Forty bucks a night for two beds, a private bathroom, AC and the proximity to allow you to be the first one through the gate to the ruins sounds like a good deal. But add a great restaurant (A+ mole), a fun bar and a staff of folks who you can hardly wait to see again and you've got a winner.
Sure it's spartan, blow $300 on a beach location with a yoga instructor then. I rather doubt the kitchen staff will leave their duties to extend hugs and kisses when you depart from a "resort".
A true taste of genuine Mexican hospitality so endearing we changed travel plans to return for one last night with Axel and the gang.

Can't beat this place for vibe, location, and price. My wife and I came here after Hurricaine Dean closed down the coast to find El Crucero one of the few hotels open for business. The owner gave us a great deal on the room, and the bar had a real "Cheers" feel with the regulars helping to make you feel at home. Check your pretensions in Cancun and be prepared for enjoyment.

The only good points are their efficency of taking our money on the internet booking and the expensive restaurant which was more tex-mex food than mexican but with a lively atmosphere. It is a good location to see Tulum ruins.

The bad points, The room (14) was like an outhouse from the 40's really small expensive ( be aware the photo on the internet is a lie, there are rooms like it but you will get them if you are lucky) . The worse thing tough was the bathroom it was really small bad condition and unbelivable a curtain instead of a door which has no soundproofing ability.Our room was next to the main road and the bus station and although we were told the buses stop at 6pm they dont that is accompanyied by the sound of trucks at all times of the night)

I have been to hotels in mexico for less which had better bigger rooms airconditioning and friendlier owner. If you enjoy being ripped off stay in El Crucero inTulum, Yucatan Peninsula, Mexico.

I saw this hotel's website and I like it so much than just a couple of weeks before arriving I added an extra day, what a mistake. The location is good because is close to Tulum pyramids and not to far from the beach. When we arrived there was nobody at the reception, I had to walk all around the place, when this lady finally came, I think she is the owner, started to talk to some guys who were waiting as well, but she wasn’t nice at all and the same did to us when it was our turn. The room she gave us was awful, nothing to do with the photos we saw in the internet (we have been travelling around México and the only room that matches this one was in Guaymas but that one was motel, even the hostels in merida & Cancun had better rooms); the bathroom didn’t have a door, just a curtain. Our room was close to the motorway and the noise was incredible loud, we couldn't sleep. The restaurant is their good point, the food is very nice, the only problem is if your are travelling with a low budget as this restaurant and all in the area are expensive, you can find cheaper food and more choices in tulum but its not very close. If we go back we won’t stay there again, we are talking about staying in Playa del Carmen and do all the trips from there.