are plenty of places to eat and shop, including a few supermarkets, takes at least 20 minutes on foot. Getting to the hotel from the mainland requires flying to Cancun and either taking a taxi to the Puerto Juarez ferry docks or taking an ADO bus to downtown Cancun, from where visitors can catch a bus or taxi to the ferry docks. It's about a 15-minute drive from the port to the hotel. The ferry from Cancun to Isla Mujeres is offered regularly throughout the day, and the journey takes about 15 minutes. 

The Izla Hotel offers three types of rooms: Ocean Front Superior Honeymoon Rooms, Deluxe Ocean View Rooms, and Regal Chamber Ocean Front with Plunge Pool suite-style units. All rooms are spacious and many have full or partial views out over the ocean. The stylish, minimalist decor is more or less identical across categories, save for a few variations in color scheme. Expect light wood-finish floors, medium wood trim, furniture, and accents, and pops of color in blue or mustard-hued bed runners and throw cushions. Lighting is soft, with a mix of recessed ceiling lights and sconce light fixtures, plus blackout drapes. Big sliding-glass doors lead out to huge furnished balconies, most of which have soaking pools or tubs. Standard amenities include mini-fridges, coffeemakers, safes, free Wi-Fi, and flat-screen TVs with cable channels. Bathrooms are large and stylish, with double vanities and patterned patchwork tiling on the floors, plus separate booths for walk-in showers and toilets. Basic toiletries, magnifying mirrors, hairdryers, robes, and slippers are provided.

At the heart of the resort is a beautiful, spacious pool lined with lounge chairs, with a few on platforms that jut right out into the water. Just beyond the pool is the beach, where there a few cabanas right on the white sand and two rows of lounge chairs by a small pool/beach bar. The beach here is clean and the waters are generally calm. There's also a smaller adults-only pool on a rooftop terrace overlooking the main pool. A small fitness center, spa, and a sundries shop are on-site. Amenities at this hotel are geared toward vacationers, though there is meeting space available for rent, with a conference room for up to 80 guests. The hotel can also arrange destination weddings, including beautiful seafront ceremonies available. Parking and hotel-wide Wi-Fi are both free. 

Izla Hotel restaurant options include Izla Cafe, which offers all-day dining, with an included a la carte breakfast served with fresh Mexican sweet bread, Chiapas coffee, and Tabasco hot chocolate. Mexican food dominates here at other meals, and there's plenty of fresh seafood available. There's also a sleeker dinner restaurant, Numa, with similar offerings. All-inclusive packages are not available, but half-board (with breakfast and dinner, but no alcohol) is an option. Room service is also available and food at the hotel gets positive reviews.