Villas Coco Resort

Villas Coco is a relaxed value property that has more to offer than might initially appear. On top of a wall, concrete letters spelling out the hotel’s name are painted in bright rainbow colors and stand in company with plastic leopards and a flamingo. The open-air lobby is the first thing to greet guests and it feels more hostel than hotel thanks to the palapa roof, stacked plastic tables and chairs, bar area decorated with plastic pineapples, and the widely ignored seating area made of stretched leather and wood. Outside, there's a small landscaped courtyard area where ornaments decorate a center tree and LED lights wrap the surrounding palms. The pool area features homemade rock waterfalls, also wrapped in LED lights, while the hotel itself is a small, two-story casita-style building with Mexican tiles rimming the concrete stairs and Spanish tile on the roof. 

Villas Coco is located in Punta Sur, in the southern part of the island. This area is quiet, and it's possible to hear the ocean in the distance late at night. There’s not much within walking distance outside of an oyster bar and the rocky coastline. The Ice Bar and Turtle Farm are a six-minute drive away. Dolphin Discovery is a 12-minute drive. The restaurants, shops, and bars of downtown and ferry port are a 20-minute cab ride north. Guests can also take a 10-minute cab ride to the superstore Chedraui for kitchen supplies or forgotten travel items. 

All 16 rooms here are the same, with the only true differentiator being if they are on the first or second floor. Rooms are spacious and include a sunken bedroom area off of the kitchen. Kitchens have medium-sized mini-fridges and microwaves, but no dishes. The coffeemaker is accompanied by mugs and free bottled water, but no free coffee. Beds are king-size and share space with a black leather futon and mirrored closet. Spotty Wi-Fi is free and there are flat-screen TVs. 

Bathrooms offer a vanity area with a magnifying mirror and toiletries (shampoo, bar soap, and shower gel). The toilet and whirlpool/shower combo are encased in green marble-graphic tile behind the door. Water is hot and the pressure is good, though not all the whirlpools have working jets. Balconies are furnished with basic plastic chairs and face out toward a backyard of sorts; at night it gets quiet enough to hear the waves crashing in the distance. 

Villas Coco Resort's pool is the social spot on the property and it features tables and chairs and a few loungers. It also got a fairly reliable Wi-Fi signal compared to the rooms. The pool itself is small, tiled, and oddly has a shallow section with underwater stairs leading down to a deeper section. In the mornings, plastic tables and chairs are set up in the lobby bar area for a free continental breakfast. There are only two things on the menu: toast and a fresh fruit plate, both served with coffee. In the days and evenings, the bar area serves a variety of drinks including frozen margaritas, cocktails, and beer. There's free parking at the entrance and books to borrow in the lobby.