Best Beach Resorts in Playa del Carmen

Whether you’re looking to relax or chase adventure, the Grand Hyatt Playa del Carmen Resort is the ideal location for a beachside vacation. Ready to unwind? Lounge around the indoor or outdoor pool areas while the staff brings your favorite drinks and snacks. For the utmost relaxation, schedule a trip to the award-winning Cenote Spa for a massage or facial.

Guests of the Grand Hyatt Resort are also privy to some of the most mesmerizing views of the Maya Riviera. Many of the hotel’s 314 rooms offer 180-degree beach views, providing an idyllic perspective of the coastline. The resort’s outdoor infinity pools further enhance the tropical experience by creating the illusion that they flow directly into the beautiful turquoise ocean.

The resort also offers an on-site restaurant, The Grill, and snack bar, as well as 24-hour room service. In-room amenities include a minibar, flat-screen TV and free WiFi. For outdoor activities, visit their garden area, take a dip in the ocean or go boating to get a closeup view of the area’s majestic sea life.

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You don’t have to worry about hidden costs at Allegro Playacar, as “all-inclusive” means just that. Three restaurants and five bars—including a swim-up bar—offer unlimited meals, appetizers, snacks and beverages. Choose from Mexican, Italian, International, Asian, pizza and grilled favorites. When you want to play sports activities include volleyball, tennis, beach soccer, diving lessons, kayaking, sailing and of course lounging in one of the two glimmering pools—one is active and lively and the other a designated quiet pool.

While all of this might leave little time to spend in your room, the accommodations at Allegro Playacar are bright, clean and comfortable. Caribbean-style bungalows with thatched roofs add to the picturesque setting of the resort. Amenities—depending on which type of room you choose—include a terrace or balcony, hammock, ocean view, king-size bed and in-room minibar. Family accommodations with two bedrooms and suite options are available.

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If you’re looking for a resort that boasts both stylish architecture and stunning natural beauty, a kid-friendly atmosphere, and lots of on-site amenities and activities, look no further than the Banyan Tree Mayakoba Resort in Playa del Carmen. The options here are endless, beginning with the eclectic dining options—all of which are rated highly by guests and critics alike. And, whether you’re working on your handicap or playing for the love of the game, playing through the 18 holes at El Camaleon—home to the annual Mayakoba Golf Classic, the only PGA Tour event in Mexico—is a must.

Of course, after a long day at the golf course, you’ll want to unwind in your own private paradise, and the rooms here fit that bill perfectly. Each of the Banyan Tree’s luxury villas is quite large and showcase the same impeccable eye for design you’ll see on the rest of the property. On top of that, each comes with its own private garden area, complete with its own pool—meaning you won’t have to compete for a lounge chair when it comes time to go for a swim.

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Smack-dab in the middle of the Mayan Riviera’s hottest tourist destination, Hilton Playa del Carmen provides exactly the kind of luxury you want on your Mexican beach getaway. All accommodations are suites, and all have private balconies or terraces as well as whirlpool tubs. Swim-up suites are available, as well as suites with beachfront walkouts.

Unwind at the beach or at one of the resort’s pools; find a spot at the Olympic-sized freshwater pool, tranquil relaxation pool or in-pool hot tubs. Then, once your stresses have melted away, there are plenty of activities to fill the sunshine-splashed days: volleyball, tennis, Pilates, snorkeling, culinary classes, dance lessons, scuba lessons, kayaking and ping pong are some of the many things you can do without ever leaving the property.

The resort’s seven restaurants offer cuisine for every taste and mood. Choose from Asian fusion, traditional Mexican, Mediterranean, Mexican-French fusion, Caribbean fusion, American and International cuisine. Sample tequila at the Tequileria & Cigar Club Bar, relax poolside at the Trade Winds Bar, catch your favorite game at the Lobby Bar, or enjoy a perfect cup of coffee at the Royal Coffee House, the resort’s European-style gourmet café.

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Mahekal Beach Resort features 196 rooms with ocean or garden views, and many are thatched-roof bungalows. The décor—described by the resort itself as “Gypset style”–tastefully and seamlessly blends Mexican tradition with forward-thinking design. The beach is, of course, the main attraction, and 920 feet of soft, white sand–the longest uninterrupted beach in Playa–is just what the doctor ordered to unwind and disconnect. Recent additions to the resort include an ice cream shop and a boutique that offers exclusive Mahekal beachwear and unique, locally-made gifts and art.

Four pools are located onsite, including an infinity pool, a heated pool with a hot tub and a pool with a swim-up bar. Choose the Las Olas Pool for a gorgeous beachfront setting or the Treehouse Pool for a serene garden location; you’ll share the space with birds, iguanas and lush jungle vegetation. Additionally, many of the oceanfront casitas have their own private plunge pool.

