Pros

  • All-inclusive beachfront resort for families and couples in Playa del Carmen
  • Sandy white beach for sailing, kayaking, and snorkeling -- with a dive shop and lounge chairs
  • Air-conditioned rooms have small flat-screen TVs and private balconies
  • Buffet restaurant, Italian restaurant, snack bar, and ice cream parlor -- plus afternoon tea -- offer variety of dining
  • Four on-site bars and lounges available for cocktails
  • Two large ocean-facing pools; one has a swim-up bar
  • On-site spa specializes in couples' treatments and has a modern fitness center
  • Free on-site parking and bikes
  • Cute kids' club offers games and activities
  • Nightly entertainment
See More Pros

Cons

  • Rooms are a little bland; some complaints about maintenance, thin walls, and cleanliness
  • Charges for Wi-Fi
  • Package upgrade (or a bracelet purchase) required for premium alcohol and to use Nico's Bar on the beach
  • Annoying (and even aggressive) time-share and sales pitches
  • Pools get crowded
See More Cons

Bottom Line

The Reef Playacar is a beachfront, all-inclusive resort in Playa del Carmen. It's got a lot of the same bells and whistles as its competitors: two outdoor swimming pools, several bars and restaurants, jungle-like grounds, a small spa with a gym, and organized entertainment, along with some of the same complaints found elsewhere: charges for Wi-Fi, aggressive time-sales pitches, and crowded pools. Air-conditioned rooms are comfortable enough with private balconies, coffeemakers, and stocked minibars -- though some guests have complained about everything from noise to stained sheets. Overall, this is a decent choice with some of the same frustrations usually found in this price category. It may be worth paying more to stay at The Royal Haciendas, where Wi-Fi is included and the rooms are nicer.

See More Bottom Line

Amenities

  • Cribs
  • Fitness Center
  • Internet
  • Jacuzzi
  • Kids Club
  • Pool
  • Spa

Oyster Hotel Review

The Reef Playacar

Scene

Jungle-like grounds at this beachfront property

From the outside, The Reef Playacar has a Mayan-inspired facade with white stone walls and thatch roofs. The lush grounds are jungle-like with palm trees, artificial waterfalls, and winding paths edged with flowering bushes and grass. Indoors, the lobby picks up the jungle theme again (though this time it's from Africa) with zebra print furniture. Colorful paintings of Mayan families line the walls. Many of the guests are families with young children, though couples stay here too. Public spaces are often bustling and vacationers regularly walk around wearing bathing suits or cover-ups. The property is well-laid out and small enough that guests can easily traverse from their rooms, to the pools, to the restaurants on foot.

See More Scene

Location

On the beach in Playa del Carmen

Though The Reef Playacar has an intimate and jungle-like atmosphere on the beach, it's far from isolated. Guests can walk to a Starbucks in about five minutes, and it's just a 10-minute walk to tourist-friendly 5th Avenue, with restaurants and shops. Expect about a 50-minute drive to Cancun International Airport. Ample parking at the resort is free.

See More Location

Rooms

Standard rooms with upgrades available

The Reef Playacar has 202 garden view rooms dispersed among 18 three-story, standalone villas. Rooms overlook the garden grounds, though some have views of the pool and distant ocean. Each is air-conditioned, simply decorated, and includes a small furnished balcony. Think: white walls, tile floors, and wood and wicker furniture. The Deluxe Standard Room is the cheapest option; it includes a TV, stocked minibar (that won't be restocked during the stay), in-room safe, and a small bathroom. Superior Rooms get you coffeemakers, flat-screen TVs, and daily stocked minibars. Guests can pay more to upgrade to a Superior Room with a whirlpool on the balcony, or buy the Premium Package for unlimited (or at least unlimited until the hotel runs out, which has been known to happen) brand-name booze and access to the chic beachside lounge. All guests must pay for (often slow) Wi-Fi. Past guests have complained about everything from leaky air-conditioners, to blood-stained sheets, to noise.

