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    Sandos Playacar

    2.5 (156 reviews)
    PriceyHotels
    Open Open 24 hours

    Sandos Playacar Hotels Photos

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    Family pool buffet
    Sarah T.

    We had a fantastic trip at Sandos Playacar! The family room was spacious and comfortable. The beds were comfy and jacuzzi in the room was huge. There was a bit of a lack of hot water most days but we didn't let that spoil it for us. All of the restaurants, except the Asian, were really good. Our favourite was the French. Both the family pools were fun. The one by the 9000 building had great bartenders that did rounds of shots constantly without having to order them. The buffet had many options which included a wood fired pizza station, fresh pasta station and Mexican section which were all fresh and delicious. The kids club and teen club were tons of fun for my kids. The night time entertainment was incredible! The beach is absolutely beautiful. We would 10000000 percent go back!

    Retna S.

    My husband and I came here to attend a wedding. As soon as we got off from the car, we were greeted by a friendly staff who safely put aside our luggages while checking in. The check in process was smooth. We were given a bracelet that served as the key. After that we ushered to a hospitality desk trying to sell share time. She was a bit pushy. There was a golf cart taking us to our room. Again, the guy who helped us was very friendly and courteous. He even helped us carrying the luggage to our room on the second floor. The room was a clean with drinking water and soda and beer in the fridge; good size for both of us with a communal pool and jacuzzi on the first floor. Buffet are is huge and tons of varieties of food selections. My favorite was the ceviche, seafood and the fruit because they were very fresh. The dessert looked appetizing but it turned out to be underwhelming. Unfortunately, alcoholic drinks were watered down. The beach was gorgeous. Turquoise blue ocean was very memorable, although at the most part of the beach there were seaweeds. I was lucky to be able to witness a beautiful sunrise. I went to the gym every morning and I was impressed with the equipments there. I encountered a friendly personal trainer only once out of the 3 days, who helped me to correctly use the equipment. I wished the personal trainer was there every day. There was a small area dedicated for cats. I was fortunate I could pet a couple of them. The food at the wedding was delicious. Staff was attentive and helpful. Don't forget to visit the store for some souvenirs. Every night there was a performance at the outdoor theater for everyone to enjoy. On my first night, I could not find the building where we stayed because it was dark. After walking around aimlessly I was lucky to find a gardener who directed me to the right path. My husband also got lost too. I recommend taking pictures of the landmark especially on your first night. All of the employees there speak English so it shouldn't be a problem for international visitors. Also, they accept US dollars.

    Lobby
    Taisiya S.

    I really like this place!! The rooms are nice and clean, the stock the fridge with a variety of drinks and when we arrived they had wine, tequila and fruit waiting for us. The main buffet had many vegetable options, gluten free, etc and I was incredibly happy with the selections of eggplant, cabbage, spinach, squash, beets, onions and zucchini There were at least 3 pools where the kids can go and there is an adults only section with their own pool. I love the tropical foliage everywhere and walking by certain parts there was this wonderful musky gardenia type scent in the bushes. It was amazing. You can rent bikes and ride around the grounds or rake them into Playacar and they have a dive shop on site. So far I haven't seen any activities that are hosted by the hotel like other hotels have, but maybe I haven't been out there at the right times? I will have to ask and update. There are a bunch of restaurants and they weren't all that great tbh although Im picky about my food and what I need. Asian place had no veggie options but the duck was tasty. Sea Bass at the Mex place was good but again not a lot of veggie options. But that is okay because the buffet had plenty. The best place by far food wise was the Fogo de Janeiro. The service there was great and very attentive, despite the decor being outdated and what looks like possibly their original buffet location. As a matter of fact, in the morning it IS the breakfast buffet location and half is the "steak house" the other half is Brazilian? So it is a stretch to count each one as it's own restaurant. Apparently some of the hotel also has a "luxury" section so I think they also have a Greek restaurant just for them. Their vacation club thing that they have you sit in on was totally low pressure and really felt like they were just making you aware of their VIP club, take it or leave it and you could think about it and decide later if you wanted. That was very much appreciated and honestly it wasn't a bad deal, but we passed as we don't like to commit to one place. My favorite lil spot was the cupcake cafe. Not for their cupcakes although they did have treats in the case, but I loved their espressos and my hubs liked the cappuccinos. My daughter liked the mango smoothies. They also have entertainment shows at night which included tributes to Michael Jackson, Lady Gaga and Madonna, but we didn't really go to them. 9pm they have a pre show which I think was geared towards kids and the main show at 9:30pm. But our daughter was usually done for so we called it a night. Overall I really enjoyed our time here. I did take a star off as the service was not as attentive or good as Iberostar next door. They often left us to fend for ourselves after seating us without drinks or coffee for what seemed like a long time and I had to ask housekeeping to do some basic things like clean the tub, or refill drinks in the fridge. Oh and the shower had horrible water pressure and the drain was slow so water ended up getting into the rest of the bathroom the first night. After that we either had to rush or use the tub. I'm assuming drains need to be cleaned of hair a lil more frequently but who knows? Overall it was beautiful and I would come again (even though I like to bounce and try other spots)

