Looking for a romantic getaway, my boyfriend and I chose Isla Mujeres for its seclusion and laid back reputation. After spending days reading reviews online I picked the Ixchel Beach Hotel (on the North Beach), keeping in mind some of the negative things other people had said in their reviews. When we got off the ferry we made the mistake of walking to the hotel instead of hiring one of the guys on bikes (definitely will take them up on their offer next time) but it was only a few blocks (just seemed longer with the luggage). Once we got there we were greeted by a friendly staff who quickly checked us in and showed us to our rooms. The elevators were out of order (because the hotel is very open-air, during heavy rain they shut the elevators down to prevent electrical problems) but we really didn't mind (it was actually nice, and made us feel better about indulging on all the daiquiris and fantastic food). After the long trip, the first thing I decided to do was take a shower, but there was a problem with the water pressure in our room. No problem, the guy at the front desk (I wish I could remember his name now) was fantastic and got us moved to a new (upgraded!) room in minutes. They even brought us a water dispenser with a huge jug of drinking water when we mentioned thirst. And yes, the hotel pool is shaded...but the gorgeous beach is only a few more steps away! (Honestly, who goes to Mexico for their swimming pools??) The restaurant affiliated with the hotel, Sunset Grill, is not directly on site, it is a few steps away so that it is situated right on the beach (and not like beach front, I mean really ON the beach) and the staff is the most friendly, helpful and easy going that I have ever encountered. And did I mention the bar has swings instead of stools? My boyfriend and I lounged at the water's edge in comfy chairs as the staff brought frosty beverages right to us...definitely fulfilling the fantasy we had of our vacation. Luis at the bar even helped us pick up a little Spanish. The dinner menu wasn't the best we had (don't even bother for breakfast), but the cocktails and atmosphere couldn't be beat. They even have live music most nights. Definitely a great place to relax during the day. And I highly recommend getting a massage by one of the women with tents set up on the sand. For the duration of our stay both the hotel and restaurant staff were more than helpful advising us on activities and the best way to do and see things. On our next trip there (we loved it so much we vowed to return) we will definitely be returning to the Ixchel Beach Hotel.

As for the rest of the island, the atmosphere and activities create the perfect getaway. We discovered a little breakfast place short walk from the hotel called Amigo's, and loved it so much that we ate there every morning. BEST BREAKFAST EVER! The staff was great and it's really a tiny place that's half outside where you can watch the shops set up for the day. We rented a golf cart for one day (the cheapest, most efficient way to get around) and went down to the other end of the island to Garafon Park. I had my heart set on the zip line so we splurged the $50, but I felt the park was a little overpriced. I'm sure if you were going to really make the day of it, the hammock garden, swimming with dolphins and other things they have there would be well worth it. We really enjoyed the sculpture park (which was only about $6) and walked the coastal path a bit...bring your camera the scenery is flawless.

Most of our time was spent meandering the streets and checking out the little shops where merchants were welcoming and fun. On the Saturday night that we were there I got up around 2am to use the bathroom, and since it had the only open window, when I opened the door I heard loud music and saw lights. Looking out the window I saw what looked like one hell of a wedding, partying late into the night. They didn't keep us up (with the A/C on and the windows closed the room was pretty much soundproof) but it looked like such a good time we considered crashing the party (but didn't).

On our second to last day there we got caught in the only really heavy rain, but in the Mexico heat, running through the downpour was more fun than inconvenience. We ran soaking wet into Jax Bar and Grill for dinner and by the end we were wondering why we hadn't eaten there all week. Being an Irish "meat and potatoes" kind of girl, I was surprised at how unbelievably perfect my enormous steak was. That alone was worth the trip.

