Reviews


This is our second trip to Villa Argy, and as expected, we were not disappointed! The house truly is as beautiful as is represented in the photos. In fact, it’s immaculate and well stocked with everything you need–including a portable MP3 player for poolside tunes! Last year we were so excited to be in Mexico we couldn’t help but explore the area–the cenote just down the road, Xel-ha eco-waterpark, Akumal and Paraiso beaches. But this year we were more relaxed and leaned into the house and the mini adventures that awaited there. We walked up to Solimon Bay where one of the Corona commercials was shot, went spearfishing at night under a full moon and had the privilege of watching two baby turtles make their journey into the ocean, along with countless other turtles nesting on the beach. What sets apart Villa Arghy from other rentals are the caretakers Alfredo and Lesly. They are friendly, thoughtful and have a magical way of slipping in and out and always being around when they are needed. If you are thinking about coming to Villa Arghy: stop thinking and book your trip! You will not be disappointed!

Anonymous - Aug 4, 2013

Our group of 11 spent an amazing week at Villa Arghy at the beginning of April. We had lots of teenagers and 6 adults. We wanted for nothing during our stay. Home: beautiful, large, comfortable. Setting: incredibly beautiful. Activities: too many to cover in 1 week. Lesly, Alfredo, and all the drivers and manager were friendly, efficient and accommodating. We walked nearly every day to the Blue Sky restaurant within the neighborhood and greatly enjoyed all of the food when we weren’t being pampered by Lesly’s wonderful cooking. Service was incredible. Had a great time snorkeling in the nearest Cenote. Spent a full day at Xel Ha and would recommend it. Spent a very hot day at the ruin in Tulum. Our pictures look like a postcard.The owner of Villa Arghy was very helpful and responsive to all our needs. We felt safe with the security presence at the entrance to the neighborhood.We had a blast shopping the local fare in Playa Del Carmen. Beach combing on the Caribbean definitely beats anything we have on our coast! The Mexican people were friendly and welcoming. Definitely have and will continue to recommend Villa Arghy to others. Only worried it will become too popular and we won’t be able to get our next reservation. It was incredible. We will definitely return ASAP! We loved every minute!

Melinda G. - Mar 29, 2013

This is not a rental house but rather a home in the perfect setting. Talk about relaxing. The home had all the creature comforts one would want and then some. The wet bar had everything needed to make tropical drinks and play local music while sipping drinks pool side or on the beach with sand between your toes. The kitchen had everything you need should you want to cook yourself while on holiday, or take advantage of Leaslie’s (on site care taker) cooking. Two GREAT places to eat are an easy walk down the beach or the main road. I recommend Blue Sky for Breakfast and awesome pizza.

FG - Mar 29, 2013

Villa Arghy is by far the best house rental in Tulum. The house is perfectly appointed with wonderful beds, great bar, entertainment center, wifi (for those unfortunate enough to have to stay connected), games, videos, really everything you could ever want. The setting on the beach is amazing and there is nothing more I can say other than this was one of our best family vacations ever. The house comes with the most amazing staff, Lesley and Alfredo who were very attentive when needed, provided the best meals when we planned them and otherwise allowed us to have a worry free experience. For those out there who have found the experience doesn’t match the photo’s, it’s by far better than the pictures can project. We feel we found the place we will now retrun to annually!