    Frankie H.

    I had a great room. Love the door, windows look, between the bedroom and bathroom. The bathroom has a walk in shower, a jacuzzi tub, and 2 sinks. The room is very spacious with 2 beds, two chatis and a sofa. I loved the L shape balcony and the beautiful view from the balcony. They have various restaurants that you have to make reservations for. That was pretty difficult because they tend to run out of spots quickly. The staff is ok but could be a bit more friendly. My friend wedding was set up very nicely. The only thing that was a bit nervous to me was the trolleys run through the spot people walk through. That didn't sem too safe. Nice resort.

    3 stars because the pricing was fair, beach was beautiful, gated and secure area, beautiful grounds, and fabulous memories made!! That is a generous rating. We stayed in a one bedroom Hacienda and it was nice and spacious. A/c worked well for us but you do have to check that the water cooler and mini bar aren't left unplugged by housekeeping(maybe when they plug in vacuums?) that happened to us a couple times and it's just a little inconvenient to have all the beverages warm on a hot day but not a huge deal. A couple of things for people who are looking: There is no real wait staff providing food or drink service at the pool or beach so if you're used to that at hotels/all-inclusives you will miss it! All food must be eating in the buffet style restaurants... some are near the pool but there are signs telling you not to remove food from the restaurant. Reservations are nearly impossible to get even for 4 people! I arrived Saturday and had made one reservation with the RE concierge before I arrived and the hostess did not have a record of it. When I tried to make a rez on my own in the app nothing was available. The solution I am told is to wait until midnight when the reservations open and book them then or book everything a week in advance if you can plan ahead like that every single day of your vacation. The beach is pretty, but there were red flags up some days and lifeguard warning us not to go in the water due to riptides. Also seaweed - yes there is seaweed. Sometimes there was a lot on the beach and in the water.. we had to swim out a ways past it. Some days it was clear. It's the season so temper your expectations and hope for the best! Staff tried to clear it as best as they can but it's an ongoing problem out of their control. Seating around the pools goes QUICK! I watched people place sunscreen and towels out to reserve daybed or chairs and then never saw them again for hours. Staff doesn't do anything to help so if you want a prime location get up early and claim your spot especially at the RE Family pool. Food is just ok, the buffet has good variety but quality is hit or miss. Some foods had labels and some didn't so sometimes it was a bit of a mystery - lucky we don't have food allergies. Drinks are not very good - just average(I never saw anything top shelf quality) but my kids enjoyed the "sandos smoothie". The pools are nice but the get quite warm by midday almost like a hot tub. Room service takes forever - up to an hour or more sometimes so just order ahead if you want it. I booked through a RE member hoping to get some extra benefits but so far I haven't really seen any. Concierge wasnt been very helpful for us. We tipped well and were polite to everyone but service is just average. We request a late check out and were elated when the VIP concierge told us we could have access to our room for an extra 1.5 hours to allow a little time to shower and prepare for our travel day. Imagine our surprise when we arrived to the room at 11:30 full half hour before check out time (noon) when we were told we could remain in the room until 1:30... only to find out bracelet keys were deactivated and we were locked out! I messaged via WhatsApp and never received a response. When I told the RE Concierge at check out what happened, he simply shrugged and blamed their "internal systems" and said the concierge where probably busy when I messaged and he would pass it along to his boss. No apology or accountability. Not a great way to end the trip. Maybe my standards and expectations were too high but I don't know that we would return to this resort just because there are so many places to try! Many of the returning members we spoke to in the pools mentioned that some of the featured they had enjoyed in previous seasons were no longer available and things seemed a bit more rundown. Since it was I first time there I can't really speak to that but it was interesting to hear. We had also planned to do a day trip to the sister resort Caracol but were warned by a guest in the pool that the cenotes were foamy and dirty, the pools were not as clean, and the beach is eroded and basically nonexistent. So we skipped that taxi ride and saved some pesos! Some people mentioned having trouble with the shuttles, yes people jump on right in front of you and don't wait their turn... very rude but we didn't mind the walking once we learned the way around. The grounds are beautiful and there are lots of animals to see! Monkeys, agoutis, coatis, raccoons, many birds and of course the cats! If you made it this far, thanks for reading! As a disclaimer for the Sandos diehards out there this is just MY OWN personal experience. I did some research and joined FB pages prior to visiting and yes it is helpful to hear the tips from the seasoned travelers... but it's not all sunshine and rainbows.

