This simple, mid-range property suits travelers seeking a budget beach vacation, though expectations should be kept low to avoid disappointment. The five-story hotel has three separate buildings, which are dated and in need of renovation. Guests with mobility issues should note that there are lots of steps throughout the property, including steps leading to the simple lobby where a handful of useful amenities can be found such as a small convenience store, ATM machine, pay phone, luggage scales, and a mailbox. Another flight of stairs leads up to the reception desk where there are plenty of tourist information leaflets, plus a seating area and lobby bar adjacent. It's spacious and bright, thanks to large windows that overlook the pool and the sea, but as with the rest of the property, the decor and furniture looks worn and dated. Many of the hallways are shabby and run down, while others are painted in extremely bright shades of green and orange. The grounds are lovely, however, with two outdoor pools and access to a gorgeous stretch of white sand beach.

The Solymar Beach & Resort is well located toward the southern end of Cancun's Hotel Zone on a beautiful private stretch of white sand beach. It's just a 10-minute walk to the Mayan ruins at El Rey, and a 15-minute drive to the famous local nightspot, Coco Bongo. Guests can get to Cancun's Hard Rock Cafe and a wide array of other restaurants and shops in downtown Cancun in around 25 minutes. The hotel is convenient for Cancun International Airport, too, which is just a 10-minute drive. The high-end shops on Luxury Avenue are 10-minutes by car as well, and so is the La Isla Shopping Village. A golf course is only three minutes away at the Iberostar Cancun Golf Club, and Aquaworld and Wet'n Wild can be reached in five minutes.

There are 10 ground floor suites at the hotel, in addition to 75 Standard Rooms. Room decor varies -- some have a very plain interior with cream walls and floors throughout, while others feature garish bright green and yellow paintwork. Most rooms have a balcony or terrace, and all of them are spacious and equipped with air-conditioning, a TV with satellite channels, in-room safe, fridge, and either a king-size bed or two doubles. The rooms are very basic, however, and in dire need of renovation. Furniture is old and some of it is broken; there are signs of damp and mold in areas; and there are cracked tiles in many of the bathrooms. Some rooms have flat-screen TVs, while other still have the old tube-style. Bathrooms are relatively small and have tiny walk-in shower cubicles. Previous guests have commented that the level of cleanliness in the rooms is often poor. 

The Solymar has two swimming pools surrounded by palm trees and wooden sun loungers and overlooked by the hotel's restaurant, which sits between them like an island. The Restaurant La Isla is a buffet serving international cuisine and is open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Snacks are also available at the beach bar, and there’s a pool bar that serves a range of alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks. There’s an attractive sun terrace with terra-cotta floor tiles and wooden beach chairs overlooking the sea, plus a massage hut on the beach as well as a tennis court. Parking and Wi-Fi are free for guests. The main selling point of the hotel is that its stretch of private beach is one of the best in Cancun. It has stunning white sand and plenty of sun loungers and parasols. This part of the beach has also been previously used by an endangered species of turtle to lay their eggs, so some guests may be lucky enough to witness them nesting or being released to the water.