Calle 8 Norte Entre 5a. y Zona Federal 876, Zona Federal, Playa del Carmen, Mexico | (888) 710-7049
Prime beachfront location near busy Quinta Avenida
Spacious rooms with terraces or balconies and garden or Caribbean views; most have mini-fridges
On-site restaurant serving grilled and international specialties; breakfast included in high season
Flagstone garden courtyard with palm trees
Small fitness room
Free Wi-Fi throughout
Not all rooms have been renovated (renovations underway through 2017)
Complaints about noisy AC, water temperature and pressure, and moldy smell in some rooms
Wi-Fi signal doesn't reach all rooms
Few rooms have full ocean views
Fitness room is tiny with limited equipment
One of the older hotels in Playa del Carmen, the budget Pelicano Inn sits between the beach and the restaurants, shops, and nightlife on Quinta Avenida. Resembling a villa, it’s a quiet, Mediterranean-style property centered around a tranquil inner courtyard that opens to the beach. The 39 spacious rooms include terraces or balconies, and while a few face the Caribbean, most have garden views. Oceanfront suites have been remodeled, but most of the rooms still await some much-needed updates -- we noticed tube-style TVs and broken tiles and countertops on our visit. The hotel has a small fitness room with three cardio and weight machines, along with free weights, and a restaurant -- breakfast is included in most room rates. While guests have complained about noisy air conditioners, slow-to-heat showers, sewer and mold smells in some rooms, and shaky Wi-Fi, for price, location, and room size, the hotel still packs a lot of value. Travelers could also check out the Hotel Lunata or Posada Mariposa.
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Scene
A Mediterranean-style property set amid a courtyard garden with palm trees and lounge areas
With a laid-back Mediterranean style and vibe and direct access to the beach, the Pelicano Inn is a mainstay in downtown Playa del Carmen. With only 39 rooms, it's small, unassuming, airy, and intimate. Its restaurant was renovated in 2016, reopening a week before our visit. The hotel's entrance can be difficult to find, as it's off a side street down the hill from the Quinta Avenida, midway between the avenue and the beach. A tiled-corridor leads to the reception area and lounge, where guests can take in the Mediterranean-style architecture, with its arches and hand-painted tile accents, and get a quick peek at the beach. The Pelicano Inn is one of Playa del Carmen's older properties, and it shows its age in cracked tiles and paint, broken terra-cotta roof tiles, and a moldy smell in places. That said, the hotel is under renovation, and the work will continue through 2017. When we visited in mid-2016, about 30 percent of the property had been refurbished, including the oceanfront suites at the front of the property that overlook the Caribbean and the restaurant. The property is extremely low-key and is a nice alternative to a chain hotel. It attracts vacationing couples, families, and groups of friends.
Location
Located between the beach and the action on Quinta Avenida
The Pelicano Inn is in the heart of Playa del Carmen, between the Quinta Avenida tourist strip -- with dozens of restaurants, clubs, and shops -- and the beach. It’s about a 10-minute walk to ADO bus station, with connections to Tulum, other points throughout the Yucatan and the rest of Mexico. The Cozumel ferry departure point is also about a 10-minute walk from the hotel. Avenida Quinta is pedestrian only, but taxis and can be found easily on 10th. The hotel is about a 20-minute drive to the Xcaret Eco Theme Park, and a 50-minute drive to Cancun International Airport.
Rooms
A mix of rooms with garden views, and partial and full ocean views
The Pelicano Inn's 39 rooms fall into various categories, such as Garden View Standard, Ocean View Standard, Ocean Front Standard, and Ocean Villa Suite. All rooms have terraces or balconies, and most of the rooms have garden or partial ocean views, while only a few have full ocean views. Room decor and amenities differ, depending on whether the rooms have been renovated. Renovated rooms have retiled floors and newer furniture, including flat-screen TVs. The still-to-be renovated rooms show wear and tear, such as broken countertops and floor tiles, floors, and older ceiling fans; some have dated-looking floral bedspreads. Ocean Front Standard Rooms have full sea views, terraces or balconies, and sofa beds. The Honeymoon Master Suite has a whirlpool tub. All but Garden View Standard Rooms have mini-fridges. All rooms are air-conditioned and have free Wi-Fi, but the signal doesn't reach all rooms -- it's most reliable in rooms closest to the reception area. Free bottled water is provided daily. Bathrooms vary by room. Remodeled units have resin countertops with vessel sinks. All rooms have walk-in showers. The unrenovated units have several broken and cracked tiles, and discolored grout in the showers.
Features
On-site restaurant, beach, interior garden area, and workout room
The on-site restaurant serves gourmet-style breakfasts in high-season, and specializes in grilled and international fare. It has a small outdoor seating area with wicker furniture, and there's more seating along the beach. There are also loungers set up under thatch and wooden awnings, and the interior garden and reception area offer seating too. There's a small workout room on an upper level, but it's so tiny and equipment is so limited that only one person can use it at a time, and visits need to be scheduled. Wi-Fi is free throughout the hotel, but the signal doesn't reach all rooms.
