Royal Hideaway Playacar

Rooms and suites

Rooms are about 528 square feet with a balcony, king or two queen beds and a hydro-massage tub. Relax Pool rooms are near the quiet pools, and Sunrise rooms are close to the beach.

• Luxury and Luxury Royal-View rooms (about 528 sq ft)
• Luxury Relax Pool rooms
• Luxury Sunrise rooms near the beach (about 538 sq ft)

Restaurants and bars

The all-inclusive plan covers unlimited meals, snacks, domestic and select international drinks, room service, gratuities and taxes. Dinner at most venues requires a reservation and a collared shirt and long pants. A nine-course Chef’s Table with wine pairing is available inside Ventanas for a surcharge.

• Spices: Mexican and Caribbean, all day
• Ventanas: Mediterranean Andaluz, dinner, signature restaurant
• Palazzo: Italian, dinner
• Azia: Japanese and Asian, dinner
• The Grill: steak and seafood, alfresco dinner
• The Deck: international breakfast and lunch over the sea
• Chef’s Table Experience: nine-course tasting menu, surcharge

Beach, pools and spa

The resort sits on a swimmable beach in Playacar and has six pools, including three relaxing pools and a cascading infinity-edge pool facing the beach, plus a hot tub.

Retreat Spa offers treatments for an extra charge, and there is a fitness center.

Activities and entertainment

Activities are relaxed and adult-focused: tennis, basketball, table tennis, kayaking, pilates and yoga during the day, and a weekly theater show and evening entertainment at night.

Playacar is a quiet gated area, and Fifth Avenue’s shops and restaurants are about a 20-minute walk away. Golf is nearby, and the Cozumel ferry, Xcaret park, cenotes and the Tulum ruins make easy excursions.

Who it’s best for

Royal Hideaway Playacar is a good match for couples who prefer a smaller resort with attentive service and a beach in a quiet area, while still being close to town.

• Best for: adult couples and honeymooners who want a small, service-focused all-inclusive on the beach, within walking distance of Playa del Carmen.
• Consider another resort if: you are travelling with children, or you want a big resort with lots of nightlife on site.

Getting there from Cancun International Airport

Royal Hideaway Playacar is about 45 minutes from Cancun International Airport (CUN), south along Highway 307 to Playa del Carmen. To skip the taxi lines, you can book a private Cancun airport transfer in advance so your driver is waiting when you land.

After immigration and customs at Cancun airport, you pass a hall of desks offering taxis, tours and timeshare deals. If your transfer is already booked, walk straight through to the outdoor meeting area where drivers wait with name signs. Pre-booking also fixes the price, which helps if you land late or travel with a group and luggage.

Good to know

Playa del Carmen is warm all year, with the dry season from about December to April being the most popular time to visit. The Atlantic hurricane season runs from June to November, and seaweed (sargassum) can reach the beaches in the warmer months, so check recent beach reports before you go. Ferries to Cozumel leave from the town center throughout the day.

• Check-in 3:00 pm, check-out 12:00 pm
• Adults only: minimum age 18
• Complimentary Wi-Fi throughout the resort
• An environmental tax is paid at the hotel per room, per day
• Spa treatments and the Chef’s Table cost extra
• Dress code at dinner: collared shirt and long pants