Despite all the places around the world I have been, it took me a long time to get to Mexico, and after doing the research I am SO GLAD we picked Isla Mujeres as our destination. Most tourists will visit the island for a day excursion from Cancun, but we spend the entire trip there and loved every minute. If you're looking for a true getaway, a warm place to relax and actually have someone bring you blended cocktails while you tan by the water, this is the place. With the US's economy like it is, prices were pretty much the same (with some exceptions...READ: bring sunscreen for home...$12 a bottle!). It was the trip we were hoping for...slow-paced, romantic, tropical and completely rejuvenating. We are already planning our next trip to Isla Mujeres and can't wait!

We spent 4 days at the Hotel Ixchel, in a standard oceanview room. This hotel is perfectly situated on the beautiful Playa Norte. You cannot ask for a better location. It is within 1-2 blocks of town and many restaurants and bars. The staff at the hotel are very nice, attentive and extremely accomodating to any requests. Each building has its own pool and of course sits on the most beautiful beach on the island. The rooms are very nice and decorated in a Mexican style.

I loved both the island and the hotel and am looking forward to returning some day soon.

Overview: We loved the hotel, loved the island, loved the staff, loved the view ... it truly was perfect.

In depth: We booked two ocean front, two bedroom suites through Travelocity three months early. A week before we left, we checked the hotel Web site and found out the suites were almost half price. Travelocity charged us a $25 fee to cancel, and we rebooked directly with the hotel, saving us around $1500 per suite.

At the airport, we hired two vans to take us (ten people) and luggage to the ferry. When the ferry dropped us off at Isla Mujeres, we hired a couple of taxis to get us to the hotel. The whole process, from airport to ferry to the hotel, takes about an hour. Depending on how rough your flight was, you feel like you'll never get there. But once you do, it's so worth it.

We walked into our suite and it was like paradise. The rooms are very updated, modern, and comfortable. The living area was spacious in its own right, but the master bedroom was enormous. I'm attaching photos to this review that will hopefully give you a better idea. I never took a photo of the enormous glass shower, but it was a real treat, especially the water pressure. Sounds lame, but we kept taking unnecessary showers because it was THAT nice.

Every staff member we dealt with was friendly, courteous, and went out of their way to help. We tipped between $5 and $20 every time, though. The maids folded one of the towels into the shape of a swan the first morning. We left a tip and the second morning, the maids had transformed the first swan into a groom and folded a second towel into a bride. Because we were there celebrating our 20th anniversary, this was a huge surprise. Some mornings they went to extra trouble to make the beds, such as arranging the bedspread as a fan.

The suite had a HUGE wrap around balcony. I'm adding photos of the balcony too. Tip: stay in the new (south) tower and you'll always have shade on the balcony. In the morning, you can sit on the oceanside out of the sun; and in the afternoon, you can sit on the poolside and still be out of the sun. There's a nice breeze either way. The view from the balcony is so beautiful you almost can't stand it.

The swimming pool was tiled completely in blue. It was the mirror image of the pool in tower one, which is pretty neat if you can get a high enough view. The hotel offers both a breakfast and a lunch buffet poolside. Both are very reasonably priced and the food was decent. The hotel issues "towel cards" to each guest (kids too) that you trade in, as you desire, for beach towels. If you lose your towel and/or your card, you have to pay $20, but the towels were so enormous and thick we literally used them as blankets in the hotel room. Not kidding.

Anyway, the south tower issues blue towels and the north tower issues green. Walk through the pool area and around a couple of structures and you're on the beach. If you have your towel, you can sit on any of the shaded lounge chairs on the beach that are in front of the hotel. One thing that seemed odd to us was that we did have to walk around the structures, instead of right out onto the beach like at the Caribbean. It was only a few feet more, and it wasn't an issue to us but, if it is to you, you might want to check on the beach situation before booking somewhere else.

We walked down the beach to the north about twenty yards and hired a snorkeling guide named Pedro. He also had kayaks for rent for $10 I think, but they didn't turn out to be that much fun. We paid the snorkeling guide only $25 per person, and he took us out to "The Lighthouse." Rather than swim in some secluded cove, the guide took us snorkeling along the rocks, for several hundred yards. The waves were coming in pretty strong, but Pedro didn't even wear a PDF. He showed us barracudas, parrot fish, starfish (one even got on my son's foot), and tons of tropical fish. When he really wanted us to see something, he would grab our hands and pull us over. Everyone in our party had previous snorkeling experience except me, and they all enjoyed it. It was rough for me, being a newbie, but I wouldn't have missed it for the world. We found out later that Garrafon Park on the other side of the island has much tamer snorkeling, probably better for the inexperienced.

