Playa Palms Beach Hotel

I usually choose a resort, but this time I wanted to experience Playa de Carmen in a more authentic way. Playa Palms had good reviews and the photos looked promising. The staff got in touch as soon as I booked and even suggested ground transportation. Alfredo welcomed me warmly, got me checked in in under eight minutes, and carried my bags to the room. The room was better than I expected, clean, and had everything I’d need to cook and save money. The WiFi was strong, and the A/C and ceiling fan worked well. The hotel staff were kind and genuine. I couldn’t figure out how to lock the door, and the groundskeeper came to show me. I had a nice partial view and felt the tropical breeze while relaxing in the hammock. You can’t swim at the beach, but the loungers on the sand were perfect for relaxing. I was close to all the action, only two blocks from its heart, but far enough away to avoid the nightlife noise. I also walked to Walmart, about half a mile away. There are loads of places to eat, from restaurants to street food, and so many shops and things to do that the choices can feel almost overwhelming. This will be my regular place to stay whenever I come back. It’s perfect!

The pool is a joke, and I wish it were bigger. The beds and pillows could be softer too, and separate blankets for each person would be ideal. Even my teenage son complained about the pillows. I also wish there were handrails on the outer side of the spiral stairs, so the stairs and rails don’t disappear at the same time. My mom fell and sprained her ankle on our first day. Most of all, I expected to be able to reach a walkable, swimmable beach right away. You can’t walk along the beach from this hotel, and swimming there didn’t look safe because of the boats parked there and the rocky shore. The claim of “private beach with pristine white sand shores” is basically a lie, except for “private.” The photos are old. There’s no sand to walk into the water, just rocks. The seaweed situation was awful too. We should have gone to Cozumel or Isla Mujeres, where the mainland-facing beaches aren’t affected by seaweed. The attached property is from the adjacent restaurant and gives an idea of what the actual beach is like.

We gave it 4.6 stars and would happily stay at Playa Palms again if we return to PDC. It was good value, spotless, and the staff were friendly. We could hear the ocean at night, but not the loud clubs nearby, even though they ran from 10:30pm to 3:30am. The rooms have a distinctive style, too. There was no proper beach, just a sandy spot by the water with loungers, palms, and umbrellas. Sargassum was heavy on most days and smelled noticeable a few times, though that wasn't the hotel's fault and the staff worked actively to clear it. We also had no hot water for a day and a half, but it was fixed when they said it would be. Since we booked through an agent, we couldn't use the free breakfast offer for direct bookings.

Breakfast delivered to the patio was a lovely touch. We ate there with the ocean view and morning air, and the inexpensive extra entrees were absolutely worth it. The hotel and room were very clean, and the front desk gave us great, authentic food suggestions. We picked the place for its beach access, ocean-view rooms, and soundproofing, with restaurants, clubs, and shops only minutes away on foot. We had an amazing week, and would come back if we didn't have so many other places we want to see in our lifetime.