The best part of the hotel were the photos on the internet. We had just got engaged in Tulum so were looking forward to having several relaxing nights at the Deseo. No such experience exists there. The first indication of trouble were the earplugs provided by the bed.....the walls of the hotel are not soundproofed from the bar that is situated in the middle of the hotel. The bar noise may have been bearable if there were people in the bar other than just the staff. We had no sleep on both nights of our stay as this noise went on til 3am .....the earplugs did not work so SLEEPING TABLETS had to be taken.....need we say more?? Also if you wak up to have a swim after a terrible nights sleep dont be surprised if you trip a few bottles from the night before...and a murky pool. Other annoyances included: the hotels 'dayclub' is 5km away from the hotel so if you feel like trapsing up there dont be surprised if there are no beach chairs and umbrellas reserved for you. The beach is very ordinary anyhow. Playa del Carmen in summary - full of tourists, cheap shops with hawkers , star bucks and burger king. BYPASS IT!!!

I stayed at the Hotel Deseo for about 3 nights. The room was on the patio level, but in a quiet corner. The balcony, which had a nice hammock on it, faced the side street (not main avenue in Playa, whose name I forget right now). Like its sister hotels, Basico (also in Playa) and Habita (in Mexico City), Deseo is a "design hotel," a place that focuses more on style than substance. This didn't matter much to me and my travelling companion, as we were there mostly for the beach and to hang out, and didn't spend much time in the room. That said, the (very) small room was comfortable and quiet, the bed was comfy, and the bathroom was enjoyable, but there was basically nothing in here but a bed. In addition to the amenities in the room, there were things for sale that could be added to the final bill, and you just took what you wanted (a beach bag, flipflops, Deseo tank top & undies, etc) and the hotel added those things to your tab upon checkout. This is a nice hotel for a young couple or single person, but this is not a hotel you would stay at for the restaurant or bar, the former of which is non-existant and the latter of which is pretty basic. There were some nice cabana beds on the patio, and at dusk/dark when the DJ set up came out, the patio took on some life (locals hung out here more than tourists). I would definitely go back, but if I were looking for a more "luxe" experience I would book one of the all-inclusives on the beach.

I really want to give the Deseo more stars, but as I fight off stomach flu and a cold after staying there for a week, I simply can not do so. So, the good - the design is fantastic. Attention to detail in the design is excellent, it really is a study in minimalism, and I loved that element. But that is really all there is - you would expect a minimalist room with no TV, etc. to be very calming, an oasis of white. This would be the case if not for the location of the hotel and the operation of the poolside disco. Now, I know that Playa del Carmen is a late night place and that is fine. But the Deseo is built around a pool courtyard that becomes a disco. This disco is open until 1:00 AM every night - and at times there were people there until 2:00 - 2:30 AM. There is no sound insulation at all in the rooms and the music is not really "lounge" music as mentioned in some reviews. When the hotel bar closes, then the street life on 12th Street picks up. Until 6 AM, every day. I tried earplugs, staying out late, etc. - but I could not do it for 7 nights in a row. They must make more income off the bar than the rooms, because it is unbearable after a few days - I left absolutely exhausted. From a design perspective, the noise just bounces off all of the hard surfaces and there is not nearly enough attention to making the room sound-proof and a relaxing retreat. I know I sound like an old fogey, but really am not - I love a trendy hotel, but think that one of the reasons to stay in a hotel is to get a good night's sleep. With some design changes, this place could be fantastic.

I would love to give Deseo a great review. It is an interesting modern design hotel. However please be aware that the "Lounge" is a full blown Club/Disco with ( in my opinion) very obnoxious music. With some earplugs I started feel like I might get some sleep until bright flashes of light started pulling all my senses away from any hope of rest. They had some photographers out shooting the party all night long. It was miserable. I would only consider staying here if they shut down the club.....(unlikely) Also they charge more for Weekend nights Fri/ Sat which are the worst for noise....in my opinion they should be trying to get half the normal rate to put up with the techno.