WorldMark Isla Mujeres Resort Review

Posted by: KrisComm

WorldMark Isla Mujeres Resort Review - 02/24/15 07:44 AM

Have you stayed at WorldMark Isla Mujeres? Here's your chance to tell other owners what it's really like. How big is the pool? How hot is the hot tub? What do you wish you had known before you left home?
Posted by: csuarez

Re: WorldMark Isla Mujeres Resort Review - 10/21/15 07:16 AM

The resort left a lot yet to be desired. It certainly was not the best one I've stayed in, yet it wasn't quite the worse. All things considered, being a newly-acquired property in an international location... I think Worldmark did good by picking Isla Mujeres. I would come back for the location and not primarily for the property, if that makes sense.

Thankfully, what Worldmark lacks, the island makes up for in beauty and charm.

PROS
- Isla Mujeres is a great choice in location for a new property
- great pool... you'll almost have it all to yourself since people prefer the beaches in an island as small as this. Still, it's a great size and wonderful to jump into in the humid weather.
- can order food from local restaurants and have delivered to your room

CONS
- the rooms are aged a little bit... I can live with the decorative theme, but the poor condition of the lattice work decor doesn't do the room justice
- the amenities are bare and unattractive (pool table, weight room)... need key from front-desk to access
- no water available at check-in... would be nice to have something cool after traveling so far
- A/C had issues for 3 of the 5 days we were there... thank goodness for ceiling fans
- it rained a bunch while there and the bathroom ceiling leaked

Since this is a newly-acquired property, my hopes are that the following can be considered for the future:
- no typical instructions were given by the staff... something standard to Worldmark properties... linen exchange and available services, etc. I had to ask.
- there are almost no food establishments nearby enough to walk to (thank goodness for Greenverde, though... excellent food!) and some units that have no kitchens... how about a grocery service at an extra charge or a Chedraui (grocery store) shuttle for some starter necessities?

Bring your mosquito repellant and itch cream. It's an island after all.

Despite all that, it's a beautiful island and I will be back.
Posted by: mrfizban

Re: WorldMark Isla Mujeres Resort Review - 11/15/15 11:05 AM

I think csuarez did a good job with this review as well. Clearly it was newly a Worldmark property and not really the traditional experience as you might be used to seeing.

I will say I was expecting the worst, partly because I knew it was a new property to them, and the last time I stayed in a new property, they purchased it from someone who was bankrupt and couldn't afford to maintain the building, and they signed a covenant to the local community that only allowed Wyndham to buy it if they didn't do upgrades for a period of time (like a couple years). That place was almost dangerous it was so run down, so I was expecting something in pretty bad shape and no working A/C, leaks, etc. And our unit was more than I was expecting.

No kitchen unit in the studio we had, but it did have a fridge. No leaks, but the A/C did seem to quit working on the second to last day, then they changed the thermostat and the A/C worked better than any other day after that. So maybe it's permanently fixed for that unit (?). Gutters were a little noisy, could probably use rain chains, but I think it's just a matter of WorldMark getting a lot of good advice from owners and throwing some money into over the next couple years.

Pros
- Great location to get away from the tourists if you want to get away from the tourists. But golf cart is a must given it's in the center of the island and while that's great, the golf cart is what makes it work perfectly.
- Small, intimate property. I'm guessing no more than 25-30 units in all, so you get really good customer service and have the place nearly all to yourself. It's also gated off from the roadway, so you're nearly in your own safe and quiet complex there.
- I also have to recommend that pool. Never had more than 5 people in it at any time, and 4 of them were at the swim-up bar drinking. Might be because there are really no kids there since this isn't really a "kid vacation" type of location. But for a couples get-away, the pool is pretty private and a really nice pool area.
- The staff were great. Diego was super-helpful and seemed like the 60 pesos I gave him for helping me get the luggage into the room and coordinating our golf cart arrival was worth making sure I was pleased any time he could help out. They were all super-friendly.
- Great proximity to the grocery store, just a few minutes walk or a 30 second golf cart drive into the indoor parking lot and you're in the one-stop-shopping store that has everything you could need.

Cons
- Really needs a grill. Maybe even if they added a central BBQ grill down by the pool somewhere. No microwaves in the units and no grills allow for no functional way to heat up leftovers or food purchased from the grocery store. So this really needs to be improved to bring this up to Worldmark customer standards, but it's just a matter of time before they fix this.
- In general just a little bit of a downgrade from most WorldMark units. As noted, ours only had a fridge and no kitchen unit. I would guess just the couple end-cap units are the one-bedroom units with kitchenettes. The unit beside ours had an outdoor jacuzzi, and nearly all other units except our unit had hammocks and some type of front patio with furniture, but our unit had no patio. The locks were also hard to use on the outer doors, so I always just locked the inner screen doors with the key. And as I mentioned earlier, the A/C barely worked until our last day, and the gutters get pretty loud when the downpours happen. So it's not a high-end, highly-tuned resort, but it wasn't like we couldn't enjoy ourselves or they didn't address items that needed fixing, and I'd like to think by the time I go there next, Wyndham will have done most of the standard fixes to bring it up to their traditional standards (or at least have added BBQ units to cook food!).
Posted by: isitrainey

Re: WorldMark Isla Mujeres Resort Review - 01/17/16 07:03 AM

Has anyone stayed in the "back building"? I want to book a 2 bedroom, but seem to miss the window each time. However there is availability in the the 'back building' (I think building 2?) What are the problems/issues?
Posted by: DangerBob

Loved it! - 04/16/16 04:15 PM

The Unit: 1 bedroom Deluxe

The room was very nice (mildew smell you get used to/to be expected in this climate). All rooms face pool/cleverly arranged for privacy from each other when outside on patio. Free wifi – no password.

