Avalon Reef Club Isla Mujeres

We had a nice experience overall. The rooms are very bare and the beds are super hard. The week we were there it seemed sort of empty and there wasn't much going on but the staff was always around when we needed them.The beach around the hotel was amazing and the view from the room was also nice. The grounds were well kept. The breakfast buffet was good. We didn't eat any other meals there. The drinks were reasonable and they had some 2 for 1 deals at the bar. We looked at some other rooms and the villas but for 50.00 a night to upgrade, it wasn't worth it for this place-the beds were still super hard and the rooms were still very basic. For the small amount of time we were spending in the room, it didn't matter to us. We would love to bring our kids back for the swimming area alone. It was made for small kids! If you are looking for spa style luxury-this is not the place. If you are looking for a reasonably priced place to stay in the center of a gorgeous beach within walking distance of downtown...this is a great spot.

Was very happy with the hotel and food. Now you have to remember the island had a hurricaine 6 yrs ago. So with that told was very nice. Room was good and the staff extremly helpfull. I will definetly consider going back.

First, the good news. The location of this hotel is great. The beach is gorgeous! You can see the fish in the water without even snorkeling. It is within walking distance to many restaurants and the ferry to Cancun. Now, the bad news. The staff at the front desk were very rude to us during check- in and throughout our visit. They understood English, but weren't helpful at all. We also noted that the hotel room was a LOT smaller than it appeared online. The standard room is small and very simple. The view of the water it nice, but that's about it. Other reviews stated that the bed was very hard, but it didn't bother us that much. You should be aware that there are close to 100 channels but about 90 of them are in Spanish (which is the opposite of what they told us prior to us booking the room). The food was affordable but not all that good. We would return to Isla Mujeres, but will likely stay somewhere else.

This is simply a paradisiac getaway for relaxing and recovering your energies. We enjoyed every bit of the hotel facilities, even though it is true that chairs by the beach are reserved by guests early in the morning and it could be a bit annoying, but... hey man, this is normal everywhere I've been! savviest people get the best seats! so if you want the best spots by the breathtaking ocean get up early and head for the beach with your beach towels! reserve your spot and go for breakfast. Yes, the beach surrounding the hotel is THE BEST of this tranquil, lay-back island, so it is normal for other tourists to also visit it and enjoy it. Beaches are public! if you want a "privative" beach then pay for an exclusive 5 star hotel and have it. Otherwise, be prepared to share it with other people, that are as happy as you are to be in such a blessed spot and might express it a bit loudly, especially children. But the beach was never unbearably crowded nor noisy, and we visited during Easter, a major Mexican holiday! The quality of the water is unbeatable. The place is full of friendly and curious fish waiting to be fed, which is a local practice. Bring your snorkel and mask! or buy a normal one for 35US$ at the hotel shop, very finely equipped by the way. The hotel goes to great lengths to keep everything spotless, even with a a lot of people around. Security is also great, and we felt very safe at all times, at the hotel and in the island. Room service was great. The rooms are comfortable, simple but elegant. Yes, the don't have internet, and yes, the TV is not s flat screened one but... hey!! you came to enjoy the scenery! if you need internet stay for a few minutes in the cool lobby and use it at will. And BTW... old TVs are good too... ;-) The food and drinks at the hotel were excellent. We enjoyed the happy hour every night, following the advice of the friendly waiters and bartenders. Every night dinner had a "theme", and prices were very good for American standards, but maybe a bit above the island's average. But the "Mercado" is pretty close by, and food is great and scaringly cheap. We enjoyed our 10 minute walk to the island's "downtown" and were always gracefully lured by local salespersons, in very decent english, to buy "cigars" or "goods". Everyone is so friendly and respectful! We did a couple of activities, and our favourite definitely was the golf cart rental to go around the island. The turtle farm is small and in need of funding but animals are simply amazing and the do the best they can. The southernmost spot (Ixchel temple) is very pretty and the scenery the best of the island, but there are actually no real mayan ruins, so don't put your hopes up. If you want Mayan history, wake up early and go to Chichen Itza, in mainland. By the way, the small tourist booth at the hotel's lobby was pretty fine, we recommend it. The beds were very comfortable and we had no problems with the portable air conditioning. The windows actually don't open 100% but, hey... the hotel needs to protect itself against liabilities... it could be a nasty accident if somebody fell and crashed against the rocks... We broke a glass and were charged 6 US$, but, again, this is a 3-star hotel. If you want premium stuff pay more since the beginning. Charges for small extras (such as room coffee, water or broken stuff) is normal in a 3 star hotel. All in all, this is the best holidays we have had in years. Our recommendation? Just watch that breathtaking ocean, enjoy the excellent mexican food, have fun with the friendly staff, walk and relax on the beaches and town, just sit back and rate all the sunsets, count the fish swimming around your legs, find animal figures in the white clouds above your head... we did all this and came back suntanned, rested and feeling blessed. Enjoy!

