Location
Playa del Carmen - BeachProperty information
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Resort details
Hotel advisories
General policies & fine print
Check-in Policy:
Hotel requires a debit card authorization upon check-in for incidentals; this will place a hold on your funds.
Convention Policy - Individuals attending a convention cannot book this property for their stay. If found attending a convention, guests may be subject to higher room rates upon arrival.
Hotel Spring Break Policy -This hotel does not allow groups of students or spring breakers.
Transfer Policy - A price may display when children stay free, if your vacation includes transfer to your hotel.
General Information - Room taxes and service fees are included in vacation price.
Minimum night stay restrictions may apply.
Reservation changes may not be permitted unless authorized by the hotel.
Customer ratings & reviews
TripAdvisor traveler rating
24874 reviews
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Nov 21, 2024Perfect November getaway!
Our annual trip to this resort was a good experience as usual! We meet other RE members whom we have met there every year and have a great time. The beach and ocean were fabulous as were the pools. We enjoyed the buffet and several restaurants and the food was the best that it has been in the past 13 years that we have been there, particularly in El Gaucho. The staff were extremely friendly and helpful particularly: Maddy & Rox in Royal Elite office (they deserve a raise in pay for all that they do!); Cece server at the RE pool; Mariza at the Festival buffet; Odalis server at Le Gaucho; Elona at the Italian; Zyanya the RE rep (so friendly!); Rodrigo, Jose, and Miriam in the Premium bars. I had two wonderful massages from Gaby and Iris! Our Hacienda was lovely and clean and we like the 'firm' mattresses. I know that some of the rooms had AC/hot water issues but not in our hacienda. The nightly shows have changed recently and, although are still well done, our opinion is that they have become 'too theatrical' with overly loud music and annoying lights flashing into the audience which makes it difficult to see the stage at times. The previous Michael Jackson show was much more enjoyable for us. We already booked our trip for next November and look forward to continued updates and improvements at the Sando properties.
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Nov 17, 2024
Epic International at Sandos Playacar
I thought I would write my review a little different this time. We have just returned from our 10th trip to Sandos Playacar, this trip was to celebrate our 20th anniversary with 26 family & friends. Why do we keep going back to this resort? 1. The Beach - this is the nicest beach I’ve ever been to, it’s clean, the sand is warm and you can walk for miles 2. The staff - From our arrival to our departure we are treated like family, staff remember us, ask about our family, and seem genuinely excited to see us again. The service is exceptional at this resort. Yessy at the adult pool - the best outdoor service you will get Isabelle and Gabby in the spa - 2 of the people we spend most of our time with! Both Isabelle and Gabby are so good at what they do, allow them to pamper you! Yamilet at the RE breakfast - Yamilet remembers my favourite table, order and drink every single day, she greets us with a smile and a hug and is so very kind. Vicente (Aiden) at the RE breakfast - another gem of a person, always smiling, so helpful and kind Carlos Puc at the Premium Bar - Carlos has been here longer than I have been coming. He will greet you with a smile and your favourite drink every time Miriam and Jose at Ave Bar - this dynamic duo makes our evening great every time. Miriam is a skilled mixologist and is always smiling, ask her to make you an espresso martini Fabian and Hector at the beach bar - these guys are hopping all day long, they work hard to keep the beach hydrated and they do a fantastic job Daniel at the meeting point premium bar - Daniel makes the best iced baileys coffee at the resort Myrna food and beverage - I call her the hardest working lady at the resort, she is everywhere! I have food allergies and Myrna is so helpful! 3. The location - we can walk into Playacar on the beach or the street, it’s located in a gated community where I’ve always felt safe 4. The animals - from monkeys to mapaches and cats this resort has so much wild life to enjoy 5. The resort itself - There really is a lot to do here, every morning you are blessed with an amazing sunrise, you can attend a beach BBQ for lunch and watch a wedding on the beach at happy hour. You can start or end the day with an amazing massage and a great coffee. You can walk the beach for miles and miles or just sit on a lounger and listen to the palm trees. Before dinner you can enjoy a hand crafted cocktail at Ave bar and then a great sit down dinner at one of the a la cartes. After dinner there’s entertainment, pool, or star gazing on the beach. Then…..we do it all over again. See you again next October Sandos!
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Nov 15, 2024
Great Week at Sandos Playacar
Our family had an incredible time at Sandos Playacar. The pool outside our room in the family section had a fun vibe and often had delicious tacos for lunch. The buffet options for breakfast were more than I could’ve ever imagined! The buffet dinners were also excellent with grilled meat , fresh pasta , poke bowls, lots of authentic Mexican dishes and a margarita bar. The tacos/burrito restaurant was outstanding and great for a quick snack. What really stood out was the Italian restaurant. The food, the ambiance, and Our servers Domingo and Jose were so attentive and knowledgeable. They made our night! The beach and beach pool are excellent along with the entertainment staff. Sergio led a stretch and meditation class that was absolutely amazing! Gal jumped into the pool and played volleyball with a bunch of us playing with a few kids. Again, above and beyond. We had an fantastic family vacation - thank you Sandos!
