Chiringuito Tulum

Chiringuito Tulum, a Michelin Key Selected property in Tulum, Mexico, generally receives positive feedback for its serene beachfront location, stylish design, and attentive staff, offering a luxurious and peaceful retreat.

1. Overall Rating & Sentiment

Chiringuito Tulum holds an admirable overall rating, with guests often giving it a "Wonderful" or "Very Good" score, averaging around 8.5 on platforms like Booking.com. On Agoda, its review rating is even higher at 9.4. The prevailing sentiment is that it's a beautiful, peaceful hotel with stunning views and a relaxing atmosphere, ideal for couples or those seeking a quiet getaway. Many guests express a desire to return, highlighting its quality as a "small luxury hide away".

2. Key Highlights

Guests consistently praise several aspects of Chiringuito Tulum:

• Location: Its prime beachfront position in South Tulum, a quieter part of the hotel zone, is a major draw. Guests enjoy direct beach access and peaceful sunrises.
• Design: The hotel distinguishes itself with a modern, Mediterranean-inspired, and minimalistic design, featuring sleek furniture and polished cement flooring, contrasting with the more common bohemian-chic aesthetic in Tulum. The tropical garden and lovely pools also contribute to its aesthetic appeal.
• Amenities: Highlights include a beautiful sandy beach with comfortable sunbeds, a lagoon-like outdoor swimming pool, and a beach club. Many rooms boast wide, furnished terraces, often with ocean views and private pools. In-room amenities such as Nespresso machines and Bose sound systems are appreciated. The hotel also offers services like concierge, car rental, and a kitesurfing school.
• Service: The staff is frequently described as friendly, helpful, caring, and professional.

3. Room Quality

The rooms at Chiringuito Tulum are often lauded as "stunning" and "very spacious," offering great views, particularly the ocean-view suites with private pools. They feature a minimalistic and sleek style with stylish furniture, promoting a "very soothing" ambiance. Many rooms include large dressing rooms and plush, comfortable beds. Integrated mosquito nets allow guests to sleep with windows open, enjoying the sound of the sea. Rooms are noted for being exceptionally clean and bug-free.

4. Dining Experience

The hotel provides a complimentary continental breakfast, often enjoyed on terraces overlooking the ocean. While described as delicious and prepared with care, some guests found the breakfast variety limited, suggesting it could be "a bit monodimensional" or "not particularly Mexican". The a la carte Chiringuito Tulum restaurant serves Mediterranean dishes. Fresh seafood and margaritas are often praised. However, some dinner meals could be tastier, and lunch prices were found to be expensive by a few guests.

5. Service & Staff

The staff at Chiringuito Tulum generally receives high praise for being friendly, helpful, caring, and professional. Guests appreciate the "amazing service" and note that the staff often "go above and beyond". Communication via WhatsApp is highlighted as excellent and convenient for requests and room service. However, a recurring criticism points to an uncomfortable tipping policy, with requests for tips on all bills, including complimentary breakfast, which some guests felt made the service less genuinely friendly.

6. Location & Accessibility

Located at Carretera Boca Paila km 9, in the Zona Hotelera of Tulum, Chiringuito Tulum offers a prime beachfront setting. It's situated in the "South Tulum" area, which is considered a quieter, more relaxing zone away from the main party areas, yet still close to other hotels, restaurants, and shops. The hotel offers free private parking. While taxis are readily available, some guests noted that bikes were available for rent, though not complimentary.

7. Value & Pricing

Value for money receives mixed reviews, with some guests feeling the experience was not entirely commensurate with the high cost. For example, one guest paid over $1500 USD for two nights and felt it was not worth it due to various issues. The average price for a weeknight is around $456, while a weekend night averages $437, with December being the most expensive month and June the cheapest. Despite some criticisms, many consider it a luxurious escape, justifying the price for its stunning location and overall ambiance.

8. Common Complaints

While largely positive, several recurring issues are mentioned by guests:

• Pools: Private pool water can be quite cold with no heating option, and rooftop pools were sometimes not cleaned during stays.
• Room Issues: Unpleasant smells in bathrooms were reported by several guests, along with occasional inconsistencies in room service (bed making, minibar refilling). Some found the beds generally uncomfortable despite others describing them as plush.
• Dining: The limited variety of the included breakfast is a common point of contention.
• Service & Noise: The tipping policy made some guests uncomfortable, and service was perceived as less friendly at times. Noise from adjacent hotels or beach clubs, particularly on weekends, has been a significant issue for rooms located nearby.
• Water Quality: Salty shower and bathroom water, common in Tulum, was noted as a minor inconvenience.
• Room Service Hours: Dinner room service is limited, typically only available until 6 p.m..
• Beach Conditions: The presence of seaweed on the beach and sunbeds being reserved for outside visitors were noted during some stays, though this can be a seasonal issue for Tulum.

Sources

1. booking.com
2. booking.com
3. youtube.com
4. expedia.com
5. ahotellife.com
6. tulumtownhotels.com
7. michelin.com
8. kayak.com
9. expedia.mx