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The Reef Playacar

2.5 (56 reviews)
ModerateHotels

The Reef Playacar Hotels Photos

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Kelli B.

Great hotel and service. We were upgraded and our suite was absolutely beautiful! A magnificent location. The hotel personnel were wonderful and so accommodating! We can't wait to return!

A "fully stocked" mini fridge
Brittany B.

Sometimes, you just feel like you're being Punk'd, and that Ashton Kutcher is going to pop out and you'll look back and think how funny it was. This was like that, except no one is laughing. Our friend is getting married at this resort, so we booked in advance and decided to treat ourselves to an upgraded experience with a premium room. When we arrived, we were first told by the front desk agent, Manuel, that since we only booked standard, they were going to give us two single beds. I pulled out our booking confirmation that clearly shows premium room reserved at an additional $53 per night, and Manuel changed out our wristband and made a big show of double checking the rooms, and he said that they still only have 2 single beds. After being assured that we can just change rooms in the morning, we were shown to our room. The first room they took us to was absolutely disgusting. There was unfinished drywall on the ceiling, and the room was filled with paint fumes. The mirror was encrusted with black gunk, and none of the amenities for premium were shown. we called Manuel at the front desk, and he sent a security guard to verify our story. Even he agreed it was terrible. So they put us one floor up into a room with half the closet space, mold on the ceiling, the hardest beds I have ever had the displeasure of sitting on, and none of the heavily touted premium amenities (bathrobe, upgraded toiletries, coffee maker, stocked mini fridge, etc.) We went back to the front desk, and by some miracle, Manuel 'found' a king room. It is now 3 am at this point and we have been all over the resort since check in at midnight. The king room was the worst of all. It looked nicer when you first opened the door, but then you start noticing things, like dead moths on the floor, a blood or poop stain on the bed (I wish I was kidding), and more mold. I get it, Mexico is humid. But come on, this amount of mold is just ridiculous. We went back to the front desk, and asked what they planned to do for us since we have been given the run around and filthy rooms over the last 3.5 hours. Manuel said, "you're just going to have to talk to Fernando in the morning. He gets in at nine. I don't know what you expect though because the standard room and premium room are the same, you just get bathrobes and sparkling wine and beer." Yes, you read that right. It's an extra $53 per day for the same filthy uncomfortable room. You just get a bathrobe and some alcohol to numb the rage. I can't wait to see what tomorrow brings. Maybe a nice case of malaria. At this point, it might be an improvement.

Resort gym
Kevin V.

Had a great time here with family and my gf. Came for a wedding and it was beautiful. The staff is incredibly friendly and kind so please be respectful! They work hard and definitely underpaid for going beyond for guests. I do wish there were more restaurant options and more than one buffet. Definitely bring bug spray, mosquitoes were bad near the ice cream parlor. Gym should allow guests to control music in there. The gym is small but has enough for effect work out

The hotels building
Otto B.

It was the best hotel that I met in the last few years. My wife and I were on a honeymoon trip and stayed here for 13 days, the system is all inclusive. I have not seen such a service anywhere. breakfast from morning till 11, then a second breakfast at a pool bar, then lunch, then ice cream, in the evening a la carte restaurant is Italian or Mexican. the hotel has its own beach, and there are various sporting events. we chose parasailing, a catamaran walk and an extreme trip in the park near the Koba pyramid, went swimming in the cenote, rode on a zipline (the highest was 40 meters high!), on ATV quads, and climbed the Koba pyramid. everything was great. the service staff was excellent and helpful, we first sat in building 17, which was old and was renovated, then we were asked to relocate us to another room, and we were settled in a renovated new building 7. thank you for everything

Beach side
Lorna N.

