Ready to ditch AI.....What Playa area hotels?

Milhouse · 06-12-2011

Ok, just got back from our 3rd all inclusive trip to the Carribean (Mexico/Jamaica/Mexico)......for at least the next trip, we'd like to go non AI. We are looking at trying to stay in Playa del Carmen. It seems like a good spot to use as a "base" for different excursions (Tulum/Akumal/Cozumel). I'd like some input for hotels in Playa, from inexpensive to moderately expensive, from those who have actually stayed in these hotels. Any tips would definitely be appreciated.

u2girlie · 06-12-2011

My husband and I really like the Luna Blue hotel on 26th between 5 and 10. They have 18 rooms - some have kitchenettes - and all rooms are clean, plenty of room and look out over their beautiful courtyard. The rooms are quiet and we've never had any issue with noise there. The staff are top notch and extremely knowledgeable with regards to best places to eat, visit, excursions to do, etc. You can get beach towels from the front desk (for a deposit - which you get back when you return the towels). We like this because it means more space in our suitcases and you get a clean towel every day before hitting the beach. You also get passes to a few different beach clubs. I believe all rooms have a fridge and all rooms come with a big container of bottled water - more than enough for your full week and great for filling up water bottles or whatever else you need fresh water for. Tony & Cheri, the owners, are fantastic and extremely friendly. They have a nice bar and a bartender who knows how to serve strong drinks!

The things they don't have are a pool, TV, and phones - none of which we require on our trips.

Since the hotel is within walking distance to the beach, we certainly don't miss the pool. Additionally, the location is perfect as it is in the north end near great bars & restaurants, but still within walking distance of the southern end of 5th, where you get a lot more vendors trying to sell their wares. I don't think you can go wrong with Luna Blue -- unless you want lots of amenities like room service & a pool.

Kogia · 06-12-2011

We really like Hotel La Tortuga. Its centrally located, the rooms are great and the staff is super nice!! You can check their website or the trip planning tab here.

Cheers

Andiline · 06-12-2011

I stayed at Hotel Cielo and I would recommend it. Moderately priced and they have one of the best restaurants in Playa downstairs (Carboncito's). You are one block away from the beach, at the south end (close to the ferry or the collectivo's) and ... well, I liked it.

Seakony · 06-12-2011

Fusion...it's on the beach, good location, good food and drinks, plus they have entertainment every night.

BKScott · 06-12-2011

Fusion - right on the beach - restaurant and bar. Check out their web site.

gingele · 06-12-2011

Another vote for La Tortuga!

Damien · 06-12-2011

I must put in a vote for the Hotel Aventura Mexicana. I am sure that I will not be the last.

The staff is amazing and I am still in contact with a few of them, 'cause they're just that cool!

Great location, great staff and great value. I am not a paid shill, fact.

Regardless of where you choose, have a great time in Playa Del Carmen.

janied · 06-12-2011

another vote for the Fusion ... it's in a great location, it's right on the beach, with a very nice staff who serves you right on the beach, a band in the evening and a continental breakfast is included ...

Nerak936 · 06-12-2011

On the beach: Fusion. Hands down. Stayed there 3 times.

Off the beach, but still close: Luna Blue or La Tortuga. Haven't stayed at either but have spent time at both. Both are top-notch places with great staff who are on top of their game.

Kudos to you for ditching the AI and going non-AI. It's the best way to appreciate and enjoy Playa!

PassionateFire · 06-12-2011

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nerak936

On the beach: Fusion. Hands down. Stayed there 3 times.

Off the beach, but still close: Luna Blue or La Tortuga. Haven't stayed at either but have spent time at both. Both are top-notch places with great staff who are on top of their game.

Kudos to you for ditching the AI and going non-AI. It's the best way to appreciate and enjoy Playa!

I agree! We adored Fusion for our first non-AI trip, we'll be back next year!

vike57 · 06-12-2011

Starting to sound like a broken record.....my vote is for Fusion also. We have stayed there 6 times and have loved every stay.

Stormin · 06-12-2011

I have stayed at Playa Maya. Great hotel. Lots of stairs though and rooms are set back a bit. Great restaurant with decent prices. Rooms cost a bit more. Small pool.

