Best Affordable Places to Stay in Quintana Roo

For those unfamiliar, Quintana Roo is a state in Mexico well known for rowdy Spring Break beaches in Cancun and ancient Mayan ruins that overlook turquoise Caribbean waters from their cliffside vantage point in Tulum. Needless to say, because of the variety of activities available in Quintana Roo, it has fast become a popular vacation destination. Although flights are relatively inexpensive and short from many parts of the United States — Houston for example, is only a two-hour jaunt away — some travelers shy away from a Mexican excursion in fear of fancy all-inclusive resort prices. In reality, Cancun, Tulum, Playa del Carmen, and all the other surrounding areas of Quintana Roo have a number of affordable accommodation options. AllTheRooms, the vacation rental search engine has arranged a few cheap places to stay for a journey to our southern neighbor.

Casa Caracol

A hostel in central Cancun, close to many attractions like a planetarium, the city’s main stadium, and the port, Casa Caracol is a steal at only $6 per night. Caracol offers both mixed dorms as well as private rooms; all complete with A/C and widely regarded for their cleanliness. The hostel appeals to a number of guests who can enjoy board games on their tropical patio or take advantage of the tequila and margarita mix that always seems to be on hand.

Holbox Beach Bungalows

While the prices won’t be in the single digits, Holbox is still affordable and a tremendously fun option. The charming stilted bungalows are only a two-minute walk from the amazing beaches of Holbox Island. Holbox Island is celebrated for its lush tropical landscape and for its “shark watching”, as whale sharks are frequent guests in the waters surrounding the island. When not relaxing in the comfortable rooms, visitors to the bungalows can enjoy the island by bike or chill out in one of the many hammocks.

Hostel Quetzal

Unabashedly embracing their reputation as the party hostel in Cancun, Hostel Quetzal is remarkably cheap and geared toward the young, and young at heart. If you’re ready to party into the wee hours of the morning, this is the picky for you. Regardless of how many shots deep you may be, it’s difficult not to admire the hostel with its brightly colored walls and private pool. The staff also offer free breakfast and dinner, adding to the affordability of a trip, and also assisting in recovery time from the daily beer pong and flip cup games.

Hostel La Isla Playa

This hostel seems like it could easily be the cheapest beachfront accommodation in the world, as rooms in the Playa del Carmen guesthouse can go for as little as $8 a night. The outdoor terrace overlooking the Caribbean is definitely a major draw but the hostel is also close to many bars, restaurants, and other attractions.

Bambu Gran Palas and Cenote

Our favorite hostel in Tulum, the Bambu Gran Palas presents a unique opportunity to live amongst the natural jungle landscape of coastal Quintana Roo. While only steps away from Tulum’s world-class coastline, the hostel is also built around a cenote. A cenote is essentially a sinkhole that exposes a pool of groundwater below. So, after making an order at the lobby restaurant, guests can take a dip in the clear natural waters while they wait. The hostel itself is also commendable as it was built with sustainability in mind, using bamboo and coconuts as the main building materials and now being completely powered by solar energy.

Image Credit: HostelWorld.com, Airbnb.com