    This is 5 star?
    Sjoerd F.

    Trip, Oct 12-22, 2023 Making this review on our 3rd day. This is our 8-10th time in the Maya Riviera and this is our least favourite resort and worst experience to date. 2 adults and 2 kids, aged 6 & 10. Provided feedback in the first 24hrs and they didn't address anything. Gave them an opportunity to make things right, but they just don't care. I'm sure someone will respond to this review, but they already had an opportunity, so too late already. We won't be back at any Sandos resorts, ever! Book of you like, but honestly, there are so many better options out there. ISSUES * After check-in, nobody brought our luggage and we didn't know where to go. Our friends checked in the next night and same thing. * Fridge in the room is not cold. Called to fix and they never came. * Buffet was terrible. Food was old and cold. Server walked past us for 15 minutes before we asked for drinks, which he took, but informed us later that the bar was closed (10:30pm) at buffet. No juice or milk for the kids. Get there early. * Shuttle driver wouldn't stop for ppl when there was room. It's way too busy for only a single shuttle. It's a frenzy trying to get on and ppl literally jump on before it comes to a stop. Best just to walk and find the best route. * Buffet is so far away from our room. You want to eat, pack up your family, take the golf cart, eat, take the cart back and find another spot. Very inconvenient and takes a couple hours! * Different section for different guests? Need diff. Colour bracelets. Feels like we're lower class citizens and can't explore every bar, restaurant or pool? Royal elite, etc. even room service for Elite is different. You're not allowed to explore the whole resort as a "regular" guest. * Room service options is bad. No fries, burgers, etc. just sandwiches. Poor selection. No kid friendly options except for ham & cheese tortillas. * Restaurants are already booked up for the next 3 days * Towel cards is a money grab. Something to stress over while trying to have a relaxing vacation. * Elevator is not working * No towels at the kids pool * Cart took 34 minutes to come get us from the beach * Drinks taste different each time you order it. It's like they make it up, not consistent. Kids slushies is just strawberry or mango, that's it and they are way to sweet. Tequila is really bad and they put salt in the paper cup they serve you in??? * Buffet food is just terrible. Fries are soggy, dishes are the same each night, no variety. Cold, not hot plates keeping the food hot. * Daily room cleanup didn't replace glassware and left no towels in the room. * Have to order ice from room service * Ketchup at the pool bar was liquid, like watered down tomato sauce. * Most staff just don't care. No attention to detail. Usually staff speak/understand a little English, but not here. * Evening entertainment is so incredibly bland. No excitement whatsoever. * If you want to purchase anything, take a trip to Playa Del Carmen, because the prices at their store are outrageous. The good * beach is amazing * Kids areas will keep your kids entertained for hours. * Rooms are spacious and nice * Pillows and beds are really comfortable * Not too busy when we went, so always room at the pool/chairs * Music at the pool is great

    "Luxury" suite
    Maria L.

    First family vacation. I guess I expected more...I did not appreciate the heavy push to become elite members. That was a drag and not part of my vacation experience. Nonetheless my kids loved it - it was their first time traveling. My husband was not impressed with the very outdated room and the very limited tv channel options. Food was ok. Drinks were ok not great. Room service was ok. But again not what was expected, especially for what we paid. I give them a three star to be nice but I think a two might be better. The place itself is beautiful but be careful look between the cracks and there are many.... The place is dated surrounded by lush greenery so it's easy to be deceived. Would I come back hmmm idk....