Sooooo my experience here wasn't all that as I was staying at the Reef which is a sister property. I was on the European plan which didn't come with access to this resort however no one explained that to me instead I was told I could visit either sister property if I wanted to go to beach but they couldn't come to ours. So there's a service that takes you here every hour and upon arrival I thought it was ok it has the jungle feel but not very modern. The beach is located way in the back and when I tried to get a towel I was turned away and told to get a card from the reception which I tried to do. It took about 30-40 minutes before the GM spoke with me and explained how the staff hadn't been brought to speed about my plan( what happens when your the guinea pig). He tried to somewhat smooth things out by offering a drink..... but I was already annoyed by that time and declined the drink( I'm on the European plan I have my own drank not my first rodeo on this plan) since I had a bit of time to kill before the van service came back I moseyed on to beach, finally got a towel. The beach itself is meh, tons of sea weed that you have to wade through before your in a much nicer patch so the pool looked more inviting at that point but I really wasn't feeling it so I was kinda relieved when it started to rain, I put my things together and within 5 min the van was there phew! I doubt I'd return to stay or visit the resort for one it was a bit way off from town and the drive from the front gate to the hotel itself was like Uber long. This experience is only for beach, I didn't stay at the resort.

View from my deck chair!
Erin A.

I thought this place was spectacular. The staff was friendly and helpful. The security was amazing and I felt very safe. It was clean and well maintained. To the people complaining about a wristband: DUH of course you have to wear a wristband so that they know you are a part of the all inclusive. The food was pretty decent- reminded me of food on a cruise. Pretty good in some places, just decent in others, but the all inclusive deal with the food and the drinks was absolutely worth it. Our AC in our room was wonderful and kept it cool, the shower had a rain head and great pressure, I could go on and on. Sometimes you don't know what you get when you book site unseen, and I was so happy and surprised with this place. The landscaping throughout the hotel makes it feel like a tropical paradise!

T C.

We received a 5 night, 6 day package via a time share presentation deal. The deal was straight forward, and we were not misled about any details. They provided a pickup from the airport, but transportation to return was on our own. I will preface this post that we did not stay the full length of our trip due to my wife becoming violently ill requiring hospitalization and early return to the US for medical reasons. We do not believe that any food or drink at the resort caused this illness. We arranged the timeshare presentation for the second day, and though they say the presentation takes 90 minutes, it comes out more like 2 hours and 30 mins with travel to the other properties. There were no scams, and we received no pressure when we said no. Our presenter was very pleasant and happy to answer many questions about the culture and area as well. As for the property itself, the jungle setting was very peaceful and relaxing, except... the property is undergoing a full remodel, and the sounds of hammers and saws are constant from around 7am to 6pm. The doors, walls and windows to the room offered zero sound protection. While my wife was sick and attempting to rest during the day unsuccessfully, we could hear every detail from conversations in the next room to even conversations out on the sidewalk (we were on second floor). Our room also backed up to a service path, and the noise of passing employees with carts, tools and equipment was constant! The bathroom door would not close and lock, and the blinds fell off the wall when attempting to shade the room. Otherwise, the room had basic amenities. The pool and beach area seemed well set up. The staff was fantastic and very attentive. By day 2 the pool bartender had remembered my drink, and was pleasant to deal with. The beach, unfortunately, was plagued by seaweed. This problem is not exclusive to the resort, as the entire coast is being plagued with seaweed, and was not a deciding factor in this review. The snack bar and buffet were rarely operated on schedule, and there would be gaps of about an hour we couldn't get food. For example, each day the buffet closed at 10:30 for breakfast, and the snack bar was scheduled to open at 11, but usually was more like 11:30-11:45. The food was ok, nothing exceptional. The snack bar rarely had anything available on the menu, and it would always take 20-30 mins to get. The buffet had a wide variety of food. We did not eat at the two restaurants due to the dress code. We packed for a vacation, not a dress code. The resort is family friendly, and seemed to lack nightlife for that reason. It does seem suitable and safe for families. All in all I believe the stay may have been pleasant if the remodeling was not in progress. If the new rooms are lacking the quality and privacy that the old rooms were lacking, however, maybe not. I doubt we would stay in this resort again based on the lack of privacy alone.

Valeria G.