Downstairs was a living room with fold-out futon/Dining table for 4/Kitchen/Bathroom with shower/TV/outdoor covered patio with hammock and chairs/great air conditioning.

Upstairs was all master bedroom/huge master bath with Jacuzzi tub/private outdoor patio with jetted spa tub (slightly cooler than the pool)/TV. Got hot in the evenings until we learned to keep the blinds closed during the day

Kitchen: Full size frig/two burner stove/dishwasher/sink/toaster/Microwave/blender/coffee maker/pots and pans /no oven/limited counter space/resort has ice machines

Laundry: No facilities on premises/Laundry service provided at what we were told would be about $1/pound (never used it)

Pool: nice/comfortable temperature/fountain in pool (great for back massages)/swim up bar (happy hour 2 for 1 drink-of-the-day specials 3-5PM). Register a card when checking in and you’ll be able to charge things to the room. Light meals and appetizers can be ordered around the pool. Reasonable prices.

Sleeping: Upstairs king bed is awesome….downstairs futon was terrible (bar in the middle of back)…guests had to eventually order twin beds to be brought in (which they did, no charge). Idea: air mattress would have been nice for the futon sleeping.

Phones: Couldn’t use cell phone to make calls like we did in Acapulco until we learned to dial +1 first for US +52 first for local. (We had AT&T)

Island Transportation: Cabs are very easy to hail anywhere you go. Never paid more than $5 USD anywhere we went for all 4 or us. Price of golf cart from resort was $60 for 24 hours…we never bothered since we never figured we do more than 12 cab rides in a day…but if you intend to explore the island in detail, it might be handy. Parking in town might be a challenge though. As stated in other reviews, use the resort name ‘Villavera’….few cabbies know the name ‘Worldmark’ yet.

Grocery store nearby…easy walk there and $2 cab ride back with heavy groceries. We enjoyed breakfasts and a couple taco lunches/dinners in the room that way. Fresh tortillas/produce/wine/beer/cheese/packaged rice/refried beans/packaged taco meats, etc can make a great meal. (Charge OK)

Money – We spent a week there and never exchanged for pesos. But bring LOTS of small bills..10’s 5’s and 1’s. Also, all cabs and most restaurants want cash, not expensive at all, but will eat up your cash quickly. Cash machines dispense in either Pesos or Dollars, but watch the fees (I got charged what turned out to be 14% on the only one I used downtown, so it’s better to just have the cash). We heard that the ATM’s downtown were better than the ones at the resort, although we did not test that.

Shuttle to/from Airport: About a 40 minute ride each way to the Ultramar ferry (Puerto Juarez). ‘Supershuttle’ was a good service at the airport (all 4 of us for less than $95), but they tell us if you book in advance on-line, then you can pay less ( Supershuttle https://www.supershuttle.com) and BE SURE to follow instructions and set up your return pick-up from ferry dock at least 24 hours in advance. (Charge OK)

Ferry to Isla Mujeres: Leaves from the Ultramar terminal dock (Puerto Juarez) – See schedule at Ultramar Ferry http://www.granpuerto.com.mx/en/rutas-y-horarios-2/puerto-juarez-a-isla-mujeres/ Cost is $10 per person – round trip. (every 30 minutes from roughly 5AM to midnite). (Charge OK)

Shopping: The downtown area has lots of shops…some of the larger ones take charge cards. The main downtown is fairly contained and walkable (several blocks in any direction). Be careful walking…sidewalks very uneven.

Nightlife: Tons of great restaurants at reasonable prices. Trip Advisor is a good resource for finding good ones and getting directions to them. To find nightlife we found Trip Advisor to be misleading….best to just walk down the streets and listen for the commotion. We found surprisingly little for a Saturday night though.

Massages: On the beaches north and west on the edge of downtown – negotiated down to $25 each per hour

Restaurants we tried and liked:
Greenverde: very near resort, breakfast lunch and dinner, all good, guacamole was awesome, so was the cucumber lemonade, skip the fish tacos/burritos unless you like your fish battered and fried in popcorn-sized bits. Poor exchange rate, 14 pesos per dollar vs. about 16.

El Varadero: Also near the resort…on the water, but you need to go out to the main road and down a couple blocks to get to it. Was hard to find even with directions from Trip Advisor. Watch for the name on the wall and walk down a long driveway to get to it. It’s worth the effort though. We had the ‘surf and turf’ platter for 4 (or 8) and it was great Cuban food…and lots. Beef/pork/chicken/2 kinds of white fish/calamari/seasoned rice and more.

Rubens: downtown but worth the cab ride. Very unassuming but yummy.

Faynes: Also downtown….one of many in the heart of town….guitar serenades.

Soggy Peso:
about a $3 cab ride toward town on the main road. Margaritas were way strong (and good). They have one menu item per day posted outside on the street. I heard Fajita Tuesday was the best. Friday, shrimp tacos. Saturday Baby back ribs. Wednesday hot wings. Thursday Cheeseburgers. Place was recommended by local gringos.

Lolo Lorenas: If you are a ‘foodie’ and want some gourmet French cuisine there is a bed and breakfast very near the resort that serves a very highly rated 5 course meal each night by reservation. Look her up on facebook…she has quite a following with lots of pics posted. We didn’t try it, but it looked interesting.

Stuff to see and do: This was a ‘chill’ vacation for us. We didn’t feel compelled to go do everything we could….enjoyed hanging out at the room/pool a lot.
Tortuga: Turtle Farm is a definite must. $5 cab ride from the resort. Afterward walk north up the beach a short bit to the Ice Bar….$15 entry per person includes two tasty drinks of your choice and a shot. Refreshing….but wear the fur poncho they give you. Also had what looked like a nice buffet and live music in the rest of the warm part of the bar (no cover there).

