But as I searched through travel blogs and magazine articles for a new hotel to explore on an upcoming trip, the name I kept seeing pop up was La Valise.
It was mentioned in multiple "best hotels in Tulum" lists and has a perfect score on Tripadvisor. Plus, the pictures looked gorgeous. How could I resist?
My stay at La Valise began in its chic and bright lobby.
The lobby of La Valise.
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My mom and I had reserved a private shuttle pickup from Tulum's brand-new airport through La Valise's concierge desk. Our driver greeted us with a cooler of ice-cold water bottles and cans of Corona beer — a fantastic way to start the trip.
Our van pulled up to an entrance decorated with palm plants. The hotel's name was on a subtle gold sign on an open wooden door.
The lobby, painted soft white, was covered in striped rugs. Sunshine filled the room through a large window, and everything felt warm, cozy, and calm.
After letting the concierge know if we wanted a complimentary margarita or juice delivered to our room, the tour began.
During our tour, I learned that La Valise has two properties in Tulum.
The pathway at La Valise.
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Wanting to expand La Valise Mexico City, hotelier Yves Naman found a beach house right on the sand in Tulum and transformed it into an 11-room luxury boutique hotel he opened in 2017.
In 2022, La Valise expanded to include 11 jungle suites that face the Mayan tropical forest. The beach and jungle sides of the resort — which are just across the street from each other — have their own pool and restaurant. Guests can access everything, no matter which side they're staying on.
Our room was on the jungle side, which we realized was a very fitting name as we began walking around. Every path was shaded with lush palms and towering trees, and there was even a natural cenote on the property.
We were staying in the very spacious cenote master suite.
Our balcony was massive, with plenty of room to fit the bed.
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La Valise offers 22 suites in various sizes and prices, the latter of which can vary widely depending on the time of year. The smaller rooms are currently priced between $200 and $300. During Tulum's peak season, from November to April, they can be priced between $500 and $600.
When I was there in May, the cenote master suite was $894/night. Business Insider received a media rate for the two-night stay.
We went straight to the huge balcony with a view of the jungle cenote.
We could spot a number of the palapa roofs from the balcony.
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Our bedroom opened onto the terrace, where two wooden chairs were basking in the sun.
I could spot the tops of trees and the palapa roofs of nearby suites as the gentle sound of flowing water from the cenote filled the air.
It truly felt like we were in the middle of the jungle.
There were tracks on the ground so the bed could easily roll out onto the balcony.
The floor features tracks so the bed can roll out onto the balcony.
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I've never been to a hotel that gave you the option to sleep outside, and I couldn't wait to try it out during my stay.
The balcony also had an open-air shower.
Our open-air shower.
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I loved this partially outdoor shower, which our tour guide assured us was completely private. I preferred it over the bathtub-only option in my suite at Azulik, Tulum's most famous resort.
The weather was beautiful throughout our stay, and I loved showering in the warm air as I admired the surroundings.
There was also a bright and spacious bathroom.
The bathroom in our La Valise suite.
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Sun seeped into the bathroom through the open shower, making it bright and airy.
The huge counter provided ample space to store our toiletries. In addition to the typical soaps and shampoos, there was mosquito repellent and reef-safe sunscreen.
Our suite had a private roof, complete with a jacuzzi.
Our roof had two sun loungers and a jacuzzi.
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I have to confess that I gasped in delight when I walked up the winding wood staircase to our roof and saw the space.
Two sun loungers with plush gray cushions were already soaking up the sun's rays. Next to them, a few wooden tables were arranged for drinks or snacks.
Three clay vases decorated the steps to the jacuzzi, which was already bubbling invitingly.
There were charming decorations throughout our suite.
A corner of our suite was decorated with a wooden rocking chair and clay pots.
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Our suite was decorated with woven reed lamps crafted in the shapes of birds and monkeys, and clay pots were scattered throughout the space. Nestled in one corner was a rocking chair similar to the one I had spotted in the lobby.
I later learned that many of the handcrafted furniture pieces, all made by local artisans, could be purchased through the resort or at the official La Valise store across the street from the jungle suites.
Our living room also featured some modern art.
Our suite was tastefully decorated.
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A jug of filtered water sat on the console below the big black-and-white painting. We could replenish it whenever needed with a quick text to the concierge desk.
Wood, wicker, and stone are the main materials used in all the suites, an intentional design to help the resort blend into its jungle surroundings.
After a quick nap, I went straight to the pool.
The pool on the jungle side.
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While the oceanfront suites have an incredible sea view, I found the pool on the jungle side far more inviting.
It was framed by lush trees and surrounded by 11 queen-sized cabana beds — the same number of suites on the jungle side of La Valise. Every bed was empty as I swam laps around 6 p.m.
It was so peaceful that I felt like I had the resort all to myself.
For dinner, we went to NÜ, La Valise's restaurant next door to the resort.
The NÜ restaurant right next to La Valise.
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As with many restaurants in Tulum, NÜ is an open-air space. The wooden dining tables and chairs were arranged under a straw roof, and the plants covered the walls.
My mom, who loves gardening, was immediately hooked by the beautiful setting. The only thing I found strange was the alternative rock soundtrack, which felt out of place in such a serene environment.
We enjoyed a few apps and a delicious fish.
The Campeche prawns at NÜ.
