Located 15 minutes from Cancun International Airport, Solymar is a 200 room budget beach hotel on the Caribbean Sea. While some people choose the All-Inclusive option here, I would not choose this the next time I visit. Actually, I probably won’t visit again. It’s a toss up. Either you love Solymar or you hate it. I found it to be an “OK” home base while in Cancun. I tried my best to stay away, except to sleep.

Rooms:
This is a Mexican style hotel, meaning no elevators and open air hallways. The majority of the rooms are dark with Mexican tile and navy colors. It is very rustic. The walls were a terra cotta colored stucco. The bathrooms are shower-only and I wore my flip-flops in the shower. Upon check-in, we entered our room to find a view of the parking lot. This is a chance you take when you book ROH(run of the house). I sat down on one of the beds, and my behind got wet. Apparently someone else had been there in a wet swimsuit and left their mark. At least, I’m hoping it was a wet swimsuit. The rooms are condo-style with kitchenettes, but I don’t recommend cooking in the room we were given. The amenities were sparse as were the towels. The electrical outlets are 120/220 AC

Somewhere in this hotel are the “good” rooms. They are larger, brighter, and supposedly cleaner. I even hear that there are villas with private pools. I didn’t see them.

Pools:
There is one pool at Solymar. It is not very large but it will keep you cool.

Restaurants:
Solymar advertises that it has three restaurants. It is actually one restaurant that changes its name for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. There is a bar in the lobby and also a pool bar that will order burgers for you from the lunch restaurant. I guess this is what you would call a ‘pool-side grill’.

Activities:
At the time of my stay, there were no scheduled activities. There are some activities down by the beach offered by an independent contractor.

The Bottom Line:
As stated before, you either love Solymar or hate it. I wouldn’t stay there again, but I did enjoy spending time with my husband and experiencing the area with him. Some people have had great experiences here. Check out some of the reviews on Tripadvisor.com and epinions.com to help you make an informed decision. If you are on a budget and needing someplace to store your luggage while you explore, Solymar is a good choice. If you are looking for a relaxing, trouble free vacation, search elsewhere.