Lote Hotelero No. 6, Desarollo Playacar,
Playa del Carmen, Quintana Roo,
Mexico
The pioneer in luxury all–inclusive resorts, Royal Hideaway Playacar puts a formal gloss on package tourism. Its convenient location near Playa del Carmen means you might also want to nip into town for a few meals.
Set inside a gated condo development, Occidental Resorts' Royal Hideaway has all the trappings of old–school luxury, beginning in the lobby, which is all stratospheric ceilings, gleaming marble floors, and oil paintings. Valets introduce guests to the reception staff, and service continues in this formal vein, with everyone greeted as "Mister" or "Miss," and even some white gloves sported by the bellhops.
Rooms are clustered in two– and three–story villas (each with its own concierge) painted butter yellow and trimmed in white Caribbean–style gables. Paths meander over ponds and past small swimming pools, but the overall feeling is one of formality and planning––essential given the resort's relatively small lot. A smart layout allows a fair amount of room among the buildings, but the beachfront is narrow. (Service is also lacking on the beach; you'll have to set up your chair and fetch your towel yourself.)
Standard rooms are comfortable, if not absolutely cavernous, and the bathtubs don't accommodate two. But they are attractive, with pillowy beds, colonial–look ceiling fans, and dark, heavy furniture. By contrast, the bilevel junior suites offer more room than most couples will know what to do with (a pullout bed can be used for children 13 or older), with two bathrooms, two terraces, a dining or sitting room, and a wet bar. The upstairs bedroom and bathroom are very similar in layout to the standard rooms.
Royal Hideaway Playacar touts the quality of its cuisine, and it is leagues better than typical all–inclusives––though it is still no match at all for what's served at smaller, European–plan hotels. The showcase restaurant is ultra–modern Las Ventanas, where the Michelin–starred chef turns out a modified version of trendy Spanish cuisine cuisine (foie gras ice cream, flavored foams, and the like). For really dedicated foodies, this will seem tired, but for others it's a chance to sample a bit of this culinary craze. The more mainstream dining options––a dimly lit, super–Baroque Italian restaurant, a sleek Asian option, and a poolside grill––are more successful. Unfortunately, "all–inclusive" does not include premium wine (which can be very expensive in Mexico due to import duties), and the house choices are bottom–of–the–barrel.
Many travelers will never consider an all–inclusive package, no matter the perks that come with it. But for those who will (perhaps in part due to the range of activities available at such resorts), Royal Hideaway Playacar is certainly one of the better options––even if its vision of luxury feels a bit frozen in time.
Web Address: www.royalhideaway.com
Total Number of Rooms: 200
Published rates: $373 to $822 per person, all–inclusive
Review and photos by Zora O'Neill
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