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    Page 2 of 4

    Sandos Playacar Reviews in Other Languages

    Review Highlights - Sandos Playacar

    The kids club and teen club were tons of fun for my kids.

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    Hilton Playa Del Carmen Resort - Meeting Room

    Hilton Playa Del Carmen Resort

    (365 reviews)

    $$$

    Gonzalo Guerrero

    We had a really good time at this adults-only resort. There are plenty of activities where you can…read morebe busy or choose to relax and enjoy your time. I was not approached by anyone offering to sell me anything or attend presentations. Staff were super friendly and helpful during our stay. There's a main pool and a quiet pool. So you have an option where you want to be based on your interest. Night shows were great with some fantastic performers. I wish that there was more Mexican themed shows or music but I guess they try to accommodate that the majority of guests were from Canada and USA. Some of the restaurants rotate being open for dinner. Your best bet is to make reservations ahead of time. You can always show up but might have to wait depending on the time. Overall food was good. Drinks were ok but as a social drinker, I wasn't impressed with my 1-2 drinks/day during my stay. I think I had one drink that I found really good. Beach area is not private and you might have people approach you to sell you stuff or services. A polite "no, thank you" works great. Location and proximity to 5th Avenue made it a great place to explore the area. Although filled with tourists, you also get some local interactions. I would come back to this resort in the future.

    Ownership has changed, and this property is now known as Hyatt Vivid Playa del Carmen…read more My boyfriend planned the trip, and my only request was an all-inclusive resort. While the property has a lot of potential, it ultimately missed the mark, especially for a resort of this size. The biggest issue was the constant selling. I understand upselling is part of the business, but having to say no repeatedly throughout the stay was exhausting. Even after interacting with the same staff members multiple times, nearly every conversation felt like a sales pitch. We also received early morning calls to the room for non-urgent matters and promotions, which was disruptive and frustrating. Despite being advertised as all-inclusive, there were frequent pushes to upgrade to higher-end alcohol, exclusive experiences, and add-ons. I would much rather pay more upfront for a truly inclusive experience than feel harassed during my vacation. It really affected the overall vibe of the trip. The food was average and not memorable. The highlight was the coffee shop, which was open most of the day and consistently good. Poolside dining is very limited. You cannot casually order snacks like chips and guacamole while at the pool and instead have to go to one of the restaurants. Also be cautious with food near the pool, as wildlife grabbed my pizza while I was sitting there. Overall, this resort could be great, but the aggressive upselling, average food, and limited poolside service made it disappointing for an all-inclusive experience.

    Palmaïa - Avalon beauty salon

    Palmaïa

    (17 reviews)

    Playacar

    This is future of wellness all-inclusives! I love this place so much. We came here after a friend…read morevacationed here and said the food, ambiance and classes were unlike any other resort they've been to. Being a vegetarian, it's been a dream to find a place like this where I can eat ANYTHING off the menu. My husband was able to add chicken to his meals so it is friendly to meat eaters as well. We arranged for the airport travel to/from the resort which was highly recommended. It's about an hour commute and took the stress away from the travel. Our suite was on the bottom floor and walked out to the pool. Complete dream of an experience! Not only did we have "guide" who is essentially an assistant/butler who helped answer our questions quickly, helped to book reservations onsite or book transportation through the resort. They were incredibly responsive. Your main mode of transportation is bikes which feels like you're in another world riding through the jungle on bikes. There's a handful of restaurants on site so we didn't end up leaving the property more than once. Because they're a wellness resort, they have all of these classes (cacoa ceremony, movement class, yoga, astrology, etc) where you could interact with other guests. They have a taco stand where they make watermelon tacos. I could go on and on about the food. This place almost converted my husband to be a vegetarian- that's how good it was. They make all their cocktails with OR WITHOUT alcohol and they taste just as delicious. If I could live at this property, I really would. Highly recommend going as a couple, group or even solo. It will leave you more grounded and at peace.