Anonymous - Feb 15, 2013


Villa Arghy was great! The house is luxurious but welcoming and was accurately depicted on the website. Three floors (including the roof deck) allow plenty of room to spread out and get quiet time. Wonderful breezes from the sea meant that we never had to turn on the air conditioning, and the sunrises were exquisite. A large number of DVDs, books and games was available. Everything was meticulously clean and in excellent repair (one shower head ran slowly initially but was quickly repaired by Alfredo). He and his wife Lesley were unobtrusive but always available and kept the house and pool immaculate. Lesley cooked 2 meals for us that were excellent, and the complementary guacamole and pico de gallo every night were also fantastic (even the non-avocado fans were very enthusiastic). The owner of the property recommended a local tour company (Riviera Adventours with headquarters at nearby Oscar y Lalo restaurant) and we booked a full day tour including Chichen Itza and Ek Balam Mayan ruins, swimming and lunch at an amazing cenote (natural sinkhole), tour of the monastery in Vallodidad, breakfast, snacks and evening appetizers that turned into a dinner for which we were not charged extra. We also did a snorkeling tour with them that took about 3/4 of a day and was fantastic. Good value for the money! Virginia takes amazing care of everyone and has a long history with the area that is fascinating to hear. I would recommend them highly. The ruins in Tulum are lovely and interesting. Go early to everything! If you don’t get to Tulum ruins early, get a guide to take you (cobble together a larger group with other English speakers to reduce the price per person) to skip waiting in line. Coba ruins are a short drive and 2 of our party visited and were impressed. El Paraiso beach in Tulum was lovely and we had a nice lunch at El Pez on the beach road in Tulum. Manatee cenote, just up the street, was beautiful for snorkeling and very different from other sites. I would agree with previous guests that the beach at the house is not the most desirable for swimming, being rocky with very coarse coral sand and large chunks of coral and unfortunately lots of plastic detritus from the Caribbean sea. A constructive criticism: better maps in the house notebook and advance brochure and some instructions on operating the oven–it is not a typical American set up and took us some time to figure out. I will definitely return and highly recommend this beautiful villa.

Jen - Dec 21, 2012

I’m reading through the other 5star reviews, and they are all right on the money. The house exceeds expectations, and a feeling of relaxation takes over you the moment you step through the door into the immaculately clean house. The view, the expansive house with privacy for each bedroom, the balconies, the stars at nite, the ocean lulling you to sleep, the infinity pool, Lesley’s cooking, Alfredo’s caretaking, the sea turtles, it’s all amazing!! I really cannot stress enough how wonderful of a place this is. Ten minutes down the road to Tulum, and you can do all the shopping, restaurants, and hanging out in town you like, only to come home and feel like you have your own private beach by the jungle. We snorkeled out and saw where some of the cenotes came out and the salt water was mixing with the fresh. Amazing schools of fish out there right off shore from the house. The owners of Villa Arghy are very blessed to have Lesley, Angel, and Alfredo. Lesley’s cooking is amazing, as I mentioned above, and we really appreciated the bottled water available, and purified ice in the freezer for evening happy hour. In addition to amazing meals (we had the shrimp, chili rellanos, fish, and chicken fajitas), Lesley gave us excellent local advice, took care of the house duties so well that I’ve never felt so pampered, and just in general seemed to have a gift for appearing just as we had a question or a request. Alfredo made sure we got to see the sea turtle babies migration to the ocean, and both in general were just so thoughtful. An example that comes to mind is that we’d spent the day south of Tulum on dirt roads, and the back windows of the rental cars were totally dirty and you couldn’t see through them to back up or generally see behind you. We came out the next morning, and Alfredo had hosed off the back windows for us! I’m so spoiled after this vacation, I don’t know how we’re going to be able to top it! Very rarely do we visit the same area twice on our adventures, but this one, we will definitely be coming back to! The only advise I would give is that if you have small children, make sure they wear swim shoes in the pool area, and just around the house in general. This house, like all of them we saw on our vacation, has alot of tile and concrete, and can scrape up tender skin.

Julie - Nov 5, 2012

4 couples shared this beautiful house and it felt like we had not only a private house and pool but also a private beach paradise to ourselves. Didn’t seem like anyone was around us. Service that Lesley and Alfredo provide is AMAZING. We had Lesley cook for us every night. Nothing about the house or the service was a disappointment. Pictures were 100% accurate. House was very clean and well-maintained. Lesley and Alfredo did a tremendous job of keeping inside and outside very clean during our stay. For beach lovers this house has great views and what a sight to look out over the ocean from the infinity pool – only advice is to bring swim shoes if you plan to walk beach or ocean because of rocks/reef. Very nice to have private bathroom and bedroom and still so much room to be together in group – whether in first floor living room, second floor television area, rooftop patio, or pool deck. Felt very safe and secure our entire visit. Air conditioning in bedrooms worked great. Clean water and ice was plentiful. Best vacation ever! If you are willing to leave the all-inclusive resort properties and stay in a house then Villa Arghy will not disappoint. I would highly recommend Villa Arghy. Matt S. from St. Louis, MO, USA

