Hotel Riu Playacar - All Inclusive

The beach was one of the best parts: it’s huge, clean, and never seemed overcrowded. The hotel is also super close to Fifth Avenue, which made it easy to explore beyond the resort. My room on the third floor was clean, comfortable, and well maintained. There’s no elevator, but that honestly didn’t bother me. Service throughout the resort was good, and the drinks were consistent and enjoyable. For dining, the Italian restaurant and The Palms were my favorites, both for quality and atmosphere. I had a really enjoyable stay at Riu Playacar.

The beach is wide and long, with soft powdery white sand and lovely swimming areas, even though beaches in Playa, . del Carmen have been washed out. There was sargassum, but the hotel cleared it promptly each morning. Of the three pools, one is geared toward families, one is more adult-oriented, and one in the middle is adults-only with a swim-up bar. I liked that the bar area has plenty of tables and seating, so everyone isn’t crowded around the bartenders. Our junior suite was clean, spacious, well equipped, and regularly serviced. The grounds and pools were impressive. The entertainment team worked hard, but a lot of the shows felt like the same old routine. The Michael Jackson show stood out as the best of the ones I saw, with videos and good sound giving it a more modern feel. The mechanical karaoke-style evenings got old after a while. Compared with the flame dancers and acrobatic performances at the dinky Wyndham, I’d rate the entertainment here low. During the day, animation staff were posted around the resort for activities like pool table and beanbag toss. Some encouraged guests to join in, while others stood by quietly and didn’t manage aggressive players, which made it harder for everyone else to participate. The coconut dance and other daytime activities were imaginative and kept us moving. We mostly ate at the buffet. Each evening there was a big meat dish with the usual sides. We enjoyed ham, lamb, beef, roast, turkey, and roast chicken. The food was plentiful, fresh, and well supplied, but repetitive. Fruit was fresh, tasty, and there were lots of options. I always judge a place by its desserts, and these were gelatinous, hard to distinguish by flavor, and unimaginative all week. I miss the wonderful custard I discovered in Mexico and enjoyed for years. It seems to have been replaced with a flour-based custard-like item that simply doesn’t taste good. I’d return and recommend this Riu to friends.

We had a top-floor room in block 7 overlooking the pool for our three-week stay. It was as described and there were no problems. Unlike other RIU resorts, we didn’t get branded drinks in the room optics, but they gave us a bottle or two of Smirnoff Vodka when we asked. Our cleaner, Antonyo, did a really good job every day, and we made sure to look after him at the end of the holiday. I’ve travelled around for years and never seen so many people cleaning. They scrubbed the pool and walkway floors, doors, walls, toilets, and restaurants every day. At 04:00 a.m. we saw five workers in white uniforms cleaning the beach sunbeds and tables for the next day, wearing little lights on their heads. Fantastic, you couldn’t make it up! I also loved seeing the little lad on his ladder cleaning the lights along the walkways each day. Great work by everyone at RIU Playercar Mexico. The main restaurant is international and has something for everyone. You have to choose what you like, rather than complain about what you don’t. For us, the Steak House was best: rib-eye with garlic and gravy was amazing. We didn’t want the full meal, so we asked for just the main course and they were happy to help. A few people around us seemed to wonder why we were served first, but we only wanted the main, not starters every time. That’s people for you. It was a great holiday with hardworking staff.

We’ve just returned from our stay, 4th-18th January 2026, and would definitely go back. The hotel was really clean, right on the beach, with plenty of sunbeds. Food was nice, with lots of choice, and the staff were amazing, kind, and friendly. The entertainment team were funny and full of enthusiasm. There are no lifts in the accommodation blocks, just stairs, but staff try to accommodate requests. Highly recommend.