If you're hesitating about booking this house right now, BOOK IT. There aren't enough words to describe what a week we had at Casa Cielo, so I'll give the highlights. I rented the house for my husband's 30th birthday, and we traveled with three other couples. I booked the entire house, including the two studio apartments, which I booked directly through the owner (Robin is SO friendly and helpful!). The house was beyond perfect. With the studio apartments, each couple had their own room and their own full bathroom, which was wonderful when it came time for showers and getting ready for dinner after our long days of exploring the island. The kitchen and living room area were PLENTY big enough for all of us to hang out, eat, cook, etc. We spent a lot of time on the back patio and the roof top, both with unbeatable views. The house is equipped with everything you need for the week, including purified water, beach towels/toys, beach chairs, etc. Everything was spotlessly clean, the A/C worked wonderfully, the beds were comfortable... The list goes on and on! Eight adults stayed for 7 nights, and all eight agreed that it was the best vacation of our lives. Zero complaints from anyone. (What are you waiting for? Book the house already!)
Aside from Casa Cielo, the island was amazing. We felt safe and welcomed everywhere we went. We had a blast getting to know some of the locals, and we made friends with all the bartenders wherever we went. Another thing we LOVED was how inexpensive everything is on the island! Unlike the commercialized tourist hub of Cancun, Isla Mujeres is like a secret treasure full of authentic food and breathtaking experiences. We planned to cook at home some nights to save money, but it was actually just as cheap for us to eat out most meals (which I highly recommend, because the food was the best we've ever had!). The house is easily within walking distance to the "downtown" area, but we rented golf carts every day, because it was fun and when else do you get to drive a golf cart around an island? Hands down the best place we've ever been, and we're already talking about coming back.
Top must-haves include:
Lobster tacos at Soggy Peso (only served one day a week, so check the menu)
Chicken enchiladas at La Lomita
Pina coladas at Capitan Dulche (pool/swim up bar/great place to spend the day)
Guacamole everywhere :)