trip report/riu playacar

Just some info that will hopefully help someone out there. We stayed at the riu playacar we were nervous because this was our first vacation in 9 yrs and we knew absolutely nothing. All I can say that I didn't have any complaints about the riu playacar I can't say enough about the kindness of the staff they are awesome. The hotel is spotless, the beach is beautiful the pools are nice.
As for the food I was very nervous about it, everyone had warned us of the AI food. The rui was great sure alot of the same stuff but what do you expect when you are there for 7 nts and they have many nationalities to please. Breakfast was great always and if you didnt find anything at lunch you always had a ton of pinalpple, and all the melons. We preferred buffet dinner over the sitdown resturants. Also THE MEN DON'T HAVE TO WEAR PANTS THEY PREFER IT BUT MY HUSBAND WORE DRESS SHORTS WITH A NICE DRESS SHORTS. There were men in swim suits but we felt that disrespectful.
The weather was very very muggy!!! All you want to wear is a swim suit. In town even your suit and a sarong or shorts is all you want to wear. The less clothes the better. Remember bug spray I got eaten alive and I used it. Also bring cheap towels that you don't care about for when you go to xcaret or snorkeling.
Location of hotels The ruis are all 4 close to town a 4.00 taxi ride or a nice walk on the beach but a hot walk we onlly did once due to heat. also the reef club the iberostars, allegro, viva maya, fisherman village(under constrution), all these are very close to town. The Barcelo Maya, copacabana, xpu ha are very far from playa del carmen if you want to be near town I would not recommend these also, I spoke with many people on the bus all the people at xpu ha loved it. The people at the Barcello Maya loved the hotel but said the food was horrible!!! The people at the copacana couldn't wait to get home they said the food was horrible and that the week they were there it was mostly very rude europeons. the riu was suppose to be most europeon but we found 90% of the people were Americans, 5% canadians, 5% europeons and germans but no matter the nationality at our hotel everyone was polite and courtious.
One thing we regret was not spending enough time at the pool and relaxing we went crazy going places. 2 reget we only rented a car for one day we went to Tulum and cenotes. We will rent car for several days next time. REmember full coverage ins not just collision. Cab fair to most of the tour places is expensive and if you have people going in on a car it is much more affordable Example Xcaret with the tour bus is 85.00 pp
otherwise it is 49.00 pp.. cab fare is 10.00 each way. Tulum is a tour with xel ha for 86.00pp tulum on your own is 3.00 or free on Sunday, Cab ride is way to much to tulum. I dont know how much xel ha is but itn not no 75.00 it should be cheaper than xcaret.
Snorkeling at ya ku lagoon at Akumal is awesom...... Also if you meet A guy named ED at Tulum he is a great guy he will take you to the cenotes,
ya ku laggon, cliff diving, and kayaking for 25.00.. his parents own Oscar and lalos its a resturant. we spent on day with eddie and it was our very best day there by far. We wish we would have met him on the first day.
Hope this helps

Great report...it was very very muggy for sure, I wished it would have been a bit nicer weather. For the trips to Tulum/Xel-Ha,etc...we also took a cab to Tulum and that was crazy expensive, and finally decided to take a collectivo to Xel-Ha later in the week, and that was a much better choice. Just as nice, and only $2 a person!

We were surprised that our resort was mostly americans and Canadians as well, hardly any topless people!