    Incredible experience. It's clear why they have a Michelin hotel rating of two keys. Beautiful…read moreaccommodations, wonderful service, incredible food! We rarely visit the same place twice (and aren't even really resort people) but we're already talking about going back. All of the restaurants are mostly/default plant-based, but there are non-vegan substitutions (and Palmaia is connected to a typical mainstream resort, Sandos, that guests have full access to as well). But also, Palmaia's food is so good I wouldn't recommend changing it or eating elsewhere! We ate conchas and tacos nearly every day. And the pastas at Mar de Olivo were superb! Additional advice: advantage of the wellness classes, the gym, and the beachside taco truck!

    Hotel Riu Palace Riviera Maya - Beautiful view while eating lunch

    Hotel Riu Palace Riviera Maya

    (106 reviews)

    $$$

    Playacar

    We booked our all inclusive vacation with Southwest vacations and paid for a Oceanview room at the…read moreRiu Palace resort, but when we checked in they told us that all Oceanview rooms were booked up and we were given a garden view room for two days until the correct room was available. This ruined our vacation. We paid a lot of money for the Oceanview room. Attached is a picture of the garden view room. This room does NOT even face the ocean! We will NEVER stay at this resort again because they are DISHONEST.

    My experience at Hotel Riu was absolutely amazing! My stay was very accommodating and such a…read morequality and pleasurable experience throughout my entire stay. As soon as I arrived, I was met with smiles and the best customer service. All the staff were very accommodating and pleasant to interact with. I never touched my luggage, when going to and from my room and I was picked up from the airport and taken back for my return flight, how convenient! My flight was even delayed and after communicating with the Riu, they were already aware and prepared for my late arrival, small things like this make a huge difference and communication is essential to me when traveling. Upon entering my beach front room, there are the cutest designed towels on the bed and room service is there upon request and of course, daily. I also love the location as it is near a lot of things to do in Riviera Maya, Playa del Carmen and Yucatan. The resort sits on the beach, has two pools with a bar and thee best views! They also have an all WHITE party every Friday that is a blast! I had the best time dancing the night away with strangers and hung out in downtown Playa del Carmen afterward, truly thee best nights! The food was very underwhelming and although they had themed nights, it just didn't meet my expectations. Although convenient, the restaurant options for all inclusive guests was nothing to desire but the service was always exceptional, which really helped. I always love my stays at the RIU and this Riviera Maya resort is truly one of the most beautiful. I felt absolutely amazing during my entire vacation and RIU truly was a part of the reason why!

    Iberostar Waves Tucán

    Iberostar Waves Tucán

    (39 reviews)

    $$

    Playacar

    Positive: Welcome:…read moreFrom the moment we arrived, the service made us feel welcome. David checked us in quickly and even gave the kids a "key" bracelet (without the actual key) so they could be part of the process. The step stool at the front desk was a thoughtful touch for little ones to see over the counter. Abi helped us make a restaurant reservation right away and walked us through the resort map--simple things that made settling in much easier. Room: We stayed in the 1100 building, close to both the pool and beach--ideal with small kids. The room was clean, the AC worked great, the shower had strong water pressure, and the balcony was a nice spot to relax. The only minor note was that the outdoor hanger could have used a better dusting. Parents, be mindful of the marble floors; our two-year-old chipped a tooth after running indoors (completely on us, but worth noting). Restaurants: Tulum Buffet: Loved the dedicated kids' section and plastic cups. The food was decent (don't expect a 5-star Vegas buffet), but service here was better than at Cozumel buffet at Quetzal, especially at breakfast. La Hacienda (Smokehouse): Our favorite meal of the trip. Despite mixed reviews online, we found it excellent--great service, tasty dishes, and a kids' menu that impressed even my picky daughter, who asked for seconds on the mac and cheese. Uxmal: Lunch on our first visit was hit-and-miss (good steak and fish, underwhelming tostadas, mid-level service). Our second visit was much better despite a check-in mix-up that sent us to the buffet right before closing. La Gondola: Reservation-only and worth booking. Our server, Cleiner, was fantastic--attentive even with a large party to handle. Highlights included penne Alfredo with shrimp, risotto, margherita pizza, and pizza Quattro carni. Calamari was slightly burnt (I liked it, others didn't). Desserts were all good. Bonsai (Japanese): Great service and fun experience. Food was just okay for me (salty rice, slightly dry sushi), but the kids loved it. Animals: The kids were thrilled spotting various animals around the resort--it added extra magic to our days. Pool: The kids' splash area with the playground next to it was a huge hit. I wish the main pool had more shallow sections, but floaties made it manageable. Negative: Golf Carts: We learned mid-stay that golf carts are mainly for Iberostar members and not guaranteed for non-members (like IHG guests) except at check-in/out for luggage. We sometimes managed to wave one down, but often waited 20-25 minutes for nothing to arrive. Guest services would say one was coming, but it wasn't until we spoke with concierge that we got the real policy. Tip: Reserve a cart for check-out so you know one will arrive. Quetzal Buffet (Monday, Aug 4): Service here was noticeably less attentive than during our first visit. We were seated with crumbs on the chair and sauce on the floor, which no one came to clean despite asking twice. Plastic cups (easy to find at Tucán buffet) were nowhere in sight. After asking four staff members and getting no clear direction, my toddler's patience--and mine--ran out. Thankfully, Leticia, one of the staff, turned things around. She checked in regularly with genuine warmth and attentiveness that was missing from the rest of the experience. She truly salvaged the meal. Overall: Despite a few hiccups, our stay was memorable for the right reasons--warm welcomes, thoughtful touches for kids, standout dining at certain restaurants, and a beautiful, family-friendly setting. We'd return, especially for La Hacienda, the splash area, and the friendly staff who made us feel at home.

