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Only a 45 minute drive from the Cancun airport, the Royal Hideaway Playacar – Adults Only is a smaller, charming all-inclusive resort located on Playacar Beach in Mexico’s Riviera Maya. The resort is decorated with Spanish style architecture and minimalistic accents, with updated rooms and dining. Surrounded by palm trees and set on the edge of the Caribbean Sea, the Royal Hideaway is the perfect place to enjoy a relaxing, stress-free vacation.
Everything You Need To Know About Royal Hideaway Playacar
The Royal Hideaway Playacar is an adults only, beachfront resort located inside the Playacar neighborhood. This gated community has ample space and paved trails to allow guests to explore. Within walking distance you’ll find a variety of authentic restaurants, local stores, and activities.
When you arrive at the Royal Hideaway Playacar, you’ll be greeted with a welcome glass of champagne and a quick, easy check in process. The resort’s lobby is a large, three story building with large staircases and lounge space. Shopping, restaurants, the fitness center, and guest services are conveniently connected to the lobby. After checking in, the staff will assist with your luggage and show you to your room just a short walk away.
The smaller size of the Royal Hideaway means you’re never too far away from the ocean – the walk from the lobby to the beach is only five minutes! I recommend taking some time after arriving to explore the resort and get an idea of where the restaurants, bars, pools, and activities are located.
Royal Hideaway Playacar All-Inclusive Features
- 6 specialty restaurants and a theater for dinners
- Lunches, snacks, premium brand alcoholic drinks, fresh juices and unlimited soft drinks
- 24-hour room service
- 2 tennis courts with lighting at night
- 6 swimming pools
- Fitness center
- Nighttime entertainment
- Basketball, tennis, ping pong, cycling, bocce ball, kayaking, sailing, windsurfing, and water aerobics
- WiFi
The Rooms
The Royal Hideaway Playacar has 200 rooms which are located throughout the resort in intimate villas with a personal concierge. I definitely preferred this simplistic, spacious layout to the high rise, modernized resorts in Mexico. The rooms at the Royal Hideaway are large, with high ceilings, a balcony or terrace, and comfortable lounging space. Every room has a view of the ocean, pool, or gardens, and include the following amenities:
- Free WiFi
- Coffee and Tea
- Bathrobes and Slippers
- Stocked Mini Bar
- Safe
- Alarm Clock
- Ironing Board
- TV
The Food + Drinks
When choosing an all-inclusive resort, the food is one of the most important things to research. The food at the Royal Hideaway did not disappoint! Be sure to send an email to the hotel one week before your stay to make your dinner reservations – this alleviates a lot of stress and allows you to actually enjoy your vacation once arriving.
Restaurants:
- Azia Avant Thai: Azia is a formal dining restaurant with an Asian menu including sushi, pad Thai, and hibachi. This Asian inspired cuisine was our favorite restaurant at the resort! If you’re seated on the Teppanyaki side, the chef cooks with fresh ingredients in front of your table, creating a fun and upbeat atmosphere. Eating at Azia is more of an experience than a meal – you’ll have the opportunity to meet other resort guests and be entertained watching the chef’s tricks.
- Palazzo: Palazzo is the resort’s Italian restaurant set in an elegant space with an outdoor terrace. The atmosphere boasts large windows overlooking the Caribbean setting complemented by antique decor. Palazzo’s menu includes traditional Italian dishes such as lasagna and bolognese, and also offers gluten free options. Our favorite part of the meal at Palazzo was the dessert – I highly recommend ordering the Baked Alaska!
- Spices: Spices is a more casual, Mexican cuisine restaurant that is open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Spices became our favorite spot to sit down and enjoy lunch while watching views of the ocean through the large windows. Everything on the menu at Spices is amazing, from the catch of the day tacos to the cucumber jalapeno margaritas. After dinner, venture over to the connecting bar, which is the perfect place for a fun end to your night.
- The Deck: Located on the beach with ocean views and outside seating, The Deck is where you’ll find the resort’s breakfast buffet and lunch. The Deck offers a variety of breakfast options, ranging from fresh fruit to personal omelets and pancakes. They also serve coffee, tea, juices, and breakfast cocktails. At lunch, The Deck transforms into a salad bar with a smaller buffet, and offers an a la carte menu consisting of typical beach food, including tacos, burgers, and salads.
