{"id":14815,"date":"2021-02-18T17:57:42","date_gmt":"2021-02-18T22:57:42","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.playadelcarmen.com\/blog\/?p=14815"},"modified":"2021-02-19T10:30:03","modified_gmt":"2021-02-19T15:30:03","slug":"review-the-royal-playa-del-carmen","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.playadelcarmen.com\/blog\/review-the-royal-playa-del-carmen\/","title":{"rendered":"My Honest Review of &#8216;The Hilton&#8217; Hotel in Downtown Playa Del Carmen"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><em>Please note: Yes, a few of you may previously know this hotel as &#8216;The Royal&#8217;, but in late 2018 this luxurious hotel was bought and took over by the wonderful Hilton Resorts. Fear not, the amenities, concept, and even staff are all the same! Nothing has changed but the name (and branding). Ready to take a peek inside?<\/em><\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<p>Living like a King intuitively means spending like one, right?<\/p>\n<p><strong>Wrong.\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>In these hard economic times, even flamboyance is seeking some economy.<\/p>\n<p>There are places on this earth where a $100,00 paycheque is as good as nothing but in other places (like Mexico) as little as <strong>$1,500 per person <\/strong>means you can live in complete luxury for a week.<\/p>\n<p>So, if you&#8217;ve always wondered what it&#8217;s like to live like royalty, keep reading!<\/p>\n<p>I was recently lucky enough to spend some time at <em><a href=\"https:\/\/www.playadelcarmen.com\/hotels\/the-royal-playa-del-carmen-all-inclusive-spa-amp-resort\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">The Hilton<\/a>\u00a0<\/em><strong>adults-only<\/strong><em>\u00a0<\/em>hotel in downtown Playa del Carmen.<\/p>\n<p>Undoubtedly, one of the most popular resorts in the area, I was keen to find out whether this place would live up to its slogan <em>&#8220;Expect the Exceptional&#8221;<\/em>.<\/p>\n<h2>The Hilton Playa del Carmen Resort Review:<\/h2>\n<ol>\n<li>Location<\/li>\n<li>Rooms<\/li>\n<li>Food<\/li>\n<li>Drink<\/li>\n<li>Coffee House<\/li>\n<li>Gym<\/li>\n<li>Spa<\/li>\n<li>Beach<\/li>\n<li>Nightlife and Activities<\/li>\n<li>Weddings<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<hr \/>\n<p>We even made a video!!!<\/p>\n<p><iframe title=\"The Hilton 2018 Review - (Playa del Carmen) 5* All-Inclusive Hotel | Formerly &#039;The Royal&#039;\" width=\"500\" height=\"281\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/A8goZPfucDw?start=93&#038;feature=oembed&#038;enablejsapi=1&#038;origin=https:\/\/www.playadelcarmen.com\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: right;\"><b><a href=\"#top\">Back to top<\/a><\/b><\/p>\n<h2>1. Location<\/h2>\n<p>Just footsteps away from the<strong> famous 5th avenue<\/strong> this hotel enjoys a privileged position in downtown Playa del Carmen.<\/p>\n<p>You may have noticed (if you have ever visited this part of paradise before), that many of the resorts here in the <a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Riviera_Maya\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Riviera Maya<\/a> are spread out and often secluded.<\/p>\n<p><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/maps\/embed?pb=!1m18!1m12!1m3!1d3733.9846371618537!2d-87.06990238530433!3d20.6294830066651!2m3!1f0!2f0!3f0!3m2!1i1024!2i768!4f13.1!3m3!1m2!1s0x8f4e432e898ebd63%3A0x84a1b5973e7f0269!2sThe+Royal+Playa+del+Carmen!5e0!3m2!1sen!2smx!4v1505831105562\" width=\"600\" height=\"450\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\" data-mce-fragment=\"1\"><\/iframe><br \/>\nThis hotel is <strong>different.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><em>The Hilton\u00a0<\/em>is a renowned 5*, all-suite, all-inclusive<strong> adults-only hotel<\/strong> in the <strong>heart of town.\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>I don&#8217;t know about you, but if I am stuck in the same place for a prolonged period of time, I get cabin fever. I like to roam free.