It was perfect. We rented through VRBO property ID #825534…read more Jaret our host was super helpful and open to answering any questions we had. He even arranged transportation for us from the airport to the condo which was spectacular. We had condo(s) 13 and 13A. Condo 13 has two bedrooms and two bathrooms. A kitchen and a living room. Bedroom #1: This bedroom has a bunk bed with a full sized bed on the bottom and a twin bed up top. This is where we put our 3 boys. I have to say, the room is tight. A small room is fine for what we plan to do in Playa so we don't mind, they are just for sleeping anyway. The air circulation in there isn't so great but there is an enormous floor fan provided for us in there. It helped to run it at night to move the air around so the top bunk doesn't get too hot Bedroom #2: Bedroom #2 is a master bedroom one of our couples stayed in here. It has a king bed and a spacious wall cabinet that houses a tv and storage to put away your belongings. There is also plenty of space under the bed to store suitcases/bags. Bedroom #2's bathroom has an ENORMOUS shower/vanity area. This area is open to the bedroom. There is no separating door. This is possibly a common floor make up for Mexico. I've seen this type of bathroom in both La Paz and now here in Playa. It is a combined wet/dry area and a separate toilet area (that is accessible if you walk through, or past, the shower/vanity area). This may not be convenient for some families that are not as comfortable with being in close quarters but for us it works. With 7 kids (4 of whom are girls 10-14) who often are showering/ getting ready together this sort of floor plan is perfect. It would also be convenient if you had someone older who needed to sit down when showering. The sink area is roomy and has plenty of space for everyone's things. Small hotel sized toiletries are provided. So no need to bring large bathroom items with you. It's easy to run across the street to the pharmacy or to 7-11 to get whatever shampoo/ conditioner you may need. Living room has two large sofas that comfortably sit 3 adults each. A TV with both English and Spanish channels. Each sofa turns into a full sized futon, this is where we put our 4 girls. Great for those who like a hard bed. We were left plenty of linens for those sleeping on the sofas. We did put an extra blanket on the curtains to block the sun out a little in the am for those mornings when we had no plans and were able to sleep in Kitchen: The kitchen is nice and contemporary with a 4 burner glass stove and stone countertops. The house has a pot for boiling/making stews and several frying pans which we used to make lots of eggs. It also comes with all the basic plates, cups, and a shallow bowl/plate that is rounded up on the sides (like for soup or a side salad). We had some picky adults in our clan so we brought lots and lots Asian instant noodle bowls with us so we washed the used bowls and that's what the kids used for cereal in the am. Condo also come with a coffee machine which we used to make tea at night. Super big plus** The condo comes with an RO water system at the kitchen sink. It doesn't come out cold, so you need to put the water in a container and put it in the fridge. We used this to make ice, refill our hydro flasks throughout the day, refill water bottles in the fridge Hallway bathroom: This bathroom is recently remodeled and it is beautiful and modern. It's has a large sink and a huge stand shower. There is plenty of room to put your belongings and toiletry items. Condo has great A/C. It is controlled by Jaret on his phone. Which I can understand. If we had left it up to the part of our clan that came from Minnesota they would've had it at 15°. We had it set at 25° which did not feel nearly cool enough on the day that we arrived but after a day or so we acclimated and it was perfect Condo 13A: Condo 13 A is basically a two double bed hotel room. It can be accessed from both the outside and from a connecting door to 13 on the inside. Two couples shared this room. The room has a huge wall cabinet like in Bedroom #2 that houses a tv and hanging/storage space for your clothes and luggage. This room also has an enormous shower vanity area. There is a small curtain that separates the shower area from the bed area. The shower area has two shower heads. One rain paddle and one hand shower head. There is a rack mounted on the wall on the side for drying wet items. We used that a lot. Again this bathroom also came with hotel sized toiletries This room has a coffee maker, microwave, and a small refrigerator. It also comes with its own broom and dust pan. The room also has its own dedicated air conditioner that is controlled with a remote. Overall we loved the condo. It was perfect for us and was easy to access transportation and necessities. We will definitely be staying here if we ever get a chance to return to Playa.

