Hotel Plaza Playa

The Hotel Plaza Playa isn’t much to look at from the outside, though it's located in a plaza with several retail shops, including an Apple store, a bakery, a travel agency, and a laundromat. The hotel's restaurant, Cafe Del Arte Galeria, has indoor and outdoor seating and walls covered with artwork. The lobby is a simple space, with a blue reception desk and brown leather sofas situated around a small coffee table under a multi-piece mural painted by one of the owners. There's also an elevator. Other common areas include small lounge areas at the end of each floor, complete with small couches, tables, and artwork on the walls. Most guests here are tourists on a budget who don't mind being a tad away from the beaches.

The Plaza Playa is located near the intersection of 30th Street and Avenue Constituyentes, a 15-minute walk from the beach. It's in a plaza with a few shops, and is a short walk from a number of local restaurants and cafes. These include El Rey del Taco, just in front of the Mega Comercial Mexicana supermarket on Constituyentes and La Ceiba de la 30, which has a varied menu with plenty of vegetarian and vegan options, right on 30th. Getting to the airport in Cancun takes about an hour by car. 

There are only two classes of rooms available at the Plaza Playa: Standard Rooms and Junior Suites. Standard Rooms have either a king-size bed, two doubles, or a single double plus a fold-out sofa. The two Junior Suites have king-size beds and add living room areas with tables and chairs. Decor is nice for a budget property, with polished white floors and contemporary furniture in shades of blue or gray. 

All units are air-conditioned and come with flat-screen TVs, mini-fridges, and safes. Suites add microwaves, and those staying for more than a few days in the Standard Rooms can request microwaves depending on availability. Hairdryers, coffeemakers, cribs, and irons/ironing boards can be arranged through the front desk. Bathrooms have walk-in showers and basic toiletries and while they are well maintained overall, some discoloration is visible underneath the drainpipes in the bathroom sinks and on the grout.

The hotel doesn't have a ton of amenities, though it does offer a buffet breakfast in the restaurant every morning (free for guests who book directly with the hotel). There's also a gated parking area set outside just beyond the lobby with space for six to eight vehicles depending on their size. Beach towels are also available upon request with a deposit and there's free Wi-Fi throughout the hotel.