La Posada Del Capitan Lafitte, Playa del Carmen Centro

Everyone was very friendly and it's just a great little resort. The beach is beautiful, the rooms were comfortable, and the food was delicious every day. They took us out on a snorkeling trip one day, and the reef was incredible. I'd say it was the best vacation of my life. Highly recommended.

My new Wife and I spent our honeymoon here, we are positively going to return. The views were amazing. The sea turtles would lay thier eggs on the beach and one of the hotel workers would gather them up so they would not be destroyed or stolen. It was amazing.

Lafitte was a true hidden treasure. Beach views, kind staff, full bar and lovely, swimmable beach. No jet skiis or trampolines - just the perfect quiet, easy going vacation. But now it's gone. As of September 2006 it is closing and construction is beggining on yet another delux, concrete extravaganza. Does anyone know of any similar getaways??? Quiet, reasonable, private and wonderful?

Capitan LaFitte is one of the best unknown treasures in the Mexican Riviera! Although it is a little out of the way, 45 minute ride from the airport, it is well worth the trouble. Lafitte is by no means a luxury hotel, no oppulence here. But if you like that simple relaxing way of living you will love this place. You get free breakfast and dinner but have to purchase your own lunch and drinks. The pricing is very reasonable and the food is A+. We only had a food/bar bill of $400.00USD for two adults after an 8 day stay, $25.00USD per day per person......not bad at all. The rooms are very nice but definately not the Ritz. All rooms have dual entrances with one that will at least open up in the direction of the beach. No more than a 3 minute walk out to the water line. The beaches are fairly private, no other hotels close and the clientel are usually out for the day....very close to having your own private beach. We have stayed there previously to our last trip September 2005 and plan on going back this fall 2006. The service is outstanding! Privacy outstanding! Food is A+. the only downfall that the entire hotel is surrounded by sand, so if sand in your bed is not for you.......then do not stay at Capitan La Fitte....personally, I love the idea of not having to wear shoes for 8 days!

We've been going to Lafitte for the past 17 years. We knew it took quite a hit from Wilma, but read favorable comments. The resort has lost much of it's tropical plants which made it so jungle-like, they are replanting and some of the taller palms have survived. The beach is full of thatch palapas & comfortable chairs, the beach is also much sandier than before the hurricane, expecially trhe northern section, smoothe, no stones entry to the water. Excellent service - on all respects - they bent over backwards. Our room had a stocked fridge & everything was in good working order. The fresh beach towels were available every day & all the purified bottled water you want was also available. I don't know who wrote the previous review concerning the so-called "poor service" but they must have had a major communications issue with the management or else it's a personal attack. We loved it, my friend, a first-timer, loved it. The dinners were hit & miss. They tried "Italian nite" and it was less than Italian, but the home-made Gelato (coconut or strawberry)made up for it. Other nights the Mexican/Yucatecan & Mayan fare was excellent - lots of fish, always a super & fresh salad bar with local produce. Breakfasts were stupendous as usual, and the bartenders are on the top of my list for consistancy, service and friendliness (Victor & Jesus). I would go back in a heartbeat. The "after Wilma" photos are astonishing, compared to what the resort looks like now. Everything else is the same, especially the ambiance they are famous for. Excellent value, atmosphere, relaxation. Masseuse's are excellent, too.

I just returned form a week in early March, and it was wonderful. This was my first trip, but my girlfriend's fifth. I found no problems of any kind certainly none referred to in the previous review. The staff was very accomodating and friendly. The grounds were in great shape. The dive shop was open and staffed. The beach was in great shape and was constantly being groomed. There was no noise and no construction underway. Our room was ocean front and comfortable. It was cleaned spotless every day and perfect when we returned from breakfast. The bartenders are wonderful as is the dining room staff. This place is meant for couples, groups and families. Singles would be pretty bored unless they leave the grounds and head to Playa. Average age of the guests, excluding the children is mid 40's. This is a very mellow place with a great vibe.