<\/p>\n<p>A lot of the grand, and impressive structures that dominate the coastline of <a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Quintana_Roo\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Quintana Roo<\/a>, are encapsulated by lush tropical greenery, which is beautiful, however, it means you can&#8217;t go anywhere without <a href=\"https:\/\/www.playadelcarmen.com\/blog\/playa-del-carmen-taxis\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">getting a taxi<\/a> or <a href=\"https:\/\/www.playadelcarmen.com\/activities\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">booking a tour<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>Rather than feeling like a captive in your hotel, <em>The Hilton<\/em>\u00a0offers you the option to explore the vibrant streets of Playa del Carmen.<\/p>\n<p><img class=\"aligncenter size-thumb_760x570 wp-image-14832\" src=\"https:\/\/www.playadelcarmen.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/pool-760x520.png\" alt=\"review\" width=\"760\" height=\"520\" data-id=\"14832\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Just a stone&#8217;s throw from the lobby of the hotel\u00a0you will find the 5th avenue, a famous street that boasts incredible\u00a0restaurants, bars, and shops. A stroll down here is often the highlight of many people&#8217;s trip.<\/p>\n<p>Read our <a href=\"https:\/\/www.playadelcarmen.com\/blog\/5th-avenue-shopping-tips\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">&#8220;Do&#8217;s and Don&#8217;ts for Shopping on 5th Avenue&#8221; here.\u00a0<\/a><\/p>\n<p>The location of the property allows you to experience the charm of a tropical city by the shore, while still being in a great position to explore the many natural wonders (unique to this part of the world) hidden within Mexico&#8217;s jungles.<\/p>\n<p>Superbly designed, this hotel<strong> isn&#8217;t too big or too small. <\/strong>The size of the property is extremely desirable. It felt cozy and comfortable\u00a0yet, impeccable and luxurious.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: right;\"><b><a href=\"#top\">Back to top<\/a><\/b><\/p>\n<h2>2. Rooms<\/h2>\n<p><em>The Hilton<\/em>\u00a0prides itself on boasting lavish all-suite accommodations, all with private balconies or terraces and whirlpool tubs, plus special options such as\u00a0<strong>swim-up suites<\/strong>\u00a0and\u00a0beachfront walkouts.<\/p>\n<p><img class=\"aligncenter size-thumb_760x570 wp-image-14828\" src=\"https:\/\/www.playadelcarmen.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/The-Royal-Playa-del-Carmen-Royal-Suite-Swim-Up-Ocean-Front-977271-760x570.jpg\" alt=\"review\" width=\"760\" height=\"570\" data-id=\"14828\" \/><\/p>\n<h4>Room categories at<em> The Hilton<\/em><\/h4>\n<ul>\n<li>Presidential Suite<\/li>\n<li>Master Ocean Front Suite<\/li>\n<li>Junior Beach Front Walk-Out<\/li>\n<li>Junior Garden View<\/li>\n<li>Junior Ocean Front<\/li>\n<li>Junior Swim Up Suite<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>In terms of decor, and amenities, generally, all of the rooms are very similar. They never falter from anything less than perfect. What differs is the view.<\/p>\n<p>They are extremely spacious, all of them feature a <strong>double jacuzzi<\/strong> and a fully-stocked fridge with snacks.<\/p>\n<p>I stayed in the Junior Suite with a garden view, \u00a0it was glorious stepping out onto my balcony each morning and smelling the freshly cut grass.<\/p>\n<p><img class=\"aligncenter size-thumb_760x570 wp-image-14833\" src=\"https:\/\/www.playadelcarmen.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/The-royal-760x520.png\" alt=\"review\" width=\"760\" height=\"520\" data-id=\"14833\" \/><\/p>\n<p>The ocean was in view, it was quiet, relaxed, and peaceful on this side of the hotel.<\/p>\n<p><img class=\"aligncenter size-thumb_760x570 wp-image-14831\" src=\"https:\/\/www.playadelcarmen.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/hotel-4-760x520.png\" alt=\"review\" width=\"760\" height=\"520\" data-id=\"14831\" \/><\/p>\n<p>However, if I had my pick of the rooms, I would highly recommend the<strong>\u00a0Junior Swim Up Suite.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>This is not the most expensive room category, but for me, if you value your privacy, I would say that these rooms are the best.<\/p>\n<p>You can still enjoy the close proximity of the beach as it is less than a minutes walk away, however, you would be able to relax in your private pool in peace. \u00a0Surrounded by the gardens, these rooms feel a lot more exclusive.