The honest overview
What Vacationing in Playa del Carmen Is Really Like
Playa del Carmen all inclusive resorts are only one way to do this town. Because it sits on a real street grid, the same vacation can be a beachfront all-inclusive, a boutique hotel a block off the avenue, or a private villa in the jungle up the coast, and the walk to dinner works the same from all three. That is what the rest of this coast only has in pockets: a real town, right outside the door.
My own first all-inclusive vacation was here, at the Iberostar Tucan in Playacar, back in 1997. I have been coming back ever since, and since 2011 it has been my job: I book around 350 travelers a year to this coast, across every property in and around town, the all-inclusives, the hotels, and the villas alike. That is the only reason this page is useful. The "best for couples" or "best for families" calls below are not a short list a hotel paid to be on, they are where I actually send people after hearing how the trips went.
The properties themselves matter less than where they sit. In Playa del Carmen the whole decision comes down to a five-minute stretch: in the town grid with the restaurants and the energy, or behind Playacar's gate with the golf course and the quiet. Tell me your dates, who is traveling, and how you like to stay, and I will point you at the right few.
One more thing, since people ask: working with me does not add to what you pay. A Playa del Carmen travel agent is paid by the resorts, not by travelers, so you get someone who has booked these properties hundreds of times without paying extra for the help. What you are really getting is the match: the right resort, on the right block, for your week.