Scuba Diving: Second biggest reef in the world….very nice easy dive. Also an artificial reef made out of sunken sculptures called MUSA. Not a lot of sea life there yet…but interesting none the less. Not a deep dive either place, so dive certification was not always required (they do your check-out dive and instruction on the way). I used the company called ‘Mexican Divers’. They were fine…but bring cash even though they don’t tell you that you have to. ATM’s outside had abusive fees and 10% fee inside to use a card. Also….if you order a GOPro underwater camera, make sure they check with the dive master to make sure he has it on board for you! I was disappointed when they didn’t have one for me.

ENJOY!
Posted by: GrandBistro

One of our best vacations ever! - 05/06/16 12:21 PM

We got home last night from a 7-day stay at the WorldMark property on Isla Mujeres. I promptly booked rooms for next year!

There are not a lot of reviews on this board about the property, although I found several on TripAdvisor. There were just enough "this property needs freshening" sorts of comments that I was a little worried about what it would be like, especially since we were taking another couple with us. I was worried for nothing! We loved this property. Yes, it is different from the typical WM property - most units don't have kitchens, there is no laundry on site, no BBQ grills (but with no kitchens, that makes sense!), no video games area, etc. So, just manage your expectations a little bit, or, if you really need those amenities, simply don't use this property.

We had two studio hotel king units. They were identical:
-large patio with table and 2 chairs and hammock
-sliding glass doors and sliding screened and louvered doors (glass to keep A/C in; louvered for privacy)
-ground level sitting area with round table & chairs and a fold out sofa (didn't open it - was comfy to sit on)
-mini refrigerator, plates, cups, glasses, cork screw, utensils
-coffee maker
-a sound box or CD player (didn't use it, so not sure)
-flat screen tv with basic cable and HBO
-up three steps to the split level sleeping area
-king size bed with reading lights
-ceiling fan in both areas
-beyond the bedroom, a separate room with toilet and sink
-closet and dresser area (4 large dresser drawers, iron, ironing board)
-large bathroom with huge jetted tub with shower, sink with large countertop

Everything was in good repair, the A/C worked great, their were two ceiling fans, they brought fresh towels whenever asked, the grounds were immaculate, the pool was every bit as inviting and refreshing as it looks in the photos, the drinks at the bar were reasonably priced, and all of the staff was friendly and professional.

This property is about a mile and a half to the north end, where most of the shops, restaurants, night spots, beaches and the ferry terminal are. That makes it wonderfully quiet and serene in the evening. If you want noise and activity at night, you'll need to go off property or stay somewhere else. It's a quick five minute and $65 peso ride into town. Taxis are plentiful and easy to flag down or call. We rented a golf cart for the week, which was probably more expensive that just using cabs, but it gave us the freedom and mobility to explore at our leisure, or to tote our purchases. If you rent a cart, do some research. Most carts seat 4, but the back seat is backward facing. We got one with two forward-facing bench seats and a cargo area in back. That suited our needs very well.

One of the islands best restaurants is a walk of 700 feet: GreenVerde. We became regulars there. Very good, with high marks on TripAdvisor. Also, the island's supermarket, Chedraui, is 1/3 of a mile away, just south on the main road. You can get anything you need - food, beach stuff, pharmacy, alcohol, clothing, toiletries.

You get to Isla Mujeres by ferry. There are a couple of options, so do a little research. We booked a van that picked us up at Cancun airport, took us to the ferry, gave us our pre-purchased ferry tickets, and picked us up at the ferry for the return the the airport. Total cost for the private van both ways and the round trip ferry for four people was $140.

We cannot recommend this property highly enough. This was one of the most relaxing vacations we've had in years. If you are looking to slow down, enjoy long and sunny afternoons, visit beautiful beaches and eat wonderful food, this just may be the place for you. Happy travels.
Posted by: lflint4

Re: WorldMark Isla Mujeres Resort Review - 09/11/16 11:55 AM

Just returned last week and had a fabulous time. We traveled with friends and we each had a 1 bedroom deluxe. The resort is beautiful, well kept and the staff was very helpful. We rented a golf cart for the week and enjoyed having it. The restaurants/food was delicious and we wanted to "try them all" so the golf cart was needed. I thought we would rent bikes and we didn't. Very few people were riding there. Because we ate quite a bit, are athletic and wanted the exercise, when our friends had the golf cart, we walked into town several times. It's about 30 minutes to walk to the edge of downtown (there is a nice wide sidewalk the whole way) and another 20 minutes or so to get to North Beach. Walking allowed us to slow down, see more of the Isla and work off the great food. The grocery store is a 10 minute walk to the south of the resort and a lot of fun to explore. We mostly purchased breakfast food. The also have liquor, sunscreen, everything else you need and they do take credit cards. Don't purchase too much. The restaurant food was so incredible and we ate out most meals so that by the end of the trip, I was sleeping in, skipping breakfast and going straight to lunch. There are several gelato stores in town, which also made for a nice lunch when we just needed a bit of a snack and were saving space for dinner.

We swam with the whale sharks with Ceviche Tours - incredible experience and highly recommended. We wanted to go twice, but the weather did not cooperate and no more tours were going out for the rest of our time there. We ate at many of the restaurants mentioned in other posts - GreenVerde, Mango, El Varadero, Rubens, Soggy Peso and Mininos. Never had a bad meal. We celebrated a birthday while there, purchasing a cake at the grocery store (Chedraui) and taking it to El Veradero early so our friend was surprised. They did an incredible job of creating a special evening for us. Mininos is in town and to the left and several blocks down as you exit the ferry - we ate there multiple times. My suggestion is to share meals so you can eat both lunch and dinner out each day. Meal sharing was perfectly acceptable.