I booked this vacation hotspot based on Tripadvisor reviews, YouTube videos, and location to the…read morebeach. I'm very happy with our selection as everything has been perfect. The property is very clean and well kept. Food is very fresh and having an abundance of fresh fruit, and vegetables at every meal. The beach is cleaned daily by a tractor picking up seaweed and trash. Our room was very clean and faced the ocean, which let us watch a lot of sunrise and sunset. People have been very kind. I would recommend tipping people a little bit more. I feel there's not enough going on here for all the work they do. The property is in great walking distance to other Riu locations. You can pop in and see what's going on. There's a great little shopping center across the street for knickknack and souvenirs. Really enjoyed our time here. I would highly recommend staying here.

Solid, not too fancy option. Accommodations are simple but clean and nice. Lots of entertainment…read moreoptions, a good layout and a GREAT beach. Salt water pools are a nice bonus, tho sometimes the swim-up bar can get a little rowdy. Several decent places for food, and a variety of options throughout the day, with selections rotating a bit throughout the week. Nice to have access to the other Riu's, too.

The bad My wife,…read more(Royal Resorts timeshare owner) and I spent the week of May 9th to the 17th. We were very disappointed in the condition of the beach. Erosion has left the beach almost nonexistent compared to our stay 10 years ago. There were giant 10' diameter burlap sandbags across the entire beach area leaving very little swim area. The sargassum seaweed is a problem as well making it undesirable to go in the water. A crew was constantly working with pitchforks fighting a loosing battle to remove the seaweed. Hopefully they will restore the beach to its pre hurricane status. The restaurants are a challenge to reserve a table. We were a party of 6, they had nothing available at Los Murales Mother's Day night. There were 40 percent of the tables empty the whole evening. It took a relative's complaint of an injury and inability to stand and wait for a table before they gave us a table. Tried to reserve a table at the same restaurant the evening before we left. Same issue, nothing available. No help from the owners desk, said the same thing. No tables available, this time for only my wife and I. Concierge Ian helped us out and poof, a table was available. Restaurant was 50-60 percent full at most. My wife and family have been Royal Resorts timeshare owners since the 80's. Sad that owners get this level of service. The good Aside from the poor condition of the beach, the grounds are meticulously maintained, clean and beautifully landscaped. The rooms are cleaned daily. The food in all the restaurants is very good including Los Murales. Pickleball courts and activity trainers are excellent. The pools, swim up bars, and games played in the pool areas are all fun.

A beautiful resort nearby Playa del Carmen. It has two huge swimming pools, four outdoor hot tubs…read moreand a dedicated kiddie pool. Staff is friendly and helpful. The resort offers a free shuttle daily to downtown Playa Del Carmen (drop-off and pickup location is "Silver Traditions" retail store across from Senor Frog's on Quinta Avenida & Calle 22 Norte) which is three miles away and the return shuttle charges 60 pesos or $4 USD per person which is reasonable. Please see my photo of shuttle departure times. The last shuttle leaves Playa del Carmen at 9:00 pm. You pay pesos or USD directly to the return shuttle's driver. Your concierge will need to make shuttle reservations for you in advance. There is no resort shuttle service on Saturdays. Taxi service to and from the resort to downtown Playa del Carmen is a flat $300 pesos or $20 USD. The resort is isolated with a few other resorts here behind a walled compound. It was very safe and you could go for walks on the main road in the compound and to the main entrance in order, to reach 5th Avenue. There is no public bus or collectivo van that comes close to the resort. You can walk down the beach to downtown Playa del Carmen and there are two brief sections where you will need to walk through shallow water (shin deep for short women), but it is a lovely scenic walk. Or you can walk down 5th Avenue to downtown Playa del Carmen instead of the beach route. The TV in our room did not work otherwise, our room was comfortable. The beach area is heavily eroded so you cannot get into the ocean, but the swimming pools were great. You can take the large red ADO coach bus (drop-off is downtown Playa del Carmen's bus station on Juarez Avenue & 5th Avenue) or Maya train (limited departure times and the station is slightly west of downtown) from the Cancun airport to Playa del Carmen then hire a taxi for $300 pesos to get here and back to the airport. Both options are much cheaper than airport shuttle services. There are 39 ADO buses that leave the Cancun Airport and go to Playa Del Carmen daily. You can see the full list of departure times on the ADO website. Once you arrive at the Cancun Airport and leave the customs area, you can purchase ADO tickets at a red ADO booth or a stand on the bus platform. The ADO bus fee is 270 pesos or $17 USD per person and use pesos or no larger than $20 USD bills. Taxi stands are easy to find in downtown Playa del Carmen.

