Sandos Playacar Beach Resort and Spa - All Inclusive - Playa del Carmen

It was not the first time we spent our vacation at Sandos Playacar Beach Resort and Spa. Every time it is getting better. They are constantly improving food and service quality, adding amenities. The entertainment team is wonderful. Sometimes the music was too loud though.

Nice resort with several options: standard rooms are indeed around 3 star; jr suites are closer to 4 star, and then there are the "hasiendas" for more upscale experience. Well, the last kind is only for the "club members". My impression is that everything was almost very good, but realistically just ok, and could have been better. Check-in was very welcoming and friendly, but sent me to a "standard" room. Once I showed the printed reservation with an upgraded room, they gladly upgraded me, but did not do anything outstanding. and thus caused me a fair bit of inconvenience. There goes an "almost good" check-in. Service was ok, but in order to get what we wanted, we had to ask multiple times. Luggage, crib for the baby, extra towels - all took multiple calls and reminders. That was somewhat annoying. The room was nice but worn out. A couple of years ago it would have been perfect, but today it's around 80% of perfect. Also, no internet in the rooms, which may be good when on vacation, but inconvenient for us. Food was good with breakfast and lunch served in buffets that could have used more variety, so again, around 80%. Service in the all-inclusive restaurants was good, except for one place where we had to sit for quite a while before anyone paid attention and brought some water, let alone appetizers. Great food, though. Sorry, 80% again. Getting a cappuccino: one bar didn't have milk, another bar had a broken coffee machine, the third bar had it all, plus some Kahlua to make up for the other two. On the 100% positive: nice airy gym, nice territory with lush greens, clean everything. Definitely 100% beach and ocean, with zumba, yoga, and volleyball on the beach. 80% is still very good, so you will most likely enjoy it unless you're a perfectionist.

It was fun, and the resort included everything so we didn't even have to leave. The only concern we had was the lack of vegetarian options for room service and late night food menu could have been better.

This was my 6th trip to Mexico (each time staying at all-inclusive resorts) and this was the best! The one thing that was missing was a swim up bar, however there was a bar within 10 steps of the pool and plenty of wait staff to get you a drink.

Our biggest complaint would be that the beds were hard as a rock. Other than that, the property is set up as a long strip, from the beach back. The standard rooms are close to the beach, activities, restaurants, etc.The suites are very nice (still hard beds) but they are further away, a 10 minute walk to the beach. Although we loved our suite, we opted for the downgrade to a standard room in order to be close to the beach & all the activities. If we wouldn't have made the move we wouldn't have had so much fun since all the activities are in the main plaza, pool & by the beach. Oh, don't get hungry between 11:30 & noon or 6-6:30pm, when the restaurants close they won't serve no matter what! Room service is good but you have to plan ahead

This was our second time in this resort. First time was last year in September, we liked it so much that we went back again. Just as the first time it was perfect again. The staff is very helpful, the rooms are clean, and the food was great. Good selection. We liked the French Restaurant the best. The location is also great. We liked it because this is the last resort , but on the other side you can walk on the beach and you pass resorts after resorts. Because this is the last resort you have an opportunity to walk on the beach where is nothing but palm trees and wild flowers growing on the sand.We will be back. We`recomend it .

The hotel is beautiful. Everything is always clean. The beach is amazing! the staff is friendly and willing to help. Claudia met all our requests. Thank You! The only thing we have liked better at other resorts is the swim up bar being in or close to the activities pool. Always a fun place to hang out meet people, even for us beach lovers. This swim up bar is in the adult only pool which is a 10 minute walk from the beach. With children that is just too far, and too quiet.

We stayed here during the first week of April 2012. Easy check-in, switched rooms happily when we didn't like the first one. Stayed in an Hacienda suite, lowest priced. Good location in the resort, and first-floor Haciendas walk out directly to a private pool (shared with 7 other units). This was very convenient with 2 small kids. The room itself was clean, sized like a regular hotel room. Average bathroom. Bed very hard and pillows were motel-quality (bed and pillows were the lowest points of the entire resort--take that as you will!). For all I know, the upper-level suites had better beds and pillows. Although I doubt it (saw through the windows). The larger pools were nice, with lots of kid features, and about 4 feet deep at all points. Water was good temp throughout our stay (76-78F). No lap pool for adult exercise, but there is a separate adult pool and hot tub in the Spa (although still no lap pool). Beach access is good, with beach chairs easily available. Entertainment staff was always around, offering Volleyball, sand castle building, trivia, water polo, always something, if anyone is interested. Kids club was nice, too--age stratified, multilingual, with a separate pool in the kids club, movies, a Disney show the kids put on once a week, and almost-daily tennis lesson.

The hacienda junior suites have not been updated since the 50's or 60's. They smell like mold and mildew and have bugs. The beds are as hard as a table. The staff in the restaurants are very friendly, but the security treated treated our teenagers like criminals. Many of our teenagers were in tears and the 10+ families that went for spring break will never return there or recommend this place to anyone. I have stayed at 2 nice resorts in Playa del Carmen, but this is not one of them.

The resort has many activities going on through the day and night. Rooms could be a little nicer.