Nest Tulum – An Honest Review
Most of Tulum’s beachfront boutique hotels have a similar concept, featuring a relaxed indoor-outdoor atmosphere, minimalist design, and various handmade local arts and crafts. However, the way these features are executed makes all the difference. Nest Tulum has managed to gain a following by paying close attention to every detail.
The founder of Nest, a stylish boutique hotel located just south of Tulum Town, Mexico and away from the busy Cancun area, was previously a music-business veteran who had traveled to Tulum before becoming a hotelier.
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The hotel was created with a vision of providing an experience that the founder always desired to have, and he worked with former employees of other popular Tulum hotels to establish this 12-room hotel.
The hotel has different types of rooms available: Ocean rooms provide direct access to the beach, Garden and Jungle rooms are nestled in the surrounding greenery, and the Villa is a four-bedroom unit located in the best part of the property. The Nest restaurant and bar is situated on the beach and offers a relaxed dining experience with a fusion of Mexican flavors from the Yucatán region.
This hotel offers various amenities, include a front desk open 24 hours a day. The hotel is non-smoking and provides air conditioning. A bar is available, and the hotel is located right on the beach. Bikes are also available, and a concierge is on hand to help with any needs. If necessary, a doctor may be called for assistance. The hotel has both free wi-fi and free parking, and there is a garden on the premises.
Luggage can be stored safely, and the staff can communicate in multiple languages. Pets are not allowed. There is a restaurant on-site, and there is also room service available. The hotel is actually very close to the shopping area and offers shuttle service. In addition, the hotel has an on-site spa with treatments available upon request, including yoga. Valet parking is available as well.
I had a smooth check-in process and the service was impressive. The room I was given was cute but small. Despite having an upgrade included with Tablet, I found the “upgraded” room less impressive and ended up choosing the jungle room instead. The breakfast provided was pleasant.
I had high expectations for my stay due to the great reviews the hotel received, but I ended up being disappointed. I found the hotel to be quite small and I believe the website could be misleading. The hotel consists of a single walkway lined with rooms that leads to a small restaurant and beach area.
The restaurant listed on the website is located a few minutes away from the current location. As I was traveling alone, I didn’t want to venture out to another restaurant, so I opted for the on-site restaurant instead. However, they only had a lunch menu even though they were open until 10 pm, so I had to settle for dinner there. Unfortunately, I was the only customer present, and the server seemed to be annoyed by my presence, making it an unpleasant experience.
Although the hotel’s website had a wellness section and I received a 20% discount through Tablet for spa services, there is actually no physical spa or pool on site. Additionally, the massage service is provided by an outside vendor and takes place in an open-air room located on the top floor of a tower.
Although the service was satisfactory, I did not feel that it was a true spa experience. Additionally, during checkout, I was informed that the 20% discount had been applied, but the bill was presented in a confusing manner, with the 16% IVA tax listed separately, even though it’s included in all prices. As a result, I only discovered after arriving home that the discount had not been applied. Despite multiple emails to the hotel, I received no response, and I am now seeking a refund with the help of Tablet.
NEST is a small property owned by former music industry executive James Chippendale. With only 12 guest rooms and a small staff, it feels more like a private home than a resort. The rooms are decorated simply with antique and artisan furnishings from San Miguel de Allende and the Yucatán, and feature king-size beds, locally made bath products, and handcrafted French doors that can you can open to let in the ocean breeze.
You can begin your day at the beachside restaurant with a probiotic smoothie and huevos rancheros. After that, you can reserve a spot on a palm-fringed daybed which overlooks the powdery shoreline and azure waves. Your biggest decision is whether to stay on the daybed to watch the sun go down below the horizon or return to the bar for complimentary happy hour.
I recommend these travel resources for Mexico that I personally use:
🏨 Hotels: I have found that Expedia and Booking.com consistently have the best deals on hotels and resorts in Mexico. If you prefer to stay at a vacation rental, check VRBO that is usually cheaper than AirBnB’s added fees!
✈️ Flights: To find the best flight deals to Mexico, I always use Kayak. Remember to subscribe to their price alerts for the travel dates you want. Another great alternative for flight deals is Expedia.
🚗 Rental Cars: I always use and highly recommend Discover Cars because it allows me to compare several car rental companies and view ratings on various factors such as overall value, pick-up procedure, agent efficiency, car condition, and total time taken.
🚙 Cancun Airport Transportation: For the fastest and easiest way to travel, I suggest arranging a private transfer with Cancun Airport Transportation. Honestly, no better way to travel from the airport to your hotel or resort.
🤿 Tours & Activities: For tours and activities in Mexico, I highly recommend using either Viator or GetYourGuide. These websites offer a full refund if you cancel your booking 24 hours before the start of the tour, and they also provide excellent customer service in case of any issues.
🚨 Travel Insurance: I always suggest purchasing travel insurance as a precaution before traveling, especially after a recent accident in a taxi in Mexico. For short trips, I recommend Travel Insurance Master, whereas for digital nomads, Safety Wing is a better option.
📷 Best Camera for your trip: I always carry with me a GoPro, It’s light, compact, takes great video and pictures, and most importantly, it’s waterproof! You just can’t go wrong with one. If you are interested in higher quality video and photography, I always carry with me on my trips and highly recommend the Sony A7IV which I think is the best travel DSLR Camera out there.
☀️ Biodegradable Sunscreen: Remember to include a good sunscreen to protect yourself from the summer sun. I always use and suggest Sun Bum Sunscreen, which is vegan, reef-friendly, and cruelty-free.
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