We rented a golf cart the first day we arrived and it was definitely worth it. We used it every day. One of the best things about the island is that it's not nearly as touristy, so most of the streets are still narrow Old Mexico streets. Especially in the downtown shopping district. It's utterly charming! The island also has mopeds for rent, but the golf carts were better for several reasons: first, more people can ride together. Second, the golf carts are shaded. And third, there is apparently a helmet law on the island, and the helmets just make the heat baking into your skull that much worse. Riding the golf carts was a hoot! Almost the best part of the whole trip. We took one afternoon to scoot around in our cart to the ruins, Garrafon Park, the Dolfin exhibit, and the other activities available on the more touristy side of the island. But the rest of the time we just carted around the downtown shops and restaurants.

We ate in quite a few of the local restaurants and none were either particularly bad or particularly good to be noteworthy except for two. Most serve small portions of decent food, but at incredibly cheap prices compared to the Caribbean. Of the two notable restaurants, The Sunset Grill just down the beach from Hotel Ixchel was exceptional. Because they light torches at sunset, and it's on the beach, we picked it at random and celebrated our 20th anniversary there. Well, the wait staff picked up fast on the fact that we were celebrating. They were as attentive as the finest restaurant I've ever eaten at, and the food was superb. Not to mention, especially compared to the meager portions the other restaurants serve, the plates were so loaded down with food we couldn't eat half of it. What's more, the price was shocking it was so low. The 16 ounce (yes, 16 ounce) steaks were only $18.00! And they were delicious. Everyone in our party enjoyed that meal, and we almost all ordered something different. The other noteworthy restaurant was the one that served pizza that had been baked in a wood oven. Those were delicious too. Unfortunately, I didn't write down the name, but it's on Hidalgo Street just a short walk from the hotel. You can't miss it.

A couple of other notes: We went in May, so we got off season rates. The temperature was the same as at home in Houston, but it was actually less humid. So it seemed cooler. So I really recommend May if you're on the Gulf Coast. Also, tip well especially when you first arrive. Tip $20 to the first couple of staff members at least. Finally, if you want American beer, the only place we found to buy it was the 7 Eleven. Our suite had a nice small kitchen with a real refrigerator, but they do not stock it.

I could go on forever, but I'll wrap it up by saying I loved this hotel as well as the little island itself. I can't recommend it highly enough.

Well it's been a week since I returned home from my first trip ever to Mexico. I stayed at the Ixchel Beach Hotel in Units #2407 and 2408. I was there with my mother and my aunt for a full weeks stay. The rooms were magnificent. (Spacious, beautifully decorated, extremely clean with all the comforts of home) The Master room had a king size bed and the other bedroom had 2 Queen beds. I was so impressed with the decor. Beautiful artwork and furnishings and the owners seemed to have supplied everything a guest could want from the full service kitchen, an internet phone that allowed us to call home to the US without incurring any charges, Flat screen TV's and DVD players, and I'm not kidding when I say the absolute most fabulous shower I have ever had!!!! They even supplied an assortment of books and movies to enjoy. The condo had a beach view and a full view of the pool which also featured a full service restraurant. I have the most magnificent pictures of the sun setting taken from the balcony!! We enjoyed lunch at the pool side restaurant each day. The food was excellent. The service exceptional by Victor and Candy who made sure we wanted for nothing. The condo is located within short walking distance of the main streets of town where restaurants and shops go on and on. We ate dinner at a different restaurant most every nite. Just did not have a bad meal. I can't say that for any other trip I've been on. With the overall ambience of the Island and the condo, I just can not wait to go back again.