Regarding shopping - I'm de-cluttering and am not one to purchase the many trinkets they rent in Mexico, however, if you are looking for artisan type items to remember your trip, I highly recommend a shop called Aztlan Galeria on Hildago Ave (there are many shops on this street, which is several blocks east of the main street on the west side of the island.) The owner is an artist and has some of her items for sale, the walls are filled with painted wood carvings, unique gift items and no one sitting outside trying to get you to come in - no pressure. Look them up on Facebook and stop by if you want a break from the many shops renting the same tourist trinkets. I purchased a beautiful carving for my patio and my friend purchased a mask.

We also had a massage on the beach ($30 each for two people), rented paddle boards at North Beach and visited the turtle farm - fun and worth the visit.

My best advice is to PLAN ON USING PESOS. Other owners suggested bring US$ in small bills and everyone will accept the $, however, you will get a better value by using pesos. You can bring US$ and exchange them once you get there or go to an ATM machine in town at one of the main banks and get a good exchange rate. Do not use the ATM at the resort unless it is an emergency. The front desk folks advised that the fee is high. During our trip, the bank (HSBC or other main banks in town) had a 17.5 pesos to 1$ exchange rate. Most of the restaurants and shops DO NOT TAKE CREDIT CARDS and used a 14 to 1 exchange rate if we paid with US$. I don't like paying more than I need to. The bank does not charge to exchange dollars for pesos, but did require a passport to complete the transaction. We used the ATM at HSBC and it charged us a $1 (17.5p) fee. I used my credit card to purchase art at a shop that accepted them and got a 18.8 exchange rate from my credit card company (but most places do not accept credit cards). HSBC bank is across the street and to the left as you leave the ferry. There is a safe in your room.

We would definitely come back!! We looked at the smaller units and they would have worked fine for 2 people. We cooked a hot breakfast for the first half of our trip, but could have easily had yogurt and fruit from the grocery store in the mini fridge. The food was so good and inexpensive (most meals were less than $10 for a beautiful grilled fish or seafood dish) that cooking in our unit was not very appealing and we only ate in for breakfast. Towards the end, I was still so full from dinner, that I skipped breakfast in anticipation of lunch smile
Posted by: Lee_Ann

Re: Loved it! - 01/10/17 12:17 PM

Great detail. Thank you!!
Posted by: bkirk

Re: WorldMark Isla Mujeres Resort Review - 10/24/17 07:29 AM

We just returned from staying 7 days at Isla Mujeres and could not have been happier about our stay. We had a group of 7 traveling with us so we booked two Studio Hotel King rooms to accommodate our group. Each room had a King bed that we found to be very comfortable and then a sofa that turns into a full bed. As our three year old was sleeping on the sofa we decided to just leave it as a sofa instead of converting it into a bed. We also had two infants in our room for which the resort was able to provide two port-a-cribs which we were a little surprised about considering that it’s a relatively small resort. Each room also had a table with two chairs, a coffee maker, a mini fridge, and a hammock on the patio. The bathroom had a jetted tub but we never used it so I can’t say whether it worked or not. We found the room quite spacious even with two port-a-cribs always set up. If we had used the sofa as a bed it probably would have been a little cramped but it was pretty easy to fold up so I don’t think it would be an issue for anyone using it as a bed.

The resort grounds were very nice. The pool is huge and we swam in it every day. I’m not sure how full the hotel was when we were there but the pool never got crowded, in fact it was rare when there was anyone else in the pool with us. Since we had three little ones we ended up spending a couple of days just playing in the pool. There is a pool bar that serves drinks and food as well as a restaurant onsite. Neither one are part of the Worldmark resort so you can’t charge to your room but they do take credit cards. We never ate at the restaurant but got lunch (chips and pico de gallo, nachos, and a club sandwich) and breakfast (chilaquiles, and scrambled eggs) from the pool bar and everything was very good. The restaurant and pool bar have the same menu and the pool bar food comes from the restaurant so I would expect that the food from the restaurant would be pretty good as well.

We rented a golf cart for our entire stay from Rentadora Joaquin. We talked to 3-4 different rental places once we arrived and ended up getting the best deal from them. There are several rental places near the ferry terminal so if you don’t reserve one in advance don’t worry too much about it, you’ll be able to find one within a very short walk. All of them were willing to negotiate with us but we got the best deal from Joaquin and they also took credit cards, most of the others we talked to did not. The taxi ride from the ferry terminal to the resort is only 50 pesos (~ $2.50) but we liked having the golf cart to explore the island.

On the island we visited the turtle farm which our three year old loved, went to Playa Norte on two different days, went to the ruins at the south end of the Island, and booked a snorkeling trip to the underwater museum through the resort. We also booked a trip to Chichen Itza and a cenote through a third party. The Chichen Itza trip took the whole day but we all agreed it was the highlight of our vacation and well worth it.

Almost every night we went to the northern end of the island to Hidalgo Street for dinner and to walk around. Hidalgo is closed to vehicular traffic and has many restaurants with excellent food and shops with owners willing to negotiate prices with you. We ate dinner at several different restaurants on Hildago but we also ate at the Green Verde (which is easily within walking distance of the resort) and Mango Cafe. Mango Cafe is about mid island, on the Caribbean side, and not really within walking distance of the resort so you would need to take a Taxi or have a golf cart to get there. There is also a food truck that was parked at the ruins at the south end of the island that had amazing food. There are restaurants all over the island that we wanted to try but we never had time. All the food we ate on the island was amazing but our favorite was Mango Cafe (the enchiladas were fantastic) although Chilaquiles from the resort pool bar were a close second.

We arranged round trip transportation from the Airport to Puerto Juarez (Ultramar Ferry) with Discovery Mundo a couple of weeks before our trip and we were able to get it for $64 total for 7 people. They were prompt and courteous and for an extra fee they purchased our ferry tickets for us so we didn’t have to worry about that. Would definitely use them again.