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Nov 13, 2024Great Resort - Detailed Travel Agent Review
Stayed here for a few days on a work trip, here is my travel agent review (my 4th all inclusive in Mexico) If you're looking for the perfect beach, pool, and nature/tree feel, this is it. Our room was in the adult only side, so less than 2 minute walk to both the adult only pool/beach but the lobby and buffet as well. I would consider coming back with kiddos, as there's lots to do, and the food was great. WONDERFUL beach... lovely white sand, lots of space to walk, and swimmable water. Although end of October isn't high season, there were lots of open chairs all day, which are both under trees and not, so you can easily seek shade if needed. Location: The Playacar is in a gated community with a long list of other resorts, and vacation rentals. About a 20 minute (HOT) walk to 5th Avenue. We took a cab, which cost $15 USD, and was about a 3 minute drive. Check In/Staff: One key feature as a Canadian that I LOVED - AC in the lobby lol When you're getting off that transfer bus and walk into a nice and cold lobby, win for me! (Please note we had a private check in, as we are travel agents) but this process was super smooth, the lineup at the regular desk seemed to move very fast, and they were organized with the bag method. They get you your room number and bracelet, and you write your room number on the tags for your luggage for the bell boys. We had a group of 11, so it took about an hour for all of us to get into our rooms and luggage delivered. I made sure to tip these guys, they don't stop and were so kind! Food 8/10. Buffet had the best selection of the Sandos resorts that we went to, (Eco, and Cancun), plenty of options, multiple cook to order stations, crepes, eggs, meats, fish etc, lots of kid items, fresh fruit, pastas, desserts, ice cream station, and a gluten free section. We ate at a few different restaurants, split into groups. I enjoyed the French restaurant, the apple tart was one of the best desserts I've ever had! Overall I'd say we all enjoyed the meals. We had a few allergies in the group, and this resort was very on top of asking as soon as we entered, as well as the servers asking again when taking drink orders. We also enjoyed the Mexican restaurant as a group, and the fajitas were super yummy! We did find service in the a la cart restaurants very slow. So if you're looking for a speedy dinner, head to the buffet ;) The cupcake/coffee bar was a big win for me. Sometimes it's hard to get cold coffees down south, and this place was so cute. Not super consistent or perfect for orders, but a nice list of cold slushy coffee/chocolate options to work with! Rooms: (Select Club Adults only section, Select Superior room 1318 for reference, no balcony but could see the ocean!) - this section is the last to be renovated. Definitely outdated, but was totally fine. No large concerns, other than the outlets weren't the best. I had to test a few to find one that my plugs would stay in, as they were quite loose. This was a trend at all 3 Sandos resorts, so possibly just resort electrical in general :) This section has a beautiful green area in the center of the building, (photo added), and lots of monkeys hanging around! Literally! I loved opening my door to hear the leaves blowing and the water feature below. Working safe, AC nice and cold, personal water dispenser, daily housekeeping, hot water, awesome pressure, super comfy large bed, and overall clean. Additional rooms: We toured the property, and saw both the Family Section: Riviera Family King Jr, and Queen suites. As well as the Hacienda Junior, and 1 bedroom suites. These are newly renovated sections, and they are beautiful. These rooms are further towards the entrance of the resort, so a bit of a walk to the beach. The Hacienda are 6 unit buildings, with a shared pool area surrounded by trees. Looking like a small backyard, these are a great option for families! They give a condo feel, and would allow parents to get some outdoor time while babe naps inside just a few feet away! Entertainment: We had the pleasure of seeing 2 evenings of shows. Night 1 - Beauty and The Beast - just amazing! There was lots of seating, with a bar next to the large stage, and these dancers were great. The kids up front loved the show, as well as all of us adults. Night - Lady Gaga Tribute. This woman could SING. This was our favourite, as the dancers, main singer, costumes, and band were just incredible... bravo to them! Size & Grounds: This resort is quite large, so if you have little children, or accessibility issues, it's a bit of a walk from the Hacienda/Family rooms to the main buffet/lobby/and beach if this is what you're here for! There is a small golf cart style shuttle that runs constantly to help. We never waited more than 5 minutes for one, but they do fill up quickly! The grounds are well taken care of, with lots of beautiful greenery and plants. There are staff to be seen everywhere cleaning or landscaping etc. We even got to see them taking some coconuts off of trees for safety, which was a cool process! There are many cats, monkeys, and agouti on the resort which were awesome to see. We had no issues with them stealing our food or on our tables etc, but just use common sense and don't feed them. Additional: They have a Kids Club, pickle ball and tennis courts, a mini golf course, and water park. There is an arcade style place for kids as well, which turns into a kids night club until 11pm, next to the cupcake shop. CONS: (Please note I am being nit-picky) Outdated rooms: I noted above, the rooms we stayed in are the last to be renovated, which again, I was fine with. If you are looking for top of the line, these are not it. The newer section that I also noted above would be better suited. Outlets not consistent Other guests in our section had little to no wifi (you are in the jungle folks) No balcony (although my room had a bit of an ocean view, I could care less lol) Leak by my window NO SWIM UP BAR IN ADULT POOL - I know this can be a deal breaker for some, so thought I'd note. There is one in the family pool... sort of backwards to me but that's the setup! Slow service at buffet tables, depending on time of day, and a la carts. Clear weather damage in buffet ceiling needing repair (some large visible holes) Overall comments: I would 100% return here with my husband in the adult only section, or as a family with our kids with so much for them to do! The location, grounds, lush greenery, STUNNING beach and food are enough for me. The staff was lovely, and overall I had a great stay here. I would definitely recommend it to others!
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Nov 10, 2024
The wait staff was the best part of our experience. Thank you Karen and David.
Karen and David were very attentive to our family needs. They kept replenishing our drinks and were patient with the kids. The food was adequate but nothing extra special. It was a nice experience to sit and eat rather than go to a buffet so we will try it again at Restaurante Frances.