Matt S. - Sep 28, 2012

We had a wonderful stay at Villa Arghy this August. The house is wonderful. Beautiful. Breathtaking. The staff were extremely helpful with helping us navigate the area. And getting to witness the plethora of sea turtles on the beach in front of the house was an amazing experience. We are already planning a return trip to Villa Arghy…

Chris S. - Aug 4, 2012

My husband and I stayed at Villa Arghy, along with my cousin and her husband, the week of July 23. From the time of our arrival, Lesley and Alfredo treated us with such kind hospitality and were so helpful in meeting all of our needs and requests. We were completely thrilled to watch turtles come onto shore almost every night. We were even able to watch baby turtles hatch and make their journey to the water. These experiences were truly amazing! For those who are considering a stay at Villa Arghy, we would highly recommend it. It truly is a place where you can leave all of your stress behind and simply relax and enjoy the beauty and wonder of the area and of all that nature has to offer there. We will definitely plan another trip there! One final recommendation for those who stay at Villa Arghy: try Lesley’s fried chicken! It is wonderful!!!

Wendy F. - Jul 22, 2012

Villa Arghy never ceases to exceed our expectations. Our first visit was just a one night stay, so we were eager to spend a whole week in this immaculate house. From the moment we walked in, it was pure relaxation. Villa Arghy is immaculate both inside and out. It’s clear the owners and groundskeepers take great pride in keeping the house pristine. The house quickly feels like home with all of its state-of-the-art creature comforts (internet, satellite tv, phone, etc.), but we didn’t need those because we were too busy watching the turtles nest and exploring the surrounding area. I was previously skeptical about renting a house, wondering if the pictures really reflected what we were getting. Ha! The pictures online hardly do the house justice. But truly, the quiet efforts of Lesly and Alfredo, the groundskeepers, are what take this from an average rental to an oasis. Lesly seems to materialize at just the time you need her, and before you know it she has quietly slipped back out the door to leave you to enjoy your stay. Lesly is a fantastic cook and our group thoroughly enjoyed eating dinner at the house instead of at a restaurant. Alfredo does an exceptional job keeping the outside well maintained. The beach was always smoothed, the pool clear and never a speck of trash anywhere—not even washed up on the beach. Also, he was patient enough to humor a bunch of tourists and climb a coconut tree to make us a “Coco Loco.” Driving was my biggest concern in renting a house, but honestly, it turned out to be no big deal. Everything was within a short distance and we quickly adapted our driving skills to get along in Mexico just fine. Here’s the activities nearby that we enjoyed: –Xel Ha water park—for roughly $80, you got park admission and FREE FOOD AND DRINKS ALL DAY (alcohol included!). My favorite were the zip lines. There is also snorkeling, a lazy river, bike riding, manatees, sting rays, swimming with dolphins, and a cave. Snorkeling fins were free with a deposit. It was a great way to spend the day. I would definitely do it again. –Paraiso Beach—My second time to this beach I enjoyed it just as much. Great fish tacos and quesadillas at the restaurant on-site. The sand is like flour between your toes and the ocean a perfect temperature. –Akumal Beach—Swim with the sea turtles!! This was right up there with Xel Ha. The turtles were beautiful and were so close you could touch them. Some of our group went fishing out of he

Anonymous - Jun 12, 2012

This was our 2nd visit to Villa Arghy, and it was just as good the second time! Lesly and Alfredo (property caretakers/ housekeepers/ cooks) will take care of any needs that you may have, and make sure to give you as much privacy as you would want on a vacation. I think the hardest part about vacationing here is picking what meals you would like for Lesly to prepare. She is a great cook, and we looked forward to every meal she prepared for us! The highlight of each day was happy hour, I’ve never had pico or guacamole that tasted so good! There is plenty to do within a fifteen minute drive from the Villa, our favorite was the beach at Aukumal. Free public access, plenty of places to eat, snorkeling with sea turtles, and fishing. We went there 3 of the days during our stay. The ruins on the beach in Tulum are a must see as well, you can be there with in 10 minutes of leaving the villa. Go early in the day, and you will beat the bus loads of tourists from Cancun and Playa del Carmen. After visiting the ruins, take the short drive to the beautiful beaches south of the ruins. Our favorite is El Parisio, and it leaves little doubt as to why the Travel channel consistently rates it as one of the top 10 beaches in the world! Have a cervesa and an appetizer at the beach bar there, and the parking is free. Tip- there is a 5 peso fee to use the restroom/showers. It is easy to find enough things to fill your days in vacation, but make sure to allow time to relax and enjoy the pool at Villa Arghy. Not to mention the turtles! Every night of our stay, we were able to witness the nest digging and the laying of eggs. It is an amazing experience to witness first hand, and I can’t wait to bring our boys with us next time so that I can introduce them to these awesome creatures. The new grocery store in Tulum has pretty much everything you could need, or that you may have forgotten at home. If you can’t find something you were looking for, you can always ask Lesly- and she will point you in the right direction. We can’t wait for our next trip to stay at Villa Arghy. I am confident that the third time will be a “charm” s well!

