Playa Palms Beach Hotel

Off in a nook around the corner from 1st Avenue, Playa Palms Beach rests between a white-sand beach and quiet but still convenient side street in central Playa del Carmen. From the street, the boutique's entrance is marked by white walls, a small open lobby, and decorative small waterfall. Two curving, whitewashed, and chic three-story buildings flank a stretch of verdant garden punctuated with a small waist-length dipping pool. Most balconies and terraces face toward the pool and garden while a lucky handful face the ocean directly. Carefully planted, potted, and landscaped flowers, vines, and palm trees give pops of color, shade, and a modern, upscale design to the outdoor areas, while the tiny but functional check-in area is comparatively basic. Stairs at the front of the boutique are wide and give slatted views to the garden and out toward the beach, while exceptionally tall guests or those with large suitcases or mobility issues may find trouble navigating the narrow spiral staircases leading to rooms near the beach. 

There are no public areas save the small private beach and informal lobby lounge, making this an ideal spot for couples seeking privacy -- but who still want to be within easy walking distance of the action of central Playa del Carmen. Thanks in part to the lack of a bar (there is individual drink service on the beach) or planned activities, there's not much of a social atmosphere and everyone seems happy to just relax and do their partying elsewhere, if at all. 

With a quiet beachfront location in central Playa del Carmen, Playa Palms’ entrance is off a small side street a half block from 1st Avenue, and only two-and-a-half blocks from La Quinta Avenida’s shops, restaurants, bars, and entertainment. The hotel is about a 12-minute walk to the main ADO bus station where buses depart regularly to popular places spots like Cancun, Akumal, and Tulum. Cancun Airport is about a 45-minute drive north, while southbound travelers will reach Akumal in about 30 minutes, and Tulum in 40 to 50 minutes.

All 39 of Playa Palms’ condo-rooms have either Oceanfront, Ocean Views, or Garden Views. The latter two categories face the courtyard pool but the Garden View rooms are ground-floor units and so may not be able to see much (or anything) of the ocean. Rooms are spacious (the largest being the third-floor oceanfront rooms with high ceilings, a small loft area, and large outdoor terraces), clean, and have stylish upscale beach decor consisting of textured whitewashed walls, chic colorful fabrics, pottery, wood accents, big terraces with hammocks, and stone tile bathrooms. Each room has a partially equipped kitchen (in the Suites) or kitchenette with a few pots, pans, and dishes, microwave, two-burner electric stovetop, and mini-refrigerator. Oceanfront rooms and Suites also feature waffle bathrobes, while Suites have separate living room and kitchen areas. Bathrooms in all units are fairly dim and feel a bit cramped.

You can also grab free Wi-Fi in your room as well as a previously read paperback from the room’s personal lending library. Note that some rooms require the use of a narrow spiral staircase that may be hard to navigate for some, especially tall people.

Playa Palms spills right out onto a wide bit of Playa del Carmen’s famous powder-soft beach where guests will find a shady almond tree, sturdy woven lounge chairs under big umbrellas, and drink service. This area of Playa’s beach is very picturesque -- clear blue waters, white sand, and an old wooden dock jetting out toward the horizon -- but it is also prone to large buildups of seaweed along the shoreline and there are typically a handful of local fishing company boats floating in the water. Compared to the north side strip beaches, it’s a quiet spot, but not necessarily desolate. Foot traffic is common, though not too disruptive.

Standout features of this hotel include the hip-yet-natural landscaped garden grounds with hanging vines, palms, flowers, and trickling waterfalls, and the quiet but super-convenient location. A small and shallow lagoon-style pool with a maximum depth of four feet squiggles through the courtyard close to the beach entrance. There are no loungers, but a few jets and two small rock waterfalls trickle into the water from the perimeter.

Playa Palms has drink service for those out on the sands (but no actual bar), free Wi-Fi, and a free, fairly basic continental breakfast with toast and tea or coffee that is served in your room or out on your terrace. Additional items like fresh fruit or yogurt can be purchased. The lobby has an area reserved for tour booking.