Azura Tulum

Azura Tulum is a small aparthotel in Tulum, with the feel of a boutique address rather than a large resort. Its scale suits travellers who prefer a base with practical room options and the town close at hand, rather than a self-contained property where everything happens behind the same gate.

The room-led approach is clear here. You can start the day with breakfast brought to your door, use the free Wi-Fi throughout the hotel, and return to a private room or suite with the essentials for a proper night's rest. It is a straightforward choice for exploring Tulum and the surrounding area, with the convenience of an aparthotel rather than a full-board holiday set-up.

You are in Tulum, on Avenida Satélite Norte, at the corner of 2 A Oriente. The town centre is about five minutes away on foot, so restaurants, shops and everyday errands are within walking distance. That matters when the day's plans do not involve getting back into a vehicle.

The sea is a separate outing rather than something outside the front door: the beach is around 15 minutes away by car. The same general position also gives you access to the area's larger excursions, including Xel-Ha Water Park, the Coba ruins and Xcaret Eco Theme Park. The airport journey takes about an hour and a half by car or shuttle.

The choice is less about one standard room against another and more about how much room you want around your diving kit, luggage and travelling companions. Couples can keep things simple with a double room and private bathroom, while the two-bedroom family suite gives a group more separation. There are also quadruple suites, including one with a balcony, for those travelling together without wanting to sleep in one undifferentiated pile of bags.

The suites are the useful step up. They bring air conditioning, a ceiling fan, blackout blinds, a kitchen, microwave, dining area, safe, television and Wi-Fi into the room, along with a private bathroom and tea or coffee facilities. That makes them better suited to a longer stay or to anyone who values the option of preparing something simple rather than treating every meal as a restaurant mission. Some categories face the city.

For sleep, the practical details are in place: air conditioning for hot nights, a fan for a different way to move the air, and blackout blinds when the morning starts earlier than you would like. Toiletries, towels, a hairdryer and bathrobes are included in the more fully equipped suites. The family two-bedroom suite also has a desk, which is handy if a holiday occasionally has to make room for an email.

There is no restaurant or bar to plan your evening around. Instead, breakfast is continental and arrives each morning in a basket delivered to your room: fresh juice, pastry bread, yoghurt or milk, granola and fruit. It is a tidy start before a day out, and you can eat without having to negotiate the first queue of the morning.

The board basis is room only, with breakfast treated separately from the accommodation. For later meals, the town centre is about five minutes away on foot. Back at the hotel, barbecue facilities and a terrace give you another way to spend the evening, provided you would rather keep things informal than go out again.

This is an address for slowing the pace between outings rather than filling every hour with organised entertainment. The terrace and sun terrace give you somewhere to sit outside, while the barbecue facilities suit an easy evening when another restaurant feels like unnecessary admin. Pool towels are available for hotel or beach use.

The tourist information service can help with excursions and ticket arrangements, so the property works well as a base for exploring Tulum and the wider Riviera Maya. You can ask about trips to Xel-Ha Water Park, the Coba ruins and Xcaret Eco Theme Park, then return to a suite with a kitchen and dining area when the day's sightseeing has used up your enthusiasm for small talk.

Check-in runs from 15:00 until 05:30, while check-out is at 12:00. Express check-out is available, and luggage storage is useful if your departure does not line up neatly with those times. There is a reception desk and concierge service, together with free Wi-Fi throughout the hotel.

Airport transfers are available through the hotel, and parking is available if you arrive by car. Arrange the transfer with the property ahead of arrival. The beach is around 15 minutes away by car, the town centre is about five minutes on foot, and the airport journey takes roughly an hour and a half by car or shuttle.

There are three floors and no lift, so keep that in mind when deciding how much luggage to bring upstairs. A security deposit is required during the stay. Visa and Mastercard are accepted, as well as cash.