Why We Recommend It:
Royal Hideaway Playacar is a 5-Star all-inclusive for adults only in Playa del Carmen that is a low-key, classy antidote to the many high-energy all-inclusives of the Riviera Maya.
It has 6 gourmet restaurants, all a la carte, 3 bars, 6 pools, a full-service spa, a fitness center, numerous land and water sports facilities, and a gorgeous stretch of white sand beach among its attractions.
It can get lively but it’s not a party resort. The upmarket clientele is mainly looking to relax, and the atmosphere is laid back and friendly.
Rooms & Suites:
Royal Hideaway Playacar has 201 old colonial-style rooms in various semi-identical low-rise buildings surrounded by lush foliage.
All are elegant, beautifully furnished, and with luxury hotel amenities like cable TV, free minibars, safes, coffeemakers, music stations, and air-con.
None are supremely spacious though all come with some outside space – a patio or balcony, and they have very plush marble bathrooms with spa baths.
Take a look at your room options now – with prices, reviews, and photos – at Expedia here or at Booking.com here.
Food, Facilities & Things to Do:
The food at Royal Hideaway Playacar is very highly rated. It’s a 5 Star hotel with a fairly sophisticated clientele so expectations may be high from the start but few people come away disappointed.
There are no buffets here, all is a la carte. The one drawback to this here it seems is that the restaurants are busy and reservations are required for all except one, though you have 24-hour room service and the bars serve food too.
Most have quite formal dining areas and three have formal dress codes – Las Ventanas, Azia and Palazzo.
Las Ventanas is open for dinner only and has a chef’s table where guests have front-row seats at the cooking station and can chat with the chef. There is an extra charge for this and it will need to be booked in advance.
Palazzo is another stylish venue serving Italian, again for dinner only. The award-winning Azia does Asian fusion – Thai and Japanese mainly.
Spices does some great Mexican and in a lovely setting but the atmosphere is informal and there is no dress code either there or in The Grill, a romantic outdoor spot with lovely views.
There is no dress code at any of the bars and most also serve food alongside a great range of premium drinks both alcoholic and non-alcoholic.
You may want to get a bit dressed up for the elegant Piano Bar though, right next door to Las Ventanas. There is no swim-up bar but The Deck Bar serves as a pool bar and serves food all day too.
Bar Allegria has mainly outdoor seating and opens the latest of all, until 1 am.
There is usually some low-key nightly entertainment at the resort – live music at the piano bar for example and regular theater performances.
The theater also has a restaurant and bar, Club Royale Theater, open around performance times and requiring formal dress.
The resort’s spa center is a very elegant space with an adjacent fitness center. It’s relatively small and cozy but has a very good range of treatments.
Your all-inclusive includes non-motorized water sports such as kayaking, windsurfing, Hobie Cats, and snorkeling. Scuba diving and water skiing etc. are also available for an extra fee.
On land there are two flood-lit tennis and basketball courts, ping pong tables, bocce ball, and free bikes for hire.
Resort Location:
Royal Hideaway Playacar has possibly the nicest private section of Playacar Beach, a few minutes from Playa del Carmen center.
The nearest airports are on the island of Cozumel and Cancun, with Cancun, though farther, being a bit more convenient. The journey time from there is about an hour.
Some Guest Reviews:
“This was such a fun solo trip stay! It was quiet, clean and delicious food options with endless drinks. Just a walk down the beach and you’re at the next party but you can go back to your room and enjoy peace and quiet. I thoroughly enjoyed my stay and can’t wait to bring friends back!....”
“We absolutely love this resort! The staff was amazing from the concierge to the servers to the room service. Incredible attention to detail and very accommodating. When our shuttle back to the airport fell through they were quick to remedy the situation and arrange a taxi for us. The infinity pool was our favorite spot and we enjoyed all of our meals. They even remembered we were celebrating our 25th and left a bottle of champagne and chocolate covered strawberries. Thank you so much Royal Hideaway for making our stay so special!….”