Oleo Cancun Playa

Cancun, Mexico

Star rating

The hotel

The sculptural ice-white architecture and matching monochrome interiors of Óleo Cancún Playa give it a calmness that’s a far cry from the buzz and colour of your setting — right at the start of the famously vibrant Cancún Hotel Zone. The dedication to ‘white’ is only really interrupted by flashes of blue — homage to the sea and surf just steps from the hotel. Overlooking the beach, the infinity pool adds a touch more turquoise, with the pool bar’s tropical-inspired cocktails adding their own shots of colour. You’ve got spa treatments, complimentary WiFi, an art workshop, and restaurant menus that take you from Japan to Mexico and Peru, with stops on the way for comfort food, international favourites, and bakery treats.

Amenities

  • Families
  • Bar
  • Internet Access
  • Laundry Service
  • Restaurant
  • Spa
  • Swimming Pool
  • Beachfront location

Where is it

Located in the Cancun Hotel Zone, on a ribbon of shoreline tucked between the Caribbean and Nichupte Lagoon. A short distance from major shopping centres, restaurants and entertainment. Transfer time from airport: 15 minutes.

Hotel information

166 rooms across 3 towers, either with lagoon, garden or ocean views. All with air-conditioning, TV with HD channels, direct dial telephone, mini-bar refreshed daily with soft drinks, water and juices, WiFi access, 24-hour room service, spacious bathrooms with premium amenities and hairdryer. Standard Rooms with either 1 king-size bed or 2 double beds, sleeping maximum 3 adults or 2 adults and 2 children.

All Inclusive of: all meals, drinks and snacks. All activities above unless otherwise stated.

Superior Sunset Rooms overlook the Caribbean Sea and the Nichupté lagoon with 2 double beds, sleeping maximum 3 adults or 2 adults and 2 children.

Superior Ocean Front Rooms with either 1 king-size bed or 2 double beds, sleeping maximum 3 adults or 2 adults and 2 children.

The Junior Suite Sunset offers a wide space with minimalist decoration. The sofa bed fits 1 kid up to 8 years old.

For the ultimate upgrade experience, INSPIRA Suites offer exclusive benefits and personalised service for that real 'wow' factor. Treat yourself to:

- INSPIRA Beach, an exclusive section on the beach

- INSPIRA Concierge for special requests and assistance

- Welcome cocktail

- Early check-in before 12:00pm*

-Gourmet-on-the-go, a gastronomical experience to please your palate (while on excursions)

- Personalised welcome massage and amenity from the General Manager

- Bracelet upgrade to INSPIRA Vacations for preferred status

- A complimentary bottle of house wine and chocolate-dipped fruits in the suite upon your arrival

- Daily turndown service

- Unlimited phone calls to USA, Canada, and Mexico

- Special discounts on select services: 30% off any Pet-It amenities and stays*, 20% off any spa or hairdressing service, 20% off all food and beverage room charges and private events, locally reserved and paid.

This service is applicable to all INSPIRA Suite guests.

Azul (Mexican cuisine, buffet, open 6:30am–11:30am for breakfast and 5:30pm–10:00pm for dinner), Almar (Mediterranean cuisine), Hakka (Asian cuisine, Temaki and Sushi), El Botanero (snack bar and finger food). Brown Bag (coffees and baked goods). El Lobby Bar and Pool Bar.

Day and nighttime activities. 

3 swimming pools including an infinity pool. Spa*, wellness and fitness centre with saunas, steam rooms, and hydro pool. Painting classes for children and adults. Kids club*. Tennis court. Pickleball. Complimentary non-motorised water sports are provided in the Aquaworld Marina. 

Complimentary WiFi access. Concierge service. Laundry/dry-cleaning*. Sundries shop. 24-hour room service.

Guests staying in the Mexican state Quintana Roo are required to pay a travel tax of $11 per adult (over 15 years old). The payment can be made prior to travel, upon arrival or during your stay, as the tax will be imposed upon departure. There is also an additional Environmental Sanitation Tax of approximately $3.92 USD per room, per night that will be added to your hotel bill (payable locally, subject to change).

