Today we are going to Journey to the Village of Playacar in the Riviera Maya, just 35 minutes south of Cancun International Airport. The Royal Hideaway Playacar was the first all-inclusive adults only property to receive the prestigious AAA 5 Diamond Award and I can attest to it very much deserving the distinction. This property is a place where service and style come together in such sophisticated fashion that it might forever change the way you view All-Inclusives. The 200 Room resort is ideally located on 13 acres of lush, tropical foliage that opens onto one of the most beautiful stretches of beach on the Yucatan Peninsula and offers 8 amazing gourmet restaurants including the Club Royale dinner show twice weekly, Azia 4 Diamond asian themed restaurant, Ventanas with amazing ocean views, The Chef's Table which is a gourmet interactive dining experience with the resort's executive chef.
Let's begin with the arrival,
After a short ride from The El Dorado Royale were we stayed at the beginning of our stay we pulled up to a very elegant and impressive Porte Cochere where a bellman in crisp uniform and hat opened our doors, greeted us with warmly, asked if there was anything we needed and unloaded our bags. Once unloaded he asked that we leave our bags there while we proceeded to the check-in. The foyer is both elegant and grand and also offers an amazing view of the property all the way down to the beach and ocean. The resort is medium sized I would say but from this vantage point appears pleasantly small from the Main Building to the Ocean.
Entering the Lobby one almost forgets being in Mexico momentarily as the style of the building is more reminiscent of an Italian Renaissance Mansion than a Mexican Resort. Chilled champagne, warm smiles and a speedy check-in awaited us. We were given a small map of the resort, shown the basic layout and locations of restaurants, spa, pools and answers to whatever questions we had at that point. We were also told about our concierge (each building has a concierge) and to speak to her about making any dinner reservations, questions or other needs. I have to share with you how the architecture, style and decor, landscaping and the attention to Superior Service of this resort just exudes a feeling of Elegance and Class. It may not be everyone's cup of tea but I have to admit I thoroughly enjoyed feeling, how can I best describe it, "fancy"?
We arrived a little earlier than check-in time (3pm) so we opted to go to "The Deck" Grill for a light lunch. The restaurant is located Beachside with really amazing ocean views. The beach at this resort is truly one of the best I've seen in Mexico and the Caribbean. There was also a wonderful infinity pool with stunning ocean-views, We were seated quickly and thereafter always addressed by name. Although it seemed a little formal at first, after the first 2 times it felt proper given the surroundings to hear "Señor Solis may we bring you more water? Señor Solis would you like some extra cheese, Señor Solis is there anything else you would like?" Needless to say this is one resort where service is where they shine very brightly. The food was also a major strong point. Even the grill served delicious and visually appealing snacks. Below are a few of the goodies we sampled.
After lunch we headed to our building where we met our wonderful concierge Rosalia. She sat us down and told us a little more about our room, the resort, the restaurants that were open that night and also made reservations for us at Azia their Asian Themed 4 Diamond Award winning Restaurant that specializes in Japanese cuisine. In today's tech driven world you should know Free Wi-Fi is included and wer were given the Free Wi-Fi Login codes for all the different gadgets we had (Netbook, Laptop, Cell phone, Tablet). We were then escorted upstairs where our bags awaited us inside our fantastic room.
We arrived a little earlier than check-in time (3pm) so we opted to go to "The Deck" Grill for a light lunch. The restaurant is located Beachside with really amazing ocean views. The beach at this resort is truly one of the best I've seen in Mexico and the Caribbean. There was also a wonderful infinity pool with stunning ocean-views, We were seated quickly and thereafter always addressed by name. Although it seemed a little formal at first, after the first 2 times it felt proper given the surroundings to hear "Señor Solis may we bring you more water? Señor Solis would you like some extra cheese, Señor Solis is there anything else you would like?" Needless to say this is one resort where service is where they shine very brightly. The food was also a major strong point. Even the grill served delicious and visually appealing snacks. Below are a few of the goodies we sampled.
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| Seafood Ceviche |
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| Chicken Kebab on bed of rice |
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| Spicy Wings |
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| Steak Burrito |
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| Brownie With Coconut Jelly Garnish and Chocolate Ice Cream |
After lunch we headed to our building where we met our wonderful concierge Rosalia. She sat us down and told us a little more about our room, the resort, the restaurants that were open that night and also made reservations for us at Azia their Asian Themed 4 Diamond Award winning Restaurant that specializes in Japanese cuisine. In today's tech driven world you should know Free Wi-Fi is included and wer were given the Free Wi-Fi Login codes for all the different gadgets we had (Netbook, Laptop, Cell phone, Tablet). We were then escorted upstairs where our bags awaited us inside our fantastic room.
The Luxury Jr Suite was very spacious with tall vaulted ceilings, a huge king bed loaded with pillows, chilled champagne and fruit basket, Cable TV with DVD Stereo System, daily stocked mini-fridge and 24 hour room service of course. The bathroom was also large with 2 sink vanity and separate Jacuzzi Hydro-therapy tub and shower. Enjoy the walkthrough video with extra resort pics I've created below.