- The Grill: The Grill is located in the same restaurant as The Deck, with open air and views of the beach and ocean. The Grill is where you’ll find more traditional meals, known for their ravioli and perfectly cooked steak, fish, and lamb entrees.
- Ventanas: Ventanas is a fine dining, Mediterranean restaurant with live piano music and a sophisticated atmosphere. The meals at Ventanas are tasteful and experimental while offering an expansive range of flavors and unique dishes. The menu has so many options, but our favorite dishes at Ventanas were the gazpacho, steak filets, and crab ravioli!
Bars:
The Royal Hideaway Playacar has three bars. Two are located near the lobby and restaurants, and the third is at the pool only feet away from the beach. The restaurants and bars at the Royal Hideaway all serve premium liquor without an added fee.
- Bar Allegria: Bar Allegria is located near the lobby with TVs, live music, and a pool table. This bar boasts a relaxed, fun atmosphere. Guests can enjoy a unique crafted cocktail while enjoying the warm night from the outdoor patio, or venture inside to meet friends for a late night game.
- Ventanas Lounge Bar: Connected to the Ventanas restaurant, the Ventanas Bar allows guests to comfortably relax on sophisticated lounge chairs and sip on a cocktail while listening to the talented, live pianist. The Ventanas Bar also offers outdoor seating for guests looking for a quieter place to end the night.
- Bar Deck at the Beach: The Bar Deck is connected to The Deck restaurant, only feet away from the pool. This bar is conveniently location to allow you to order cocktails throughout the day. The bar also has attentive staff taking orders at the pool and on the beach, so you can enjoy your drink without having to leave your lounge chair! I recommend bringing a tumbler or insulated cup from home for your cocktails during the day – this way, you won’t have to order ten mini cocktails or risk your drink melting in the hot sun.
The Beach + Pools
The Royal Hideaway Playacar has six pools, the two largest overlooking the beach. We really enjoyed the infinity pool located directly on the beach with views of the ocean over the side. The main pools are furnished with padded, wooden lounge chairs, umbrellas for shade, and a few tables for guests. There is a quieter, medium sized pool near the lobby which is shaded by the tropical forest, creating the perfect spot to read a book or enjoy a relaxing swim. Along the walkways between the lobby and the beach you’ll find a few smaller, more intimate pools with limited seating.
The Royal Hideaway is located on Playacar Beach, with miles of white sand to explore or enjoy a long sunset walk. The resort provides plenty of chaise loungers with attachable shades and Balinese beach beds at no extra cost. The Caribbean water is warm and swimmable, and the seaweed was not as big of an issue as we’ve experienced at other all-inclusive resorts.
Things To Do at Royal Hideaway Playacar
There is so much to do at the Royal Hideaway Playacar, with several excursions nearby if you’re hoping to venture off of the resort. You can rent a bike for a few hours to explore the Playacar community, test out your tennis skills, or grab some complimentary snorkel gear to explore the Caribbean Sea. The Royal Hideaway provides a daily schedule of activities for guests, including:
- Group Bicycle Tour
- Yoga on the Beach
- Water Aerobics
- Tequila Tasting
- Cocktail Lessons
- Salsa Dancing
- Sushi Classes
There is a PADI Scuba Diving center located at the resort, which offers everything from mini scuba diving classes to a full diving certification course. If you’re already certified, this is the best place to book your scuba diving tour. There are also several other watersports that you can book directly from the beach, including jet skiing, parasailing, windsurfing, and kayaking.
Nearby Activities
Only a short distance from the Royal Hideaway Playacar you’ll find the Hard Rock Golf Course, which boasts world class golf with views of the Caribbean Sea. This course is said to be the most difficult in the region, with narrow fairways and small greens.
One of the best things to do in Playa Del Carmen is swim in the natural cenotes. These pools offer the perfect place to snorkel in crystal clear water and explore Mexico’s marine life through caves and tunnels. We chose to book a half day excursion and enjoyed the chance to learn more about the region while getting to see all of the natural beauty outside of the developed resort strip.
Final Thoughts
Royal Hideaway Playacar is a luxurious all-inclusive resort perfect for those looking for a relaxing beach destination. From its stunning views of the Caribbean Sea to the variety of amenities and activities included for guests, the Royal Hideaway Playacar offers everything you need for an unforgettable Caribbean vacation.