Hope this info helps anyone who is thinking about staying at this resort. We honestly felt that 7 days was too long to stay but that may have had more to do with the two infants we were traveling with than the island itself. Without them we may have ventured to more beaches or gone on more excursions. The resort was comfortable, the resort staff were great in trying to accommodate our many requests, and the people of Isla Mujeres were always very friendly.
Posted by: marianddion

Re: WorldMark Isla Mujeres Resort Review - 02/21/18 04:02 PM

Has anyone stayed in a Studio Compact Unit?? Is it a King bed? Is there a patio/balcony? and is there a mini refrigerator? Any question answered will be greatly appreciated!! We are traveling Feb 2019 Thank You Thank You
Posted by: grantw7

Re: WorldMark Isla Mujeres Resort Review - 02/22/18 01:49 PM

Arriving there next week. 1st week in the big one and on Mar 7 moving to the smallest. Will let you know what to expect.
Posted by: grantw7

Re: WorldMark Isla Mujeres Resort Review - 03/05/18 04:58 AM

For Marianddion.
I am just finishing my first week in the King and will be moving to the Compact on Wed.
I plan on taking inside pictures of both. If you are interested in any of them contact me via my own email address: gwilson27@gmail.com
Weather is perfect right now.
I will send you a list of things you will need to bring to survive a non kitchen unit at the end of the week. I loaned my toaster to the couple next door for the week as I don`t use one and they usually have toast every morning.
The unit next door only had a mini fridge and coffee maker.
Posted by: bthorman

Re: WorldMark Isla Mujeres Resort Review - 03/08/18 07:54 AM

We're here now, just got in late yesterday. What a lovely surprise! I booked a king hotel suite. Website said mini fridge and whirlpool tub. We have a mini kitchen! No tub, but we'd rather have the kitchen! Boy is this going to cut down on our eating out expenses. We're in 1410 and the others around us don't have anything but a mini fridge. The only weird thing is that there's only a small closet and no dresser or drawers. However there's a place to leave your suitcases open. Works for us!

Update - we've also noticed that another of the units on our level (all seem to be studio kings) has a hottub on their front balcony. This is not the same as the one bedroom. So the configuration of the hotel kings varies quite a bit. We were lucky enough to get a kitchen 🌞.
Posted by: grantw7

Re: WorldMark Isla Mujeres Resort Review - 03/10/18 08:20 AM

Here is the review I promised:
Just coming to the end of 2 weeks here.
First off the resort was better than expected. The whole staff literally can’t do enough for you.
The only thing missing is a beach, just a yacht club so at least there is a waterway next to us.
We stayed in all 3 types of accommodation here so can talk about the pluses and minuses of each.
We spent the first week in a One Bedroom (thanks to the wait list). There are only 4 such units of the 24 units here which is unfortunate as it has almost everything we usually expect in a Worldmark resort (we have been owners for 26 years). Being on 2 floors there was a ton of room. We especially liked the private balcony on the 2nd floor in front of the bedroom. The cooling tub on that belcony was a waste. The large pool is just steps away and to keep the scum off the top meant running the pump which was very noisy so we turned it off after 10 minutes and did not use it.
After a week there we then moved to one of the 3 Compact suites for 2 days. One is on the 2nd floor (we had that one). The other two are on the third floor. The plus of the 3rd floor ones are that you will have a private balcony just like the one bedroom minus the cooling tub. The 2nd floor one is not as private as there are 3 other units sharing the walkway in front, but more private than those on the ground floor where the walkway is shared by everyone at the resort. The compact has a good sized bathroom and an adequate sized bedroom. What is missing is the living room that has a couch and table and chairs. This you will find in the 3rd type which is the majority of the room types- some with king, the others with 2 doubles.
We are now in the 3rd type. We miss the privacy and the larger fridge of the compact. The living room and the extra counter space of this unit is much appreciated though.
The biggest item that we miss not being in the one bedroom is not having a microwave to heat up the coffee (we drink slowly). I partially dealt with that by only making 3 cups at a time in the coffee pot. It just meant having to make coffee twice each morning. Remember there is always coffee at Reception anytime after 6 am. Easy for us as were were always in the closest block to Reception.
A coffee pot and a mini fridge is in all of the 20 non one bedroom units. I got styrofoam bowls and a sharp knife from Reception/Housekeeper as we like to buy fruit from the stores in the area. I would suggest you bring a paring knife with you if you do the same as the knife provided was large. A plus was being able to get all the coffee packets you needed from Housekeeping so we didn’t have to buy coffee and sugar during our stay.
We are surprised that other reviews have not mentioned the restauarant run out of the pool bar. The food is very good, the prices reasonable and the guys that work there are very friendly and helpful. Sitting outside to eat is very pleasant. We had a thunderstorm storm last night so it was great to be able to order room service for dinner.
Like all the Worldmark resorts most people here disappear all day so we have only averaged 4 other couples around the pool each day so it is very quiet. There are very few children here as there is nothing for them to do except use the pool. We came for peace and quiet and that is exactly what we got. If you want “activity” stay away from here and especially stay away from booking a one bedroom because We want it. wink
We have no idea why others keep raving about the Green Verde Restaurant. Yes, it is only just over a block away, but go a block further and you will get better food at a much better price. The building is pink and the sign says KASH. The staff is better and the seating is 100% better. We ate at Verde 3 times before we went to KASH so our review is based on more than one meal.
If you want good food, good prices and a superb view of the water go for a 15 minute walk to the other side of the island. It is a little cafe next to the Catholic Church of Guadalupe. It is right across the street from the Mango Cafe (did not go to Mango as a couple of American’s who come here often said it was way over priced) up the steps. It closes at 3 so go there for breakfast and/or lunch. Go a half block north of Mango and you will find Mike’s Pizza. Mike is fascinating (he is from New York). We had excellent pizza the first visit and plan to eat one of the many Italian dishes next time. If you go into town you must go the the North Garden restaurant. It is rated #1 because the food is fantastic and costs way less than Verde. It is always packed so be prepared to wait for the food (the drinks are cheap too so no problem). If the resort was closer we would eat there at least once a day. Costs us 70 pesos (tip included) one way into town. About $9 + Canadian (which is us) and about $6 -7 US return. We have also been told to not leave the island until we go to Rubens for a meal. Great food at a great price.
Almost forgot to mention the free Margaritas at 3 pm served between the 3rd and 4th blocks. Not much alcohol in it so saw it more like a free lemonade which is always appreciated when the temperature is around 86 (30C) degrees. Lastly, you can’t drink the water so they supply you with a 5 litre jug of water that you refill in Reception at any time.
We have already booked our next 2 vacations here in the one bedroom.
Just returned from shopping at the super market. Took 10 min to get there. Suggest bringing a backpack to carry the alcohol bottles.
Posted by: bthorman