See More Rooms

Features

Swimming pools, spa, fitness center, kids' club, and entertainment

Features at The Reef Playacar are on par with what other all-inclusive hotels offer at this price point. There are two large, but shallow, swimming pools facing the beach. One pool has a basketball hoop while the other includes the (often crowded) swim-up bar. Sun loungers and umbrellas line the pool deck.

The kids' club is kind of "meh." It includes a colorful indoor playroom with supervised activities, toys, and a TV, but no outdoor pools or educational fun. Staff organizes daily activities for all guests, like dance lessons and water aerobics, and puts on a choreographed nightly show in the theater.

There's an indoor spa with treatment rooms for couples' massages and nail services, but there aren't any extras like a sauna or outdoor pool. The fitness center includes some modern equipment, like cardio machines, and rusty free weights.

See More Features

All-Inclusive / Food

Restrictive all-inclusive options

The Reef Playacar advertises itself as an all-inclusive property with drinks, meals, and tips included, but read the fine print and it becomes obvious that there are some restrictions. Chula Vista is the main international buffet restaurant for an early continental breakfast; it then offers a buffet-style breakfast, lunch, and dinner at pre-arranged times. Past guests have complained the food doesn't vary. Botticelli serves a la carte Italian food for dinner, and it imposes a dress code. There's a snack bar by the pool that serves snacks, drinks, and Mexican-style tacos until late. There's also an ice-cream parlor and afternoon presentation of tea and pastries.

Local liquor and beer are available at several bars. Note that a room upgrade, or the purchase of a bracelet, is required to get unlimited access to name-brand alcohol, but past guests have reported the hotel sells too many bracelets and runs out of the good stuff quickly. Azul 48 is the swim-up bar. La Chiquita Bar serves drinks near the beach until the late afternoon, while La Cascada serves drinks all night in the lobby. Bar Papo's is the other indoor choice for late-night drinks.

Guests who purchased a room upgrade, or a bracelet, have access to Nico's Lounge and Bar, located on the sand. Past guests have complained that drinks are watered down. Tipping is included but some have noted that it's still accepted and can speed along the process for margaritas.

See More All-Inclusive / Food

Beach

White sand, blue water, and free toys

The beach at The Reef Playacar is arguably the best part of the entire resort. Like most beaches in Mexico, this one is public, but the hotel provides lots of free sun loungers, towels, and umbrellas for guests so it doesn't feel crowded. The sand is sugar white and the water is warm, clear, and calm. There's a nearby dive shop where guests can pay for excursions. Freebies include paddle boards, kayaks, and snorkel gear.

See More Beach

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Things You Should Know About The Reef Playacar

Also Known As

  • Reef Playacar

Address

Paseo Xaman-Ha, Ret. Sayil s/n, Fracc. Playacar, Playa del Carmen 77710, Mexico

Website

Oyster Hotel Review

The Reef Playacar

Scene

Jungle-like grounds at this beachfront property

From the outside, The Reef Playacar has a Mayan-inspired facade with white stone walls and thatch roofs. The lush grounds are jungle-like with palm trees, artificial waterfalls, and winding paths edged with flowering bushes and grass. Indoors, the lobby picks up the jungle theme again (though this time it's from Africa) with zebra print furniture. Colorful paintings of Mayan families line the walls. Many of the guests are families with young children, though couples stay here too. Public spaces are often bustling and vacationers regularly walk around wearing bathing suits or cover-ups. The property is well-laid out and small enough that guests can easily traverse from their rooms, to the pools, to the restaurants on foot.

See More Scene

Location

On the beach in Playa del Carmen

Though The Reef Playacar has an intimate and jungle-like atmosphere on the beach, it's far from isolated. Guests can walk to a Starbucks in about five minutes, and it's just a 10-minute walk to tourist-friendly 5th Avenue, with restaurants and shops. Expect about a 50-minute drive to Cancun International Airport. Ample parking at the resort is free.

