Royal Hideaway Playacar

Julie Hinton-Green Reiki Master

Girls’ Trip Review | October 3–7 I recently stayed at in Royal Hideaway Playacar in Playa del Carmen with a group of close girlfriends from October 3–7, and it was the perfect setting for an adults-only style getaway. Our early 7:00 a.m. flight allowed us to enjoy a full first day, followed by about a one-hour transfer from the Cancun airport. The hotel was absolutely beautiful and very quiet, likely due to the time of year, which made it ideal for a girls’ trip or couples. While I wouldn’t necessarily recommend it for families with children due to limited activities, it was perfect for relaxation and quality time with friends. The property was well maintained and stunning both during the day and at night. I especially enjoyed the cooking classes offered — one day making ceviche and another learning authentic Mexican guacamole. Dining options were great overall, including the Asian and Italian restaurants, with excellent service throughout. The Mexican cultural show was very entertaining, even though the preset menu wasn’t entirely to my taste. The gym was a standout feature — clean, modern, and well equipped, with beautiful views of the surrounding trees. I also appreciated the healthy grab-and-go options like wrapped granola. We felt very safe exploring the nearby shops just across the street, which was a big plus. The wildlife around the property was another highlight, with plenty of birds and even capybaras — a rare sight compared to home in Toronto. Overall, it was a wonderful choice for a relaxing, memorable girls’ trip, and I would highly recommend it for adults looking to unwind in Playa del Carmen. P.S Don't forget to tip the Waiter and waitress staff! They deserve it for all the hard work they do...

Doug Robinson

We did a lot of research and decided to visit for the first time the Royal Hideaway Playacar and weren’t disappointed!! We were there between Dec 10th to 17th and have to say it was one of the best overall reports we’ve been to. The hotel was beautifully maintained, the staff were amazing, friendly and extremely helpful, the food was top notch and was the perfect size. 2 awesome pools over looking the most beautiful stretch of beach, it never felt crowded and because it was more of a boutique style resort everything was a quick 2 minute walk. One of the reasons we chose the Royal Hideaway Playacar was because it was an adults only resort! Met lots of new friends and can’t say enough about our concierge “Alberto”… he was the best! Always asking if we needed anything, or if something could be better! We plan on going again next year and would highly recommend to anyone looking for a quality, relaxing and chill vacation

Kim Karlin

This was our 5th visit to Royal Hideaway, and it just gets better every time. I love that it's a smaller resort and has beautiful grounds. The beach is close to the villas, so it's a quick walk no matter what building your room is in. The staff is the best part of the RH experience. Sucel was our concierge in building 24, and she went above and beyond to make our stay special. She even made reservations for my daughter and I to have dinner in town. Her smile and cheerful greeting every morning was a great way to start the day! All of the wait staff and hosts in the restaurants are wonderful. My favorite server from the first time I visited is Oscar (who has moved from The Deck to Azia). I can't say enough good things about his professional and personal attitude. His attention to the little things makes each meal something to look forward to. And he is warm and personable and always greets us with genuine pleasure. Yuliana was the hostess at The Deck for breakfast, and she was accommodating and so sweet. Best bartender of the year is Jose at The Deck bar. His smile was as great as his drinks! Eduardo that does beach service was always very attentive, worked so hard all day,and was a joy to talk to. Luis also delivered our drinks to us with a smile, including extra water bottles when it was so hot. Bar Allegria has Lorenzo (the shorter man of that name there) who makes a great margarita and even better conversation! Beach security were very attentive to all guest concerns and needs. I especially appreciated David, who always checked that everything was ok with us and was really interested in all the guests. I can't praise the entertainment team enough. The resort has added so much more to do, and the staff kills it!! I especially enjoyed water aerobics with Roberto. The shows are fun and the painting activities were a nice way to get creative. The food in all the restaurants is good, fresh and plentiful. Our favorites are Azia (try the Mayan sushi) and Spices for dinner. There are so many wonderful things about Royal Hideaway, which is why we keep going back. I don't foresee a Mexico vacation that doesn't mean a stay at this calming resort with it's welcoming and gracious staff. Thank you Royal Hideaway for another terrific vacation!!

Paulette Brown

This was our 13th visit to the Barceló Royal Hideaway Playacar, and it continues to be our favorite place thanks to the incredible staff who consistently go above and beyond. The resort is absolutely beautiful and so relaxing. We would especially like to recognize Ricky Rosas, who always makes our trips memorable and seamless. Prior to our arrival this trip we were staying next door at the Allegro Playacar with our family, and Ricky personally came over to pick us up and arranged for our luggage to be transferred and ensured our room was ready the moment we arrived. Throughout our stay, Ricky always checks on us several times a day and wis always offering his assistance—anything he can do to improve our experience. His professionalism, kindness, and genuine care for guests truly set him apart. He is the absolute best concierge we have ever had both here and at other resorts. He goes above and beyond for everyone, and it does not go unnoticed. We would also like to thank Roberto and his Water Sports team, especially Henry, for their outstanding service and friendliness. A special shout-out to the pool service team—Genaro, Eduardo, Luis, Javier, and Jorge—who were attentive, welcoming, and always make each snd every day by the pool exceptional. Kudos as well to the incredibly talented guitarist, saxophone player, and violinist who performed at the pool during this trip. Their music added such a special and relaxing atmosphere. My husband and I absolutely love this resort and look forward to returning again and again, thanks to staff members like Ricky and the entire Royal Hideaway Playacar team who consistently deliver an exceptional experience. I also met Dayna the new guest services manager today and she was very kind and wanting to know how they can make it even better.

Mark Levine

We had a lovely vacation at Royal Hideaway. The six of us all loved the food, the beach, the pools, everything. All of our rooms were comfortable and clean. Each of our concierges were helpful, considerate, and friendly. My wife and I visited Royal Hideaway in February 2000, just about a year after they opened. This time we brought our adult children and their partners. We found it to be just as inviting and comfortable as before. The service was exemplary, as was the food. The grounds were impeccably maintained and the spa was simply amazing (my wife had three treatments). It was as clean as could be, with no litter seen anywhere, even on the beach! A few shout outs to folks we feel deserve a little recognition: Oliveiro at Spices was an attentive waiter. Kudos to him for excellent service. Armando, the concierge in building 30, was wonderful. He was exactly the kind of ally I needed to ensure that all went well. Alexa and Victor were friendly and warm instructors. My family had them for two crafts classes and loved them. Dayna was visible and helpful. One day during a downpour, she insisted that she escort me with her umbrella to my villa. That kind of kindness does not go unnoticed. Roberto, the Head Concierge, helped me all along the planning of the trip, from directing me to someone who could help with dinner reservation to transportation to and from the airport. Finally, I must thank Lorena, the Assistant General Manager. for all of her help. I know that I had a lot of questions and worries before the trip (I may have been a pest), and she answered each inquiry with grace and kindness. I mentioned all of the physical things that made our trip great, but ultimately, it was the professional service from everyone at Royal Hideaway that made the vacation so memorable. My daughter insisted that she was not going to leave and my son, just finishing his first semester of law school, said that the time at Royal Hideaway was exactly what he needed to decompress. Again, many thanks to everyone at Royal Hideaway for helping me make cherished memories with my family. I can assure you that we will be back and it won’t take another 25 years!