 

* Denotes local charge.

Rating summary

  • Location Image of the Tripadvisor rating
  • Sleep Quality Image of the Tripadvisor rating
  • Rooms Image of the Tripadvisor rating
  • Service Image of the Tripadvisor rating
  • Value Image of the Tripadvisor rating
  • Cleanliness Image of the Tripadvisor rating

Traveller rating

  • Excellent (2272)
  • Very good (532)
  • Average (205)
  • Poor (88)
  • Terrible (97)
Image of the Tripadvisor rating Proceed with Caution: Card/Cash Stolen

May 19, 2025 Brianna P

What was a nice vacation ended with immense disappointment as I learned that three unauthorized transactions occurred with my debit card in the morning of of our check-out day. When my boyfriend and I were attending last breakfast, I was alerted from my bank of fraudulent activity (one $1,000 transaction, one $850 transaction and another $300… Read more
What was a nice vacation ended with immense disappointment as I learned that three unauthorized transactions occurred with my debit card in the morning of of our check-out day. When my boyfriend and I were attending last breakfast, I was alerted from my bank of fraudulent activity (one $1,000 transaction, one $850 transaction and another $300 transaction). Upon checking my wallet (which was left in the room), my debit card was misplaced and $20 was also missing. Safe to say we will not be returning to Oleo Cancun Playa in the future. Despite this, I do want to shout-out Felipe, Gerry & Abad for their exceptional service during our stay. Read less
Image of the Tripadvisor rating Yippie

May 18, 2025 Blaine M

Ramses, kevin, abad, filipe, ham, antonio and rodrigez are some of the most kind and welcoming people we’ve ever met and they are very very helpful and accommodating. 10/10 experience. The resort is relaxing and quiet, but with all the excursions and activities, there is plenty of opportunity to party. The food at the restaurants is very very… Read more
Ramses, kevin, abad, filipe, ham, antonio and rodrigez are some of the most kind and welcoming people we’ve ever met and they are very very helpful and accommodating. 10/10 experience. The resort is relaxing and quiet, but with all the excursions and activities, there is plenty of opportunity to party. The food at the restaurants is very very good. If it’s your first time going to Cancun this is definitely your resort. Make sure to wear lots of sunscreen and have an awesome time. Read less
Image of the Tripadvisor rating Best in Cancun

May 17, 2025 Kam A Surrey, Canada

An absolute gem in Cancun and we had the best week. Upon arrival we were greeted with champagne. The view from the lobby is stunning. Check in was smooth, I had requested a balcony room prior to arrival and that was all arranged for us. There was no pressure to upgrade to inspira package. With my expedia VIP perks I got a lot of the same as what… Read more
An absolute gem in Cancun and we had the best week. Upon arrival we were greeted with champagne. The view from the lobby is stunning. Check in was smooth, I had requested a balcony room prior to arrival and that was all arranged for us. There was no pressure to upgrade to inspira package. With my expedia VIP perks I got a lot of the same as what Inspira members would. Our room was large, spacious and the balcony had a view of the lagoon and the ocean. The beds were very comfortable and the bathroom was a good size. Very clean and quiet rooms. We had no issues with noise. Yes, the property is a bit dated but they are actively working on improving this. The pool area is accessible and easy because its not very large, which we loved. There are ramps for anyone who needs. The swim up bar is great. I have stayed at many large resorts and this small, cozy boutique style has been my favorite experience so far. The food was delicious. Both a la carte restaurants were so good, hakka was a standout. I also loved the buffet food and the pool side grill for lunch. Drinks were always made perfectly. Brown bag coffee corner drinks are amazing! Keep in mind this resort is on the auieter side, so if that's not your Vibe then don't book here. We loved it. They entertain you at the pool during the day but there is no after dinner entertainment. There is a lobby bar where they sometimes do karaoke. Also, we got a massage at the NUUP spa, which was so relaxing. Being able to use the hydro pools after was the cherry on top. Highly recommend! The beach is absolutely stunning and we swam every day despite the waves. Easy to get chairs even if you go down a bit later in the morning. I could go on and on, but the most stand out part of this stay was the staff. the service was impeccable, everybody was so genuine and kind, and it felt like we were part of a little family. Special shout out to Bryan, Ham, Ramses, Mariano, Charlie, and the ladies at the coffee corner. I hope to see all of them again when I return 😊🫶🏽 Read less
Image of the Tripadvisor rating Amazing time