I have stayed at Fusion. Garden view room. Price was okay. We had fun. But it really needed a very, very good cleaning. Dropped some pesos on the floor which went under the bed and just left them due to the abundance of "dust bunnies". Some ants in the shower as well that would come up the drain. They have really upgraded their bar and restaurant area since we were there in 2007. Prices have gone up alot at the bar as well though. No pool.

I have stayed at the Mimi del Mar the last 3 years in Playa during Feb. Love the location and the rooms are pretty decent for the view and price we pay. We get a Superior room with a very large balcony and nice view. The Hotel I like, the management not so much. They have some issues since Rene the Manager was let go. We booked again for next year. Know what to expect such as needing to pay Cash or use Paypal for a fee. I do like being on the beach just steps from my room. Drinks are pretty cheap and it is next to Bad Boys and Yan and Tens, two beach clubs I like to drink and get beach snacks at besides the Mimi. Small pool. Free Wifi.

I have stayed at the Hotel Vista Caribe. Pretty good price for a decent room only 1/2 block away from the beach. If I was looking for a budget place and still kind of close to the beach I would recommend it. They do have a pretty nice pool that was actually pretty refreshing as a group of us would take a swim and have happy hour after being at the beach all day. Free Wifi.

Haven't stayed at Luna Blue. My wife likes having a TV. Great bar.

Aventura Mexicana gets some good reviews and has a nice pool. Same with La Tortuga. Both off beach a couple of blocks.

stargazer21 · 06-12-2011

Another vote here for Luna Blue, and u2girlie covered it nicely....

It's our home away from home.

Milhouse · 06-13-2011

Thanks for the suggestions so far, keep 'em coming. I'm not really leaning towards any one place right now, but Fusion seems like a pretty decent bet so far. I've checked out a lot of the reviews on Tripadvisor. Most issues people have had seem to be in older reviews. Like 2007-2008 or 2009.

06-12-2011	#1 (permalink)
Milhouse sandflea Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: North Dakota Posts: 8	Ready to ditch AI.....What Playa area hotels? Ok, just got back from our 3rd all inclusive trip to the Carribean (Mexico/Jamaica/Mexico)......for at least the next trip, we'd like to go non AI. We are looking at trying to stay in Playa del Carmen. It seems like a good spot to use as a "base" for different excursions (Tulum/Akumal/Cozumel). I'd like some input for hotels in Playa, from inexpensive to moderately expensive, from those who have actually stayed in these hotels. Any tips would definitely be appreciated.

06-12-2011	#2 (permalink)
u2girlie Life=Playa (almost) Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Playa del Carmen Posts: 3,711	My husband and I really like the Luna Blue hotel on 26th between 5 and 10. They have 18 rooms - some have kitchenettes - and all rooms are clean, plenty of room and look out over their beautiful courtyard. The rooms are quiet and we've never had any issue with noise there. The staff are top notch and extremely knowledgeable with regards to best places to eat, visit, excursions to do, etc. You can get beach towels from the front desk (for a deposit - which you get back when you return the towels). We like this because it means more space in our suitcases and you get a clean towel every day before hitting the beach. You also get passes to a few different beach clubs. I believe all rooms have a fridge and all rooms come with a big container of bottled water - more than enough for your full week and great for filling up water bottles or whatever else you need fresh water for. Tony & Cheri, the owners, are fantastic and extremely friendly. They have a nice bar and a bartender who knows how to serve strong drinks! The things they don't have are a pool, TV, and phones - none of which we require on our trips. Since the hotel is within walking distance to the beach, we certainly don't miss the pool. Additionally, the location is perfect as it is in the north end near great bars & restaurants, but still within walking distance of the southern end of 5th, where you get a lot more vendors trying to sell their wares. I don't think you can go wrong with Luna Blue -- unless you want lots of amenities like room service & a pool.

06-12-2011	#3 (permalink)
Kogia way into it Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 246	We really like Hotel La Tortuga. Its centrally located, the rooms are great and the staff is super nice!! You can check their website or the trip planning tab here. Cheers

06-12-2011	#4 (permalink)
Andiline añejo Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Cologne, Germany Posts: 9,870	I stayed at Hotel Cielo and I would recommend it. Moderately priced and they have one of the best restaurants in Playa downstairs (Carboncito's). You are one block away from the beach, at the south end (close to the ferry or the collectivo's) and ... well, I liked it.