Three bars and three restaurants are on-premises and ready to serve guests. The Cocina Restaurant is open-air and great for a breezy lunch, while Las Olas Restaurant and Bar offers a magical nighttime setting by the glow of the pool lights. Check out Boli’s Bar for drinks and a fun atmosphere, and try your skills at table tennis or at one of the cobalt-blue pool tables.

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For a quiet, romantic beach getaway, couples can’t do better than this adults-only resort on one of the most spectacular slices of white-sand beach in the Western hemisphere. It’s the best of both worlds, perfectly located near—but not in the center of—Playa del Carmen’s pulsing downtown and eclectic La Quinta Avenida. Royal Hideaway Playacar offers plenty of tranquility and solitude, and the fun, vivacious beach-town vibe of Playa is just a short drive away.

By the numbers, the resort boasts six swimming pools, six restaurants and 201 spacious rooms. Take advantage of the spa and state-of-the-art fitness center or sip on an island cocktail at the solarium while sinking into a luxurious Balinese bed. You don’t have to leave the premises for great outdoor activities: spend your day sailing, windsurfing, snorkeling, kayaking, fishing or playing tennis. The Yucatán offers some of the best diving in the world, and the scuba diving center offers everything from A to Z: equipment sales and rental, lessons and classes for certification. If you want to hit the links, no problem—a great golf course is less than two miles away.

The Retreat, Royal Hideaway Playacar’s aptly named spa, deserves special mention. Couples and individuals can indulge in fit-for-royalty services, which include massages, facials, body wraps, aromatherapy, deep skin cleansing and revitalizing vitamin C therapy. Privacy and discretion are always given proper attention. And could anything be more romantic than a massage by candlelight, right on the seashore?

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If you’re looking for a romantic getaway on a sun-drenched white-sand beach with plenty of sunbeds, cabanas and palapas, this is the place for you. The rooms are spacious and tastefully-decorated with separate sitting areas and large four-poster beds. The ground floor rooms are swim-up suites.

All-inclusive means exactly that at Secrets Maroma Beach Riviera Cancún. The resort doesn’t skimp on luxury and won’t surprise you with extras fees for the things you want. Enjoy unlimited top-shelf spirits at six different bars and lounges. In-room minibars are refreshed daily with soft drinks, juice, bottled water and beer. Impeccable wait service at the 13 pools and beach means you’ll feel like a VIP as you relax under the warm tropical sunshine. Twenty-four-hour room service is standard, as is free WiFi.

A host of daytime and evening activities, as well as various entertainment venues and theme parties held right on the beach, guarantee that there will never be a dull moment. Tennis, ping-pong, archery, yoga, football, volleyball, dance classes, cocktail classes and various water sports are all available on site. And if you want to hit the links, guests receive complimentary greens fees at the nearby Grand Coral Golf Course. Reservations are never required at the resort’s six á la carte gourmet restaurants. Choose from French, Mexican, Pan Asian, seafood, Italian and international. Check out the Barefoot Grill for a light lunch or the Coco Café for premium coffee and snacks.

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Guests will never run out of things to do and see when they stay at the Azul Fives in Playa del Carmen. This sprawling property caters to families looking for an all-inclusive beachfront experience just outside of the city’s main drag, making it ideal for escaping the stresses of the modern world. There are a whopping 480 units on the property, and accommodations are spacious and modern. Plus, roomier suite options—with kitchenettes and up to three bedrooms—are also available to those traveling with larger groups.

Children of all ages are taken care of here, with numerous amenities for babies, a playfully designed gym for kids ages 4 and up and the Extreme Breeze Teens Club—a great place for older kids to bond over some of their favorite games and activities. There are even spa services intended especially for kids ages 5–17, so parents and children alike can enjoy their own personal day of relaxation. All this, plus some stellar dining options guaranteed to please even the pickiest palates, makes the Azul Fives the perfect pick for your next family beach vacation.

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With just three floors and 27 rooms, you can avoid the tourist crunch and overbearing salespeople that are all too common at large resorts. Thompson Beach House, built in 2016, is a chic little Bohemian getaway and an extension of Thompson Playa del Carmen hotel, located a couple blocks away. The best part of the Beach House is…well, the beach. You could almost throw a stone into the water from the balcony of your ocean-view room—it’s that close. Private daybeds, cabanas and an oceanfront lounge are exclusively for Beach House guests. Bicycles, yoga, paddleboards and other water sports are also available on site.

Guests of the Beach House can take the five-minute walk to the main hotel and enjoy the fantastic infinity pool right on the roof, with seating and private cabanas. The restaurants and bars at the hotel are also available to Beach House guests. This includes access to CATCH, the hotel’s spectacular rooftop restaurant with great seafood and a 360° view of Playa del Carmen from the turquoise Caribbean to the city’s western edge.

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