THIS WAS THE WOST, DISGUSTING ROOMS, THANK GOD I GOT A REFUND!! I HAD TO BOOK A AIRBNB LAST MINUTE, ITS SO FAR FROM SHOPS, GATED COMMUNITY AND SUPPOSE TO BE RICH LOL SMELLS LIKE MOLD ALLLL EVERYWHERE, I GOT BIT HELLA TIMES AND SMELLS LIKE SEWAGE. GROSS! AND FOOD IS DISGUSTING!!! STAINED BED SHEETS!!! I DO NOT KNOW WHY PEOPLE RAVE ABOUT CANCUN. THE LADY FROM FRESNO IN THIS REVIEW is 100% CORRECT! We stayed at a better all-inclusive resort and here was my review for Secrets the Vine MY COMPLAINTS: A little about me I am a neat clean quiet person who likes peace and relaxing type of atmosphere, I am not a partier I am in my mid-30s. If I spend 1k on an all-inclusive 3-night stay in CANCUN, I better have a good deal, because I can spend the same amount at the Standard or W hotel in Los Angeles and get a better service and not a steak dipped in a crap ton of oil. LOL SMELLS LIKE MOLD! Yes, it's humid in places like these but the mold is everywhere people don't clean that up. If my bed was sanitized the pillows wouldn't smell like mold it would smell like bleach! Lol I've been to Miami, Orlando, Key West, North Carolina (humid places) and non of the hotels or Airbnb smelled like mold! IT IS NOT THAT AMAZING as everyone writes Our AC was leaking PILLOWS BED THE WHOLE ROOM SMELLS LIKE MILDEW IT IS NOT THAT GREAT it's basic I have stayed at hotels downtown Los Angeles with 179 per night and had WAY better staff and offers. It's overrated and stay away from their restaurants outside of the hotel, they are overpriced as f*, The whole trip of Cancun is overrated The only cool thing is their pool and beach that is it. But even that has a lot of seaweed that is not soft. And the 200$ credit that they tell you you can use at their spa, it is in coupons and you can only apply 40$ off with that coupon, their massage is 245$ for 1 hour LOL I get one from massage envy for 100$ or a high-end couples massage for 175 in Bellevue, WA. IT is LUDACRIS! The view is terrible too unless you get a frontal view of the beach, you stare at another run down hotel that's falling apart , paint is chipping off, oh and the glass at their upper rooftop pool is broken and cracked, so its dangerous not sure why they did not fix it. Yes, the staff is nice but they get paid to be nice, food is definitely good but expensive!!! Use only their beaches because if you swim else were the water is dirty and smells like sewage. I posted some pics. Also, few of the pics are from walking into Play De Carmen, the vendors pull you left and right harassing. the hell out of you, angry and lying that they know you from the Reed or ask you to get high lol it's a 45 min walk from your hotels pls use a taxi. It's only 200 pesos which is 9$ yup! Food is t cheap I'd your earring at a fancy restaurant and oh my god what's with ITALIAN food anywhere and everywhere your choice is Italian or Mexican lol hilarious.

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The Reef Playacar Reviews in Other Languages

Review Highlights - The Reef Playacar

Jungle like resort, alot of walking, but everything was in one spot.

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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.

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.

Grand Velas Riviera Maya - Inside the men's restroom nearest Sen Lin restaurant, located at Zen Grand at Grand Velas Riviera Maya resort.

Grand Velas Riviera Maya

(109 reviews)

$$$$

This place has it all. Seriously…read more Incredible stay all around. The service is truly top tier. The staff are attentive, friendly, and always make you feel taken care of without it feeling forced or over the top. The entire resort has a luxury feel from the moment you arrive. Everything is beautiful, calm, and extremely well maintained. The pools and beach are great, and the whole place just feels polished and relaxing. The rooms are especially impressive. Spacious, elegant, and spotless, with a very high end feel that makes it easy to unwind and feel comfortable right away. Overall, it was an amazing experience and easily one of the nicest resorts I've stayed at. Would absolutely come back and highly recommend it.

