My parents were so generous and kind enough to book us a trip to Playa del Carmen as a congratulatory graduation gift! It was something of a mess getting there in one piece (I discovered my passport was missing only days before my flight!), but stepping off the plane into a cool Mexican evening felt spectacular.

We stayed at Royal Hideaway two years ago, but it has completely changed–and not for the better. I hate to sound ungrateful, travel is such an amazing opportunity, but I just want to share my experiences so you can choose a different hotel if you choose to travel to Playa del Carmen.

First, given that this is a food blog, let’s talk food. I remember delicious fresh salads, ceviches, afternoon snack buffets full of tasty, healthy options. Now the menu consists of hamburgers, French fries, and the “catch of the day” is always a (somewhat questionable) sea bass. Don’t be fooled by appearances, this fish tastes bland and was doused in heavy butter sauce (as were the steamed vegetables). 

Let’s just say I didn’t leave many meals satisfied and am grateful I brought a large stash of snacks.

There was a large corporate group at the hotel during our stay, which meant we had to eat at the same restaurant twice a day, every day. We were not told about this when we booked, which makes sense, but it really took away from our trip–and the food! My friends even remember my rants about the amazing options from my trip two years ago, but so much has changed.

The hot tub closest to our room was broken the whole time and my mom was scalded in the shower by temperatures that switched from hot to cold without warning. In addition, one of our sinks broke!

I have to say the general wait staff has stayed as wonderful as ever–the waiters, Concierges, and maintenance staff are so thoughtful and helpful. I would say all of these issues link back to corporate changes and attempts to cut cost at the expense of quality. All in all, the quality of the hotel has really decreased (while price has not!) so save your frustration and I definitely you go somewhere else. The beach is beautiful, but you can get the same beach somewhere else in Playacar. 

We met with management (Sergio was very receptive), but I’ll be curious to see if anything changes before we leave tomorrow. I’ll definitely keep you updated if things improve! 

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 Do you have any Playa del  Carmen hotel recommendations?