Ventanas Al Mar - Adults Only

“Ventanas al Mar – A True Hidden Gem”

What a hidden gem. We stayed at Ventanas al Mar for 4 nights, knowing in advance that it was intentionally minimalistic—no TV, radio, or clocks—but wow, this place exceeded every expectation. First and foremost, the staff is incredible. A huge shout-out to Ricardo and Nicole. Nicole was so warm and… more

What a hidden gem. We stayed at Ventanas al Mar for 4 nights, knowing in advance that it was intentionally minimalistic—no TV, radio, or clocks—but wow, this place exceeded every expectation. First and foremost, the staff is incredible. A huge shout-out to Ricardo and Nicole. Nicole was so warm and welcoming upon our arrival, and Ricardo truly catered to our every need throughout our stay. We also met Miguel on our last night—he was kind, attentive, and accommodating. The staff alone makes this place special. Breakfast was hands down our best meal during our stay—fresh, delicious, and beautifully prepared each morning. We stayed in a King Superior room overlooking the ocean with a balcony, and the views were absolutely stunning. The bed was very comfortable, and while the room was simple, it was charming and thoughtfully designed. We really appreciated the small refrigerator, which was perfect for storing water, soft drinks, and some groceries we picked up before arriving. The AC turning on at 9:00 pm was not an issue for us at all. The natural cross-breeze from the balcony and front door was amazing, and the ocean air made the room incredibly comfortable. We felt completely safe—so much so that we often kept our door open without a second thought. Privacy was respected at all times; people left you alone if that’s what you wanted. This is truly a place to unwind, unplug, and relax—and that’s exactly what we did. The sound of the ocean at night was so calming that no sound machine was needed. Wi-Fi was reliable, and we had no issues connecting. The lounge chairs by the pool and beach were extremely comfortable, and we often had the beach completely to ourselves. The pool was beautiful, clean, and refreshing. Being adults-only added to the peaceful atmosphere, and everyone respected the quiet and tranquility. There were maybe 4–6 couples there during our stay, and we met some wonderful people. We did not rent a car or go into town, as our main goal was to relax and unplug. Taxi transportation to and from the airport was about $45 each way. If you plan to stay on-site, I highly recommend stopping at a grocery store before arrival, as the hotel is not close to town. We are already planning our return trip. Pros: Peaceful and quiet Incredible staff Delicious breakfast Beautiful, private beach Very clean Comfortable pool and lounge areas Scenic bike path nearby Cons (only worth noting, not deal-breakers): You’ll need a car if you want to explore Cozumel No upscale resort-style amenities Not much to do at or around the hotel Not convenient to downtown Cozumel We are absolutely in love with this place. I almost hate writing this review because I don’t want the secret to get out, but the staff deserves every bit of recognition so this special hotel can truly flourish.

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“Another fantastic visit!”

Another amazing stay at VAM. This time we stayed in the corner suite with such a beautiful view of the ocean. Everyone is always so friendly and welcoming. They also knew about some of my quirky preferences and had made arrangements ahead of time. The grounds were kept beautifully as was our room. … more

Another amazing stay at VAM. This time we stayed in the corner suite with such a beautiful view of the ocean. Everyone is always so friendly and welcoming. They also knew about some of my quirky preferences and had made arrangements ahead of time. The grounds were kept beautifully as was our room. Food and drinks are always top! They have a super talented chef. Thanks Chef Jenny for our incredible meals. We can’t wait to come back to our little slice of heaven in paradise!

