If you are visiting the Riviera Maya you must stay in tulum at least a couple nights.
Tulum vibes are different from those of Cancun and playa del Carmen. It is more of a boutique small town vibe.
Eco chick style hotels and restaurants gives tulum a vibrant and sophisticated ambiance
Staying at the hotel zone is a bit expensive . Actually it can get very expensive if you are not careful. Sometimes it can be a lot more expensive than the U.S
However if you plan accordingly you can have a great experience without having to pay an arm and a leg
We recommend that you stay at aldea zama