We independently evaluate all of our recommendations. If you click on links we provide, we may receive compensation. Hotels + Resorts Hotels to Book for a Trip to Playa del Carmen These are the Playa del Carmen resorts to have on your radar. By Meagan Drillinger Meagan Drillinger Meagan Drillinger left New York City for a life on the road. She has spent the majority of her career traveling and living in Mexico, and is passionate about seeing destinations in a slow-paced, immersive manner. Travel + Leisure Editorial Guidelines Updated on September 23, 2022 Photo: Grand Hyatt When it comes to selecting a Playa del Carmen resort, travelers are truly spoiled for choice. The town is one of the top destinations in Mexico for fabulous hotels and resorts, so narrowing the list down can be a bit of a challenge. With so many things to explore right on your doorstep, from sugary beaches and crystalline water to inland jungles teeming with natural beauty and a thriving downtown that vibrates with restaurants, bars, and clubs, Playa del Carmen is one of Mexico’s ultimate beach getaways. When planning your visit to this tropical stretch of the Caribbean, it's important to keep in mind the vibe you're chasing. Whether you're looking for all-inclusive or adults-only, a five-star beach paradise or a downtown resort with an A-list pool scene, Playa del Carmen's resorts will deliver. Best Playa del Carmen Hotels of 2023 Editor’s Pick: Paradisus Playa del Carmen Fairmont Mayakoba Grand Hyatt Playa del Carmen Resort Thompson Playa del Carmen Main House Grand Velas Riviera Maya Rosewood Mayakoba Hotel Xcaret Arte Mahekal Beach Resort Viceroy Riviera Maya Secrets Maroma Beach Riviera Cancún Editor’s Pick: Paradisus Playa del Carmen Paradisus Playa del Carmen Learn More Why We Chose It Paradisus Playa del Carmen is an all-inclusive luxury resort just steps from the beach and features a water park, 22 restaurants, and multiple pools. Key Specs Free Wi-Fi: YesResort fee: NoRoom rate: $$$ Notable Amenities 8,500-square-foot spa, water park, evening shows Hotel Description Cushioned between powder-soft sand and mangrove jungle, Paradisus Playa del Carmen is a sprawling playground with something for every style of traveler. Families gravitate toward the swooping water slides and multiple pools, while adults unplug at the palatial YHI Spa. Twenty-two restaurants and bars promise never-ending dining options. For a little extra oomph, consider splurging on The Reserve, a VIP experience that includes access to a private beach, pool, and Reserve-only restaurants. Fairmont Mayakoba Fairmont Mayakoba Learn More Why We Chose It Fairmont Mayakoba is an iconic five-star resort on one of the most beautiful beaches in Playa del Carmen. Key Specs Free Wi-Fi: YesResort fee: Yes, $27 per adult per nightRoom rate: $$$$ Notable Amenities Rooms with private plunge pools, spa treatment credit per room per stay, complimentary catamaran tours Hotel Description Backed by a wide, sun-bleached stretch of sand and veined with canals that slice through thick mangrove jungle, the Fairmont Mayakoba property is one of the loveliest in Playa del Carmen. Sprawl out by the sun-caressed oceanfront pools, or take a wildlife tour in one of the many boats that cruise the canals. The Mayakoba planned community is home to three other luxury resorts, as well as a championship golf course and el Pueblito, a re-creation of a traditional Mexican plaza with shopping and restaurants. Accommodations range from elegant guest rooms to charming two-story casitas and sprawling VIP suites with wraparound terraces. The resort has six bars and restaurants, headlined by Gaia, which serves locally sourced seafood. Guests can choose from a regular hotel plan or an all-inclusive plan. Grand Hyatt Playa del Carmen Resort Grand Hyatt Playa del Carmen Resort Learn More Why We Chose It Grand Hyatt Playa del Carmen Resort enjoys a beachfront address that’s within walking distance of pedestrianized Quinta Avenida’s energy and excitement. Key Specs Free Wi-Fi: YesResort fee: NoRoom rate: $$ Notable Amenities Cenote Spa featuring cenote-inspired treatments, three beachfront infinity pools, themed nights Hotel Description What's fabulous about the Grand Hyatt Playa del Carmen is that it offers travelers the best of both worlds. Not only is it on a stretch of one of the area’s best beaches, it also happens to be within walking distance of downtown Playa del Carmen’s restaurants, shopping, clubs, and attractions. Rooms are sleek and minimal, and all have furnished balconies. The oceanfront pools are the playground of choice by day. By night, restaurants serve up everything from