Riu Playacar Reviews

just return from a 2 week stay over xmas and new year and we had a fantastic time,our son who is 16 made lots of mates from all over the world and had a reall y good time maybe to good as he was out till 2/3am at the Tequlia disco and playing cards in lobby bar and chatting it is safe resort. we stayed at the Tequlia last christmas and the playacar is a much better hotel . It is smaller but i think that is a good thing and it is the only riu hotel that has any beach left (inculding the palace's) Food really very good does get a bit boring after 2 weeks but thats just because we were craving home cooked food. staff are FANTASTIC all off them. Be carefull the bar staff keep your drinks flowing so before you no it you have drunk way more than a quick one before dinner.Nelson and Benjy in the main bar are really good they play jokes on new arivals so be warned!! daytime entertainment is really good you can join in or not no presure. Rooms are good AC annd celling fans, our rooms was cleaned perfectly everyday and towel art left on bed, we were in dark pink block near pool and had a sea view, we were at the back so was really quite if you are at the front it can be a bit nosiey as there is only one path that runs from pool/beach bar to lobby bar. TRIPS a must do is the F1 BOOT trip is was fantastic and swimming with turtels (wild not captive)was amazing.also did fishing and horse riding both good. The worst thing is that there are a lot of Americans staying at this hotel and thet do like the sound of ther own voice. Thomson has improved its flights a lot the leg room is fine (im 6ft) the food is ok but not really enough for the long flight.It is worth upgrading the entertainment system. Make sure you take plenty of cash for the flight as its £5 for each upgrade and you have to pay for all drinks and snacks, can be expensive if you have a family. If i was going back to Mexico i would return ti the playacar.

This was a fantastic holiday, we flew from Gatwick as the better planes were not available from Scotland plus we saved a lot of money. This trip was easy and total hassle free.

Flight was superb, lots of room and very smooth. It is worth paying the extra £5.00 to upgrade the entertainment package. (20 movies, 32 TV prog, 90cd`s etc)

We were in block 3(pale blue) which was bang in the middle and was perfect. Room was spacious and clean. Having the optics was great to try out some drinks (especially the tequila), and the fridge although re stocked every 2nd day you could ask for more if you wanted.

Maids cleaned every day and always left nice towels in shapes of animals.
Food was lovely and nobody had a tummy upset in the whole two weeks. All the staff were extremely friendly (bar staff like to play jokes) Plenty to do if you wish to do it. No hassle getting a sun bed at the pool or beach.

Animation teams are great and work really long hours.

You can go to the other riu hotels in the area (one has sports bar with pool tables, air hockey etc) or go into playa Carmen at night for a change, it really has plenty to offer. (It is a nice 20 min walk - but not in the strong heat, taxi is only 5 dollars)

Trips - if you have children(all ages) then you must do the captain hook night trip - superb and great fun.

We also did the island adventure catamaran which was also very good.

Remember to take small peso notes for tipping.
Some people were not aware of the departure tax that you must pay at the airport on your return...it was 48 dollars per person. You have no option.
dont just look at this hotel - book it!!

We would thoroughly recommend this hotel.
The staff could not do enough to ensure that every part of our stay was made pleasurable. Food and drink to the highest standards. Hotel and grounds were imaculate. We stayed in early Novenber, weather was mainly sunny with a few heavy rain showers.

we went in june 06 its an all -inclusive hotel package. comes with entertainment etc.
the hotel is off the chart forget five star its better. the staff couldn't do enough for you from drinks, games, food room presentation,entertainment etc.
whoever said bad things about the food didn't visit our hotel we travel all-inc every year but this was simply the best , we used the special evening dinners only twice it was simply that good.
staying in the hotel would have been too easy do get out. a must see is x caret and stay to the end. xel ha/ tulum is a close second but go all- inc. we did the lot from swimming with dolpins ,undergroud river swim ,boating ,snorkling its simply the best.

there was no noise/building work nor any sign of hurrican damage. we were treated as royalty by one and all.

cancun airport can be a trial as is the flight 11 hours, but put it behind you its worth it

the rooms all come with a fully stocked bar so you dont even need to visit the disco,retire to you suite and continue partying. each day the room was cleaned and the towels folded into animals with fresh flowers were left behind. on the hotel zone there are six other rui hotels you have free use of each the only drawback is you must have your evening meal at your hotel. we did pop into cancun for some shopping so dropped in at a rui there more free drinks and a chance to freshen up. the best night clubs are in cancun but we traveled with the hotel organised trip not the thompson bar crawl. its simply off the chart.

just returned to playacar after 5 years and what used to be a quiet relaxing place is now busy and bustling. beach is busy and offer no shade after hurricane last year pool area is nice but if your towell isnt out by 7.30 in the morning forget any shade, so much for a sleep in in the morning.There is building work at the hotel next door at the moment and you hear traffic noise and building noises on the beach and around the pool area all day and evening.

Food is good but a bit repetative and is mainly buffet style stand there and wait for freshly cooked food have been to the yucatan as well and both times been ill for a few days also the two restraunts steak and fish never change there menu same starters same deserts this is boring and just lazy by the hotel management.This hotel shares it beach with the tequilla across the road 600 rooms so is busy and dinner is very busy as well .Another moan is the noise level at night regularly woke up at 4 in morning with drunken people staggering back from tequilla hotel over road rooms are in blocks and noise carries around whole block .

We went with thompson and although rep was good they denied building work was and issue and stuck heads in sand and did nothing to help guests with problems if you are situated on one side of hotel you will have cement lorrys plus jcbs driving past your window from 5 onwards and remember the drunks woke you at 4 all thompson offered people after days of moaning was a swap to the yucatan hotel at extra cost to yourself (summary)
this is a good hotel very clean and staff are friendly service is first class but if you are looking for a holiday of a lifetime this is is not it ,If you want a true caribbean experience relaxed enough somebeds warm food etc you can not do it on the cheap go to one of the smaller islands in a much smaller hotel and relax away from the crowds