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“Serene and secluded”

I give the hotel 3 stars not because it was disappointing but because it's a 3 star experience. It's not the Ritz, but it ticks all the important boxes for a comfortable & pleasant stay. The pros: * The rooms were extremely clean and in good repair. This exceeded my expectations and I was very i… more

I give the hotel 3 stars not because it was disappointing but because it's a 3 star experience. It's not the Ritz, but it ticks all the important boxes for a comfortable & pleasant stay. The pros: * The rooms were extremely clean and in good repair. This exceeded my expectations and I was very impressed with this aspect. This probably had the most significant positive influence on my experience. * Though the A/C was only available from about 21:30-08:00, the room was generally comfortable (keep in mind I visited in February). From 08:30-10:00, it got warm since the windows face the sunrise, but if you open the patio door and the front door, the breeze flows through and feels comfortable. * The in-room wifi was actually very good, though it seemed to reset every morning at 8am and was down for 15-20 minutes. * The beach was pretty clean, though if you're expecting to swim, you'll be disappointed. The sargassum was not too bad, though it was piling up on beaches to the north. The water is generally too rough for swimming or snorkeling, as should be expected all along the coast that faces the open water. * The breeze was usually nice, though sometimes overbearing. One morning, I opened my curtains with the intent to sit on the patio to watch the sunrise, but it was so windy and salty I just couldn't motivate myself to go out and face it. * Water availability. When traveling to Mexico, purified water is a big deal for me. Many hotels will only provide 1-2 500ml bottles of water per day, but this hotel provided a glass decanter in your room and would refill it (or your own container) at the front desk. * Remoteness. This is both a pro and a con. The serenity & seclusion was what I came for, but it would've been nice if there was an easy way to get to the other side of the island without renting a car or getting a $90USD R/T taxi. I ate & drank at Coconut's several days, just because it's convenient. El Pescador is also an easy stroll, but any other restaurant is may be too far for walking. I hoofed it to Punta Morena one day, and was pretty sweaty by the time I got there. Worked up a thirst for some tasty margaritas, though! The cons: * Food. I was very disappointed with this aspect, since I had read multiple reviews that raved about the food and the chef. Maybe the previous chef has moved on, but I had several meals that were subpar. Since it wasn't easy to get to alternative dining locations, this had the most negative impact on my overall experience. For example, my lobster bisque was full of bits of soft but inedible lobster shell. One night, I asked for the wine list. Omar walked away for 10 minutes and came back to offer me a single Chardonnay selection. When I accepted the option, he brought the bottle out at room temperature and I had to wait 15 minutes for it to chill, while my dinner service continued. Even the 2200+ peso/person special Valentine's Dinner was underwhelming. The duck croquette & octopus were tasty, but the other courses were unimpressive, and most of the wine pairings were a miss. Also, beware that if you order water at dinner, they'll bring you a 16oz plastic bottle for 50 pesos, instead of a glass of the free water that's available all day. * Towels. Beach towels were in short supply. Of my 8-day stay, they had no beach towels available for 3 days, and 2 other days I finally learned my lesson and re-used my towel from the previous day. I don't understand how hard it can be to keep a couple dozen beach towels on-hand at a hotel that's located on the beach. Also, while we're on the topic of towels, the bath towels in the room smelled fine before use, but smelled sour once they got wet. I'm assuming that's a sign of mildew in them and is probably not healthy. * The shower area was small (maybe 1m x 1m?). Big folks will feel claustrophobic, and even small people are going to end up splashing/spraying water all over the bathroom area. The rainfall shower head was nice, though. * Double-decker patio. I mostly enjoyed sitting on my patio and watching the waves, but I was on the ground floor and there was a wooden deck above me. It was not solid flooring and was probably old construction, so it creaked when anyone walked on it, and sand & dirt falls through the cracks (and into your drink) when they move around. My patio was sticky when I arrived, which I suspect was due to a previously-spilled margarita from the deck above. I'm glad I wasn't sitting under it when that happened. * Service was hit or miss. At dinner one night, I ordered a Negra Modelo (after specifically asking whether they had Especial or Negra and being told they had both) and was brought a Bohemia instead... presumably due to the fact that they actually don't carry Negra Modelo. I ordered egg enchilada at breakfast and received chicken instead... so I guess now I know which one came first. The hefty guy that worked the front desk was generally helpful, but only had a cheerful attitude when the lady (manager?) was present. I actually found that comical, and still thought he was nice enough and enjoyed interacting with him. I think those are the important points that I can recall. As I said, it's a solid 3-star hotel, but I had exactly the relaxing stay I'd hoped for. Be prepared for the seclusion and you'll enjoy it, too.

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