Sandos Playacar Beach Resort Playa del Carmen

On the plus side, we did escape the crowds and eat in the new restaurant and use the pools, which are beautiful, but the location with no beach in site, might as well be located in Columbus, SC.

The location is just super, really close to a market, and only a 20 minute walk or 5 minute drive to 5th ave Playa del Carmen.

The beach: Fabulous, excellent location at the end of Playacar close to the jungle and overall this place is a good choice for a great getaway.

Our trip to/from the airport was fast and when we used taxis to visist friends at other places we had all VERY nice drivers.

Tip - at the resort, buy your fair both ways for the taxi - our cart driver gave us this tip as the taxis will charge you more to return to your resort if you don't.

Each building has 10 rooms - and they are NOT two room suites - the "suite" is one long room with a step down to a sofa/sleeper bed and table and chairs.

The room had a DVD player, living room with a sofa bed, dining area, 2 bathrooms and a large bedroom with a king bed.

The room was impeccably clean and the maid replaced towels, made the bed and cleaned the bathroom every day.

The rooms are gorgeous with marble floors and bathrooms (bed could be a little softer), and at night the resort puts on shows that do not compare to going out on Broadway, but due to the enthusiastic staff, are just as fun!

Both rooms have king beds with a couch that we made into a bed for my 10 year old.

What we liked: the 9000 series of Riviera rooms and the pool w/ lazy river and swim up bar; Mexican buffet restaurant; Asian and Steakhouse reservation restaurants; casino night; Tulum Extreme excursion; Wet Wendy’s Margarita House in Cozumel.

FOOD There are two a la carte restaurants, a buffet restaurant, and a pool snack bar.

The buffet restaurant had a different theme every night and the food was very nice, Ate in the Italian which was great, also ate in both the mediterranian and the mexican restaurants which we didn't like as much.

The other two very large pools at the back of the resort where more relaxing lots of sunbeds and a really good restaurant which had a great breakfast and lunch menu.

The main eating restaurant was buffet style, but you can make 3 reservations at the 3 specialty restaurants.

We found that to be the case not only with the Apple rep, but also with the front desk and Public relations (concierge desk) staff.

However, the administrative services (front desk and concierge) were less friendly and efficient.

The Aqua Gym in the pool is fun and there's volleyball (water & beach), bocci ball, sand soccer, archery, basketball, billiards, ping pong, dancing lessons, pottery painting, just to name a few.

All the water-sports, tennis etc and they JUST opened a new gym/spa complex which was great.

They organized a waterballoon fight in the pool after the Aqua Gym one day - the kids AND the adults loved that one!

No wireless internet so I paid $5 for 30 min of internet in their lounge which I could log on and off till the 30 min were up.

They are all wired with walkie-talkies so your request gets relayed quickly.

Our room was clean and neat, our maid even left fresh flowers one day for us!

Clean, tidy, lots of partying (all inclusive booze) avoid the rooms over looking the restaurant area if you have a light sleep.

The grounds and rooms were extremely clean.

Our room was very clean and breakfasts were wonderful.

Rooms were clean, the restaurant staff was wonderful and the croissant sandwiches on the late night menu were great.