THE FIVES BEACH HOTEL & RESIDENCES

As its name implies, The Fives is a hotel and residence property popular with fun-loving couples and families. There's an upbeat feel throughout the resort, and it can get particularly lively at the beachfront infinity pool with a swim-up bar. While there is plenty of fun in the sun, this hotel is also a big draw for foodies thanks to its wide variety of top-notch restaurants. European (pay as you go) plans are the standard (as most units have kitchens), but the hotel does offer all-inclusive options. As of early 2019, the property i split into an old section and newer section. Expectedly, the older half isn't quiet as stylish, but it offers a beautiful garden settings and a bit better location as far as reaching features on property. This is not a quiet, secluded escape, though an adults-only pool and spa provide some respite from the bustling atmosphere. 

The Fives Beach Hotel & Residences has a beachfront location a 20-minute drive north from downtown Playa del Carmen. There's little of interest in the immediate surroundings, as it's mostly just other resorts. The Grand Coral Golf Riviera Maya is a 12-minute drive away. Xcaret takes 26 minutes to reach by car, while Xplor Park is a 21-minute drive. Rio Secreto is a 28-minute drive away. It takes 45 minutes by car to reach the Cancun International Airport. 

This is a large residence property with 475 guest rooms. While most of these are apartment-style suites, there are a few standard hotel rooms thrown into the mix as well. As with the rest of the resort, rooms and suites are contemporary, featuring modern furnishings and bold pops of color, though decor can vary and some don't shine quite as bright as others. Entry-level Deluxe Rooms are spacious and have furnished terraces overlooking the garden grounds. Mini-fridges, coffeemakers, DVD players, iPod docks, and flat-screen TVs come standard. Bumping up to the one-, two-, or three-bedroom suites add noticeably more space, separate living rooms with sofa beds, and full kitchens with microwaves, stovetops and ovens, and refrigerators. Bathrooms have marble countertops, dual sinks, frosted-glass dividers, rainfall showers, and bathrobes. All rooms have aromatherapy options and pillow menus. Newer rooms have better design and decor, but they're farther from the beach and other hotel features. 

Further upgrades to Penthouse Suites bring in dining tables and two terraces. The Penthouse Sky Suites have a stunning, near-1,000-square-foot rooftop terrace with a whirlpool, daybed, half-bath, and barbecue grill. 

As this hotel is known for its culinary efforts, it's no surprise that people rave about the food here. The 11 gourmet restaurants supply several different cuisines that range from casual to upscale. Reservations are required for most of the dinner-only restaurants, which include Thai, Italian, sushi, and the ultra-contemporary Japanese-Peruvian fusion restaurant (adults-only). There are also a main buffet, day grill (adults-only), French brasserie, beachfront grill, Mediterranean spot, and modern Mexican restaurant. Restaurants boast an excellent wine list curated by sommeliers who have worked with the restaurant chefs. Some restaurants have a dress code that basically just equates to no bathing suits. A reggae-inspired coffee shop with Marley Coffee, cafe snacks, and coffee drinks is on-hand for more casual eats. 

Unfortunately, breakfast isn't free with all rates. In addition to bar service in the restaurants, a bar with premium liquor is at each of the five pools. 

The Fives has a popular and lively private beach club where guests will find a beachfront infinity pool with swim-up bar, beach and pool butler service, a few of the gourmet restaurants, and daybeds to comfortably soak up the sun. Activities include beachside massages, scuba diving, and some typical resort entertainment from the staff. A total of five pools are found throughout the resort, including an adults-only pool, and a bar at every pool is convenient. 

Vassa Spa's elegant and contemporary decor add to the overall upscale relaxation vibe of the space. Here, guests will find water-forward treatments, including a hydrotherapy water journey, steam room and sauna, and ample wellness treatments. A full-service beauty salon is also on-site. The fitness center is located in The Fives Plaza, and is fairly machine-heavy with some all-in-one weight machines and free weights. Walkers and joggers can take it to a path that runs around the perimeter of the hotel. 

Overall, this is pretty much a full-service hotel -- like a small, functioning village -- and you can expect easy access to everything from car rental and laundry service to private tennis or yoga classes. It's also a spot for weddings and other events, and the hotel uses a bespoke installation-style approach that makes it flexible for nearly all types of meetings and events. 

Family-friendly features include babysitting services and baby packages. Activity clubs for kids 4 to 12 and teens 13 to 17 keep younger ones busy with supervised activities. The kids' cub has its own pool, climbing gym, and soccer court that ensure little ones aren't just relegated to spending the day inside. Kids under 4 years old are only allowed to use the club space with adult supervision. The teens' club is heavy with screen time, but also has an outdoor space with a fire pit. Free Wi-Fi is available throughout the resort.