Hilton Playa del Carmen

Desperate for a last minute vacation, we decided to go on a trip to Playa Del Carmen, Mexico. Mexico is a popular US vacation spot, and after visiting it ourselves we can say that we understand why. We stayed at the Hilton Playa Del Carmen, a 5-star all-inclusive adult-only resort. After feeling totally pampered at the resort and relaxing by the beautiful beaches, we came back feeling super refreshed. So we wanted to share details about our trip and give you tips in case you are desperate for a getaway too. Especially with Valentine’s day coming up this would be the perfect romantic getaway.

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Getting there:

To get to Playa del Carmen we took a flight from NY to Cancun which took about 4 hours. Once we arrived in the airport in Cancun we took a shuttle from the airport and drove for about an hour north to Playa del Carmen
(which we prebooked through Expedia).

**tip:

You should know that the whole road between the two cities has multiple hotels along it. So if you book a group shuttle you run the risk of the drive taking longer as you will have to stop multiple times in order to drop off others along the way. Instead, we recommend using a private taxi if you are able to. Its a little bit more expensive however, it’ll get you to th beach sooner.

When we arrived at the resort we were greeted right away with smiling staff. The check-in process was quick and we headed right to our rooms to change because we couldn’t wait to run to the beach.

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Rooms:

The rooms are all spacious and have a large jacuzzi and a balcony or patio area, depending on the floor. If possible, book an ocean or partial ocean view room, we couldn’t get enough of the beautiful sights from our balcony.

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We quickly changed and ran to the water.

What to do: 

Pool time:

The resort has two pools. One smaller one tucked more privately at the center of the resort and another larger one right by the beach. There are multiple cabanas along the beach and pool, as well as lounge chairs. The cabanas were first-come-first-serve.

**tip:

The cabanas by the pool get occupied really early, we woke up at 6AM one morning to get one and there were already many taken. But I really want to stress that getting one is not necessary at all in order to have a perfect relaxing day. There are plenty of lounge chairs, so you will always find space to rest and you can often grab a cabana by the ocean which does not get occupied as quickly.

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Activities:

By the main pool, there are two bars – one has a swim up bar area and one has swings to sit on (which was my favorite). Also, all day they have music playing and there are many poolside activities going on, from team games to trivia and even dancing lessons. If you feel that you’ve relaxed enough you can also do some more active sports activities such as volleyball (which was Oleg’s fave) and they offer boogie boards, snorkeling gear, kayak equipment, and even an introductory SCUBA lesson at no additional cost.  In case that is not enough to keep you occupied, they also have a gym and offer fitness classes including yoga, pilates, and spin classes.

Relax at the spa:

After all of this activity, you are bound to want to relax and what better way than to get a message? The Hilton Playa del Carmen has a beautiful spa where they offer various massages, facials, and even a Temazcal stone steam bath (which is an ancient Mayan steam cleanse – click here to read more about it.) In case the spa massage is a bit too pricey for you, by the beach, there is a massage hut which had a great deal for massages ( especially great deals for two people – again perfect for that romantic getaway).

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Dining options:

There are multiple dining options on the resort varying from buffet style to a la carte featuring cuisines such as traditional Mexican, Asian, Mediterranean, French and Seafood. All except one restaurant were free of charge. Chef’s plate was an additional fee and Marie-Marie required prior reservations, although the staff is extremely accommodating and will fit you in even if you forget to make them ahead of time. We didn’t have enough time to try Chef’s plate, but we spoke to a couple that went and they loved it. We did go to Marie-Marie and highly recommend you try it, the food was delicious.

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Sweet treats:

There is also a coffee shop where they have a large selection of desserts available all day. We’d come here for coffee often in the morning and for cookies and ice cream later in the day.

Dinner on the beach:

Another amazing dining option they offered for an additional fee ( but soooo worth it) is to have dinner on the beach (either private or semi-private). We attended the (semi-private) surf and turf beach dining experience and it was one of my favorite vacation memories to date. I felt like I was in a movie, because of how perfectly everything was set up. It’s a preset menu, with drinks and live music – so romantic and so beautiful. Highly, highly recommend you try to attend.

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Room service:

You also have the option to order room service at no additional cost to the room 24/7. We ordered breakfast a few times and it was so nice to relax in the room while starting our day. Also, with a view like this, staring at it for a little longer is a treat in itself.

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Night entertainment:

Many afternoons there are alcohol tasting events by the lobby, and also various performances including circus shows and dance shows.

What to do nearby: 

Another great perk of staying at Hilton Playa Del Carmen is it’s location. It is very close to 5th Avenue, also known as “Quinta”, which is a popular tourist must-see destination. This street runs parallel to the beach and is a shopping and nightlife hub for tourists and locals. Make sure you check out the mall while you are here, which looks like a rainforest with vines growing ceiling to floor.

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Trips:

There are many excursions available to explore the area outside of the resort. You can take a ferry to the island of Cozumel where you can snorkel with starfish. Unfortunately, we couldn’t go due to a cold front coming in, but this is a “not-to-miss” experience for sure. You can travel further away toward Tulum ( about 1hr drive) and visit various cenotes and the Mayan ruins. You can also stay more local and visit the cenotes which are closer to Playa del Carmen as well as travel about 20 minutes to a nearby beach where you can swim with Turtles ( which was amazing!!!).

**I’m currently finishing the post about our local trips and I’ll be sharing them in a post soon (including best times to visit the cenotes/turtle beach and tips on how we were able to swim right beside the turtles…stay tuned.)

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So if you’re thinking of a getaway to beat the winter blues, desperate for a last minute vacation, or want to escape somewhere to celebrate and get pampered for Valentine’s day (or Galentines day), Hilton Playa del Carmen is your go-to. Between the kind staff and everything they offer you’ll feel like royalty.

Thank you, Hilton Playa del Carmen, for the most amazing stay. 

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