Básico

Mr & Mrs Smith have just got back from a review trip to this Yucatan Peninsula boutique hotel, and just as soon as they’ve unpacked their tequila and tortilla mix, a full account of their stay in Mexico will be with you. In the meantime, just to whet your wanderlust, here’s a quick postcard from design hotel Básico…

First, a warning. If you’re fleeing from the madding crowd and want a hotel hideaway where nothing happens, then Básico is not for you. (But then, if you wanted that, you wouldn’t have come to Playa del Carmen – the glam-packed mini-Miami on the Riviera Maya – in the first place). If, however, you’re after a hotel in Mexico that’s all about slick, pared-down design, a vibrant beach scene, and late-night cocktail-supping on the rooftop terrace, then Básico should be top of your list.

Built from concrete mixed with Caribbean sand, Básico blends a contemporary industrial vibe with a playful streak. Rooms have unpainted concrete walls criss-crossed with exposed pipework and electrical ducts, and hung with black and white latex curtains. Underneath big, white floating beds you find a trove of oddball goodies: rubber rings for floating in, autographed footballs, and the all-important minibar. A Polaroid camera is chained to the bed – clearly intended for a more private album of holiday snaps. Up on the roof, overlooking the ocean, day-beds have been fashioned from the back ends of camiones (local trucks), and two gigantic round drums form the swimming pool. Here, flocks of fun-seeking fashionistas knock back mango martinis until the early hours, listening to a live lounge soundtrack that’s as chilled and harmonious as Básico itself. Welcome to Funkytown.