We just returned from Viceroy and had such a relaxing and amazing time!…read more - The staff are all welcoming, genuinely friendly and super attentive -prior to checkin I let them know mosquitoes absolutely love me , they had spray upon my arrival (organic and off!) and they sprayed my patio and had a netting around the bed all set up. I never had any bites until I left the resort my last night for a wedding ! - food: We ate at both restaurants and the food was excellent. Especially the shrimp and octopus dishes. Cocktails were done right! Not watered down like other places . - beach - this resort seems to have the best beach area as compared to nearby resorts with actual sand The pool is a perfect size and was never crowded . Pepe and staff always took care of you. -gratuity - 16% service was added automatically to your bills. This is not an all inclusive , for the quality of service we made sure to bring $USD to add tip for everyone. They all work so hard in the heat to make your experience memorable! -Spa - Splurge for this! Best way to start our days first thing with massages and facials . You can also use the jacuzzi and steam room daily without services. I frequent Burke Williams and their masseuses are good , strong too ! They did our services outdoor for couples in this serene area with a fountain running. -room - we enjoyed the premium villas, super spacious with walk in closet, shower and bath tub . All the villas are close so a short walk to the pool - There is a little bass coming from the next door resort's DJ at night, but when I closed the windows , it was very muffled and did not bother us at all. - long drive from main road - so expect a secluded spot . They will call you a taxi that gets there in 20 min. Download WhatsApp and text the same taxi will take you back. Felt safe ! We can't wait to come back someday! Definitely highly recommend this place for all couples who just need to relax.

Paradise for sure! We felt pampered the moment we stepped into the beautiful outdoor lobby. Staff…read moreis eager to please! From the welcome coconut drink and cool towels to the thorough tour ( thanks Claudia) ,check in was a great experience. Bellmen we're very friendly and helpful. And our villa was just gorgeous! Heated plunge pool, hammock, and more great you as you enter the area. You are in the jungle, so there is a lot of natural privacy. Inside the villa, you will be caught up in the romantic vibe thanks to the sweet and decadent decor. Outdoor shower brings you close to nature. Many special touches await. Poolside is another area to be spoiled- by Pepe and crew. They will get you anything you want, no need to lift a finger. And the wait staff at Coral restaurant are very thorough. They seem more like personal butlers rather than waiters, taking the time to get to know their guests by name, and learning their food and drink preferences. This area is also beautiful, with a view of the ocean. And the spa is very relaxing, access to the spa facilities including the steam room, jacuzzi is complimentary with your stay. Viceroy isn't without its flaws. The small beach is barely swimable due to the coral/rocks. And though they work to remove the seaweed, if you come from May-Nov that will be somewhat of a pain ( the whole area not just here). And there is music that drifts over from the next door hotel which at times annoys. It wasn't too bad while we were here, but was noticiable. There are mosquitos and rainforest animals around, so if you're not okay with seeing agouti while eating breakfast on your patio, this isn't your place. And yes it's pricey. Nevertheless the quality, service, and beauty of this resort make up for any issues. We didn't want to leave!

This hotel is really great. It's quiet, quaint and very clean. There's always enough room to find a…read moreplace to sit by the pool or on the beach. We went for seven nights over the new year. It was my husband myself and our four-year-old son. And we got a suite that had two bedrooms. It was perfect for our family situation. Having a four-year-old that goes to bed at 8 PM, it was nice to have him in a separate space so my husband and I could have drinks on the patio. The views were amazing. We were on the third floor. Lots of steps to get upstairs but I like to move, so that wasn't a problem. Breakfast is served every day and included in your fee. Breakfast was so great and the servers were so nice. We did not do the inclusive option because we like to wander around the island and find other places to eat and drink. I'm only giving this place a four-star because I thought the food was fair. But I realize that most island has fair food. I will definitely come back and I will definitely get a sweet again.