    Very nice setting. Smooth traversing the resort. Some shenanigans with the employees saying we need…read moreto buy bottles of wine for a good seat in a restaurant or show. Complained to mngmnt & they said no that should not be happening. I think some dudes got fired over this. Clean resort near local shopping which was great!!

    Hotel Xcaret - Birthday recognition

    Hotel Xcaret

    (331 reviews)

    $$$$

    I had a pretty good experience at Hotel Xcaret! My husband and I came here for a work trip, and we…read morewere very excited when we first arrived. It is a huge resort with 18 included restaurants, bars, pools, and beaches. You also have access to all of the different parks which is an amazing perk. Our room was pretty big with two queen beds. It had a jacuzzi and hammock in the balcony. We didn't have a stellar view, but I can only imagine if you did. I also never thought that I would say this, but room service came way too many times. They would come 2 to 3 times a day, and once even asked if we needed room service at 9pm LOL. We mainly ate at the buffet, which did not need a reservation, and it was pretty good. Our overall consensus was that the food here was very diverse and yummy, but was too salty. We don't drink, so I have no comment on that. The infinity pool was pretty nice, but I wish it had a direct view of the beach. There was a river surrounding the hotel, which blocked the view. The beach was pretty accessible though, and the water was very clear. There was a lot of seaweed in it though and it was more rocky than sandy which made it hard to lay our towels down. Overall, though, the service was great and we had a great time here. I would definitely recommend it because we didn't pay for the trip haha.

    Hotel Xcaret is a sprawling complex which consists of several resorts and parks which are located…read moreon property. I was pleasantly surprised how clean the resort is and how courteous the service was. Most employees speak English. I speak Spanish fairly well so I had no issues communicating. There are extensive food options including all day buffets, restaurants, group dining and room service. The buffets lean toward traditional Mexican / Yucatán fare, however, it's not overly spicy. The bakery items are fantastic and not overly sweet. The only Michelin restaurant in Mexico is here at Xcaret. So check that out if you happen to visit here. There are several parks which include water adventures, ATV rentals, zoo & aquariums, history, zip lining etc. I was able to go to the Xplor park for an afternoon when I had some downtime. It was interesting and I had a good time. The cemetery was fascinating. I posted some pictures below. There is no shortage of pools here and every hotel section has its own. The main one that over looks the beach area fills up quick in the am. There are two gyms I believe and a spa which books up quickly so plan in advance. The beach is small and it's a bit of a walk to get to. Chairs and loungers get snapped up quickly early in the day. Security here is "air tight." What I mean the grounds are patrolled by armed guards and there are several checkpoints on the roads going in and out. You have to present your wrist band when entering and leaving with the exception of being on the bus. I was there for a corporate trip and we utilized a rental car to transport our executive staff to and from the airport. Even with the stringent security, the process was fairly easy for us. Checkout is a little odd. You go to the lobby with the letter (bill) that they slide under the door the night before you leave. If you owe nothing, you hand over the letter and wrist band and you're on your way. Large groups that arranged transit via bus was a whole different matter. They had those people wait on long lines to hand over the letter and wrist band and then wait for the bus. It looked a bit convoluted and confusing. Overall I personally had a good experience. The food and service were top notch in my opinion. The time I was able to enjoy the pool and park were nice as well. This was a work related trip and I'll definitely keep it in mind for a future vacation.

