As I mentioned in yesterday’s post, TJ and I returned from a 4 night stay in Playa Del Carmen last Sunday, and it was nothing short of amazing. It’s been a long time since we’ve been back to any of the resort towns in Mexico, 7 years to be exact, so we weren’t really sure what to expect… and we were blown away by the beauty, service, amenities, and food.
Before I proceed, I do want to mention that this wasn’t a trip that we paid for. It was a recognition trip from TJ’s company, hence why we went without the girls. Despite the fact that we didn’t plan, or pay, for this trip, we both agree that we would 100% bring the family back here in a heartbeat (we have it on the list for possible Spring Break 2025 locations).
The company had us staying at The Fairmont Mayakoba, which sits along a strip of the beach, which is shared with 3 other hotels: The Rosewood, Andaz, and Banyan Tree. All of these hotels can be accessed by bike, or by walking along the water… and they all have something slightly different and unique to offer. We took advantage of the proximity to them, and enjoyed their amenities as well.
Back to the Fairmont though. If you choose to stay there (which I highly recommend) you have the option of booking an all inclusive room/rate, or passing on the all inclusive aspect. I’ve been a bit weary of all inclusive options ever since we returned from Jamaica (long time ago…), so I wasn’t sure what to expect food wise… and again, I was blown away. The breakfast buffet is served in such a beautiful restaurant (with indoor and outdoor seating), and the attention to detail was amazing (from the plates and coffee mugs, to the variety of food options). Their rooftop bar with sweeping ocean views, Cielo, is spectacular, the steakhouse delicious (with a Martini bar, if you fancy one), and the beachside cocktails free flowing.
The Fairmont has a wonderful gym (I used it one morning while TJ was in a quick business meeting), gorgeous spa (we both got massages on our last day), water activities (we jet skied), and bikes with a “grab and go” concept. They have a kid’s club, great “family” pool with a winding slide, another pool located by the beach, and spectacular grounds. I will add that any “extra” activities (i.e. spa, water activities) are not included in the all inclusive rate and that the property is so large, you do need a golf cart (or a bike) to get down to the beach and a few of the other restaurants (but the “golf cart” shuttles come around very frequently, so it’s not really an issue).
I do highly recommend checking out some of the other resorts as well. TJ and I spent a considerable amount of time at the “adults only” pool at The Rosewood, since they probably had some of the best tacos we’ve ever had (and the service was 11/10). We also had dinner one evening at the Andaz’s Sotavento, which was right on the water with amazing food (highly recommend). And it’s also worth heading over to the Banyan Tree… we only had a cocktail there, but it was highly recommended to us (by people at other hotels) that the Thai restaurant they have is the best ever (we had two evenings committed to organized work events or we would have tried it).
I’ve broken down a bunch of photos from our trip into outfits, restaurants, and property/activites for easy organization.
I hope this helps if you’re considering a visit to the area!
_____
WHAT WE WORE
(Dress)
(Shorts, Tank, Sandals, Green Necklace (shell is an old charm from Sezane), pearl Necklace)
(Dress)
(Suit)
RESTAURANTS
(Various spots around The Fairmont for dining and drinks)
(Lunch, two days in a row, at The Rosewood)
(Dinner at Sotavento, Andaz)
(Beverages at The Banyan Tree)
ACTIVITIES, ETC…