Spent a week at Playa Azul and it was too short a visit. The hotel was nicer than anticipated, big…read moreopen spaces, rooms bigger than expected and a wonderful staff. Ricardo, Yassir, Yeraldin were wonderful at the front desk. Lost my iPhone, fell out of my pocket in the cab and asked the front desk (Yeraldin) was on duty and she called security at the entrance who has the cab number, called and I had my phone back in an hour - Fantastic and sooo grateful ! Breakfast in included and they have a chef (Jaime) who will make you a custom omelet, Lopita was one of the servers whose name I remember and she was so helpful and always kept your coffee cup full , she also has the nicest smile. Anyway everything exceeded expectations, but note, there is NO elevator which was not a problem for us but something everyone should now Dr Ron and Deb Jones

*** A solid 4-star boutique hotel/resort. ***…read more 5 days and 4 nights is all we needed to feel "re-energized" by their all-inclusive package. Architectural design and interior is modern. Overall a vibrant & hip vibe, not a quiet spot. If you're usually a fan of boutique hotels then I think that you'll love Live Aqua. It is quaint, centrally located along 5th Ave promenade, just a couple blocks from beach, a rooftop bar and 2 restaurants to cover your needs. Even room service is available, if desired. Special appreciation to host who greeted us upon our arrival (David), our bartender (Fernando), and our fave server (Frank) for being very attentive and conversational too. Service overall is excellent. Main restaurant cuisine varies every night. I recommend the fried fish & beef fillet entrees. They are best! Sushi & Tapas (rooftop) best selections are salmon sashimi and croquetas ... very good. Their occasional rooftop "pop-up" grill also serves some good pork ribs & steak kebabs. Otherwise food and drinks are just par imho. +1 star for DJ spinning house/lounge tunes. -1 star for the A/C unit in our room. Though it cools well, it was quite loud at times when it turned on/off thru the night. Sup with that? Also we did not get a balcony room this visit. Definitely requesting it in advance next time. Despite that ... our king bed was very comfy. *** I'm sure to ret'n when times permits. ***

Live Aqua was a great stay for us on every level. Let's break it down - it's a small property…read morelocated on 5th and 30th (60 rooms?) and it's adults only. Rooms - large, very clean, stylish! AC worked well, lovely rainfall shower and really comfy beds. Mini bars are restocked daily and you can get room service 24/7. We had a nice little balcony too. Street noise WILL be a thing on the weekends so bring earplugs or get out there and party. Facility - everything was SUPER clean. There's a rooftop bar with a sushi/tapas restaurant for midday food. The pool is rooftop as well & perfect for your most Instagram- worthy photos. If you want a place with tennis, archery etc this ain't it - you're here to completely relax. It's not a "party" place either - the other guests are generally chill too. Food & Drinks - for an all-inclusive we were very impressed. Breakfast highlights were the green juice, French toast and the fresh quesadillas with hand made tortillas. For lunch, we loved the shrimp & fish tacos, fresh guacamole and the sushi rolls. Dinner rotated nightly - Asian, Mediterranean, BBQ, Mexican (the best IMO). Again, we were pretty impressed with dinners - tasty fish, incredible desserts! Drinks include everything you'd need plus a really nice Sauv Blanc wine and craft cocktails. Location - a few minutes walk to the beach, literal steps to everything on 5th, many convenience stores nearby. That comes with some noise but IMO I liked being in the center of it all. Service - it took a really good experience and made it GREAT. By day 2, staff knew our drink preferences and honestly, just were all around amazing. Ivan, Oscar, Fernando, Epigmenio, Marisol, Pedro, Angel and our main man Frank deserve special recognition but everyone was great! They even made us a special dessert on our last night. All the thumbs up here - a great stay made better by great people!!

There are plenty of huge resorts in Playa del Carmen with multiple pools and lots of entertainment…read moreoptions. However, if you're in the mood for something quieter, smaller, and more intimate, then Petit Lafitte is the one for you. Focused on wellness and tranquility, this lovely little resort offers daily yoga, sound therapy, and Temazcal (traditional Mexican sweat lodge). It's really a place focused on relaxation rather than activities, and there's nothing more relaxing than a massage by the sea. You can take a dip into the pool, close to the beach. The beach itself is a little rocky, but if you walk a little further left or right, you'll find smooth sand. Staff are great! Friendly, attentive, and very helpful. The bartender is a great guy. We got a tequila shot (which ended up being like a triple shot) and he gave us several mezcal samples as well with great explanations on flavour and origin. There's also daily live music in the afternoon, which creates such a nice vibe. In the 5 days I was here, it was never super busy and truly felt like a peaceful getaway. Petit Lafitte prides itself in its little organic garden which provides a lot of the produce that guests consume. The food itself is excellent, each meal was delicious and made with fresh ingredients. The rooms are rustic and clean. My only downside is the weak wifi, which isn't too much of a concern if you're trying to disconnect.

