Playacar Palace

Carla Martins de Melo

Our experience at Playacar Palace Resort was absolutely wonderful, from arrival to departure. Everything was perfect. The service from the entire hotel staff was exceptional — everyone was friendly, attentive, and very polite. The hotel itself is cozy, peaceful, and perfect for a family stay. The food is amazing (you can tell by the number of photos I added to this review 🤭). The hotel is also extremely clean. The restaurant staff were lovely, especially Elvia, who was always kind, friendly, and took the time to talk with us. The MoMo restaurant, with its oriental cuisine, is simply divine. Abner, who served us both times we dined there, was very pleasant, friendly, and extremely polite. At the pool area, all the staff were always attentive, making sure we were well taken care of. Juliana, who served us for two days, was also incredibly kind and courteous — actually, everyone was amazing. A truly wonderful hotel — 10/10. We will definitely be back!

Olivia Dasilva

Overall, this resort was okay and disappointing for the price. The pictures make it seem much nicer than it actually is. It’s a small resort with not much to do, limited activities, a small gym, loud pool music at times, and most of the good pool chairs are reserved early. The food was underwhelming overall, though dinner service was excellent and the staff was very attentive and kind. We loved Momo and the hibachi the best! Resort credits sounded great when we booked but very limited on what you could use them for and came with extra fees. The beach is more for the view than actual use. We also had issues with poor communication, especially around a golf outing on my birthday where transportation details were never communicated, yet it was treated as our fault. While they rebooked us, we were still very disappointed that no compensation was offered. The resort is very clean, and it’s conveniently located near the main shops and downtown, which was a plus. Our initial room had no ocean view at all which is what we had booked so they had to move us the next day. Room service was great and they did make our anniversary feel special. The staff was truly the highlight of our stay, but overall this was not a five-star experience and did not meet expectations for the cost.

batel hayal

Very disappointing experience at this hotel I travel to Mexico several times a year, and this was unfortunately one of the most disappointing hotel stays I have experienced. The hallways frequently smelled strongly of food and were not consistently clean. During our stay, we saw plates, cups, and leftover food left in the corridors for extended periods of time, which did not meet the standards expected from a property that presents itself as a luxury resort. The room cleanliness was also below expectations, which made our stay uncomfortable. One morning, I went to the pool with my one-year-old son and my four-year-old daughter. Most of the sunbeds were reserved for members. When my husband sat on one of the available chairs, a staff member informed him that it was reserved and advised him to look for other seating on his own, without offering assistance. I later spoke with reception and asked about leaving early due to our experience. I was informed that any refund approval would need to come from another department, and no written confirmation could be provided at that time. Due to these issues, we decided to leave the hotel three days earlier than planned. We were not refunded for the unused nights. I hope management reviews these concerns and improves both service and cleanliness standards for future guests.

Chani Palace

After booking this resort, I’ll admit I was extremely nervous. I deep-dived into the reviews and got worried about the beach and some people’s negative experiences. But I have to say—the hotel truly exceeded our expectations. Yes, the beach directly by the hotel is very small, and the water comes right up to it. However, if you walk literally two minutes (if that), right across the way there’s a really nice small beach area where you can relax and play. It was perfect for our family’s needs and absolutely beautiful. I also loved that you could sit on a sun chair near the water without sitting directly in the sand—perfect for anyone who hates the sensory overload of sand. The rooms are on the smaller side, and the beds are quite small. Definitely do not expect a queen-size bed—it’s smaller than a full and not ideal for two people. Keep that in mind. That said, they brought in a rollaway bed for my son, which made a huge difference and worked out well for us. The staff was incredibly friendly, sweet, and accommodating. We have some dietary restrictions, and I emailed the hotel ahead of time. They were fully prepared for us upon arrival and were amazing about meeting our needs. The location of the hotel is fantastic—right by the main area. It was so nice to be able to step outside and really experience Mexico, feel the city vibe, and not feel isolated like you sometimes do at large luxury resorts. You truly get the best of both worlds: luxury inside, real Mexico just steps away. One thing I do want to mention is the entertainment. At least the Caribbean show was definitely not family-friendly. I genuinely felt like I had accidentally taken my son to a strip club, which made me hesitant to bring him to any of the other shows afterward. That’s something the hotel could absolutely improve. Overall, we had a beautiful time. My son loved the kids’ program, and despite a few drawbacks, we would definitely come back again.

Elaine

We stayed here over Christmas break, and what makes this place wonderful is the staff. We travel often and have stayed at many all-inclusive resorts, but the service here is incomparable. Eduardo at the front desk was very welcoming, while Jesus enthusiastically helped us with learning about the resorts and the area. We did a bike tour with Erik ( Alejandro), and he exceeded all expectations, teaching us about the area and his culture with such passion. The breakfast buffet was fresh and plentiful, and Roberto would fill our coffee mugs as soon as we sat down, with a big, welcoming smile. The service at all restaurants was incredible, making up for the average food. I can't forget to mention the hotel lobby drinks, just delicious! I can't forget to thank Dulce for the most relaxing pedicure. Will definitely be back!