Paradisus Playa del Carmen - Riviera Maya

Amazing service, spacious and comfortable rooms, beautiful pools, and the highlight of the resort was definitely the water park. The food quality was excellent throughout our stay. The location was also very convenient, with several markets and shops within a five-minute walk from the hotel. The events and activities were well organized and genuinely entertaining. The hotel itself was quiet, extremely clean, and well maintained. The price was a little on the higher end, but overall, we had a great experience and really enjoyed our stay.

We just spent 7 amazing days at Paradisus Playa del Carmen with our family and it was perfect for younger kids like ours. The resort is smaller so everything is close and convenient. It's very kid-friendly with more than enough to do. Our kids loved the water park, small sail boat, and the quiet pool right outside our room. The daycare was a lifesaver - we used it 4 times including our last morning so I could swim and pack. The FC session made everything so smooth. There were so many little touches that made it special: feeding the koi and turtles, painting tote bags, hair braids, character meet and greets with Sonic, Mario, Stitch, and Princess, and Mylen getting Spiderman face paint to match his shirt. Clara even made me a tie at the kids craft! We also loved that the included cenote and zipline tour was part of the trip, and the Lion King show was a huge hit with the kids. It felt like the perfect spot for younger kids. Not sure if older kids would need more, but for us it was 10/10. Would 100% come back!

This was our fourth stay at Paradisus since 2014, but this trip was by far the most special. My husband and I were married here in 2016, so for our 10-year wedding anniversary, we decided to come back and bring our three children, ages 18, 8, and 7, for eight days. There was something really special about watching our kids enjoy the same place where we celebrated our wedding ten years ago. Paradisus already held so many memories for us, and now it holds even more. FOOD: Make your dinner reservations as soon as you arrive! That said, if you can’t get a reservation one night, do NOT be disappointed because the buffet was incredible. We waited until our second-to-last night to try it and immediately regretted not eating there more often. There was so much variety: generous pieces of short rib, different styles of shrimp, vegetables, and so much more. Everything we tried was delicious. FAMILY PHOTOS: DO THE PHOTO SHOOT! I wish I remembered our photographer’s name because he was absolutely amazing. We loved the pictures so much that we ended up buying the entire package: 91 photos, a photo book, and a canvas print for $490, and it was worth every penny. If you only want a few pictures, they were $20 each. Having professional family photos taken at the resort, especially during such a meaningful trip for us, was one of the best decisions we made. ACCOMMODATIONS: We booked the double suite so my husband and I could have our own space while the kids had theirs. The rooms were adjoining, which was PERFECT. We had privacy but were still connected to the kids. If you’re traveling with children, I highly recommend this setup. ENTERTAINMENT: WOW. I have to admit, I was not expecting the nightly entertainment to be as good as it was! Every night there was a different show, and we genuinely enjoyed all of them. The neon dancing/light show was probably our favorite. The performers were fantastic, and it gave us something to look forward to every evening. THE STAFF: This is where Paradisus really shines. Everyone we encountered was pleasant, helpful, and welcoming. Our concierge, Ignacio, deserves a very special mention. He was absolutely wonderful and so attentive throughout our stay. He even stopped by our first dinner just to say hello. He brought our children little plush animals, which may sound like a small gesture, but it meant so much to them. Our youngest had accidentally left her favorite stuffed animal at home and had been missing it, so the timing could not have been more perfect. The kids STILL carry their new plushies around everywhere. Ignacio also surprised us with a beautiful anniversary dessert at the end of our meal to congratulate us on ten years of marriage. Those thoughtful touches are what you remember long after a vacation ends. POOL & GROUNDS: Beautiful and incredibly well maintained. The pool was constantly being cleaned, and you could always see staff caring for the grounds. We also loved having somewhere to grab food right by the pool without having to completely dry off and get everyone ready to go inside. And when we wanted more variety, we could head to the buffet. ONE EXPERIENCE I WILL NEVER FORGET: Shortly after we arrived in our room, our youngest started complaining that she was cold. We realized she had a fever, which, as a mom arriving for an eight-day family vacation, immediately sent me into “I need this child better ASAP” mode. I called the front desk and was shocked and incredibly relieved to learn that they had a doctor available on-site. He came directly to our room within about 20 minutes, and the only reason it even took that long was because he was already helping another guest. He checked her vitals, examined her, diagnosed her, and even had the medication she needed available, so we didn’t have to leave the resort searching for a pharmacy or clinic. He emailed us all of the instructions afterward as well. Within a day, our girl was back to herself and bouncing off the walls like nothing had happened. What meant just as much was how genuinely concerned everyone was about her. They followed up with us and made us feel like they truly cared about her well-being. At that point, we would have paid anything to have our daughter feeling better, but the entire bill was only $140. We were incredibly grateful. After four stays, Paradisus isn’t just somewhere we vacation anymore. It’s where we got married, where we celebrated ten years of marriage, and now it’s a place filled with memories of our children growing up too. We will absolutely be back to our favorite place. Thank you to Ignacio, the doctor who took such wonderful care of our daughter, and the entire Paradisus staff for making this trip so special. With love and gratitude, The Soundias Family

