HotelChatter

Tags: Cancun Hotel Reviews / Hotel Renovations / WiFi Heaven / International Hotel WiFi / → All Tags

Hurricane Helps Hotel to Become More Luxe

Where: Costera Norte, Puerto Morelos, Mexico, 77580

Out of destruction comes construction, which in some cases can mean the aftermath is better than the pre-disaster days. This has certainly been the case with many Cancun-area hotels in Mexico, including Ceiba del Mar in Puerto Morelos.

Low-key hideaway Ceiba del Mar rebuilt like everyone else after Hurricane Wilma, but it decided to use the downtime and construction needs to expand the size of its rooms, adding more suites. The room count went down by more than 20 percent--to 88--so the resort could make 37 of them suites and another 7 of them swank penthouses with huge terraces and a whirlpool tub (pictured here). The spa is more than an afterthought and was expanded to almost 9,000 square feet.

We like the fact that Cieba del Mar is separated from Cancun both figuratively and literally. There's no annoying activity director by the pretty pool, which flows in front of all the villa buildings, and you can walk out the front door to a town with real locals--people that don't just serve tourists all day. This is an upscale place to unwind and relax without the aid of artificial merriment.

This doesn't mean the hotel is rustic, however. The suites all have wide plasma TVs and everybody gets a CD player and free wi-fi access: the latter a real rarity in these parts.

Those with an early flight can catch a few extra winks here too: it's one of the closest area hotels to the airport.