See More Location

Rooms

Standard rooms with upgrades available

The Reef Playacar has 202 garden view rooms dispersed among 18 three-story, standalone villas. Rooms overlook the garden grounds, though some have views of the pool and distant ocean. Each is air-conditioned, simply decorated, and includes a small furnished balcony. Think: white walls, tile floors, and wood and wicker furniture. The Deluxe Standard Room is the cheapest option; it includes a TV, stocked minibar (that won't be restocked during the stay), in-room safe, and a small bathroom. Superior Rooms get you coffeemakers, flat-screen TVs, and daily stocked minibars. Guests can pay more to upgrade to a Superior Room with a whirlpool on the balcony, or buy the Premium Package for unlimited (or at least unlimited until the hotel runs out, which has been known to happen) brand-name booze and access to the chic beachside lounge. All guests must pay for (often slow) Wi-Fi. Past guests have complained about everything from leaky air-conditioners, to blood-stained sheets, to noise.

See More Rooms

Features

Swimming pools, spa, fitness center, kids' club, and entertainment

Features at The Reef Playacar are on par with what other all-inclusive hotels offer at this price point. There are two large, but shallow, swimming pools facing the beach. One pool has a basketball hoop while the other includes the (often crowded) swim-up bar. Sun loungers and umbrellas line the pool deck.

The kids' club is kind of "meh." It includes a colorful indoor playroom with supervised activities, toys, and a TV, but no outdoor pools or educational fun. Staff organizes daily activities for all guests, like dance lessons and water aerobics, and puts on a choreographed nightly show in the theater.

There's an indoor spa with treatment rooms for couples' massages and nail services, but there aren't any extras like a sauna or outdoor pool. The fitness center includes some modern equipment, like cardio machines, and rusty free weights.

See More Features

All-Inclusive / Food

Restrictive all-inclusive options

The Reef Playacar advertises itself as an all-inclusive property with drinks, meals, and tips included, but read the fine print and it becomes obvious that there are some restrictions. Chula Vista is the main international buffet restaurant for an early continental breakfast; it then offers a buffet-style breakfast, lunch, and dinner at pre-arranged times. Past guests have complained the food doesn't vary. Botticelli serves a la carte Italian food for dinner, and it imposes a dress code. There's a snack bar by the pool that serves snacks, drinks, and Mexican-style tacos until late. There's also an ice-cream parlor and afternoon presentation of tea and pastries.

Local liquor and beer are available at several bars. Note that a room upgrade, or the purchase of a bracelet, is required to get unlimited access to name-brand alcohol, but past guests have reported the hotel sells too many bracelets and runs out of the good stuff quickly. Azul 48 is the swim-up bar. La Chiquita Bar serves drinks near the beach until the late afternoon, while La Cascada serves drinks all night in the lobby. Bar Papo's is the other indoor choice for late-night drinks.

Guests who purchased a room upgrade, or a bracelet, have access to Nico's Lounge and Bar, located on the sand. Past guests have complained that drinks are watered down. Tipping is included but some have noted that it's still accepted and can speed along the process for margaritas.

See More All-Inclusive / Food

Beach

White sand, blue water, and free toys

The beach at The Reef Playacar is arguably the best part of the entire resort. Like most beaches in Mexico, this one is public, but the hotel provides lots of free sun loungers, towels, and umbrellas for guests so it doesn't feel crowded. The sand is sugar white and the water is warm, clear, and calm. There's a nearby dive shop where guests can pay for excursions. Freebies include paddle boards, kayaks, and snorkel gear.

See More Beach

Best Rates

Amenities

  • Air Conditioner

  • Airport Transportation

  • Babysitting Services

  • Balcony / Terrace / Patio

  • Basic Television

  • Beach

  • Beauty / Hair Salon

  • Business Center

  • Cable

  • Children's Pool

  • Concierge

  • Cribs

  • Dry Cleaning

  • Fitness Center

  • Free Breakfast

  • Internet

  • Jacuzzi

  • Kids Allowed

  • Kids Club

  • Laundry

  • Meeting / Conference Rooms

  • Pool

  • Rental Car Service Desk Onsite

  • Separate Bedroom / Living Room Space

  • Spa

  • Supervised Kids Activities

  • Swim-Up Bar

  • Tennis Court

Disclaimer: This content was accurate at the time the hotel was reviewed. Please check our partner sites when booking to verify that details are still correct.