With laissez-faire service, a secluded location, and quaint rooms, Maria's Kan-kin is a love-it-or-hate-it hotel. There's no real lobby, just a small office that’s often locked or unstaffed, causing new arrivals to wander toward the restaurant to seek service. This informal welcome is a sign of the laid-back attitude that characterizes the resort's atmosphere throughout. Adobe-style buildings are connected by paved, stone-bordered walkways. And tropical flowers and lush vegetation provide plenty of shade, where the resident calico cat can be found.

Thanks to its large guest rooms -- many with sofa beds or two bedrooms -- the hotel attracts families and groups. The beautiful location also makes it a popular choice for couples and wedding parties. And guests seeking to get away from the crowds on the busy north end of the island, and those who relish low-key evenings spent chatting with other guests and watching the sunset, find the Maria's Kan-kin meets all their needs.

Maria’s Kan-kin is set on a small strip of pretty white sand beach. It's a 10-minute walk to the National Reef Park Garrafon, and both Dolphin Discovery and Punta Sur can be reached in a 10-minute drive. The hotel is a 21-minute drive from the Ultramar Ferry Terminal and a 20-minute drive from Playa Norte.

The location is fairly isolated, with few neighboring shops and restaurants, but downtown's dining and entertainment options can be reached in a 15-minute drive. Taxis are affordable and widely available, or many guests choose to rent a golf cart to get around during their stay.

Each room at Maria’s Kan-kin is distinctly decorated, although beachy pastel colors and concrete headboards painted with a crosshatched design are a reoccurring theme. Many rooms are partially whitewashed, creating an overlay of colors peeking through. Some nightstands have glass tops, showcasing pretty seashells and sand arranged inside.

All rooms include air-conditioning, personal safes, mini-fridges, and small sitting areas. Some include TVs (though they're older tube-style models) and sofa beds, while a few feature small garden-view patios or ocean-view balconies. Stones inlaid in swirling patterns on shower floors add character to otherwise utilitarian concrete bathrooms, which are stocked with body lotion, soap bars, and shampoo.

Rooms are charming on first glance, but fall short on some little details: Small windows don't allow for much natural light; a few shower fixtures are slightly rusted; and many guests complain the beds are too firm.

The hotel features an open-air restaurant that serves a mix of international cuisine and fresh seafood. Its dining room is fairly plain, with white plastic or dark wood tables and chairs, but the palapa roof and panoramic views of the coast create an airy, pleasant ambiance. A number of guests report the hours can be inconsistent, with the restaurant often opening late in the morning and closing early in the evening.

This dining room opens up onto a small terrace with a square infinity pool and a handful of lounge chairs. A staircase alongside the pool leads down to the hotel’s small white sand beach. The beach includes a pretty wooden pier, as well as a dozen lounge chairs and shady palapas.

Free Wi-Fi is available in the restaurant, and free parking is offered on-site. The hotel can also assist guests in arranging local activities.