What a disappointment. After years of recommending LaFitte, I can no longer do so. My family and I are loyal customers who have been going to LaFitte for years at Christmas and Spring and knew it was never a 5 star resort, but loved it for the warm service and great atmosphere. This year after hurricane Wilma swept through we hesitantly kept our family reunion plans to go to LaFitte for Christmas and New Years after being assured everything would be up and running to standard. Besides, the reason to go to Lafitte is not the facilities, it was the well-known service provided by long-time employees. What a mistake we made. The legendary Lafitte service was disastrous (with the exception of Jesus, Victor, and our maid.) The on site manager, Luis and his front desk staff seemed baffled when we made simple requests for items which they normally customarily supply: beach towels, refrigerators, hammocks and water. They did not provide refrigerators until we outright begged them, and even though our party of 10 had 4 rooms, only 2 empty mini-fridges were very reluctantly supplied. Gone was the minibar service in each room or even adequate water supplies. The weather was in the mid to high 80's yet when we asked for more than 2 bottles of water per room per day they initially refused for 2 days but relented after many guests' requests. At breakfast during normal operating hours they prohibited any guests from entering the dining room when a certain family was in it, we all had to wait outside the locked doors until they finished. The headwaiter always seemed a little surprised to see us looking our table for 10 at meals, even though we were there for 8 days. There was an outbreak of tourista after the "Mayan Buffet" which affected many guests (altho after a few days they did call in a doctor.) The shuttle to town was non-existent, the kayaks were gone, the dive shop was closed, the pool leaked and was not filtered nor treated with anything other than a bucket of seawater, there were no hammock palapas for shade, etc ... In regards to the physical premises, the reading/coffee room is gone, the game room is gone, half the dining room is gone, the beachfront rows of duplex and single casitas are gone and the former Kailuum hangs in tatters. The Lafitte websites still post pre-Wilma photos and do not accurately represent the resort in its current state. All of the above physical changes would have been bearable if they would have warned us or offered a "post-Wilma loyalty discount" if you will. But the poor level of customer service at LaFitte cannot be blamed on hurricane Wilma. We were charged full price, we are NOT high maintenance folks, yet we felt as though we were resented when we made simple requests, and as a result my family and my siblings' families will not be returning to this once very service-oriented resort. This decision was cemented when our written comments to Lafitte's general manager Luis and the owners were absolutely ignored. An intermediary from Turquoise Reef group wrote and thanked us for our feedback but nothing in the way of an apology from Lafitte was extended. My hope is that Lafitte take to heart ours and others' comments which surely have come their way and work to resume their superior level of customer service. A further warning to those of you seeking LaFitte's legendary peace and quiet: Lafitte has sold off the beaches immediately adjacent to either side of the property: where Kailuum was to the south; and to the north where the afternoon soccer games were played. This will leave LaFitte with a much reduced strip of beach when development begins February 2006. Unless you enjoy the sounds of construction and wish to be treated as an annoyance surely you will want to look elsewhere for your relaxation.

We just spent 6 of the most relaxing days we have had sine having kids. Our now teens went off to do their thing so mom and I went to do ours. The Lafitte was the perfect place. No TV, no phone, no computer; exactly what we needed. I read 4 books, enjoyed the sun, waves and beach. Some of the best food I've ever had in mexico. No if you want pampering and things to do this is not the place and kids would be board quick, but for relaxiation and enjoyment this was a great place. We will go back. the location is in easy reach of cancun and playa, and it has a decent beach( well before Emiley) and the snorkeling right out front wasn't too bad.

We loved Capitan Lafitte for many reasons: kind of a step back in time; people so friendly and helpful; food delicious; entertainment low key and appropriately ethnic. When we were there (April 2005)the neighboring "resort" consisted of sleeping tents and a communal dining hall, reading room, and bar. Guests from both places got to know one another and frequently ended up at the Lafitte bar in the evening before dinner. Now we only hope that Hurricaine Emily spares this little piece of heaven. We have reservations for 2006!

This place was absolutely the best. I was traveling alone and concerned about that but never gave it a thought once I arrived. Everyone was respectful of me and my privacy and yet took great care of me. I loved that I didn't have to dress up to go eat and yet was able to socialize when I wanted and have my privacy when I wanted. The beach and ocean are incredibly beautiful. The rooms are just gorgeous with wonderful views and are exceptionally clean. The staff is caring and professional. The bathrooms are great and beautifully tiled. Every morning I had a wonderful breakfast with so many choices of food. Then I took a yoga class for an hour - on the beach and the cost was incredibly cheap. The bar was outdoors and the place for all to gather and enjoy. I met so many people who came to hve a drink, and share and enjoy. The bartender was fun and made it great. Most nights there was something special going on. This place is not like regular hotels, it is for getting away from it all, enjoying the beach, the wonderful food, the pool, diving and the gorgeous ocean. However, if you want to go anywhere, like to the ruins or Playa del Carmen for shopping, etc. they will pick you up and take you anywhere. They have a shuttle to/from the airport in Cancun. Everything you want/need is provided. I loved it and had one of the very best vacations of my life and would go back anytime!!