La Isla Huatulco & Beach Club

La Isla Huatulco is a pleasant enough place to spend a few days for travelers who don't mind being set away from the town and beach. Interiors are pleasantly modern, though undeniably simple, but most of the focus here is on the outdoors anyway. Throughout the day, plenty of guests can be found around the spacious pool terrace, where Top 40 music plays from the afternoon into the evening. While the area can occasionally get busy, there are plenty of places for visitors to spread out. During the day, guests can also head over to the private beach club, Latitud 15, which has an infinity pool and open-air eatery under a thatched roof -- both oriented toward the ocean. As a vacation spot for locals, travelers can expect to see lots of Mexican families and couples hanging out at the hotel. 

The hotel is located on a well-trafficked road that runs from popular Tangolunda Bay to the small tourist towns of Santa Cruz and La Crucecita. There isn't much nearby, and travelers will likely need their own wheels or taxis to get around. It's a four-minute drive to the golden sands of Chahue Beach -- home to the hotel's beach club -- or a 15-minute walk. The hotel does run a free shuttle there, but it's infrequent. The shops and restaurants of Santa Cruz and the small town of La Crucecita are less than 10 minutes away by car. La Crucecita is a great spot for sampling traditional street food, and also has a Super Che grocery store. For golf enthusiasts, the 18-hole Las Parotas Golf Club is a five-minute drive away, while hikers might head to Huatulco National Park, an eight-minute drive from the hotel. It's 10 minutes by car to Tangolunda Beach. Expect a 20-minute drive to Huatulco International Airport.

Across all categories, rooms are spacious and simply furnished. All have platform king or double beds with dark-blue bedspreads, as well as light-colored wood-veneer furniture that's offset by warm colors like orange accent walls, beige tile floors, and a few pieces of vibrant floral artwork. Otherwise, the style a bit spartan. Flat-screen TVs, air-conditioning, free (spotty) Wi-Fi, and digital safes come standard in all rooms, though extras like mini-fridges are missed. There is generous closet space for storage. The highlight of the rooms are the furnished balconies, though views are only of the pool or the surrounding area. Bathrooms include shower stalls and vessel sinks, with just a bit of extra counter space. Towels and toiletries are included, though during our visit not all of the showers had been upgraded to rainfall showerheads.

La Isla Huatulco has just the necessities, though it's on par with other mid-range hotels nearby. The property is centered around a spacious pool and terrace that's open until late in the evening. It features a few separate whirlpool areas plus a decent amount of umbrellas and lounge chairs. A small game area is located near the pool terrace, with foosball and pool tables. 

A snack bar near the pool serves typical bar food like burgers, fries, and sandwiches, as well as sushi, tempura, and salads. Local beer, frozen cocktails, and mixed drinks are available as well. There's also a casual breakfast restaurant overlooking the pool terrace. A traditional Mexican a la carte and buffet breakfast is available daily and features dishes like chilaquiles.

Latitud 15 Beach Club is located a four-minute shuttle ride from the hotel on popular Chahue Beach. It has a moderate-size pool with a volleyball net, and a handful of beige lounge chairs. A spacious alfresco restaurant overlooks the Pacific Ocean, and there are a few thatched cabanas and hammocks set up. Keep in mind that the shuttle doesn't run frequently.

There's an ample amount of self-parking available for guests and Wi-Fi is free throughout the hotel, though is can be spotty.