<\/p>\n<p><img class=\"size-thumb_760x570 wp-image-14826 aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/www.playadelcarmen.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/The-Royal-Playa-del-Carmen-Swim-Up-Room-976988-760x570.jpg\" alt=\"review\" width=\"760\" height=\"570\" data-id=\"14826\" \/><\/p>\n<p>The highest room category is the Presidential Suite, which is an impressive 1959 sqft in size, featuring a spectacular terrace, with private pool and comfortable patio furniture and hammock.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: right;\"><b><a href=\"#top\">Back to top<\/a><\/b><\/p>\n<h2>3. Food<\/h2>\n<p>Unlike many all-inclusive hotels, the food impressed me.<\/p>\n<p><img class=\"aligncenter size-thumb_760x570 wp-image-14837\" src=\"https:\/\/www.playadelcarmen.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/food-2-760x520.png\" alt=\"food review \" width=\"760\" height=\"520\" data-id=\"14837\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Each of the seven elegant restaurants felt like an elite dining experience.<\/p>\n<p>Innovative techniques, fresh ingredients, and inviting, attentive service definitely <strong>surpassed my expectations<\/strong>. With a wide range of cuisines inspired by flavorful and exotic locations all over the world, there is definitely something for everyone.<\/p>\n<p>My personal favorites were:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Asiana &#8211; Asian fusion<\/li>\n<li>El Mediterraneo &#8211; Mediterranean specialties<\/li>\n<li>Maria Marie&#8217;s for French-Mexican fusion<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><img class=\"aligncenter size-thumb_760x570 wp-image-14844\" src=\"https:\/\/www.playadelcarmen.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/pel-760x520.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"760\" height=\"520\" data-id=\"14844\" \/><\/p>\n<p>It may be dependant on the season, but I didn&#8217;t have to queue for a table, the restaurants had a nice ambiance, and it never felt overcrowded.<\/p>\n<p>Residents at <em>The<\/em>\u00a0Hilton, also get the added bonus of enjoying restaurants at the neighboring property <em>Panama Jacks<\/em>. These additional options include a sushi bar, Italian specialties, beachside grill and more.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: right;\"><b><a href=\"#top\">Back to top<\/a><\/b><\/p>\n<h2>4. Drink<\/h2>\n<p>Expect nothing less than top-shelf premium liquors at <em>The Hilton<\/em>. There are a total of<strong> 5 energetic lounges,<\/strong> where you can sit back, relax and enjoy your favorite drink.<\/p>\n<p><img class=\"aligncenter size-thumb_760x570 wp-image-14846\" src=\"https:\/\/www.playadelcarmen.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/med-760x520.png\" alt=\"review\" width=\"760\" height=\"520\" data-id=\"14846\" \/><\/p>\n<p>At the Tequileria you can truly immerse yourself in an authentic Mexican experience. This bar offers a wide selection of world-renowned Mexican tequilas for you to savor at your leisure, along with exceptional <strong>hand-rolled imported cigars<\/strong> worthy of the most selective aficionado.<\/p>\n<p>Cigars and some tequilas do carry a surcharge.<\/p>\n<p><img class=\"aligncenter size-thumb_760x570 wp-image-14847\" src=\"https:\/\/www.playadelcarmen.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/t-760x520.png\" alt=\"review\" width=\"760\" height=\"520\" data-id=\"14847\" \/><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: right;\"><b><a href=\"#top\">Back to top<\/a><\/b><\/p>\n<h2>5. Coffee House<\/h2>\n<p>For those of you who can&#8217;t function without a good cup of Joe in the morning, \u00a0<em>The Hilton<\/em>\u00a0has it all.<\/p>\n<p>If you consider yourself a bit of a coffee connoisseur, you&#8217;ll be in your element at the Coffee House at <em>The Hilton<\/em>. Savor the rich, flavorful coffee at this gourmet European-style\u00a0caf\u00e9.<\/p>\n<p><img class=\"aligncenter size-thumb_760x570 wp-image-14850\" src=\"https:\/\/www.playadelcarmen.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/coffee-760x520.png\" alt=\"Review\" width=\"760\" height=\"520\" data-id=\"14850\" \/><\/p>\n<p>You can even pair your\u00a0premium<strong> espresso and cappuccino drink<\/strong>\u00a0with a scrumptious dessert if you&#8217;re craving something sweet.