I had booked an ocean view standard room. The ocean could be seen behind some metal structure and the room had the same qualities as the visitors room at Sam Quentin. One overhead flourescent bulb, no bedside lamps or tables. The windows opened 2 inches so one was forced to use the standing air conditioner in the middle of the room that sounded like a model T with acid reflux. I went to the front desk to remedy the situation and the staff was disinterested and discourteous. I was able to get an upgrade to an ocean side villa and it made all the difference. The balcony with the ocean view was lovely, the room was pleasant, and the bathroom spacious. great room. Be prepared to be charged for everything! coffee for the supplied coffee maker was extra, beach towels were extra, and they stuck a note under everyones door sternly informing us that outside food and drink was not allowed anywhere in the common areas. You could not bring a bottled water to the pool or beach unless you bought it from the hotel. Still, the villa room was great and the onsite dive shop was awesome! Ask for Lung as your scuba guide. he rules.

We upgraded from the hotel room to the Villas because Villas have great location, balcony and frig. (never even looked at hotel room since I have stayed in the Villas 2x before) There is just not a better view of the ocean anywhere else on Isla. The Villa price is comprable to other north beach properties. The rooms are not as fancy but again location more than makes up for it. The breakfast buffet is very good but very expensive, if you buy it there. Buy it on line before you go for half the price. Only a 10 minute walk to great breakfast and lunches at the 4 patio restaurants in the Mercado. Excellant snorkeling in 3 feet of water just off of their beach. Lots of fish. Front desk was kind enough to look up and print by return flight ticket for me.

The hotel is obviously in probably the best location on the entire island; however, the rooms in the main tower are defn. tiny. Possibly OK for a couple, but any more and it's super cramped. We had a baby and ended up paying the extra $50 to upgrade. However, I asked if we could upgrade upon check in and there was nothing, we then got a knock on our door to upgrade. When I asked they didn't even check! We also had free round trip travel but didn't get sent certain instructions and because we purchased round trip tickets were only reimbursed for 1/2 and told to contact the website we booked through. Then upon check out there was a charge to our room that was not ours and they had the attitude that we had to prove it wasn't ours. Defn. NOT great customer service at all, the people at the main desk seemed to tend more to members and were defn. on the rude side. The condo style rooms are defn. beautiful with the deck right on the ocean, basic, but can't beat sitting on the edge of an ocean. Overall a decent experience, but not worth the rude staff, will not return.

The setting of this hotel is absolutely gorgeous. Between the crashing waves on one side and gorgeous snorkeling waters on the other it's just a beautiful piece of property. On the other hand the rooms are very bland with no balcony, only one chair - a desk chair, and very hard beds. The bar service is very slow and there is only just the one with limited to no service on the beach. This is essentially a 2 star hotel on a 5 star location.

If you are looking for a 5 star resort, then this is not the one..but definitely is a great 3+ star...stay in the villas...big rooms with great views..Will come back again.

The location is great but keep in mind that the beds are as hard as a rock and front desk barely speaks any English. A good time to brush up on your spanish skills.