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The Best Hotels to Book in Playa del Carmen for Every Traveler

The Rosewood Mayakoba offers some of the most relaxing views among the places to stay in Playa del Carmen
The Rosewood Mayakoba offers some of the most relaxing views among the places to stay in Playa del Carmen | Courtesy of Rosewood Mayakoba / Expedia

Choosing a hotel in Playa del Carmen can seem impossible – hotels and resorts are a dime-a-dozen in this Mexican paradise along the Riviera Maya. Luckily, we’re here to help you find the perfect beach resort or poolside getaway to enjoy the sunshine. These are the best places to stay in Playa del Carmen for every traveler, bookable with Culture Trip.

Fairmont Mayakoba

Resort

The expansive and lush outdoor pool area with lounge chairs, palm trees and greenery at Fairmont Mayakoba
Courtesy of Fairmont Mayakoba / Expedia
Foodies can eat to their hearts’ content at the Fairmont Mayakoba, which features an impressive array of menus in its multiple restaurants. From regional dishes such as the huevos motuleños (sunny-side-up eggs served on tortilla with ham, peas, plantain, and salsa roja) to classics with a twist, like the octopus chilaquiles, you won’t leave hungry. Don’t miss the drinks drizzled with honey sourced by the Fairmont’s Melipona bees, whose hive is on display on the resort grounds.

Petit Lafitte Hotel

Hotel

Wood cottage in lush surroundings with mini wood bridge and stone steps to porch at Petit Lafitte Hotel
Courtesy of Petit Lafitte Hotel / Expedia

The Petit Lafitte Hotel is a nod to the old-school hotels that brought American tourists to the Riviera Maya in droves. Hungry minds will be happy to know that the menu is packed with local seafood and traditional Mayan cuisine, while the drinks menu heavily features Mexican spirits. Don’t miss the Fleurs de Prairie, a Côtes de Provence that’s meant for the beach. The hotel’s real gem lies at the back of the property, where the Lafitte family has an orchard and raises Mexican Creole hairless pigs.

Senses Quinta Avenida By Artisan

Hotel

Rooftop infinity pool area with lounge chairs, glass tables and potted plants at Senses Quinta Avenida By Artisan
Courtesy of Senses Quinta Avenida By Artisan / Expedia

Young couples looking for a romantic getaway will find respite at the Senses Quinta Avenida, while also being in the heart of the action – this is one of the best places to stay in Playa del Carmen if you want to be close to the city’s restaurants and nightlife. With just 22 suites in this boutique hotel, some rooms feature jacuzzis just a step away from the bed. All guests can enjoy the rooftop infinity pool that overlooks the art galleries, restaurants and bars on La Quinta Avenida, Playa del Carmen’s main shopping street.

El Dorado Maroma by Karisma

Hotel

Outdoor tiled patio with daybed and dining table looking out to hammocks and the sea beyond at El Dorado Maroma by Karisma
Courtesy of El Dorado Maroma by Karisma / Expedia

Halfway between Playa del Carmen and the sleepy fishing town of Puerto Morelos, El Dorado Maroma’s location means you’ll have all the privacy in the world at this romantic, adults-only escape. For those lucky enough to grab a swim-up suite, you can go for a splash in the pool or slide up to the bar just by stepping off the patio.

Rosewood Mayakoba

Resort, Eco Hotel, Hotel

Luxe seating on a large beachside deck at Rosewood Mayakoba with a small plunge pool and direct views of the turquoise sea
Courtesy of Rosewood Mayakoba / Expedia

Hidden among the Mayakoba complex’s mangrove trees, the Rosewood resort spoils you from the moment you arrive at your hotel room – by gondola, we might add. Dining options from the five restaurants on-site range from Guerrero-style seafood pozole to hibiscus-glazed lamb, while wellness lovers can dive into Ayurvedic healing, Peloton classes, or surfboard HIIT workouts in the pool.

Viceroy Riviera Maya

Resort, Villa

A pool, shaded seating and a view of the Caribbean and palm trees at Viceroy Riviera Maya
Courtesy of Viceroy Riviera Maya / Expedia
Pick between an oceanfront view or a jungle hideaway – the Viceroy has both. Either way, you’ll have everything you could need within the more than 1,000 square feet (93sqm) of your villa. Head over to the Coral Restaurant for chef Carlos Zamora’s lamb osso buco or shrimp in salsa macha, but you’ll want to stick around at the bar to sip on some “jungle water” and watch neighboring Cozumel light up as the sun sets.

Hotel Xcaret

Hotel

Hotel buildings set in lush grounds, with bridge over large lagoon at Hotel Xcaret
Courtesy of Hotel Xcaret / Expedia

If you’re ready for a vacation that’s round-the-clock fun, staying at Hotel Xcaret should be at the top of your list. As part of the Xcaret (pronounced eeksh-ka-ret) nature park, the hotel gives you unlimited access to one of the biggest amusement complexes in the country with over 50 attractions – from the busiest zip line in the world to nighttime jungle rides in an all-terrain vehicle.

Mahekal Beach Front Resort and Spa

Resort, Eco Hotel, Garden Hotel

Mahekal Beach Front Resort and Spa with thatched-roof cabins sitting on the sand surrounded by palm trees
Courtesy of Mahekal Beach Resort / Expedia

From penthouses to treehouses, the Mahekal Beach Front Resort was made with outdoorsy types in mind, with its own established on-site dive shop. Dine in (or out) at the hotel’s thatched-roof, open-air restaurants, or make your own at the casita – preparing fresh hand-nixtamalized tortillas, lime soup, and tikin xic, a citrusy black cod cooked in banana leaves. Once in the water, take your time during a self-paced snorkel tour, or tackle advanced dives inside shipwrecks and cenotes.

Barceló Maya Palace

Hotel

Spacious king room with white tile floors, two-poster bed and sliding doors to balcony with hammock at Barceló Maya Palace
Courtesy of Barceló Maya Palace / Expedia

The exclusivity – along with the water park, miniature golf course, bowling alley, zip lines, and go-kart track – easily make Barceló Maya Palace a family favorite. Maya Palace guests can use facilities at the other Barceló hotels, though it doesn’t work in reverse – meaning the Palace gets all the benefits without any of the crowds. If you are looking to venture outside of the resort, the out-of-this-world Jardín del Edén cenote is right across the highway.

The Fives Beach Hotel and Residences

Resort

A long pool snaking between white low-rise buildings at the Fives Beach Hotel and Residences
Courtesy of the Fives Beach Hotel and Residences / Expedia

Don’t worry about space at the Fives Beach Hotel & Residences, where suites have up to three bedrooms. The Fives keeps a watchful eye over the kiddos, offering babysitting services, a kids club with a rock-climbing wall and soccer field, and a tech-friendly teens club. While they’re otherwise occupied, you’ll have a chance to take a dip in the adults-only pool or slip away to the Japanese-Peruvian restaurant.

Looking for somewhere different to stay? Book into one of the best resorts in Playa del Carmen. Inspire your itinerary with the top things to see and do in this coastal town, including the most beautiful beaches nearby. Feeling peckish? We’ve got you covered with the best restaurants in Playa del Carmen.

About the author

Kylie Madry is a freelance journalist living in Mexico City, working on everything from translating for true-crime podcasts to compiling her favorite sights and sounds across the country. See more of her work or reach out at kyliemadry.com.

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