HM Playa del Carmen looks deceptively small from the street, though its style is already obvious. Guests enter from the sidewalk and are greeted by a security guard, modern furniture, and a relaxed vibe. Outside of the pool's thick sunbeds and a handful of the snack bar's tables and chairs, there's not much public space. It's common to see guests lounging in the lobby or hanging out in the outdoor halls. Black wire chairs work with polished wood accents, like tree trunk slices as tabletops or hanging mobiles made from branches and shells, to create a modern design that looks great without feeling sparse. The central courtyard has a bit of a jungle vibe thanks to the tropical landscaping, and rooms feature Mexican touches like Talavera-print tiles in the bathrooms and white clay light fixtures. HM Playa del Carmen is popular with families and couples, and is a great bang-for-your-buck thanks to its pool, free breakfast, and on-site parking alone.   

This hotel has an excellent location right off Constituyentes Avenue, in the center of Playa del Carmen. It's a five-minute walk to 5th Avenue, an eight-minute walk to the beach, and eight-minute drive to the ADO bus stop. There are several choices for restaurants, tour operators, shops, and bars within a few minutes' walk out the front door. The hotel's beach club partner, KOOL, is a nine-minute walk away. Cancun International Airport is a 50-minute drive north. 

The 91 rooms here are clean and comfortable, if a touch minimalist. Unpolished coral marble floors, stark white walls, clean lines, and darker accent colors help establish a modern Mexican style and fresh feel. Standout decorative accents include Talavera tiles in the showers, tree trunk coffee tables, mobiles made of seashells and branches, and built-in floating counters. Standard Rooms have either two doubles or a king-size bed and come with or without a balcony. Expect frosted-glass doors, pump toiletries, and small rainfall showerheads in the bathrooms, as well as tiny hairdryers and light-up magnifying mirrors. Junior Suites are nearly twice as big, each with two partially divided beds, a futon couch, and a long balcony with sunbeds and hanging wire chairs. All rooms have bar-sized mini-fridges, AC, and small flat-screen TVs. 

A garden-set pool and snack bar area make up most of the hotel’s public space, and are where guests often gather after a day out exploring. The pool is spotless, sparkling, and larger than usual for a small boutique. A few wire chairs hang over shallow waters and a collection of thick sunbeds lie at one end. On the opposite end is the snack bar, which serves up cocktails, organic wine, beer, and a mostly Mexican menu of food. The bar has a daily happy hour with two-for-one cocktails, and the snack bar menu can be ordered to the room. Room service is available until early evening, but there's no full restaurant on-site. 

A big perk of the hotel, for those renting cars, is the free on-site parking lot. A gravel lot can fit about 12 cars and has a manual gated entry. Other notable freebies include a well-stocked breakfast buffet with homemade pastries, omelet station, Mexican dishes, juice bar, and pancakes and waffles. Guests can either sit in the contemporary dining room or head out on the small terrace.

The gym here is small, rubber-floored and has a handful of Cybex machines and free weights. Other features include free and reliable Wi-Fi, bikes for rent, and tour booking assistance on-site. Guests here are required to wear a fabric wristband for security purposes.