    Mahekal Beach Resort - Beautiful dessert for lobster night

    Mahekal Beach Resort

    (121 reviews)

    Gonzalo Guerrero

    is it a fancy five star resort? Nope!…read more Do they have marble bathrooms and giant bay windows with pristine views and all the bells and whistles? Also no! Do they have an expansive menu with endless dining options? That's a no as well. Don't go into this resort, expecting a Hyatt or Hilton experience. This is a small, quaint, boutique style resort. What they do have is food that is executed and presented beautifully, even if it only features one main restaurant and one buffet each evening. They have excellent poolside lunch options. The menu may be smaller, but everything is perfectly prepared. This is a resort that spares no expense when it comes to flavor. The service at this resort is impeccable. From the wait staff to the housekeeping, I could not ask for better staff. The resort is starting to show its age. It's quaint, with its thatched roofs and tree treehouse like Haciendas. The grounds are well maintained, but again it's missing some bells and whistles. They need to make some updates, including better lighting (especially) adding well lit steps. maybe it was the drinks, maybe it was the early sunsets- but the trips up and down the stairs at night were beyond treacherous! The non-skid tape was well worn and slicker than it should be, and the steps were barely illuminated. We managed to make it through the week without incident, but barely! if you want a five star resort, this probably isn't the place for you. If you have kids and want a lot of activities again, probably not the place for you. However, if you are a foodie who values quality over endless menu options and you just want a nice relaxing vacation. This is a great place to stay. For us, it came down to location, location, location! Being able to walk out of our resort and right into the heart of shopping, food, and authentic experiences was a priceless amenity. I wish the bathrooms were updated, the concrete floors and dated showers have a very strong mildew smell- the lighting throughout is very poor. There isn't enough closet space ( I was able to hang three dresses, my husband's suit, and a few pairs of pants and with only three small nightstand size drawers there isn't much space for unpacking. Maybe it's the thatched roof, maybe it's the flaking concrete, but Even after sweeping the floor feels gritty - definitely come prepared with some slippers or flip-flops. I'm not used to having to wear shoes indoors, but at this resort, I highly recommend it. our week spent here was a bit rainy and overcast, none of the hot tubs at the resort were working. They were all slightly warmer than the pool, which isn't saying much, the ocean was warmer than the pools. Unfortunately, due the size of the waves we couldn't spend much time in the ocean, but their beach is much cleaner than many of the surrounding beaches. They do a great job of staying on top of all of the debris. And they have a lot of great lounging spaces with umbrella coverage. Unfortunately, during our stay Fuego, the main restaurant was under renovation so the limited menu was further limited. We were unable to order whole fish or any of their stone fired pizzas. Despite the closed restaurant, the weather, and the lack of hot tubs and updated facilities the stay was still magical. I can only attribute that to the warmth, sincerity, helpfulness, and availability of the staff. Was it the all inclusive resort experience I am accustomed to? No! Did I have an amazing time absolutely! I think it comes down to knowing what you want in a resort. If you aren't someone who wants 1 million activities a day then this is probably a great place to spend your vacation. They are generous with the drinks and the food, and even more generous with the hospitality!