Re: WorldMark Isla Mujeres Resort Review - 03/12/18 03:38 AM

How did you manage to get the 1 bedroom? 😊. Guess we were lucky to have a kitchen in our studio hotel king, weren't expecting it.
Posted by: TerriD

Re: WorldMark Isla Mujeres Resort Review - 03/21/18 04:25 PM

Thanks for your description, we are going for the first time and I'm so excited! Can I ask which tour company you used for the Chichen Itza day tour? I'm looking online but would prefer a recommendation. Many thanks!
Posted by: grantw7

Re: WorldMark Isla Mujeres Resort Review - 04/11/18 02:55 PM

I'm sure those tubs are cool tubs. Our was.
Posted by: grantw7

Re: WorldMark Isla Mujeres Resort Review - 04/11/18 02:56 PM

Got it on the Wait List.
Posted by: grantw7

Re: WorldMark Isla Mujeres Resort Review - 04/11/18 03:12 PM

Follow up to my previous.
We ate more times at Kash and the cafe next to the Catholic Church and were never disappointed.
We walked south to eat at Chilito's by Ruben. We walked from the Catholic Church along the lovely walkway south on the eastern side of the island - well worth the effort. The food was good, not great, but they had a very extensive menu so lots to choose from.
When you arrive off of the ferry turn left on the main road and just a few yards ahead you will see the line up for the taxis. The front is reserved for dropping off passengers. 50 pesos to the Resort but don't forget a 10 pesos tip!
We used Happy Shuttle Cancun for the airport transfer and were very pleased - great price & great service. Remember to have them get your ferry tickets. Saves another line up.
Have already booked a return visit for next March.
Posted by: bthorman

Re: WorldMark Isla Mujeres Resort Review - 04/11/18 03:19 PM

We actually ended up with a kitchen and not a whirlpool tub in the bathroom. We liked that better.
Posted by: gsillian

Re: WorldMark Isla Mujeres Resort Review - 07/09/18 07:57 PM

Ilsa Mujeres June 24 to July 1
I Just return from my trip and had a great time. The resort is small and we were in 1202 a 1 bedroom Deluxe room. Very quiet and private pool area. A few things I would recommended on this Island. First there is a money exchange at the ferry terminal. They seem to give the best exchange rate. While the official rate was 19.4 to 1 US dollar they offered 18.5 to 1. This was better than most restaurants that we went to. Some smaller restaurants like Kash near the resort gave very low exchange rate about 10 to 1. So use Pesos here.
We also had credit cards that did not charge foreign transaction fees. At places that we trusted we did use our cards with no issues. We then received the official exchange rate of 19.4 to 1.
To get the Island if you want hassle free travel, book your ground transportation with www.luxuryvantransportation.com. Michael, the owner, is very professional. He arranged a private SUV to meet us at the airport and took us to the Ferry, tickets for the ferry were handed to us and after we got off the ferry on Ilsa Mujeres there was a taxi waiting for us that knew exactly where we were going. In reverse the taxi picked us up at the assigned time, returned us to ferry and the return trip was exactly as planned. Everything was totally laid out for us. No thinking. No hassle
Luxury Van Transport can also arrange for Golf Carts to be delivered to the resort if you want. Full service.
There is a store in walking distance from the resort that has everything you need. Food, Cloths, precook foods like whole chickens. This is like a small Walmart. They take US dollars and their exchange rate was 18.4 to 1. Credit cards also work for us here.
Restaurants to check out:
Da Luisa for dinner – Get the Fish plate. Go upstairs and to back patio where there are about 5 tables overlooking the ocean.
Playa Lancheros – Lunch get fish plate for two. Kilo of fish and all the trimmings. It takes about 45 minutes to prepare. While you wait have a drink and play in the ocean.
Amigo downtown – Great breakfast and at lunch I had the fish stuffed with shrimp.
Mango Good breakfast but across street and up the steps of the church there is a café in the back with patio over looking the ocean. I think they had better breakfast.
Posted by: sunshinegirl67

Re: WorldMark Isla Mujeres Resort Review - 11/13/18 05:27 PM

Going to Isla Mujeres in 3 weeks...how much should I expect to pay for full transfers. The all inclusive sounded great but the price is a consideration. So excited - just don't want to waste time... Or get ripped off - Any info on a weekly golf cart rental? (only 2 of us). We love to investigate our surroundings...can't wait to see
the sun!!
Posted by: bthorman

Re: WorldMark Isla Mujeres Resort Review - 11/14/18 07:20 AM

We used Everything Isla https://www.everythingislamujeres.com/

It was recommended by the AirBnB that we stayed in after our stay at WM. They arranged everything, we did pay for our own ferry tickets right before boarding. The company that we got the golf cart from was probably more than some, but included all the gas we needed. They also drove us from their store to the ferry when we left.

