HotelChatter

There are little humorous touches of exclusivity -- short red velvet ropes beckon guests into a spare lobby. Huge glass panels along Calle 8 give a tantalizing glimpse of the angular pool and red lounge beds. First-floor rooms open right onto the pool, with wooden cantilevered decks that technically let guests stumble from their beds right into the pool. Dive right in, sleepwalkers!

From the pool, follow the wooden deck path right out to the playa. Shaded by palm trees, grassy patches (a commodity in PDC), and lush plantings, you'll pass the outdoor showers, with stone gravel runoff, right out to the warm sand of the beach.

Black lounge beds are hauled out onto the playa daily, and at night soft glowing lights and low-key vibes make the bar along the beach a place to drop in for a margarita before crashing.

As we go to print, so to speak, a condo is under construction next door in matching manzanilla (yellow) hue; but at the rate buildings are going up in PDC, the place should be done in the next month or so. Take note and ask for a room away from the hardhats before making a reservation. Tripadvisor reviews are mixed, from "worst service ever" and "loved it" to "outstanding" and "would never go back."  

There are certainly other hotels that open out onto the playa, but this is Chillmex by definition.

[Photo: Habitat Girl]