AVALON REEF CLUB

north tip of the island
US/Canada  888/497-4325, Mexico 998/848-9300
www.avalonreefclub.com
90 rooms, 6 suites with jacuzzis, 56 casita rooms, pool, air, restaurant, bar, spa
For well over a decade this wedge-shaped hotel stood alone on the far tip of the island – a mute reminder of the force of the hurricane that wrecked its short reign as the king of Isla Mujeres’ hotels. Finally, in 2002, high-class hotel chain Avalon Resorts spent a fortune remodeling the distinctive tower and added 14 inviting attached villas that either zig-zag along the craggy shoreline, hard against the Caribbean or softly touch the protected sandy bay beach. You need to cross a wooden bridge over turquoise waters to reach the Avalon, adding to its exclusivity – yet it’s only a short walk to the downtown attractions.
The tower rooms are average in size and all offer fabulous views. The villas, however, are worth the extra bucks. There’s a really cool swim spot located on the Caribbean side of the villas – a rock pool where the waves crash over the reef, creating a foam waterfall into the sheltered water.