Bengt G.
Google
A few months ago, I visited Bacalar with my sister and we stayed at the Cristalino Hotel. We loved that stay. During that trip, I asked the concierge what hotel she would recommend for families, and she suggested Hotel Carolina. Because of that recommendation, I chose Carolina for my next trip with my wife and son.
The Good
The hotel grounds are beautiful and peaceful.
Our room was very clean, the ceiling fan worked perfectly, and the air conditioning was excellent.
The property has three lagoon access points and provides kayaks for guests. It is very easy to paddle out into the lagoon, and Cenote Negro is only about 150 yards away. This was one of my favorite parts of the stay.
The pool has a shallow and a deeper end and includes stools along the edge. The water was cold, but after a hot day in Bacalar it felt great.
We had breakfast at the hotel restaurant twice. The total was about 40 dollars for three people. I ordered a club sandwich, my son had a very large stack of pancakes, and my wife had a chicken crepe. The orange juice was freshly squeezed, which I really appreciated.
Things to Be Aware Of
I would stay here again, but there were a few inconveniences.
Bed size:
We booked a room with two queen beds, but the beds were actually full size. This may not matter for some guests, but sharing a full bed with a seven year old who kicks a lot made sleep difficult.
No fridge in the room:
Not a dealbreaker, but not having a fridge made it hard to keep drinks or snacks cold. The hotel will store items for you in their fridge, but depending on who you speak to, they may or may not locate the item immediately. My small bottle of Coke took until later in the afternoon to be found again.
Bathroom privacy:
The toilet is inside a small water closet. The shower, however, is next to the sink and opens directly into the room. If you are traveling with someone you do not know extremely well, this layout does not offer much privacy.
No indoor seating area:
There was no comfortable place inside the room to sit and eat. One night we did not want to go to a restaurant and just wanted to eat sandwiches, but there was no indoor seating available. Guests are not allowed to use the restaurant tables unless they are ordering from the restaurant. For families with young children who are exhausted at the end of the day, this can be inconvenient.
Our room did have a small patio with two chairs, a small table, and a hammock. We used that area to eat and to hang clothes to dry on the rails.
Final Thoughts
Hotel Carolina is a beautiful and family friendly place to stay in Bacalar. The inconveniences I mentioned would not stop me from choosing this hotel again. The lagoon access, kayaks, pool, and relaxing atmosphere made the visit enjoyable.
We stayed on the first floor in room number 5, and I would recommend this hotel to both families and adults.
