Av. 10 Norte esq. Calle 30 Norte, Playa del Carmen, Mexico | (618) 248-8274
One block from La Quinta Avenida's restaurants, shops, and night clubs
Suites are large with contemporary decor, tubs, and a bidet
Master Suite has upscale decor with semi-private rooftop dipping
pool and lounge
Small garden-set pool with loungers and hammock area
Discount passes to Mamita's beach club
Spacious and sunny lounge area with lending library
Free Wi-fi
Free underground parking spot for Master Suite
Master Suite is in a different building (pro for some)
Cheapest rooms are a bit dated
No breakfast (or restaurant)
Twin beds pushed together to make a king bed
Beach towel rental requires a cash deposit
With 25 rooms and suites (and one upscale Master Suite), the lower-middle-range Riviera Caribe Maya has both standard budget rooms and larger, chicer suites with multiple bedrooms, tubs, and bidets. There’s also a small garden pool, built-in lounge areas, and a big lending library in an atrium where the hotel’s bar used to be; the hotel doesn't have a restaurant. Location is key here, it's just one block from La Quinta Avenida. While the main building is ideal for friends and families, the off-site is ideal for couples seeking privacy and tad more luxe vibe. For those that want beach access and a restaurant, check rates at Avalon Grand Cancun.
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.
Scene
A basic but comfortable low-frills boutique
At
first glance, Hotel Riviera Caribe Maya doesn’t seem like anything to write
home about. There’s no fancy entrance or sign; from the street, the hotel looks
like your average lower-middle-range spot in Playa del Carmen. And while the small and basic boutique isn’t the fanciest place in the area, it’s unremarkable outside
presence is hiding a surprisingly cute, clean, and in some rooms, chic hotel.
There’s no bar or restaurant here (the bar was removed in a 2013 renovation that
also updated furniture), but there is a small dipping pool with a few
loungers, hammock, and garden setting. It ideal for anyone on a budget in
search of a not-many-frills but comfortable place in Playa that’s close enough
to walk to La Quinta Avenida in minutes and far enough away from the late night
club noise to get a decent night's sleep.
Location
One block from the strip but away from loud all-night club noise
Located toward
the Playa Norte edge of central Playa del Carmen, Hotel Riviera Caribe Maya is
on a quiet corner one block from the packed pedestrian-only La Quinta Avenida.
It’s an ideal spot for those who want to be close to the action, but away from late-night club noise. The entrance is along busy car-heavy 10th
Avenue and few minute’s walk to a plethora of restaurants, bars, clubs, shops
and everything else the strip has to offer. The city’s ADO bus station is about
a 10-minute walk south, while walk 10-minutes north on La Quinta Avenida and you’ll reach the end of the strip. Cancun Airport is around 45 minutes
north on the main highway, while Akumal’s famous snorkeling and Tulum’s beachside
ruins are 30 and 50 minutes south, respectively.
Rooms
Average budget standards and surprisingly stylish suites
Main
building rooms have drastic differences in style, decor, and features. The
basic standard rooms ring in at the lower-middle-range range with a dated look,
old TVs, and feature Caribbiean-esque decor. Upgrades to Standard Plus rooms add a
balcony, but bumping up to a Suite significantly changes the game. Suites are
spacious, have a more contemporary and stylish look, and come with big bathrooms
inclusive of large jetted tubs and a bidet. Only some have a balcony, so if you want
one, be sure to request it. Be aware that a few of the king bed rooms
in the main building are actually two twins pushed together.
There is only one Master Suite at Riviera Caribe and it's off-property. Located in
an apartment building around the corner and is by far the most upscale room of
the bunch. While it’s not technically a suite, there is a contemporary sitting area in addition to the large king-size bed and glassed-in
balcony (windows do open). The Master Suite lacks the tub and bidet of the
regular suites, but has a large walk-in shower, underground parking spot, and
shared semi-private rooftop area.
Features
No food or drink on-site, but there's a small pool, beach club deals, and free Wi-Fi
A slightly barebones boutique, guests will still find a pool at the
heart of this small spot. The garden setting is relaxing, but there are not
many loungers and depending on the time of day, there may not be much sun to
soak in thanks to the height of the main building. Inside, there are two
open-air lounge spaces, one in the lobby and one in the old hotel bar area that
was removed in 2013. Both spots have built-in bench seating with cushions and
hefty lending libraries. Unlike most similar spots in the area, there is no
food or drink service, though guests will receive a nice discount on loungers,
umbrellas, and palapas at the huge and hip Mamita’s beach club. Just know that
if you chose to rent a beach towel at the hotel, they’ll ask you for a cash
deposit. Other than that, it’s
just free Wi-Fi. Those staying around the corner in the Master Suite have a few
additional perks like a shared semi-private rooftop dipping pool and lounge
area and an underground parking spot. But no matter where you stay, you’ll have
to fend for yourself for breakfast.
