Villas Marlin

Built in the mid-1980s, Villas Marlin was one of Cancun’s first high-rise condo properties. The villas are housed in seven-story white buildings that are fairly nondescript -- they look like condos you’d find anywhere. Unfortunately, the age of the property shows in some areas -- the balconies don’t match (some have railings, some have glass) and there are cracks and water discoloration in the concrete. The tennis courts look particularly unkempt with tons of cracks and patchwork. There is also a bunch of unused retail space on the ground floor, which can be disconcerting to walk by.

There is little to no landscaping on the property and a lot of concrete. The street side of the condos faces the back of Kukulcan mall and it looks as you would expect -- industrial and gray. The hallways on the higher floors have an unattractive view of the mall's roof.

With the exception of the pools and beach, Villas Marlin lacks common areas, which isn’t unusual for a condo property. There is no lobby or front office, or any kind of indoor common spot to lounge. Guests comprise mostly couples, families, and folks coming for a longer stay (as well as the condo owners). Don’t expect any kind of nightlife here -- most guests choose to hang out in their condos or patio at night, or seek entertainment elsewhere along the strip. 

Villas Marlin has a convenient location in the southern area of the Hotel Zone. The resort is across the street from Kulkucan Plaza, an upscale shopping mall with a handful of eateries and a grocery story. Taxis are easy to find and plenty of buses run up and down the strip. The villas are on a side street off of the main road, behind the mall.

• Eight-minute drive to the heart of the Hotel Zone
• 21-minute drive to Cancun International Airport
• 23-minute drive to downtown Cancun
• 35-minute drive to Puerto Morelos, with quiet beaches and great snorkeling spots
• One-hour drive to Playa del Carmen, a laid-back and bustling town with great shopping and a well-heeled crowd
• One-hour-40 minute drive to Tulum ruins
• Two-hour-15-minute drive to Chichen Itza ruins
• Two-hour-20-minute drive to Coba ruins

Villas Marlin offers a range of units to fit most groups, with Studios, One-, Two-, Three-, and Four-Bedroom Condos available. Many of the condos also have beautiful ocean views, depending on the floor (our condo on the fifth floor had a slightly obstructed view). The beach here is stunning with turquoise water and white sand. Many of the units are fairly spacious with a large living area, fully stocked kitchen (with pots, pans, utensils, plates, and glassware), and good-size bathrooms. Some units also have laundry facilities and free Wi-Fi.

The similarities end there. Since all the villas are individually owned and many are managed through different rental companies, the quality of the rooms vary. While some guests have units that are updated and modern with contemporary furnishings, light beachy decor, and well-maintained infrastructure, other rooms are not as polished.

Our unit was dated but very large with an open concept kitchen and living area and three good-size bedrooms downstairs. It had clean tile floors, dark wood cabinets in the kitchens, and a leather sofa and chairs. Picture collages of travel photos filled the rooms and knickknacks of lizards and turtles in tropical colors adorned the walls. 

The pools are a popular feature at the Villas. The main pool sits at the center of the property and faces the ocean. It is large and inviting, and has lounge chairs and straw umbrellas set up around the perimeter as well as a snack bar that is open during the day. The front of the pool, however, has an oddly discolored entry area that appears yellow and greenish. The other pools are smaller but have an attractive circular design. The main pool is where most of the activity is during the day; the smaller pools are quieter and more relaxing.

The beach is extremely wide, and you feel like you have to walk down a ways to get to the water. There is plenty of room to play volleyball or sunbathe. The water is a beautiful turquoise blue but is a bit wavy and there are a good amount of yellow and red flags warnings for swimmers. There is a lifeguard in front of the hotel during the day. We did not see lounge chairs or umbrellas set up on the beach for guests.

There is a convenience store on the first floor that sells packaged food, cold beverages, coffee, and toiletries. The villas are a gated community with 24-hour security.