One of the most amazing experiences of my life! The beach was beautiful lots of activities for…read morekids. Grand class was adults only and absolutely stunning but walking distance from the kids friendly ambassador. There was transportation to get anywhere in the resort. Zen the more jungle focused hotel was Also beautiful. All inclusive 24 hour room service unlimited food and drinks and refillable mini bar. Cocina de autor which is a Michelin star restaurant was amazing , the wine pairing is extra but it's worth it. Piaf has great French food , Frida , Luca , sen Lin and Chaka are kid friendly I missed Chaka but the other three are really excellent. The bistro at grand class is great and azule is a great more casual buffet. There multiple bars the pools and the beach which is beautiful have food and drink service. Some activities are included and the spa is beautiful. My suite was over 1000 square feet with a plunge pool on my balcony. Getting chairs early is key at the pool and the beach. There are bars a coffee shop multiple boutiques gyms and activities. One of my favorite was catch of the day on the beach for lunch . There is a kids and teens club and a kids spa. Beautiful place for a wedding, I saw multiple during my stay. The food is really good! They have a mini golf course most of the year. There is night security and the resort is gated. They have mocktails as well as cocktails. The staff is really friendly. Tipping is optional but tipping in American money is recommended it will get charged to your card. There are three pools not including the spa. One at the grand class ( adult only) , zen, and the ambassador. The ambassador and grand class are walking distance from each other. This resort attracts more than Americans. It's beautiful and a world class resort.

Viceroy Riviera Maya - Coral Restaurant

Viceroy Riviera Maya

(37 reviews)

$$$$

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!

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.

Rosewood Mayakoba - View from Aqui me Quedo restaurant

Rosewood Mayakoba

(62 reviews)

$$$$

Mayakoba

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.

Within five minutes of arriving at the Rosewood Mayakoba, we looked at each other and said, "I'd…read moretotally come back here." From check-in to check-out, every person we encountered was nicer than the next. Service from reception to the pool/beach to the butler service to housekeeping to servers in the restaurants -- everyone lovely, taking their time and just giving us a wonderful experience. Our room. Holy smokes. We were lucky enough to end up with an upgrade, and so were in a lagoon king suite. Every morning, I'd sit out on our deck, next to our plunge pool, drink my coffee and listen to the birds. Turtles would swim around, pop their heads up and then plunk back down under the water. The living room area was almost entirely glass, then led back to the bedroom -- with probably the most comfortable bed and pillows I've ever experienced. The bathroom was huge -- with two separate sinks, a dressing area just outside, large tub and even larger separate shower. The back glass wall looked out into our private outdoor shower. This room was so beautiful, we didn't even mind the two days when it rained -- stormed, really. To be able to sit and just look out at the beautiful nature and watch the rain was almost as special as being able to sit at the beach and look out at the water. I'm going to see whether I can share separate reviews of the restaurants, but in the meantime, I'll say all the food we had at the resort was excellent. We also took a cooking class, and learned a bit about how to make some of the food. Truly hope to be able to return!

Paradisus La Perla - Jr suite

Paradisus La Perla

(196 reviews)

Luis Donaldo Colosio

We stayed in the Paradisus family section of the hotel…read more We were traveling with 9 people, 3 of which were children. This is the reason we chose your resort in the first place. About 2 weeks prior to coming to the resort we reached out to your resort to make dinner reservations, knowing after a long day in the pools and the sun the kids would need to eat by a certain time and then be ready for bed. You responded to us that it would not be necessary to make reservations , there was plenty of room. This was clearly NOT the case upon arrival. One of the adults we were traveling with literally stood in line for almost 2 hours to make our dinner reservations for the week. The available times were 5:00pm or 9:00 pm. This was very disappointing as well as horrible times for a group of 9 to eat. When I went to the concierge desk to discuss this with them, the person sitting there was rude and took no accountability for this, they advised us to bring it up with guest services. The rooms were lovely and very clean, The pool areas were well maintained and very clean. The staff working the pool area was extremely attentive. Overall, it was a nice place, very kid friendly.

If you had food poisoning symptoms around mid/ end of March 2026, please reach out to me. We…read morereceived stomach pain quite immediately after eating, 10-20 minutes and nausea symptoms a few hours after completing dining and vomiting I will be updating my review on the rest of our stay, which was phenomenal otherwise, but the post is for visibility purposes.