May 17, 2025 Meander26185045706 Detroit, Michigan

Came here with my family and we really enjoyed it! The food is great, the resort isnt as big as others-which we liked. The beach is wonderful and so are the employees! Will be back here. Theres also a lot of activities to do right on the beach :) very close to airport
Image of the Tripadvisor rating Depends on Expectations; Several Maintenance Issues; Don't Upgrade

May 15, 2025 296gregf Chino Hills, California

CHECK-IN: We stayed at Oleo at the end of a 15-day Riviera Maya tour in May. As Atelier Inspira Members, we began our tour at Atelier for a family event and selected Oleo at the end due to its proximity to the airport and inclusion in our membership. This was our second visit to Oleo in the past five years. It is important to note that Atelier… Read more
CHECK-IN: We stayed at Oleo at the end of a 15-day Riviera Maya tour in May. As Atelier Inspira Members, we began our tour at Atelier for a family event and selected Oleo at the end due to its proximity to the airport and inclusion in our membership. This was our second visit to Oleo in the past five years. It is important to note that Atelier and Oleo are separate products at different price points, despite being owned by the same company. The Inspira experience at Atelier is substantially different from that at Oleo. The Inspira upgrade at Oleo offers limited added value, which is detailed below. INSPIRA UPGRADE / MEMBER EXPERIENCE: 1. Upon check-in, our membership was not acknowledged. The employee (Stephanie) assisting us appeared unfamiliar with Inspira benefits. 2. The Inspira upgrade package included three macarons and a bottle of champagne in the room. No check in towels were provided as advertised. 3    A designated beach area for Inspira guests is present, but lacks distinguishing features. Availability of side tables is limited, and amenities appear to have been reduced compared to previous years. Non-upgraded guests were observed using this space. HOTEL CONDITION / ROOMS: This assessment compares Oleo to other hotels in the Cancún Hotel Zone, not to Atelier. The property shows significant signs of wear. Visual updates appear superficial, relying on repainting rather than structural maintenance. Issues observed in the room included: 1. Repeatedly painted-over furniture and fixtures 2. Damaged moldings and inoperative bathroom locks 3. Plumbing issues (lack of hot water, clogged toilet, and poor drainage) 4. Thin doors and worn fittings 5. Elevators in poor condition, resembling service elevators with missing parts Overall, the facilities require substantial maintenance. The condition of Oleo may impact perception of the Atelier brand due to their affiliation. SERVICE: Service quality was a strong aspect of the stay. Several employees provided consistently attentive and professional service:     •    Julie (Concierge)     •    Isaac (Bellman)     •    Sheila (Beach Drink Service)     •    Lliana (Azul Breakfast)     •    Roger (Almar) •    Manuel H. (Azul Breakfast) FOOD: 1. Azul (Buffet): Offered good variety and quality for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. 2. Hakka (Asian): Adequate presentation; not authentic in terms of cuisine. 3. Almar (Italian): High quality food and excellent service. 4. Lobby Bar: Small, appropriate for the hotel’s size. Top-shelf brands observed. 5. Only one beer option on tap. 6. Pool Lunch BBQ: Food quality was high, but limited seating was a challenge. 7. Room Service: Food was adequate; service was efficient. Beer is not available via room service and must be collected from the bar. Used trays and plates were left in hallways; collection procedures may require review.  8. Mini Bar: Stocked with two beers, two cokes, two mineral waters, and two waters. CONCLUSION: Oleo’s value is closely tied to budget and expectations. The Inspira upgrade offers minimal benefits and does not justify the cost. Member services require clearer communication and employee training. The property is in need of comprehensive maintenance. While service staff performed well and food was acceptable, the overall condition and quality of the hotel do not meet a 4-star standard. A return visit is not planned. Read less