Outstanding resort experience we are having our daughters wedding here and the location is remote…read morebut close to everything the rooms are beach and jungle bungalows with conventional hotel rooms we opted for the beach bungalows very comfortable and spotless the staff is so friendly and very helpful the food is 5 star they have included in price menu very good selection breakfast and dinner and a upgraded menu options steak and so on as good as anything I have had anywhere... the beach front deck bar has the best tacos I would recommend this resort with a five star rating... a completely wonderful resort experience never want to leave!!!

My husband and I went here for my son's 2nd birthday and had an amazing experience. The villas on…read morethe water are spacious and very comfortable for a family of 4. The service is impeccable. The staff go above and beyond to cater to you. We received 2 pillow cases embroidered with our kids names as soon as we arrived to the room on the first day. Every evening with turndown service the kids were left special little gifts made locally (little wooden animals, knitted toys, etc). So many little touches were personalized - which were thoughtful and made the best gifts we could've received. The staff knew our names, were kind to our kids, and went out of their way to ensure we had a great stay. Our butler was attentive to our needs and accommodated every request. The drink/food service at the pool cabanas and the beach was great as well. The property is absolutely stunning. Of the hotels in the area, this one is by far the nicest, most private and without the typical commercial crowd. Given the location, definitely bring mosquito repellent for when you're spending time outside the room by the water. Overall, absolutely love Rosewood and will surely be returning to this location. Simply put, it felt like a dream.

First time at a Rosewood property and I left very impressed with this Mayakoba resort. Truly a…read moregreat place for relaxation and for recharging your batteries. It felt private, secluded and quiet. We booked a Rooftop Ocean View Suite, but were delighted to get upgraded to the Two Bedroom villa. A bump from 966 to 1562 square feet of space (not including the extra outside space). The welcome drinks, popsicles (for the kids) and guacamole were great and of course the dramatic boat ride to your suite is one of a kind. The suites at Rosewood Mayakoba are amazing. Even the small suites are spacious (I think their smallest room is 788 sqft). Our suite had plentiful outdoor space, its own dock to the lagoon, a private plunge pool and also a large rooftop terrace. Truly too much space for our family of four (2 adults, 2 kids), but we happily enjoyed it. Service was stellar, which I expected at a high-end hotel. My most recent vacations have been to the Caribbean, so the combination of Mexican hospitality along with the Rosewood service really made for a nice stay. Our butler stayed in contact with us via Whatsapp, but we really didn't have many requests except for booking dinner reservations and ordering more cow's milk to the room for our baby. Our kids had their own monogrammed pillowcases, that we took home. The turn-down service also left small wooden figurines (indigenous) which was a nice touch for the kids. There's definitely an extra attention to detail that's on another level from other hotels. We were able to get a bike with training wheels and also a trailer for the kids to go on short bike rides with. The kids club was very good. Lots of planned activities throughout the day and an air conditioned indoor play area. Our daughter was 3, so one of us was with her, but I think kids 4 and older can stay alone. The staff was consistent and got to know our daughters pretty quickly. There are excursions within the property like the bat cave and boat rides which is nice (instead of just staying indoors doing arts and crafts). The family pool was just okay. There's a small shallow part for toddler to play in and also a bigger deeper pool. It's well kept, but I can see how some might say it's time for a renovation (which I believe they are doing). There isn't a very good gradual entry point in the bigger pool, so I would say it's not the most kid friendly for small children (no problem for bigger kids), since there's one step and then it drops off to 4 feet. The beach also is undergoing a lot of erosion along with the sargassum. It's narrow and slightly rocky, so I feel like if you plan on playing in the sand or spend a lot of time in the water, there might be better options. However, it's still quite scenic and perfectly fine for lounging in the recliner. Food was very good (especially breakfast at Casa del Lago), but is pricey like everyone mentions. La Fondita, the tostada restaurant in El Pueblito, is one of the better and more low-key options at Rosewood. There is a consistent kids menu at all the restaurants at Rosewood. We did not get a chance to check out the restaurants at the other hotels. TL;DR - Luxurious and family friendly resort that shines with their accommodations and service. It's relaxing, but quiet and a bit sleepy (might be too quiet for some people). Food is good, but pricey. Kids club is great, but the pool is just okay without easy entry or waterslides. Beach is not best for extended playtime in sand or water. Even so, I still loved it and would definitely return.