The Carmen Hotel - Room layout

The Carmen Hotel

(37 reviews)

$$

Centro

You definitely get what you paid for. This is not a resort hotel so don't have high expectations…read more Pictures included! Location is good if you like being close to the Avenida 10 for the nightlife. Close to everything. Beachfront. Cons of location: close to beach so people there all night long, close to Avenida 10 so it's loud all night, roosters next door wake you up early every morning. Keeping mind cars don't go down to the front of the hotel so you'll have to walk a few blocks with your luggage for arrival/departure. Amenities: so so. Our safe didn't work but they fixed it the next day. Our TV didn't work all 5 nights we were there. The fridge is too small, the bathroom is tiny and not private. You literally have 2 inches away from your knees when sitting on toilet, small like airplane toilet. There are no phones in the room which is annoying bc if you need anything, you have to go down to the front desk to ask. One of the two elevators was out of service. Bathrooms in lobby and rooftop bar are tiny and dirty. Although they have usb plugs in the rooms, some are so janky that they don't work or are falling off the wall. The mirror in the room was literally hanging on by a thread, we thought it'd fall for sure. If you get free breakfast make sure you get a ticket each morning for the restaurant before ordering food otherwise they won't comp it. This is something the front desk agent failed to tell us when we checked in so we had to argue/fight for our free meal with both the FD and with the restaurant. Poor communication. The rooftop pool is disgusting! they said the water is green bc of chemicals they put in it and told us to wait two hours for them to dissolve. The water stayed green and I swimmable the entire time. We had to buy a day pass at another resort to be able to enjoy a swimming pool. There are no lounge chairs to use on the beach, that's falsely advertised when booking this hotel. The beds were surprisingly comfortable but the rooms/hotel are outdated and could use upgrades/renovations. Like I said in intro, you definitely get what you paid for so don't have high expectations. It's not a dump but I wouldn't give this higher than a 3 star rating. The WiFi in the hotel was down/slow the entire time!

From the moment we checked in, issues started and were never properly addressed. We booked the room…read morethat was advertised as oceanfront but was bar front. We paid extra for this and didn't get it. The Room & Amenities: * The AC was not working from the start, and our sliding door didn't lock to the main bar . We reported both issues, but nothing was done, despite following up multiple times. * The room had a strong musty/moldy smell, which gave me headaches whenever I was inside. It was far from welcoming. * The toilet water pressure was embarrassingly bad, and the rain shower barely worked--taking 10 minutes to warm up, with only half of the sprayers functioning. The bathtub was also unusable due to a faulty drain plug and sprayer. * The TV didn't work properly due to poor internet, so we couldn't even use it in the evenings. * The room was advertised as oceanfront but was actually bar-front, meaning we heard loud music and noise at all hours. Music even started at 7 AM on Sunday. * The sheets were extremely rough and uncomfortable, and while the pillows were nice, the pillowcases were terrible. Hotel Conditions & Service: * The hallway and bar area flooded multiple times during our stay. * One elevator was out of service, causing long waits. * The entire hotel felt run-down, with moldy grout, peeling paint, crooked doors, and worn-out furniture. * Rooms were not soundproof at all--you could hear every noise from the hallway and hotel bar. Staff & Customer Service: * While the cleaning staff did an excellent job, the front desk and maintenance staff were unresponsive. * The bartender initially told us we could charge drinks to our room, but the next day, my husband was accused of walking out on the bill--an incredibly unprofessional experience. The Positives: * The cleaning staff was detail-oriented and thorough. * The restaurant food was good, and the staff there was friendly. * The location is great, and the rooftop offers a nice view. Overall, we expected much more from this hotel, especially for a special occasion. The lack of customer service, the deteriorating conditions, and the inconveniences made for a frustrating and uncomfortable stay. We would not recommend The Carmen Hotel and will not be returning. We have received no appropriate response from management even 2 weeks after our stay. Very disappointing.

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!

The Reef Playacar - hotels - Updated May 2026

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