🏝️ Almare Isla Mujeres: Beautiful, Quiet & Not for Me

Hey y’all 💕

I spent my birthday at Almare Isla Mujeres, and while it was definitely beautiful, I have some things to say. This was my first time staying at a boutique hotel, and I didn’t even really know what that meant until I got there. Spoiler: boutique means small. A small hotel… on a small beach… that you can walk across in about three deep breaths. But it was private, peaceful, and cute — so let’s get into it.

🌴 First Impressions: Peace… with Party Boat Interruptions

This hotel is located on the quieter side of Isla Mujeres, and it’s adults-only + all-inclusive, which I love. From the moment I got there, I could tell this place was meant for couples, honeymoons, or people who want to be off the grid. And to be honest? That part was nice. It was clean, calm, and pretty.

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But here’s something I didn’t expect — there’s a dock right next to the hotel, and throughout the day, a lot of party boats pull up and dock there. So even though the hotel feels peaceful and private, the beach gets hit with waves of loud music, crowds, and people hopping off boats trying to keep the party going.

You’ll hear music blasting, people yelling, and sometimes even folks wandering over to the hotel’s beach — but the staff will politely let them know it’s private property. Still… if you’re expecting total peace and silence during the day, that might throw you off.

🧳 Boutique Means Small, Baby

Let me be clear: the hotel is beautiful. But it’s small. The beach is small. The hotel itself is small. I’ve stayed at luxury resorts before with big, sweeping entrances and endless restaurants. This ain’t that. This is more… cozy luxury. So just set your expectations accordingly.

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The private beach is right outside, and when the boats aren’t blasting music, it’s actually really peaceful. I still enjoyed it — it just wasn’t quite what I pictured.

🍤 Food & Drinks: Way Better Than Expected

Let’s talk about the real highlight of this trip: the food. For this to be an all-inclusive hotel, the food was shockingly good. Like… I wasn’t expecting gourmet, but that’s what I got.

We’re talking jumbo shrimp, perfectly cooked ribeye steaks, fresh poke bowls, and pastries and coffee that actually hit. The menu is small, but I played around with it and made requests every day — fried shrimp, grilled shrimp, shrimp and rice (you see the pattern?), and they always came through.

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They also had a café that opened during the day and stayed open into the evening, and I loved that I could pop in for a coffee and something sweet without having to dress up or leave the resort. The pool bar and beach bar were solid too — y’all already know how I feel about a pool with no bar: what’s the point?

Now the only downside? They don’t offer alcohol via room service between 11 PM and 9 AM. So if you’re like me and want a little wine at 2 AM while you wind down — you’re out of luck. That was frustrating, especially for an adults-only resort.

Also, they don’t start serving liquor until 9 AM. Which like… okay, I get it. But if I want a mimosa with my early breakfast, that should be allowed. It’s vacation.

🏊🏽‍♀️ Rooftop Pool + Hidden Gem Energy

The hotel has a rooftop pool with a restaurant and bar, and for some reason… nobody was ever up there but me. I spent a lot of time by myself on that rooftop — reading, relaxing, having drinks, taking in the view. Honestly, I don’t think most guests even realized it was there. It was peaceful and lowkey, which I loved. If you go, don’t miss this spot.

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🚤 A Little Transportation Letdown

Here’s one thing that annoyed me — when I booked this hotel, it was advertised that private transportation was included. Because the hotel is on an island, they were supposed to send their own boat to pick me up from the public dock and bring me directly to the resort.

Well… the day I arrived, they told me there were strong winds and I needed to take the public ferry instead. Which was crowded, chaotic, and not what I signed up for.

I understand weather happens, but it was still disappointing. I booked this hotel expecting a certain level of service and ease — especially since that private transfer was a big reason I chose it.

💭 Final Thoughts: It’s Cute, But I’m Good

Would I stay here again? No.

But would I recommend it? Absolutely — depending on your vibe.

If you’re on your honeymoon or with your man and want good food, a peaceful beach, and a quiet escape? Go. You’ll be happy.

But if you’re a solo traveler (like me this time) or you’re expecting 24/7 convenience and elevated service? You might get annoyed by a few things.

The hotel is beautiful. The food was way better than I expected. The rooftop pool was a hidden gem.

But between the transportation issue, the alcohol restrictions, and the party boat noise — it wasn’t a “wow” for me personally.

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Want to see more? I already posted content from this vacation on my YouTube — just search EatMahKandy and take a peek. 💕

— Candy 💋