When Tulum Became Our Playground: A Week at La Valise

"For more than a decade, each winter we happily vacationed in St. Bart. But as residents of Santa Fe, NM, the four flights it took, sometimes requiring an overnight stay in Miami or Atlanta, became a bit too much. So last year, with just two flights and same day arrival at the wonderful new Tulum airport (one hour drive from Tulum), we decided to vacation at La Valise. We loved it so much, we decided to come back again this year. And, and if it's even possible, we came away loving La Valise even more! If you are beach/water person like we are, someone who dreams of an intimate, vibey, quiet "walk on" beach and cyrstal clear water experience, La Valise is for you. As interior design aficionado's, we really appreciated the attention to detail and care given to the stylish modern room decor, lush landscaping and public spaces that subtly referenced Mayan history and traditions. And yes, the mattress, bed clothes and air-conditioning were superb. With just nine rooms, you feel as if you're a guest in someone's private compound. In fact, La Valise reminded us of the time several years ago when we were guests (no exageration), in a billionaire friend's ashram-like residence in Kauai, Hi. ! But all the lovely "appearance value", physical attributes aside, the heart and living soul of La Valise is the amazing staff. From the reception desk, to the living room/lounge/dining area to the beach front, the employees are highly focused on making sure your every need is met. In fact, as we spent every day lounging on the beach, they are so "tuned in" and so available, they often subtly and smoothly anticipate when you may need more ice, more water, a beachside lunch or even a snack. When was the last time you arrived home after vacation fondly remembering the names and shining faces of the people who waited on you? With twinkling eyes and bright smiles Eddie, Tomas, Anahi, Benjamin and everyone on the La Valise staff seemed like Mayan genie's who really cared about doing everything they could to make their guest's stay enjoyable. Every day, they greeted us by name and exuded the kind of authentic joy, pride and caring that made it appear as if their mission at La Valise was a spiritual calling! On our last day at La Valise, we happily booked our return for next year. P.S. One of La Valise's best kept secrets is their restaurant! No matter that there happens to be a number of Michelin starred restaurants nearby, Over our eight day stay, we ate "in" two of those nights and it was if we had our own private chef and dining room."

"A Truly Special Stay We absolutely loved the atmosphere at La Valise's hotel in Tulum. The staff is an exceptional group of people who go above and beyond to ensure your stay is comfortable and welcoming. Having breakfast in front of the ocean was a real treat, especially with Anna, Carlos, Alberto among many other wonderful team members. Also our late afternoon drinks , meals, dessert and some morning coffee with Thomas with who we shared good laughter. The restaurant "NU" across the street, where we had dinner, was an incredible experience and highly recommended. The service was exceptional; from the Hostess, to Noe at the Bar who is a true master of his craft and of course the food was absolutely delicious. Our room was beautiful and felt very special-perfect for a romantic and intimate getaway. Everything smell so good and was so well taking care of, everyday. The entire environment exudes warmth and charm. The food was delicious, and the location was fantastic. The beach beds were lovely, offering a perfect spot to relax. If I could make one suggestion, it would be to add some kind of sitting chairs with backs or bean bags on the beach to make sitting and reading more comfortable and relaxing. Everyone at the concierge team was so kind, professional, and eager to assist, making our stay even more enjoyable. We can't thank each one of them enough for making us feel so welcome; Alan, Angela, Elias, Jorge & Selzin, thank you, YOU ARE all so special. There is so many other people that we cannot name as we did not have the chance to introduce ourselves, but thank you to everyone who work so hard to keep the rooms, the grounds so immaculate everyday, to all of those who prepares all the delicious meals that we enjoyed everyday. And a Special thank you to Iker, the House Manager who leads this amazing group of people with so much grace and professionalism and ensure that all is to your liking. We highly recommend this hotel for anyone looking for a memorable and special experience in Tulum! La Valise is beautiful, relaxing and care by a group and genuine human! We will definitely be back."

"La Valise is an absolute hidden gem in Tulum. I almost want to keep this place a secret since it's a boutique hotel with limited rooms and it's just so magical. The service was amazing! You get greeted with a glass of champagne. Turndown service with little sweet treats was a nice touch. The rooms were luxe and beds were very comfortable. They give plush beach towels and a beach bag you can borrow, I ended up loving the bag so much I bought one at their boutique. The shampoo, conditioner, body wash and lotion smelled amazing and worked really well, those were also for sale at the boutique (smart!). The A/C worked better than most other hotels on Tulum Beach which I appreciated! Breakfast was delicious (the eggs benedict were fantastic!) and so was the lunch menu on the beach (The chicken skewers were so good!). We got lucky visiting here during seaweed season and the beach didn't have any but apparently when there is, the hotel does their best to clean it. The beach beds were very comfortable and we were able to find shade which I always prefer for laying out all day and they're only available to guests. The massages in their beach hut were very relaxing. We loved everything here so much we decided to stay one more night. We stayed in the upper jungle and then the beachfront upper rooms. We preferred the jungle room (outside shower!) just because it was so big and spacious but you can't beat waking up to an ocean view and watching the sunrise! Thank you La Valise for the relaxing vacation."