    Do NOT Book Your Wedding Here…read more They turned our wedding week (March 14 Wedding) into a nightmare so I want to warn every couple considering Mahekal for their wedding. What should have been the most magical week of our lives was repeatedly hijacked by the gross incompetence and dishonest practices of this resort's wedding team. And to be clear - we had a separately hired a wedding planner because by November we already knew Mahekal was not providing any support. We went into our wedding week thinking everything was settled without any warning of all the problems Mahekal was going to spring on us: - They lost track of $10,000 which we paid over SIX MONTHS ago. Totally unaccounted for in their system and we had to prove our payment history while onsite for our wedding. - They attempted to charge a $7,000+ penalty, claiming our room block had not been fulfilled through the code. We blocked 40 rooms and had 107 guests staying on property. We had to spend hours cross referencing the list they had which they didn't even have prepared for our meeting, with our list of guests which we had given them. We lost 4 hours to prove their botched webpage caused this issue. - What is truly unforgivable is Mahekal had an entire month after the room block deadline to communicate these issues to us. Instead, they waited until we arrived for our wedding to spring these problems on us due to their poor mgmt. We spent hours each day on Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, AND Friday trying to clean up their messes, ruining our moods and taking time away from family and friends. - The front desk charged us $930 for an upgrade that was explicitly supposed to be complimentary. When we checked in they didn't even have us noted as the wedding couple and did absolutely nothing special for us - no rose petals, no welcome gift, nothing but headaches. When I brought the upgrade charge up to Laura, the in-house "wedding coordinator," she showed me on her monitor that their system had the upgrade documented as FREE... I showed her the additional $930 charge on my credit card. She took over a day to find the charge in their system and promised to work with the front desk to return this but has not responded to me or my wedding planner when we followed up. - We didn't get an adequate room even with the purchased upgrade so I couldn't take any getting ready photos. When we toured they showed a room with a living room which was not made available to me. Total bait and switch. I spent 9am to 1:30pm of my wedding day with just vendors because of this... They also do NOT have a bridal suite which is another sign they are not equipped to handle weddings. - I specifically and clearly requested mahi mahi NOT be served as the fish entrée option at our wedding and Laura said she would work with the chef... At our reception I took a bite of the fish and informed my husband it was mahi mahi and he gave me half his chicken... - For our welcome party, we were charged $450 for three infused water dispensers, a "water bar" we had approved for our outdoor cocktail hour (where it made sense given the heat despite the open bar). Instead, Mahekal applied it to the wrong event entirely; the welcome party which was hosted in a covered space with fans (La Cocina) for which we were already paying for a three-hour open bar. I didn't even see this water bar but whether it was there or not, they scammed us out of $450 because they can't even track a single add-on without messing up. - It's obvious now that we were shown updated rooms when we toured a year before our wedding. What we actually arrived to were cracked floors, broken AC, and toilets with rusted flush buttons. We stayed at the Banyan Tree Mayakoba, an actual 5-star resort, for 3 nights after our wedding to decompress from the stress Mahekal had caused. Mahekal felt like a beach motel in comparison. Mahekal is not just incompetent, they are predatory: waiting until you are emotionally and logistically vulnerable so they can hold one of the most important events of your life hostage. The individuals responsible for this horrible experience were Laura Elena Castellanos Patino and Maria Elena Armenta. The only thing I wish for them is Karma. Thankfully, we ended up having a wonderful wedding reception thanks to friends and family, and those memories are slowly replacing our horrible encounters with the resort staff.

    Hidden Beach Resort

    Hidden Beach Resort

    (10 reviews)

    $$$

    Colonia Ejidal

    Wife and I had a most AMAZING time romping around naked for a few days here. Not a lifestyle hotel…read moreat all...just an au natural resort. Very relaxing...very chill....wonderful clientele..and some amazing massages at the beach. A cute little niche boutique hotel. Food was plentiful, though a bit uneven..but would come back here in a heart beat. And hopefully will some day.

    I'll put my full review on TripAdvisor, but it's worth posting a quick redux here as well…read more All said, Hidden Beach is one of the premiere clothing-optional vacation destinations on the planet. The friendly staff, the (mostly) all-inclusive menus, the swim-up bar, the king size beds. All good stuff. But for what you pay, and the fact that they put themselves out there as a five-star resort, I have to say, "Well maybe a 5* resort circa 1983. The rooms are definitely showing their age, totally lacking in electrical outlets for charging your gadgets, and the general ambiance is simply a bit below what you'd expect at that price point at any number of newer resorts on the Riviera Maya. We also agreed to take the "1-hour meeting" with Exotic Travel with the prospect of enjoying reduced rates in the future. The "no-pressure" pitch suddenly became very HIGH pressure at about the 90-minute mark at which point we decided to cut our losses. Seems they didn't want us to go back to our loungers to chat with other guests who've been a bit less than satisfied with their Exotic Travel investments. Hmmmm.... Will we go back? Probable. If we can get a decent rate without making a 10 year commitment.

    Sandos Playacar - hotels - Updated May 2026

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