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We started dinner with a chargrilled carrot dish. It cost 380 Mexican pesos, or about $19, and featured long, thin slices of carrots and zucchini tangled up in each other and topped with lemongrass aioli and a garlic vinaigrette. The dish was refreshing, albeit a bit forgettable.
The Campeche prawns — which cost 520 pesos, or about $26 — made up for it. They were wood-grilled and jumbo-sized, so juicy and full of tender meat. The TajÃn sauce served alongside them was a surprising and delightful accompaniment. My mom, who adores prawns, said it was among the best she's ever had.
After a long day of traveling, we were ready for bed.
The plush king bed in our La Valise suite.
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We briefly stepped onto the balcony and admired the stars before sinking into the plush king-size canopy bed.
Even with a looming deadline in the morning, I felt incredibly relaxed. I quickly realized that La Valise had some real magic.
The next morning, we strolled into the small bar and restaurant on the jungle side, where our complimentary breakfast was served.
The restaurant on the jungle-side property of La Valise.
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As with the lobby and our suite, the space was tastefully designed with cream walls, bar stools with comfy white cushions, and hanging wooden lamps.
We were handed the surprisingly extensive breakfast menu. Among the 11 main courses were chilaquiles, French toast, eggs benedict, avocado toast, poached eggs and polenta, and ranchero eggs.
My plate of ranchero eggs was as delicious as it was vibrant.
My breakfast at La Valise.
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The dish, which featured fried eggs on top of onions, beans, fresh cheese, and red ranchero sauce, was perfectly cooked. I loved the addition of fresh avocado and pickled onions, which added a burst of color and flavor.
I spent a lot of time in the restaurant while working on a story that day and was blown away by the service at La Valise. Occasionally, one of the bartenders or servers would come by to say hi. They'd often bring cold water, a fresh juice, or a cocktail they had just whipped up.
We then checked out La Valise's oceanfront property.
The restaurant on the beachside property of La Valise.
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A long lap pool welcomes you to La Valise's main building on the beach. The big palapa-roofed structure has a restaurant in the middle and three suites on top.
The restaurant flowed from a lovely lounge area, where a large table and chairs had been set up. It seemed like the perfect work-from-anywhere setup. There was also a cozy bed for those who wanted to relax in the shade while watching the ocean.
There were only a few small teal tables in the dining area, but we never had an issue getting one when we went over for lunch during our stay.
We ordered a round of piña coladas, some guacamole, and tacos.
The chicken tacos at the La Valise restaurant.
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The guacamole — which cost 300 pesos, or about $14 — was fresh and flavorful. We also tried a roasted tomato salsa, which was deliciously smoky and paired perfectly with the tortilla chips.
The Baja fish tacos cost 400 pesos, or about $19, and came packed with tempura fish, pico de gallo, a purple cabbage salad, mashed avocado, and a drizzle of chipotle mayonnaise. The toppings were all delicious, although the fish was just slightly dry.
We were huge fans of the chicken tacos, which cost the same amount and featured grilled chicken, manchego cheese, marinated peppers, and purple onions. The meat was juicy and tender, and the accompanying green salsa and spicy oil added even more flavor. My only critique was the parsley on top, which felt like an unnecessary garnish.
Our lunch was delicious, but the best part was the view.
We had a perfect view of the private beach.
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Nothing says paradise like eating a lovely meal while watching the turquoise sea. The sand looked nearly white under the sun, and the palm trees blew softly in the breeze.
After we finished eating, my mom and I strolled onto the soft sand, where there were ample cabanas to lie down on. Their turquoise color matched the water.
When we returned to our room, freshly baked chocolate-chip cookies were waiting for us alongside fresh towels.
Before the day was over, we knew we had to try the rolling bed.
Rolling the bed out onto the deck at night.
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Rolling the bed out onto the balcony couldn't have been easier. I just removed the stoppers in front of the wheels and gave the bed a light push. My mom and I giggled as we watched the stars above us. It felt like camping in your backyard — but in a luxurious king-size bed.
We stayed there for a while as I worked and she sketched, a quiet but special memory in a unique setting.
Not wanting to risk it with the mosquitos, we decided to roll the bed back inside before going to sleep. But months later, we still talk about how much we loved our suite.
I kicked off our last morning in La Valise with a delicious plate of chilaquiles, sad that my stay was ending.
Enjoying chilaquiles for our last breakfast at La Valise.
Anneta Konstantinides/Business Insider
La Valise was incredibly peaceful throughout the day, but I especially loved the mornings as we leisurely ate breakfast by the pool and sipped on fresh juice.
As we soaked up our last few hours at the resort, I wished I could book another day. La Valise also offers a number of excursions for its guests — including snorkeling, sailing, yoga, and tours of ruins and cenotes — and can even arrange mezcal tastings or cacao ceremonies.
My stay at La Valise was a dream, and it made me rethink what it means to be a luxury resort.
I'm still dreaming of my time at La Valise.
Anneta Konstantinides/Business Insider
I had never stayed at a resort as small as La Valise. It's not a flashy hotel, but it doesn't need to be. Peacefulness, I learned, is a luxury in itself.
From its lovely suites to its relaxing lounge areas, every inch of La Valise seems designed to soothe the soul. The staff are incredibly sweet and friendly, easily recognizing you hours into your stay. And I'll never forget gazing up at the stars from my plush hotel bed.
Tulum may have a reputation as the new Miami, but you can still find paradise at La Valise.
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