succulent steaks to fresh sushi. Those with a hedonistic bent will love that Grand Hyatt Playa del Carmen is next door to Mamita’s Beach Club, one of the top daytime party spots in town. Thompson Playa del Carmen Main House Thompson Playa del Carmen Main House Learn More Why We Chose It Thompson Playa del Carmen Main House is a sleek, chic luxury hotel with a buzzing rooftop pool scene overlooking Quinta Avenida. Key Specs Free Wi-Fi: YesResort fee: NoRoom rate: $$ Notable Amenities Rooftop pool, live DJ parties, yoga classes Hotel Description Perfect for party people, Thompson Playa del Carmen puts the emphasis on fun. It’s all about being entertained here, from the adults-only Alessia Rooftop Dayclub to the oceanfront Beach House, a sister hotel with a restaurant and beachfront accommodations a few minutes’ walk away. Still, the Main House continues to take the spotlight as one of the hottest addresses in town for pool parties featuring live DJs, bottles of bubbles, and panoramic views over Playa del Carmen. Grand Velas Riviera Maya Grand Velas Riviera Maya Learn More Why We Chose It Grand Velas Riviera Maya is a sophisticated all-inclusive resort featuring all suites and a stunning stretch of white-sand beach. Key Specs Free Wi-Fi: YesResort fee: NoRoom rate: $$$$ Notable Amenities Suites with plunge pools, 24-hour personal concierges, complimentary hydrotherapy with spa bookings Hotel Description The 539-suite Grand Velas Riviera Maya offers its guests multiple experiences in one. Suites at the 205-acre beachfront resort are spread across three different sections — two on the water and one in the jungle. Each building is like a mini resort with its own activities, restaurants, and pools, but plunge pools in many suites often have guests reaching for that "Do Not Disturb" sign. Guests have a choice of eight elegant dining venues. Adults can zen out at the sprawling SE Spa, while the under-18 crowd can check in at state-of-the-art clubs for kids and teens. Rosewood Mayakoba Rosewood Mayakoba Learn More Why We Chose It Rosewood Mayakoba marries peak Caribbean luxury with a strong commitment to sustainability and the natural environment. Key Specs Free Wi-Fi: YesResort fee: Yes, 15% of room rateRoom rate: $$$$ Notable Amenities Personalized butler service, childcare services, complimentary bottle of mescal at check-in, Maison Caulières bath amenities Hotel Description Located on the same 620-acre complex as Fairmont Mayakoba, this jungle-enveloped resort is the ultimate in tropical refinement. Rosewood’s 129 suites and private residences feature breezy open floor plans, large terraces, outdoor rain showers, and custom furniture crafted by Mexican artisans. Eight restaurants and bars serve options that include Central Mexican breakfasts, seafood from the country’s Pacific coast, and local street food. Rosewood Mayakoba emphasizes wellness, both of the self and the natural environment. Its spa, located on a lush island in a freshwater lagoon, goes beyond massages and facials to offer traditional Mayan healing treatments and private sessions with the resort’s shaman. Rosewood’s sustainability efforts include reducing plastic waste and using local ingredients in its kitchen, and it offers daily ecotours to help guests discover the hundreds of indigenous plant and animal species that also call the Mayakoba complex home. Hotel Xcaret Arte Hotel Xcaret Arte Learn More Why We Chose It Hotel Xcaret Arte is an adults-only all-inclusive known for its dizzying array of inclusions, cenote-inspired spa, and fantastic dining. Key Specs Free Wi-Fi: YesResort fee: NoRoom rate: $$$$ Notable Amenities Unlimited access to all of Grupo Xcaret’s parks and experiences, round-trip airport transfers, cultural classes and workshops Hotel Description New in 2021, Hotel Xcaret Arte is part of the impressive Xcaret family, which includes eight theme parks and three resorts on the Yucatán peninsula. This adults-only resort is rooted in Mexican art and culture; its six distinct Casas are each devoted to different themes, like painting, pottery, and music. Try to book a room in Casa de los Artistas, which is one of two oceanfront casas and has the best rooms, plus a private rooftop pool and bar. Another must is the cenote-inspired spa, where hydrotherapy pools are tucked into grottoes, and treatments are performed inside warmly illuminated stone caves. Mahekal Beach Resort Mahekal Beach Resort Learn More Why We Chose It Mahekal Beach Resort offers a secluded beach bungalow vibe while being just steps from vibrant Quinta Avenida. Key Specs Free Wi-Fi: YesResort fee: Yes, $35 per dayRoom rate: $$ Notable Amenities Complimentary