"I always look for 3 things in a hotel, regardless of the number of stars it has or cost per night: 1) high quality of materials and functional design (is it made well/durable? does the design actually function well for the guest?) 2) beauty and aesthetics (does the location/view stand out? does it have original art?) 3) personality (does it have spirit? are the staff happy? Is it unique?) La Valise has all 3 in spades and it seamlessly blends them together for a truly relaxing, uniquely beautiful and sensually pleasurable experience. The rooms, the view/location, the staff, the art and the food were all wonderful. Thank you!"

"Absolutely loved La Valise Tulum! The vibe is relaxed and bohemian. Perfect if you're looking to unwind and disconnect. The wellness activities (yoga, meditation) were amazing. Food options were great with lots of fresh, local ingredients."

"le lieu est incroyable, le design est bien pensé, la piscine chauffée ! le personnel est à l'écoute et très serviable, d'une gentillesse incroyable! la chambre est nettoyée deux fois par jour et le lit qui sort sur la terrasse est un vrai plus ! rien."

"Small, boutique hotel with very attentive staff. Very quiet and relaxing. Beautiful pool. However, many bugs/scorpions in jungle-side rooms with outdoor bathrooms-next time I would book beachside. The staff is so friendly, knows all of the guests names and make everyone feel so comfortable. Very quiet as the restaurant and beach areas are for guests only. And while very hot/humid in mid-May, the jungle pool is so beautiful and relaxing. Beware of the bugs on jungle side though. ... there are lots of grasshopper type bugs, moths, mosquitos and worst of all scorpions ... Some of the rooms on the jungle side have outdoor bathrooms which isn't appealing to me, especially in the middle of the night. Beachside in the future, that's for sure. This property is a small, boutique hotel but the level of service is above and beyond. The staff is so friendly, knows all of the guests names and make everyone feel so comfortable. Very quiet as the restaurant and beach areas are for guests only. And while very hot/humid in mid-May, the jungle pool is so beautiful and relaxing. Beware of the bugs on jungle side though. I recognize this couldn't be avoided but there are lots of grasshopper type bugs, moths, mosquitos and worst of all scorpions (which are apparently harmless). Peaceful to be amongst the trees, but my (irrational) fear of bugs made it so I couldn't really relax while sleeping. Some of the rooms on the jungle side have outdoor bathrooms which isn't appealing to me, especially in the middle of the night. Beachside in the future, that's for sure."

"Service, cleanliness, and amenities were great. But Room #9 was next to the kitchen - loud from 6am to 11pm. Everything else matched expectations. The service, the cleanliness and the amenities were great. Eddy and Jesus which were our two butlers went above and beyond with everything we could have asked for. I can't explain how comfortable me and my fiancée felt with their service. Now, I have to point that we had an inconvenience with Room #9 (jungle view). This particular room I assume is next to the kitchen. It was a nightmare with the noise from 6am up to 11pm. It was already one of the most expensive hotels from my options and the least I wanted to expect is a noisy room right next to the kitchen. Everything else satisfied my expectations from what I read on the reviews. The service, the cleanliness and the amenities were great. Eddy and Jesus which were our two butlers went above and beyond with everything we could have asked for. I can't explain how comfortable me and my fiancée felt with their service. Now, I have to point that we had an inconvenience with Room #9 (jungle view). This particular room I assume is next to the kitchen. It was a nightmare with the noise from 6am up to 11pm. It was already one of the most expensive hotels from my options and the least I wanted to expect is a noisy room right next to the kitchen. Everything else satisfied my expectations from what I read on the reviews."

"La Valise Tulum is truly a one-of-a-kind experience, and we’re so glad we chose it for our getaway. From the moment we arrived, the peaceful vibe of the hotel made us feel like we’d stepped into a little jungle sanctuary. 🌿✨ We stayed in the Roll Out to the Stars suite, and it was absolutely unforgettable. The bed rolls out onto the terrace, so we got to fall asleep under the stars, surrounded by the sounds of the jungle. It was such a unique experience and something we’ll be talking about for years to come. 🌌 The room’s design was simple yet beautiful, with natural finishes and thoughtful details that made it feel warm and welcoming. The staff was friendly and helpful throughout our stay, and we loved the balance of privacy and connection to nature. That said, the jungle does come with its quirks—on our last day, I got a tiny sting from a little scorpion. It wasn’t serious, but it’s a good reminder that nature is all around you here! If you’re looking for a place that combines relaxation, adventure, and something completely different, La Valise Tulum is a perfect choice. It’s not your typical hotel experience, and that’s exactly what makes it so special!"

"La Valise was the perfect place for us to celebrate our anniversary. The service was excellent, and the staff were all so helpful, attentive, and kind. Our room on the jungle side was comfortable, clean, and had beautiful views. We split our time between the lush pool, white sandy beach, and enjoyed excellent food and drinks! We have already recommended La Valise to others and would love to come back one day!"

"I've stayed at several hotels in Tulum and La Valise Tulum is by far my favorite. Great mix of luxury and authentic Mexican charm. The sustainable practices they have in place are impressive. Beach is kept clean and the water is perfect for swimming."