Riu Playacar - All Inclusive

Customer Ratings & Reviews

TripAdvisor Traveler Rating

8796 reviews

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  Brilliant

  This was our second visit to this hotel and it was better than last years stay. We have booked it again for May 2026. This hotel completely meets our needs, to the extent that we are returning every year. Sssh Don’t tell everyone though.

  Feb 20, 2026
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  Does what you want to a good standard

  10/10 for friendly helpful staff, loads of sunbeds, though a few of the canopy shades were splitting. Pool, Beach and hotel very clean. Restaurants had a decent variety of food, though the speciality ones didn't vary their menu but you could use them as often as you liked. Evening entertainment was the usual Riu fare, largely dancers and music. The seaview room was spotless and modern and despite contrary comments did have a USB socket. Regrettably we had a cold front come through and there is nowhere indoors to sit when it's cool, but not a problem for most of the year. There are shops across the road and a Santander ATM which is much cheaper than the one in the hotel.

  Feb 20, 2026
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  Amazing!

  We booked Playacar after realizing that Riviera Maya Palace (stayed here twice) was booked and we are sure glad that we did.

  Feb 20, 2026
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  Solid All-Inclusive in Playacar That Delivers What Matters Most

  This was our second stay at a Riu property in Mexico, and once again, we were impressed with the overall value of the all-inclusive experience. The resort sits inside Playacar, an upscale gated community with multiple resorts, luxury homes, golf, and a bit of retail. The setting feels secure and well-maintained, and it's only a 30ish-minute walk to downtown Playa del Carmen for shops, restaurants, bars, and the Cozumel ferry. The grounds and facilities are well-maintained and easy to navigate, and the size feels comfortable rather than overwhelming. It is clearly popular with families with young children, especially around the pools and dining areas, so travelers seeking a quieter, adults-focused atmosphere may want a different property. The beach is the highlight. We did encounter a period of heavy seaweed, and staff worked hard to remove it, but nature ultimately limits what any resort can control. The pools were a nice alternative on the worst of the seaweed days. Our room was spacious and comfortable but somewhat dated, with visible wear. Because the guest buildings are positioned perpendicular to the beach, room location matters. The rear rooms near service paths facing adjacent properties can be noisy early and late. A center-facing side unit would likely be quieter. Also note that there are no elevators in the 3-level buildings, so for those with mobility restrictions, a ground-floor room is a must. The food is solid. Buffets leaned toward North American tastes with enough variety to keep things interesting. Specialty restaurants had nicer atmosphere and service, but similar food quality. Certainly not 5-star dining, but everyone should find something they like. Breakfast and lunch sometimes felt understaffed during peak times, though not due to lack of effort by the servers. Whenever we did receive focused service, the interactions were friendly and professional. This was true for staff across the resort, as all were welcoming and genuinely helpful. The overall experience feels premium without being pretentious, which contributes to a relaxed vibe. We also met several repeat guests, some returning for a decade, which speaks to the consistency of the resort. This is a friendly, comfortable resort with a great beach and strong value. Not ultra luxury, but an enjoyable stay and one we would happily repeat.

  Feb 19, 2026
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  Excellent resort, definitely recommend!

  The resort ticked all the boxes. The place is immaculate and the service was outstanding! We had two adjoining rooms for our family of 5 which worked perfectly and they were spotless every day! The beach and pools always had loungers available (however if you want the best ones get up early and pop your towel on them to reserve your spots). We enjoyed the pools and the beach. This was one of the nicest beaches I’ve ever been to. Food and drink was good and the service at the restaurants was excellent. My only negative thing to say is that the gluten free selection is fairly limited (my son and I are celiacs) and I just couldn’t believe that the corn tortillas were not gluten free. I was expecting more Mexican food that was gluten free as that has been my experience almost anywhere else that has Mexican food. And the gluten free bread was awful. But there were plenty of other food selections so it wasn’t too bad. The only restaurant that went above and beyond was the Asian restaurant. The chef came out and offered a custom meal for us which was amazing! The entertainment each night was good with the exception of Friday nights when there is no show and people are encouraged to go to the RIU Tequila to either the neon or white party. Considering this was a more family oriented resort the parties really only catered to a young adult crowd. The music was good (if you like a rave atmosphere) but it was deafening. That and the line ups for the bars were crazy busy so we didn’t stick around for long. We were always impressed with the amount and variety of activities each day. And were blown away by the staff that put on those events (they are literally there from dawn till dusk)! The only other thing I’ll mention is that if you have tweens or teens there isn’t a lot for them to do other than beach volleyball. It would have been nice if they had a games room or something to cater to that age group. Overall I was impressed with our stay and would definitely recommend the resort. I’ll certainly stay at another RIU after this experience!

  Feb 17, 2026