Hotel La Semilla a Member of Design Hotels

Perfect location and service, but rooms need an update. I had a mixed experience during my recent stay. On the positive side, the location is unbeatable, the staff were wonderful, and the breakfast was truly fantastic. However, while the hotel is marketed as 'vintage,' the room furnishings felt more outdated and musty than charming. Practical issues, like drawers that didn't work, made the stay less comfortable. It’s a great spot if you prioritize service and location, but the rooms could use some maintenance.

When we arrived for 5 nights, the receptionist said that they had no record of the booking from Expedia! I produced my hard copy of the reservation. We were able to stay for 2 nights only as the hotel was busy, and had to find another hotel for 3 nights. Unfortunately this is the second time that a reservation with Expedia in 6 months was not recognised by the hotel. Our previous problem was with Polwaththa Ecolodge in Sri Lanka in February 2025 and that was fully paid! The hard copy was important. After 20 years of using Expedia, I am very unhappy with them as they are seriously slipping up! Hotel La Semilla is a comfortable, bespoke hotel, which is a bit dated, needs a makeover and is in the lively centre of Playa del Carmen.

The hotel is lovely and the staff was nice, but it was not a good experience. My room was unpleasant. My bathroom (toilet) didn’t work. There was also a problem on arrival. I had a terrible time finding the place because the hotels.com listing had no proper address. The cab driver who has worked here for decades had never heard of this tiny place. I ended up dropped me a mile away (where the dot on google maps was) after midnight and a long day of travel. Addresses are strangely nonspecific in Playa, but one would think the management could make sure their address showed correctly on Google and Apple maps. It was a pain.

It is very traditional, unique and eco-friendly property. Lovely decor in an amazingly beautiful structure. Everyone was super nice and helpful. Complimentary breakfast was delicious, eating surrounded by nature.

From the staff to the views and the overall accommodations, this was worth every single penny. I loved my stay and I can't wait to come back.