Platinum Yucatan Princess All Suites & Spa Resort

The Platinum Yucatan Princess, which opened in 2014, is a sprawling luxury resort and spa with a heavy heavy emphasis on sports and activities. The property has four distinct areas: the (somewhat scruffy) Sports Park near the entrance that makes up the entire first third of the property; the Platinum Zone, the heart of the resort where the gym, spa, restaurants, lobby, convention space, and shops are located; the Activity Zone, the main pool with organized activities and music playing throughout the day; and the Tranquil Zone at the back of the property, whose pools are devoted to relaxation instead of water activities (don't expect to hear music here). Most of the resort is quite lovely, and there's plenty of natural stone and wood throughout, along with some artistic notes, including work from Spanish artist Cristina Pemaeloz. The beach, where vegetation blends nicely with the environment, is down a small walkway through the jungle and across a wooden bridge. There are loungers under palapas, and waiter service is available.

Though there are plenty of positives here, overall, the Platinum Yucatan doesn't quite live up to its advertised five-star rating. For the most part, food is only mediocre, the beach is a bit narrow (and can have seaweed issues), some corners of the resort are looking a bit worse for wear (such as the Sports Park), and with the property's massive size, guests can sometimes feel lost in the shuffle. This is the nicest resort in the Princess complex, but the beach in front of the sister resorts is actually better, with a less rocky entry to the sea; the free non-motorized water sports are found there, too. The complex is sprawling, so guests should be prepared to walk or take the resort shuttle. Travelers seeking more personalized attention may prefer the Paradisus Playa del Carmen La Perla, which has an upgrade that includes butler service -- not available here. The Platinum upgrade here doesn't get you much extra.

Most guests we observed were couples in their 30s or older, and there's a fun, active vibe here, and the scene at the main activity pool is noisy and can sometimes get a little raucous. The weekly foam party is a particular hit with guests. Access to sister resorts Grand Riviera Princess and Grand Sunset Princess is a nice perk, and guests at those resorts do not get reciprocal access to the Platinum Yucatan Princess.

With views that stretch as far as Cozumel Island, the Platinum Yucatan Princess shares a quiet section of the Riviera Maya with other resort properties, and is about a 30-minute drive north of Playa del Carmen. Tulum, with its magnificent Mayan ruins on the beach, is about an hour's drive south from the resort -- guests can book a tour through the resort's concierge. Cancun International Airport is about a 40-minute drive from the resort. As the complex of three Princess resorts is sprawling, a shuttle runs between the resorts every 15 minutes or so. 

The Platinum Yucatan Princess has 472 rooms spread across the property. Rooms include Junior Suite Deluxe and Platinum Deluxe Rooms, and there are 14 Honeymoon Suites, two Master Suites, and a single Presidential Suite, all with gray-veined marble floors. While none of the rooms have beachfront views, upgraded rooms have views of the jungle vegetation, ocean, and surrounding coastline, while most look out on the resort's gardens and pools. Rooms tend to repeat the theme as their designated zone. For example, Deluxe Zone Rooms are gray, white, and turquoise, while the Platinum Zone Rooms feature gold, gray, and rose. Honeymoon Suites are gold, white, and rose. Decor is modern and stylish. 

All rooms include either furnished balconies or terraces, and come with 42-inch plasma TVs, iPod docks, free Wi-Fi, safes, well-stocked minibars, coffeemakers, premium in-room bars, and 24-hour room service (some upgraded rooms have more options on the menu). Electricity is triggered with the room key cards. Junior Suite Deluxe Swim-up Rooms have direct pool access, and Platinum Deluxe Rooms and some of the Honeymoon Suites have en-suite hydro-massage tubs on the terraces. Honeymoon Suites also include round beds, which some guests might find too small for two. Master Suites come with their own spa packages. Buildings 2 and 3 are nearer to the activity pool and can be a bit noisy, but are convenient for those enjoying the party scene. 

Bathrooms in the Junior Suites and Platinum Deluxe rooms have bathtubs and double showers, with marble countertops and tile floors. The Honeymoon Suites, Master and Presidential Suites have stand-alone tubs, along with the resort’s own line of luxury toiletries. Hairdryers are provided in all rooms. Note that the marble floors get quite slippery when wet. 

The Sports Park is a distinctive feature of the resort, and features batting cages, a putting green, ping-pong and a mini pool table, air rifle target range (at least five guests need to be present to receive instruction), and a pool for stand-up paddleboarding. However, some guests report that the park isn't used much and is looking a little scruffy. There are plenty of other activities as well, including walking trails, tennis courts, water sports, and daily activities like yoga, and guided bike tours throughout the property. Games and water activities (such as water aerobics and the weekly foam party) mostly take place at the main pool. The fitness center is open daily, and features a full range of modern equipment. Note that for some offerings -- such as non-motorized water sports or yoga classes -- guests might have to trek over to one of the sister resorts. 

There are 13 separate pools spread throughout the resort. Two have swim-up bars -- the main activity pool, and the main quiet pool. Some of the other pools are in front of the swim-out rooms. 

The resort also has its own theater space with a giant flat-screen HD TV for movie nights and other events, with space for up to 500 people and a bar inside. Two smaller viewing rooms are off to the side -- each can seat up to 60 people. Entertainment options may include a fire show, casino night, and reggae beach party. 

The resort has its own beach, but it’s located down a path. Palapas and loungers have been set up there, and waiter and spa services are available on request. At times, the beach has heavy seaweed, but the staff works on removing it. Wi-Fi is free throughout the resort (though the signal can be weak).

There are six different restaurants at the Platinum Yucatan Princess, including Yucatan Buffet restaurant, serving all three meals. The food here is mediocre. Luckily, some of the a la cartes are better, and dinner reservations are not required at Rodeo Grill (Tex-Mex), Bruschetta (Italian), or Aroma (international). Rodeo Grill also offers similar (but more limited) items as the buffet for breakfast and lunch, plus late-night snacks. At Tao, reservations are required specifically for the teppanyaki grill, which can fill up fast. They are also required at Skylights, which incurs an extra charge. Bracelets are required, and dress codes are enforced. 

Offering body treatments, aromatherapy, reflexology, anti-stress rituals, hot stones, steam baths, whirlpools, and massages, the Princess Spa is where guests can take the edge off. The spa has almost 3,000 square feet of space, including three whirlpool cabins, two shower cabins, and three double massage cabins.

There’s also a special variety of treatments for brides scheduling wedding ceremonies on the resort's beach, plus a beauty salon. Some of the room packages allow for in-room massages. Massages are also available poolside or on the beach.