It was also nice to have a personal concierge to call if we had questions. They also met us at the ferry and gave us a tour of the downtown area before taking us to WM.
Posted by: grantw7

Re: WorldMark Isla Mujeres Resort Review - 12/20/18 06:40 AM

Totally agree with your last comment. The cafe next to the church had very good food and a view to die for. We went there 3 times on our last visit and plan on more visits when we return in March.
We walked past Da Luisa last time but now that we know there is a view and good food we will try it out next time. Thanks for letting us know.
Posted by: grantw7

Re: WorldMark Isla Mujeres Resort Review - 12/20/18 06:49 AM

There are only 4 1 Bd Deluxes. I get ones like this by booking in the first few minutes after 6 am on the first day we can book. I discovered last year that for Hawaii it must be in the first SECONDS after 6 am.
How was there a kitchen in a studio hotel king???? Which unit number was it? During our few days in one, there was no kitchen.
Posted by: bthorman

Re: WorldMark Isla Mujeres Resort Review - 12/20/18 12:54 PM

I reserved a Studio Hotel King and we were pleasantly surprised. We did not have a hot tub or 2 levels. We were in room 1410. I saw a kitchen like ours in another room downstairs in the same building. No hot tub there either and only 1 level.

Wonder if the descriptions are off? There was one on the other side of the stairwell from us.
Posted by: grantw7

Re: WorldMark Isla Mujeres Resort Review - 01/06/19 07:03 AM

Thanks for the room number.
We will be there the end of Feb and I will check it out.
Posted by: grantw7

Re: WorldMark Isla Mujeres Resort Review - 01/06/19 07:20 AM

Sorry that I missed this posting before you left.
I use Happy Shuttle. $86US for return and ferry tickets for the two of us.
Easy, efficient, professional.
In my research, I found them equal to or better than the rest.
Using them again for trip number two this Feb-Mar.
Posted by: lawduck

Re: WorldMark Isla Mujeres Resort Review - 01/12/19 06:56 PM

Our review of Worldmark Isla Mujeres:

We stayed at Worldmark Isla Mujeres for 10 days over Christmas and New Years. The island and the resort are amazing. The resort is very small with only 20 or so units and feels very safe, with a round-the-clock secured entrance.

The location of the resort has pluses and minuses. On the positive side, it is close to the main grocery store (walking distance) and several restaurants (some very close walking distance). It is also in a nice quiet area and away from the hustle and bustle of downtown. But, you probably need to rent a (relatively expensive) golf cart for the duration of your visit, as most of the restaurants and attractions are not in easy walking distance. You could get by with taking the relatively cheap taxis, but they are certainly less convenient.

The resort has a really nice pool that was on the cool, but not cold, side. The pool has a swim up bar (that I never saw anyone at) and was never crowded. You can order food from the pool bar (that comes from the restaurant at the adjoining yacht club), which while tasty and convenient is expensive compared to the rest of the food on the island. The pool bar also had a nice cocktail list.

We found the staff at the resort to be very helpful and friendly. There are some really nice touches like someone that goes around and turns on all the porch lights every night (and I assume turns them off in the morning). Although they don’t have daily housekeeping (as expected being a timeshare resort), they did “refresh” our room twice during our stay at no charge (and seemed willing to do it as often as we wanted). The resort abuts the marina, but it seemed that security (for the yacht club) was chasing resort guests from the walkway (at least if they went out on the docks). There are spa services bookable through the resort and done on site, but you can find better and cheaper services elsewhere on the island.

Our room was very nice. It was a studio with a king bed and a drop-down living area with a daybed. It had a bar-sized refrigerator, and they were able to bring us a microwave after we requested it. The room had A/C that worked well, and the bed was more comfortable than any other Worldmark bed I can recall. The rooms all have non-private patios that have a couple of Adirondack-type chairs and a hammock. The entrances to the units are actually through the patio doors. The pool is just steps away from all the rooms. In fact, all the rooms face the pool (on the ground floor and one floor above).

The one negative to our room was that the Wifi signal was very weak and made it almost unusable unless you were sitting right by the door or back in the bathroom. The signal was strong and sufficiently fast on the patio and by the pool. I suspect this issue might have been unique to our unit because we were at the very end of the complex, but I can’t say for sure.

The island itself is a special place. It is crammed full of cheap and very good restaurants. We had amazing food everywhere. The beaches at the north end are beautiful, but pretty crowed. At the south end, Punta Sur was beautiful and we had a great time waking on the paths down by the ocean. There are beautiful views on both sides of the island, and we had a wonderful time tooling around in our golf cart and finding places to shop, eat, or put our toes in the (very warm) water.

There were a couple of things that we had read about in other reviews that seem to no longer be the case at the resort. First, we had read about the free afternoon margaritas, but it turns out they no longer do them. Also, they supply you with a jug of drinking water (you can shower and brush your teeth with tap water, but should not drink it), but when it is gone you are on your own to get more. That means you have to make at least one trip to the grocery store to stock up on water (or other beverages of your choice).
Posted by: grantw7

Re: WorldMark Isla Mujeres Resort Review - 01/16/19 01:19 PM

I'm sorry to read that the afternoon margaritas are no longer being served (they were very watered down).
I am not happy about not being able to get water from the lobby!!!!
We are going to be there for 2 weeks again in Feb and having to bring water back from the store will not be fun (we will be walking).
Posted by: grantw7

Re: WorldMark Isla Mujeres Resort Review - 01/16/19 01:25 PM

Does anyone know if the rooms have irons?

