This is undeniably a beautiful, design-forward hotel in an incredible location. The aesthetic is refined and serene, and Bacalar’s natural beauty truly shines here. The property feels high end at first glance, and the staff is genuinely warm and well-intentioned, which makes the shortcomings more frustrating—because this place has so much potential.
The biggest issue is noise and privacy. You can hear everything: conversations in the hallway, doors opening, and even neighboring guests showering. The bathroom design is a major contributor—the door to the toilet has roughly a ½–¾ inch gap from top to bottom, which offers virtually no privacy. Sounds and even smells travel freely into the room, and the door itself makes a loud noise every time it’s opened or closed. If someone uses the toilet at night, it will wake the other person in the room.
Service-wise, while the staff was pleasant and clearly trying their best, very little to no English was spoken. For a high-end hotel in an international tourist destination, this was surprising and often made communication difficult. There was also confusion around dining, particularly with dietary restrictions—staff struggled to understand that different people at the same table might have different needs or preferences.
Lastly, the private pool was a disappointment. It was cold—just like the main pool—and for the first three days had no circulation, leading to stagnant water and collected bugs.