This was our 4th time in Playa del Carmen and the hotel was highly recommended by a friend. Whilts the service was generally kind and corteous, there were some inconsistencies that made our stay a very average one. The check in was horrendous. We had to wait a good half an hour until it was our turn (this was at 2pm, standard check in being at 3pm). When our turn finally came, the receptionist was a bit lost with our reservation and came up with the incorrect bill total. I had to dig out my reservation and correct the mistake. We had to move rooms due to an awful sewage smell. Having said that, the hotel dealt with the situation promptly once alerted. We were very grateful. Concierges were very good, especially Hector who helped us deal with a few situations. Before arrival, we were contacted about a discounted upgrade and we went for it. Ms Gonzalez was very polite and helpful. The Master Suite was spacious and well appointed, although a bit dated There was some insistance from some concierges about attending a Circle Melia chat (some sort of holiday/timeshare programme). We didn't do it. Our main disappointment was the food. The buffets and snack restaurants were not up to standard. The restaurants were a bit better, but I expected more from a 5 star resort. Room service food was very poor, same as in the buffet . My husband and I went to the Spa. It was pricey, but very good. I recommend it.

Paradisus fully lives up to its name. It is a paradise of a resort, with every conceivable consideration taken into account to make your stay that extra level of magic. We are a family of four (with a 7-year-old and 10-year-old), and over our 11-night stay, we felt very well taken care of, spoilt and pampered. It was a place we found hard to leave, which says a lot! Entertainment You have direct access to many pools, including the brilliant Aqua Zone for kids and the pirate pool, as well as a short walk to the beautiful beach. There is a very well-run kids' zone, along with activities for children throughout each day. There is also an adults-only area, including an excellent gym and spa. Every night at 8pm, the resort hosts excellent, well-produced and acted shows to keep all ages entertained. We highly recommend the Jaguar Warrior, Folk Show and The Lion King. There is also access to water sports via the beach. Staff The staff are the true stars of the resort. They make the resort so special and distinctive. They work incredibly hard, often in extreme heat, to cater for all your needs, and we are so indebted to them for their amazing commitment and care in looking after all the guests. Thank you! However, there are some special mentions who made our stay that extra special. They deserve to be recognised, and hopefully you will have the joy of encountering them during your stay! Susanna (Culinary Experience) – Always so helpful and full of great suggestions. She always made my family feel so welcome. Marcos (Capella) – Really took an interest in understanding our tastes and used this to advise us on our orders. Itza (Celsius and Aqua Zone) – Always so positive, with a great understanding of the resort and surrounding area for excursions and ideas. A great communicator and super professional. Socrates (Celsius and Aqua Zone) – Such a positive, caring person and super professional. Always went the extra mile for guests to make their day special. Cielo (Breakfast Buffet) – Simply wonderful and cheerful. Her omelettes are a must to start the day! Hugo (Celio) – Super professional, with great suggestions on the menu. He took very good care of my family. Francisco (Lemon Fish) – Energetic, always attentive and helpful, and took great pride in his work! We really hope the hotel recognises these amazing people. They are great role models! A special shout-out to the cleaning team for room 2149. They did an amazing job, and our room always felt fresh, clean and perfect. Culinary We also suggest booking restaurants as soon as you arrive, as they can get booked up quickly. Our personal favourites were Capella, Celio and Bana. The Teppanyaki show at Bana is a must! Other Tips We also recommend trips to Chichen Itza (a full-day trip, so start early) and Tulum (a half-day trip). We also suggest using the inDrive app for local taxis into 5th Avenue for gift shopping, as the rates are much cheaper than the resort's own taxis. As mentioned, the staff were fantastic. However, we unfortunately noticed some unkindness and impatience from some guests. Please show your appreciation to the staff — kind words go a long way, and your actions often mirror back to you. To Wrap Up We wholeheartedly recommend this magnificent resort. You will not be disappointed and will make some truly great memories! Thank you, Paradisus, and all the wonderful staff!