The Reef Playacar

From the outside, The Reef Playacar has a Mayan-inspired facade with white stone walls and thatch roofs. The lush grounds are jungle-like with palm trees, artificial waterfalls, and winding paths edged with flowering bushes and grass. Indoors, the lobby picks up the jungle theme again (though this time it's from Africa) with zebra print furniture. Colorful paintings of Mayan families line the walls. Many of the guests are families with young children, though couples stay here too. Public spaces are often bustling and vacationers regularly walk around wearing bathing suits or cover-ups. The property is well-laid out and small enough that guests can easily traverse from their rooms, to the pools, to the restaurants on foot.

Though The Reef Playacar has an intimate and jungle-like atmosphere on the beach, it's far from isolated. Guests can walk to a Starbucks in about five minutes, and it's just a 10-minute walk to tourist-friendly 5th Avenue, with restaurants and shops. Expect about a 50-minute drive to Cancun International Airport. Ample parking at the resort is free.

The Reef Playacar has 202 garden view rooms dispersed among 18 three-story, standalone villas. Rooms overlook the garden grounds, though some have views of the pool and distant ocean. Each is air-conditioned, simply decorated, and includes a small furnished balcony. Think: white walls, tile floors, and wood and wicker furniture. The Deluxe Standard Room is the cheapest option; it includes a TV, stocked minibar (that won't be restocked during the stay), in-room safe, and a small bathroom. Superior Rooms get you coffeemakers, flat-screen TVs, and daily stocked minibars. Guests can pay more to upgrade to a Superior Room with a whirlpool on the balcony, or buy the Premium Package for unlimited (or at least unlimited until the hotel runs out, which has been known to happen) brand-name booze and access to the chic beachside lounge. All guests must pay for (often slow) Wi-Fi. Past guests have complained about everything from leaky air-conditioners, to blood-stained sheets, to noise.

Features at The Reef Playacar are on par with what other all-inclusive hotels offer at this price point. There are two large, but shallow, swimming pools facing the beach. One pool has a basketball hoop while the other includes the (often crowded) swim-up bar. Sun loungers and umbrellas line the pool deck.The kids' club is kind of "meh." It includes a colorful indoor playroom with supervised activities, toys, and a TV, but no outdoor pools or educational fun. Staff organizes daily activities for all guests, like dance lessons and water aerobics, and puts on a choreographed nightly show in the theater.There's an indoor spa with treatment rooms for couples' massages and nail services, but there aren't any extras like a sauna or outdoor pool. The fitness center includes some modern equipment, like cardio machines, and rusty free weights.

The Reef Playacar advertises itself as an all-inclusive property with drinks, meals, and tips included, but read the fine print and it becomes obvious that there are some restrictions. Chula Vista is the main international buffet restaurant for an early continental breakfast; it then offers a buffet-style breakfast, lunch, and dinner at pre-arranged times. Past guests have complained the food doesn't vary. Botticelli serves a la carte Italian food for dinner, and it imposes a dress code. There's a snack bar by the pool that serves snacks, drinks, and Mexican-style tacos until late. There's also an ice-cream parlor and afternoon presentation of tea and pastries.Local liquor and beer are available at several bars. Note that a room upgrade, or the purchase of a bracelet, is required to get unlimited access to name-brand alcohol, but past guests have reported the hotel sells too many bracelets and runs out of the good stuff quickly. Azul 48 is the swim-up bar. La Chiquita Bar serves drinks near the beach until the late afternoon, while La Cascada serves drinks all night in the lobby. Bar Papo's is the other indoor choice for late-night drinks.Guests who purchased a room upgrade, or a bracelet, have access to Nico's Lounge and Bar, located on the sand. Past guests have complained that drinks are watered down. Tipping is included but some have noted that it's still accepted and can speed along the process for margaritas.

The beach at The Reef Playacar is arguably the best part of the entire resort. Like most beaches in Mexico, this one is public, but the hotel provides lots of free sun loungers, towels, and umbrellas for guests so it doesn't feel crowded. The sand is sugar white and the water is warm, clear, and calm. There's a nearby dive shop where guests can pay for excursions. Freebies include paddle boards, kayaks, and snorkel gear.