<\/p>\n<p>Sugar-free menu options are available for those with special dietary needs.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: right;\"><b><a href=\"#top\">Back to top<\/a><\/b><\/p>\n<h2>6. Gym<\/h2>\n<p>If you like to keep your fitness goals alive while on vacation you can make full use of the recently upgraded, fully equipped Life Fitness Center. Here they offer spin classes, aerobics classes, and even <strong>Stott Pilates.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><img class=\"aligncenter size-thumb_760x570 wp-image-14853\" src=\"https:\/\/www.playadelcarmen.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/gym-760x520.png\" alt=\"review\" width=\"760\" height=\"520\" data-id=\"14853\" \/><\/p>\n<p>There is grand rooftop tennis court which is perfect for a few matches, and water activities like volleyball and aqua aerobics are offered around the clock.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: right;\"><b><a href=\"#top\">Back to top<\/a><\/b><\/p>\n<h2>7. Spa<\/h2>\n<p>If you&#8217;re partial to some pampering, head down to the SPAzul.\u00a0\u00a0Here you can indulge in ancient restorative rituals, and\u00a0<strong>holistic therapies<\/strong>, in a calming environment.<\/p>\n<p><img class=\"aligncenter size-thumb_760x570 wp-image-14855\" src=\"https:\/\/www.playadelcarmen.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/texmc-760x520.png\" alt=\"review\" width=\"760\" height=\"520\" data-id=\"14855\" \/><\/p>\n<p>There is a Temazcal stone steam bath and luxurious salon, making <em>The Hilton<\/em>\u00a0the perfect place to rejuvenate and invigorate your body.<\/p>\n<p><img class=\"aligncenter size-thumb_760x570 wp-image-14867\" src=\"https:\/\/www.playadelcarmen.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/spa-760x520.png\" alt=\"review\" width=\"760\" height=\"520\" data-id=\"14867\" \/><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: right;\"><b><a href=\"#top\">Back to top<\/a><\/b><\/p>\n<h2>8. Beach<\/h2>\n<p>I think it&#8217;s important for customers to know that the beach here at <em>The Hilton<\/em>\u00a0doesn&#8217;t always meet expectations. If you&#8217;re not from Playa del Carmen, many people expect it to look like one of those beaches you see on postcards.<\/p>\n<p>Don&#8217;t get me wrong, some days it does.<\/p>\n<p><img class=\"aligncenter size-thumb_760x570 wp-image-14856\" src=\"https:\/\/www.playadelcarmen.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/beach-3-760x520.png\" alt=\"review\" width=\"760\" height=\"520\" data-id=\"14856\" \/><\/p>\n<p>But out of the all the beaches in the area this one is my least favorite. However, this shouldn&#8217;t discourage your decision to stay here, you should just be aware of it. There is a sublime beach at <strong>Playacar<\/strong> just a short walk away.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: right;\"><b><a href=\"#top\">Back to top<\/a><\/b><\/p>\n<h2>9. Nightlife &amp; Activities<\/h2>\n<p>Whether you prefer to relax or awaken your sense of adventure on vacation, there is something for everyone at <em>The Hilton<\/em>.<\/p>\n<p>There is even the opportunity to take an introductory SCUBA lesson, learn to dance or expand your palate at one of the exquisite <strong>culinary classes.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><img class=\"aligncenter size-thumb_760x570 wp-image-14858\" src=\"https:\/\/www.playadelcarmen.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/scuba-760x520.png\" alt=\"review\" width=\"760\" height=\"520\" data-id=\"14858\" \/><\/p>\n<p>At night, it&#8217;s never a dull moment, you can feast your eyes on one of the spectacular nightly performances.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: right;\"><b><a href=\"#top\">Back to top<\/a><\/b><\/p>\n<h2>10. Weddings<\/h2>\n<p>If I was planning a wedding in the Caribbean <em>The Hilton<\/em>\u00a0is definitely somewhere I would consider for me and my guests.<\/p>\n<p>It&#8217;s the perfect location for the wedding of your dreams. <em>The Hilton<\/em>\u00a0offers great wedding packages with options to customize every detail of your day.<\/p>\n<p><img class=\"aligncenter size-thumb_760x570 wp-image-14860\" src=\"https:\/\/www.playadelcarmen.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/wed-2-760x520.