bicycles, private beach club, all-inclusive option Hotel Description Mahekal Beach Resort gives off serious desert island vibes, but with far better dining and a higher thread count. Each of its bungalow-style rooms are capped with thatched roofs and feature private terraces with woven hammocks. Many of the bungalows are oceanfront, while others are nestled amid towering palm trees and lush tropical foliage with brilliantly colored blossoms. This secluded hideaway has another secret — it's only one block from Playa del Carmen's lively Quinta Avenida, meaning guests get the best of both worlds. If your plans don't include more than lounging by the pools or on Mahekal’s prime bit of beach real estate, you may want to opt for the resort’s all-inclusive package. Viceroy Riviera Maya Viceroy Riviera Maya Learn More Why We Chose It Guests will find themselves fully immersed in local sights, scents, and flavors at this pet-friendly beachside hotel. Key Specs Free Wi-Fi: YesResort fee: Yes, 15% of room rateRoom rate: $$$$ Notable Amenities Spa, soap concierge, laundry and dry cleaning service, private plunge pools, resident shaman Hotel Description Viceroy Riviera Maya infuses its 41 villas with the scent of the Yucatán, using native-tree-inspired aromatherapy in its turndown service and providing guests with a selection of organic soaps from a soap concierge. Villas all come with their own plunge pool, sunbathing deck, and handmade hammock and offer jungle or ocean views. Pets under 20 pounds are welcome and receive a personalized thatch-roofed palapa hut and a Mayan blessing upon arrival. The local focus continues at the full-service Wayak spa, where treatments use ingredients sourced from the Riviera Maya forest, and at the hotel’s two restaurants. La Marea, open for dinner only, serves inventive takes on Mexican dishes, while the beachfront Coral Restaurant + Bar hosts a weekly Antojeria Night, featuring the chef’s interpretation of street foods like tamales, tlayudas, and churros. The hotel’s fitness center is small, but the glass-walled structure in the rain forest provides an especially atmospheric workout. Secrets Maroma Beach Riviera Cancún Learn More Why We Chose It Secrets Maroma Beach Riviera Cancún is a five-star all-inclusive resort on one of the most beautiful beaches in all of Mexico. Key Specs Free Wi-Fi: YesResort fee: NoRoom rate: $$$$ Notable Amenities Swim-out suites, soaking tubs, sunrise kayak tours Hotel Description Perched on 500 acres of idyllic beach, Secrets Maroma Beach Riviera Cancún is one of the most romantic resorts in Playa del Carmen. The all-inclusive, 412-suite resort can be as subdued or dialed up as you want your getaway to be. The resort features two large pools, including an infinity pool that overlooks the Caribbean Sea, and 12 smaller pools, many of which are attached to swim-out suites. A long list of activities are included in the rate, from snorkeling and tennis to taco making classes and non-motorized water sports. Of course, no trip to Secrets is complete without a bit of indulgence at the Spa by Pevonia, which has decadently delicious treatments like a papaya-pineapple crème fraîche body wrap. Final Verdict Playa del Carmen is all about choosing your own adventure. From the powder-soft beaches and tranquil mangrove forests to the pumping day clubs and eclectic international dining, it's a destination where travelers can have it all. With tons of restaurants, a water park, and a great location, Paradisus Playa del Carmen gets the nod as the town’s best hotel. For the utmost in elegance and tranquility, Fairmont Mayakoba delivers in spades, while travelers looking to be in the heart of the action will feel right at home at the Grand Hyatt Playa del Carmen or Mahekal Beach Resort. And for adults-only, all-inclusive luxury, Hotel Xcaret Arte is hard to beat. Know Before You Go Playa del Carmen has the best weather between December and April. It starts to get hot and humid in May, and hurricane season runs from June through early November. Don’t skip breakfast at La Cueva del Chango, a jungle-covered outdoor restaurant on a quiet street off Quinta Avenida. Dinner here is also excellent. Plan your trip to the Riviera Maya with our guide. How We Chose These Hotels We evaluated more than 20 hotels in Playa del Carmen to select the best, considering elements like the property's reputation, quality of dining, room design, notable amenities, and overall vibe. We also considered whether there is a spa on site and what kind of inclusions or perks guests are entitled to. Numerous customer reviews and our own firsthand experience also factored into our decisions.