06-12-2011	#5 (permalink)
Seakony añejo Join Date: Aug 2003 Posts: 16,151	Fusion...it's on the beach, good location, good food and drinks, plus they have entertainment every night.

06-12-2011	#6 (permalink)
BKScott reposado Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Ferrum, Virginia Posts: 1,228	Fusion - right on the beach - restaurant and bar. Check out their web site.

06-12-2011	#7 (permalink)
gingele añejo Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Chicagoland Posts: 11,417	Another vote for La Tortuga!

06-12-2011	#8 (permalink)
Damien ruined Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Ottawa Posts: 81	I must put in a vote for the Hotel Aventura Mexicana. I am sure that I will not be the last. The staff is amazing and I am still in contact with a few of them, 'cause they're just that cool! Great location, great staff and great value. I am not a paid shill, fact. Regardless of where you choose, have a great time in Playa Del Carmen.

06-12-2011	#9 (permalink)
janied reposado Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Pittsburgh Posts: 1,017	another vote for the Fusion ... it's in a great location, it's right on the beach, with a very nice staff who serves you right on the beach, a band in the evening and a continental breakfast is included ...

06-12-2011	#10 (permalink)
Nerak936 añejo Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: South Shore of Baahhstun, Massachusetts Posts: 23,228	On the beach: Fusion. Hands down. Stayed there 3 times. Off the beach, but still close: Luna Blue or La Tortuga. Haven't stayed at either but have spent time at both. Both are top-notch places with great staff who are on top of their game. Kudos to you for ditching the AI and going non-AI. It's the best way to appreciate and enjoy Playa!

06-12-2011	#12 (permalink)
vike57 añejo Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Oswego,IL for now.Soon - the mountains of Colorado Posts: 1,854	Starting to sound like a broken record.....my vote is for Fusion also. We have stayed there 6 times and have loved every stay.

register to remove these adverts

06-12-2011	#13 (permalink)
Stormin life=playa Join Date: Sep 2005 Posts: 802	I have stayed at Playa Maya. Great hotel. Lots of stairs though and rooms are set back a bit. Great restaurant with decent prices. Rooms cost a bit more. Small pool. I have stayed at Fusion. Garden view room. Price was okay. We had fun. But it really needed a very, very good cleaning. Dropped some pesos on the floor which went under the bed and just left them due to the abundance of "dust bunnies". Some ants in the shower as well that would come up the drain. They have really upgraded their bar and restaurant area since we were there in 2007. Prices have gone up alot at the bar as well though. No pool. I have stayed at the Mimi del Mar the last 3 years in Playa during Feb. Love the location and the rooms are pretty decent for the view and price we pay. We get a Superior room with a very large balcony and nice view. The Hotel I like, the management not so much. They have some issues since Rene the Manager was let go. We booked again for next year. Know what to expect such as needing to pay Cash or use Paypal for a fee. I do like being on the beach just steps from my room. Drinks are pretty cheap and it is next to Bad Boys and Yan and Tens, two beach clubs I like to drink and get beach snacks at besides the Mimi. Small pool. Free Wifi. I have stayed at the Hotel Vista Caribe. Pretty good price for a decent room only 1/2 block away from the beach. If I was looking for a budget place and still kind of close to the beach I would recommend it. They do have a pretty nice pool that was actually pretty refreshing as a group of us would take a swim and have happy hour after being at the beach all day. Free Wifi. Haven't stayed at Luna Blue. My wife likes having a TV. Great bar. Aventura Mexicana gets some good reviews and has a nice pool. Same with La Tortuga. Both off beach a couple of blocks.

06-12-2011	#14 (permalink)
stargazer21 way into it Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Grapevine, Texas Posts: 127	Another vote here for Luna Blue, and u2girlie covered it nicely.... It's our home away from home.

06-13-2011	#15 (permalink)
Milhouse sandflea Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: North Dakota Posts: 8	Thanks for the suggestions so far, keep 'em coming. I'm not really leaning towards any one place right now, but Fusion seems like a pretty decent bet so far. I've checked out a lot of the reviews on Tripadvisor. Most issues people have had seem to be in older reviews. Like 2007-2008 or 2009.