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"760\" height=\"520\" data-id=\"14860\" \/><\/p>\n<p>They have a number of\u00a0breathtaking venues to choose from, all-inclusive luxury, and free celebration packages, what more could you ask for?<\/p>\n<p>If you are planning on inviting guests with children, it&#8217;s no problem whatsoever, they can stay at the sister property <em>Panama <\/em>Jacks and will be allowed access to <em>The Hilton<\/em>\u00a0for the wedding ceremony.<\/p>\n<p>If you would like to speak to one of our <strong>expert wedding planners<\/strong> about your dream <a href=\"https:\/\/www.playadelcarmen.com\/weddings\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">destination wedding in Playa del Carmen<\/a>\u00a0then call us today on our toll-free number\u00a0<strong>+1 <a href=\"tel:888-537-9797\">888-537-9797<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Or<\/p>\n<p>Alternatively, contact us via email at <a href=\"&#x6d;&#97;i&#x6c;&#x74;&#111;:&#x77;&#x65;&#100;d&#x69;&#x6e;&#103;s&#x40;&#x70;&#108;a&#x79;&#97;&#100;e&#x6c;&#99;a&#x72;&#x6d;&#101;n&#x2e;&#x63;&#111;m\">&#x77;&#x65;&#x64;&#x64;&#x69;&#x6e;&#x67;&#x73;&#x40;&#x70;&#x6c;&#x61;&#x79;&#x61;&#x64;&#x65;&#x6c;&#x63;&#x61;&#x72;&#x6d;&#x65;&#x6e;&#x2e;&#x63;&#x6f;&#x6d;<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>In conclusion, <em>The Hilton<\/em>\u00a0did exceed my expectations, everything other than the beach was exquisite. I would highly recommend this hotel for a couples\u00a0escape or family getaway.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: right;\"><b><a href=\"#top\">Back to top<\/a><\/b><\/p>\n<h2>Interested in booking?<\/h2>\n<p>If you would like to discuss this hotel further with one of our expert travel consultants here at PlayaDelCarmen.com be sure to give us a call on our toll-free number\u00a0<strong>+1 <a href=\"tel:888-537-9797\">888-537-9797<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Or<\/p>\n<p>Alternatively, contact us via email at <a href=\"&#109;&#x61;&#x69;&#108;&#x74;&#x6f;:&#x63;&#x75;s&#116;&#x6f;m&#101;&#x72;c&#97;&#x72;e&#64;&#x70;l&#97;&#x79;&#x61;&#100;&#x65;&#x6c;&#99;&#x61;&#x72;m&#x65;&#x6e;&#46;&#99;&#x6f;m\">&#x63;&#x75;&#x73;&#x74;&#x6f;&#x6d;&#x65;&#x72;&#x63;&#x61;&#x72;&#x65;&#x40;&#x70;&#x6c;&#x61;&#x79;&#x61;&#x64;&#x65;&#x6c;&#x63;&#x61;&#x72;&#x6d;&#x65;&#x6e;&#x2e;&#x63;&#x6f;&#x6d;<\/a><\/p>\n<p>Have you stayed at this hotel before? Don&#8217;t forget to leave your thoughts in the comments section, we would love to hear from you.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Please note: Yes, a few of you may previously know this hotel as &#8216;The Royal&#8217;, but in late 2018 this luxurious hotel was bought and took over by the wonderful Hilton Resorts. Fear not, the amenities, concept, and even staff [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":37,"featured_media":19716,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[494],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.playadelcarmen.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/14815"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.playadelcarmen.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.playadelcarmen.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.playadelcarmen.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/37"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.playadelcarmen.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=14815"}],"version-history":[{"count":51,"href":"https:\/\/www.playadelcarmen.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/14815\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":23979,"href":"https:\/\/www.playadelcarmen.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/14815\/revisions\/23979"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.playadelcarmen.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/19716"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.playadelcarmen.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=14815"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.playadelcarmen.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=14815"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.playadelcarmen.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=14815"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}