The first evening our Concierge Rosalia made reservations for us at Azia, the Asian Themed Four Diamond Award winning restaurant. As with all the resort's evening dining options casual elegance is required attire (Collared shirts and pants for men, Dresses for women). I was impressed both by the greeting by name as I walked in, and the very classy Contemporary Asian decor. The hostess wasted no time in seating us where we had personalized name cards at the table. Our waiter then came and introduced himself, followed shortly by the maitre d'. Throughout the meal the waiter seemed to psychically know when my glass or plate was close to empty, promptly refilling it or removing it. Of course I have to mention the main reason for being there to begin with, the food! I wish pictures were scratch and sniff because its difficult to convey just how wonderful the food was. Presentation, Flavor, Aroma and Taste of course were perfectly balanced. We tried both Japanese, Thai and Chinese Dishes and none failed to impress.
Below are pictures of some of the dishes including Sushi, Thai Curry Fish, and Tepenyaki Chicken and Beef Entrees. The dessert finale was a fried ginger ice cream that was the perfect sweet ending to the meal.
Below are pictures of some of the dishes including Sushi, Thai Curry Fish, and Tepenyaki Chicken and Beef Entrees. The dessert finale was a fried ginger ice cream that was the perfect sweet ending to the meal.
The next day we ordered room service for breakfast which came promptly and was just as delicious as everything sampled at the Royal Hideaway. We then took off to tour the town of Playacar which although was a 15-20 min walk away we took a $7 cab as it was sprinkling on and off. Our "short" shopping trip took most of the day as we perused countless souvenir shops, upscale boutiques, duty free liquor shops, and other quaint shops. I had some amazing Gelato, some great tacos and got some great deals on souvenirs and Tequila. After a full day out there we were ready for some more Royal Hideaway pampering and couldn't wait to try the Ventanas Restaurant where we had reservations that night.
Ventanas is their signature restaurant serving various gourmet offerings at Royal Hideway and it did not disappoint in any respect. The service as we had become accustomed to was spectacular and again the personalized name card on our table was a nice touch. The decor was luxurious and the food was insanely delicious.Adjacent and connected to the Restaurant is the Piano Lounge which lent its musical touch for a elegant and relaxing atmosphere. Below are a few of the dishes we sampled, some were better than others but all delighted our tastebuds.
That evening we retired early as we had a flight to catch the next day but we did again sample room service for a late night snack which again was fantastic and arrived promptly. The following morning our bags were retrieved on schedule and we proceeded to go to Spices which sits on the beach with amazing beach and ocean views. Without going into too much detail I think Royal hideaway gave us one last "wow" moment with the delicious breakfast spread, spectacular service and the views as the perfect topping for both. As we walked out of the restaurant I felt I was leaving friends and family as 6 different people greeted me by name and practically begged to be of service in some way and to please return soon. I have to admit they seemed utterly sincere in their attention and service.
Leaving Mexico and this wonderful resort was beyond difficult. With Royal Hideaway's 24 hour room service, free resort wide WiFi, impeccable world class service, fantastic gourmet food, beautiful white sand beach and lovely grounds I have to say it is a perfect place to relax, unwind and be pampered. For those needing a little nightlife Playacar and its many nightlife and shopping options are walking distance away or a very short cab ride. You simply cannot go wrong with this resort unless you want to bring children along or want a louder atmosphere.
Till we blog again,
Feel free to ask me any questions and please subscribe to the Blog and learn about all the top resorts in the Caribbean and Latin America from a 14 year Travel Veteran.
See you on the beach!
D. Omar Solis
LTC
Luxury Travel Concierge
305-520-9714
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| Shopping in Playacar |
That evening we retired early as we had a flight to catch the next day but we did again sample room service for a late night snack which again was fantastic and arrived promptly. The following morning our bags were retrieved on schedule and we proceeded to go to Spices which sits on the beach with amazing beach and ocean views. Without going into too much detail I think Royal hideaway gave us one last "wow" moment with the delicious breakfast spread, spectacular service and the views as the perfect topping for both. As we walked out of the restaurant I felt I was leaving friends and family as 6 different people greeted me by name and practically begged to be of service in some way and to please return soon. I have to admit they seemed utterly sincere in their attention and service.
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| Ventanas Beachside Restaurant |
Leaving Mexico and this wonderful resort was beyond difficult. With Royal Hideaway's 24 hour room service, free resort wide WiFi, impeccable world class service, fantastic gourmet food, beautiful white sand beach and lovely grounds I have to say it is a perfect place to relax, unwind and be pampered. For those needing a little nightlife Playacar and its many nightlife and shopping options are walking distance away or a very short cab ride. You simply cannot go wrong with this resort unless you want to bring children along or want a louder atmosphere.
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| Royal Hideaway Playacar Beachview |
Till we blog again,
Feel free to ask me any questions and please subscribe to the Blog and learn about all the top resorts in the Caribbean and Latin America from a 14 year Travel Veteran.
See you on the beach!
D. Omar Solis
LTC
Luxury Travel Concierge
305-520-9714
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