Ryan - Jun 12, 2012

Villa Arghy was spectacular in every way. Lets start the amazing view. You walk into the house and the side of the house facing the ocean is all glass. The view from these windows is something you would see in a magazine. There is nothing like relaxing in the evening by the pool with all the lights out. I that you see from the moon light are the waves. Hearing the waves crash against the ocean was so peaceful. The temp. was perfect. Warm with a nice ocean breeze. Next let me tell you about the ground keepers Leslie and Alfredo. They kept the house in pristine condition. When we had Leslie cook for us it was better than the food we had at the restaurants. The location could not have been better. It is out of the line of the tourist yet not far from everything. Within 10 min you had breath taking beaches, Mihan ruines (not sure how to spell in), Xah-ha (which is a natural water park), Deep sea fishing and much more. I have traveled all over the US and Villa Arghy in Mexico out did all my other vacations by far.

Steph - Jun 12, 2012

My recent stay at Villa Arghy was absolutely fantastic! The beauty of the house, the outdoor space, and the beach are apparent from the pictures. What you may not realize, however, is how much thought has been put into every detail of this rental. The abundant supply of fresh drinking water, laptop with wi-fi access, toiletries, pool toys for kids (and kid-like adults), vast array of board games and videos to accommodate any preferences, beach towels, variety of sunscreens provided for you, bikes to visit the nearby cenote and restaurants, kayaks, and many many other details make this the ultimate worry-free vacation house. Of course, if you do find that you are missing anything, Lesly and Alfredo will graciously accommodate you. I could literally have shown up with just my swimsuit and a few changes of clothes and been set for the week! With everything provided, you could easily spend your entire vacation at the house. If you want more adventure, however, Villa Arghy is conveniently located close to downtown Tulum and attractions like the ruins and Xel-Ha (both of which I highly recommend). I’ve been back a few weeks now and I can’t stop thinking about the beautiful views while relaxing poolside, sleeping to the sound of the ocean, and Lesly’s fabulous cooking! I had one of the most memorable vacations ever at magnificent Villa Arghy!

Carrie - May 5, 2012

I had a wonderful week at Villa Arghy. The house is beautiful and so comfortable. Pictures do not do this place justice. Hang out by the pool or head into Tulum, just minutes away. Every detail was thought of, from water bottles in the bathroom to blenders both at the bar and in the kitchen. Might seem silly, but it made for a such an easy, relaxing stay. I didn’t have to think about anything. Lesly and Alfredo were so kind, and Lesly is an amazing cook! The little area of Tankah is cute and quiet. Don’t miss the cenotes.

Giverofjoy - May 5, 2012

Spent a week at Villa Arghy and this was the vacation of a lifetime! Lesly made wonderful local dishes for us such as Pollo Pibil and Pollo con Mole…and I will never forget the flan, just heavenly! The villa is kept immaculate by Lesly and her husband Alfredo and they were wonderful to get to know (I even picked up some spanish). The Villa is BEAUTIFUL and the views are spectacular. The pictures don’t do it justice. We tried to pack as much into a week as possible but it seemed like our week in paradise went by so quick! The cenotes are just around the corner and Tulum is a nice short drive. Everything abut this place is wonderful! The people, the culture, the hospitality and the Villa!! Thank you to the owners of Villa Arghy for sharing your home with us. I hope to return again!

Denise - May 4, 2012

My family loved the house, the food and the location. Leslie and Fernando (the caretakers) were very friendly and helpful. I highly recommend to others.

tim c. - Apr 20, 2012
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