Hotel Basico- New York Times Article

[Jimmy-James]

Hey all,
I know, debating the morality of BOTB, the true identity of Heather D and reading about SarahB and Susie's trip to Cancun are paramount on the forum :p , but I thought some of you may be interested in this article that ran in the Sunday New York Times travel section a couple of weeks ago about Hotel Basico, which is owned by the same people who own Deseo.

Check In, Check Out
Playa del Carmen, Mexico: Hotel Básico

The rooftop lounge features two small circular pools for soaking in the view.

By BONNIE TSUI
THE BASICS The Deseo Hotel and Lounge was the first to bring a sophisticated South Beach aesthetic to Playa del Carmen, the popular Yucatán getaway, when it opened in 2001. In July, the same owners opened a second property, the stripped-down, industrial-chic Hotel Básico, along the town's pedestrian Avenida Quinta, a block from the beach. An open-air, street-level food stall and juice bar doubles as the reception area, where colorful soccer balls, beach towels and snorkeling fins for guest use share shelf space with espresso machines and water glasses. A trawling net filled with spare deck chairs hangs whimsically above the soaring lobby.

THE ROOMS The 15 rooms all have female names. Mine, the Paulina, had floor-to-ceiling windows and a sea view, but looked out more immediately at the vacant lot across the street. There is a distinctly modern beach flair: white concrete walls are hung with huge inflatable inner tubes, flat-screen televisions and stacks of towels. Instead of a night table, a wooden toolbox mounted on the wall opens to reveal a remote control, a notepad, matches, an ashtray and Polaroid film for the white camera that is attached to the king-size bed, rather naughtily, by a long silver chain. Cushy pillow-top mattresses, oversized pillows and pristine white cotton sheets are extremely comfortable, but a good night's sleep is best assured with earplugs, as the upstairs bar spins music into the wee hours. There is not a lot of storage space, but luggage racks and hidden drawers slide out from under the bed.

THE BATHROOM In each room, a heavy blond-wood door with a saw handle leads to a small separate toilet, which has a mini disco-ball on a chain as a flushing mechanism. The sink and bathtub share the bedroom space, but manage to do it without feeling too crowded.

THE LOCATION Playa's Fifth Avenue, as the street is called, is lined with shops - including standard souvenir shacks, trendy chains like Diesel, and distinctive local boutiques specializing in cigars and premium-grade tequila - and an endless parade of tacky restaurants and bars.

AMENITIES Free wireless Internet access is available throughout the property, and desktop computers are available in the basement office. A second-floor restaurant specializes in seafood, but the coolest hangout by far is the rooftop lounge, which features a bar; two circular pools 10 feet in diameter (more like deep tubs, since you can't really swim in them); four-poster vinyl beach beds shielded by airy cotton sheets; hammocks; and plenty of deck chairs. Beware of the beds on windy days: on a recent afternoon, a whipping sheet dislodged and broke one of the atmospheric hanging lightbulbs. But a soak in the pool, with piña colada in hand and sublime views of the Caribbean and Cozumel in the distance, is certainly a great way to pass an afternoon. There is no gym on site, but guests can pay $12 for entrance to Area Body Zone, a modern facility down the street. Guests have free access to Mamita's, a tony beach club a 15-minute walk north along the shore (it is the type of place that has Mercedes-Benz-sponsored fashion shows on the beach).

ROOM SERVICE Prompt and friendly, but unnecessary, since there is a restaurant, bar and cafe at the hotel, and plenty of choices in the immediate vicinity. And with nowhere to put a tray except the rubber-tire-covered pullout table at the foot of the bed, it is infinitely more pleasant to dine outside.

THE BOTTOM LINE Hotel Básico, Avenida Quinta and Calle 10 Norte, www.hotelbasico.com, (52-984) 879-4448, is not right on the beach, but it offers a central location, a friendly staff and an excellent food and bar scene. It is ideal for hipsters and young couples on a romantic getaway looking for something different in tropical-themed rooms with a playful minimalist air. Winter (high season) rates start at $158 a room a night.

[Connie]

Thanks, Jimmy-James! I've already been waiting for an article about Basico. Deseo is still my favorite choice but maybe I give its sister hotel a try next time. Thanks again.

[Scout]

Yes, thanks. I'll be splitting my stay here in May between Basico and Deseo and have been looking for information for months. Sounds like a great place...especially nice to know that they have comfortable beds since this has always a diffcult thing for me to find in Mexico.

[cuervobum]

Hotel Basico was also on the MSN website a couple of days ago. It was listed in the top 10 places to visit in 2006.


Unfortunately, I don't get to Playa often enough to know much about it. It really doesn't matter much to me. If it is a shack in Playa, the fact that it is in Playa puts it on my top 10 list!

[Heather]

Originally Posted by Scout

Yes, thanks. I'll be splitting my stay here in May between Basico and Deseo and have been looking for information for months. Sounds like a great place...especially nice to know that they have comfortable beds since this has always a diffcult thing for me to find in Mexico.

Both Hotel Deseo and Basico are on our hotel directory. If you contact the hotel first through Playa.info and then book at least 4 nights, you will receive a FREE Playa Deal Card. Click on Trip Planning above.