I thought I remember seeing one last year, but can't remember for sure.
Posted by: bthorman

Re: WorldMark Isla Mujeres Resort Review - 01/16/19 02:01 PM

We were there about a year ago and we could take the bottle down to the office to refill it.
Posted by: grantw7

Re: WorldMark Isla Mujeres Resort Review - 01/23/19 07:12 AM

Excellent review.
Yes, the wifi is not consistently strong, but the same can be said of some of our resorts in the US. Great in the bathroom because the router is right outside the bathroom window.
We didn't find the on-site restaurant prices out of line with many other restaurants. Depends which you choose. Was very convenient especially when we had a thunderstorm and we were able to get room service.
Not needing to leave the resort every day (we were there for 2 weeks) the cost of a cart made no sense compared to the cost of getting a taxi when we needed it.
We are returning in a few weeks and I sure want to talk to the desk about water access as we always walked to the store for groceries. Once the food and wine are in the backpack I don't want to also be carrying water as well.
Posted by: KMLn

Re: WorldMark Isla Mujeres Resort Review - 02/05/19 06:22 PM

Where is the best place to rent a golf cart or scooters?
Posted by: MollyW

Re: WorldMark Isla Mujeres Resort Review - 02/20/19 05:41 PM

Once you arrive off ferry what transportation do you take to resort? Thank you!
Posted by: bthorman

Re: WorldMark Isla Mujeres Resort Review - 02/21/19 05:48 AM

There are taxis or you can rent a golf cart.
Posted by: grantw7

Re: WorldMark Isla Mujeres Resort Review - 03/01/19 05:38 AM

I am now at the resort.
There is an iron and board. Still 50 pesos from ferry to resort but please give him 60.
Yes, 1410 does have a kitchen as does one other that is not a 1 bedroom deluxe. To get either of them is just down to fate as you can not reserve them specifically.
As to the water. You no longer can fill your own, but you can take the container back to the front desk and a new one will be delivered to your door. They are heavy.
I was glad to see the Green Verde Restaurant gone. Too expensive with very average food.
Kosh, just up the same block, is as fantastic as ever and very inexpensive.
Mike’s Pizza is a nice change from Mexican food every night and at a decent price.
We plan on trying some differently restaurants during our two weeks here and I will provide a list of our favorites after we get home.
Do try and book one of the 1 Bedroom Deluxes if you can. Having the kitchen and double the room of every other unit is fantastic. The private balcony on the upper floor with a cooling pool is heaven.
We are in a different building this year and the wifi is even weaker. Oh well.
Posted by: bthorman

Re: WorldMark Isla Mujeres Resort Review - 03/01/19 06:08 AM

At least they'll deliver water. My husband had to go down and refill each time and it was heavy.
Posted by: grantw7

Re: WorldMark Isla Mujeres Resort Review - 03/08/19 05:49 AM

Completed week one, now in second week.
The Manager, Alberto, when he is at the desk, will always have the water delivered. When Victor (the younger one) is on he will let you into the office to fill it yourself though, if you ask, he will have it delivered. Downside of delivery is that you never know when. If you fill yourself you have it right away. If too heavy to fill just put in what you find comfortable.
The Green Verde is not gone, just moved. Now just a quarter block north (to your left) on the west side (don`t cross the street). It is hidden by greenery. Still would not eat there.
Have added Don Pino to our favorite places to eat. Just walk south, straight, past the grocery store, near end of long block. Great food with great prices.
Went to North Gardens yesterday for lunch. Worth every penny for great meal. They are now open for dinner but they require reservation. In person only, so we reserved for this coming Sunday before we left.
Posted by: grantw7

Re: WorldMark Isla Mujeres Resort Review - 03/10/19 07:03 AM

Addendum
I have to alter what I had previously written. I now agree with some others that the restaurant at the site is overpriced for the quality. There are better and cheaper alternatives. The restaurant next to the church on the other side of the island, Casa Cural, is also no longer a good place to eat. They have vastly expanded their menu, but unfortunately, with very average food. BUT, if you want a view to die for and/or are looking for discounted jewelry go there for a beer (same price as most) and just sit and relax.
Posted by: anjifs

Re: WorldMark Isla Mujeres Resort Review - 03/16/19 05:04 PM

we are planning a trip to Isla Mujeres in October. We also want to visit Tulum and Chichen itza. We noticed that rental cars are only 17$ for the week. Has anyone done this before instead of booking through a tour? We would like the freedom and flexibility. A few questions though. The resorts says rental car space is available for a fee. How much does anyone know? also, how about ferry crossings with a car rental. Please if anyone has some info I would greatly appreciate it!
Posted by: bthorman

Re: WorldMark Isla Mujeres Resort Review - 03/17/19 06:36 AM

A rental car on the island might be difficult. The main streets are OK, but the streets in town are quite narrow - most people get around by golf cart, scooter or taxi. There is a car ferry not too far from the resort though. It's outside of town.
Posted by: SteveCandy

Re: WorldMark Isla Mujeres Resort Review - 04/11/19 01:08 PM

Could you please tell me how to Sort by Date? We are looking at Isla Mujeras (Cancun) Mexico. Thank you
Posted by: Phil_Read

Re: WorldMark Isla Mujeres Resort Review - 10/21/19 12:54 PM

Hi Beth.... how was your stay at Isla Mujeres? I have booked a reservation to go there in December!
Posted by: KMLn

Re: WorldMark Isla Mujeres Resort Review - 01/01/20 08:21 AM

Can someone tell me if the compact rooms are quiet? I’m worried that if someone is above us, it will be loud. Also, is the compact room or the king room better? What’s the difference in the two?
Posted by: Jack and Jo

Re: WorldMark Isla Mujeres Resort Review - 02/23/20 06:35 PM

This is a little late but if you haven't figured it out the newest entries arrive at the top of the posts. If you were confused like me I was reading the dates on the left with the names. The entry dates are actually on the upper right of each entry.
Posted by: Jack and Jo

Re: WorldMark Isla Mujeres Resort Review - 02/23/20 06:48 PM

We are arriving soon! Exciting! Our grandchildren will be visiting with parents. I will let owners know how the resort and the area works out for families when we return.