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We stayed at the Playa Maya over Christmas. I think it is a perfect introduction to the area. Right on the beach in the middle of everything, but not overwhelming or noisy in the least. It is convenient to virtually everything. You have to enter the hotel from the beach. How cool is that 8) . The staff will set up your beach lounge chairs and umbrellas for you and serve you food and beverages throughout the day. The hotel is crisp and clean. We stayed in the two room family suite and it was just as represented on their website. The view was fabulous. In fact, their website is an accurate representation in all respects. Our stay there was like being at an a la carte all-inclusive, if that makes sense.
The pool is on the small side, but was clean and inviting. However, with the lovely carribean only a few steps further away, we never went in, including my pool rat daughter (who was the reason we insisted on having a hotel with a pool). The beach was great while we were there, but that apparently can change with the tide. But regardless of what Mother Nature may have wrought by the time you visit, a good beach in front of a beach bar/beach club will only be a five minute walk away.
The beds were good. I would describe them as firm, not hard, but then that's my preference. None of our more sensitive travelers (wife and two daughters) complained. The balcony was on the small side and fit only one hammock or two chairs (there is a hook to move the hammock out of the way). With that said, I didn't see any hotels with multiple hammocks per room.
I also considered your other options. Both were on the periphery of town; Shangri La to the north and the Continental to the south. The Continental seem too big and impersonal for my taste and the Shangri La included meals and was more expensive.
I know the feeling of sensory overload looking for hotels on line. I actually had an excel spreadsheet with about a dozen different hotels with prices and ammenities. It was only marginally helpful. Hope this personal experience is helpful. Feel free to send me a PM if you would like any more info or have other questions.
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