“Budget travel” is not normally a phrase associated with “All-Inclusive” and – well, it isn’t. We never intended to go to a resort, to lounge around drinking all day, indulging in all the food we could want. Yet, life takes you places, and it took us to our first stay at an all-inclusive Mexican resort (and our first time at an all-inclusive resort in general). Despite it not being our typical or ideal way of travel – it was certainly an enjoyable vacation, and one of our more comfortable trips.

Our First Stay at an All-Inclusive Mexican Resort

Wedding Decisions

So if you have been following us – or maybe you are just now finding us – you know that we are generally about the backpacker lifestyle. We like to get a little off the beaten path, and while we certainly play tourist, we’re more about trying to experience life like the locals. Which really begs the question, “why did we go to an all-inclusive resort?”

“Resort” rarely means “local”, and in this case, it certainly doesn’t. The Riviera Maya is best known for its ruins and its American tourists – not for its authenticity. It is a place to have fun and indulge, less “travel” and more “vacation”. But who couldn’t use one of those every once in a while? And there are plenty of things you can do if you want to go explore outside of the immediate area. 

So again, why did we go? Well, because of family. My cousin was getting married and she decided that a destination wedding was up her alley. Forget the over-the-top ceremony, with everyone dressed to perfection – she wanted everyone to have fun and Mexico was going to be the place to do that. We had never been to a destination wedding and hadn’t experienced this type of travel really so we thought it could result in some fun firsts.  

When we were invited, the prospect was certainly enticing. My cousin had come to our wedding as well. But, resorts do not come cheap and we had to be very budget-conscious. At first, we really didn’t think that we could go. Plane tickets over Labor Day, transportation, and especially the cost of accommodation was just going to put us over. Even though Briana’s job is all about finding cheap flights, she can only find them, not make them appear. We had decided that probably we weren’t going to be able to make it. 

So, how did we decide to go? That comes down to our parents. My parents wanted us to go and with my birthday in June, they generously decided that they would pay for our stay at the resort as a late birthday present. That way, we could get to visit the family, they could see us and we could indulge in a vacation that we wouldn’t normally do. Plus we would get to see more of my extended family which there are only limited opportunities for. We would still pay for our plane tickets and they would cover the nights in the resort. Briana’s dad also wanted to do a trip with us around that time. We figured we could combine the two trips and that would work out well. 

The decision was to spend just under a week in Mexico City with Briana’s dad and then fly from there to Playa del Carmen for the wedding and festivities for several more days. One big family trip to Mexico which would include different experiences of the country. 

Bienvenidos a Sandos Playacar!

As we were – and at this moment – still are living in San Jose, this would also be our first time having a house-sitter watch our place instead of the other way around. That decision proved to be an excellent choice and we were put at ease during our trip. Our trip to Mexico City was pretty awesome, to say the least. But we’re not going to go into that here – just check out our posts here to see why Mexico City should be on your destination list.

Our flight leaving Mexico City was around midday, so our arrival to Playa was in the evening. The most convenient airport to fly to get to Playa is the Cancun International Airport, which is about an hour’s drive from Playa del Carmen. The flight went smoothly enough on Volaris, nothing noteworthy really to say, they got us where we needed to without any problems. But what struck us the most, was the humidity the moment we stepped off the plane. Now, some people may not like the heat and humidity – but with both of us hailing from Florida, and having been in the dry California climate for a long time – the humidity was a gift to us. Oh, we missed the humidity and tropical coziness it brings.

We had debated the idea of taking a shuttle from the airport, or renting a car ourselves. The resort does offer airport pickup shuttle services, but they can be a little bit slower. Another cousin of mine took that route – she had arrived after us – and it took her much longer to arrive because of the nature of picking up and dropping off multiple guests. However, my parents had already decided to rent a car for themselves and made it easier for us by just picking us up from the airport.

Upon arriving at Sandos Playacar, we checked-in at the concierge desk in the front entry building which is a very large hall. Luxury is definitely the name of the game here. We were given our room keys and a quick run-down of all the need-to-knows. A tour of the resort was offered to us, but we were trying to make dinner with the rest of the family so we skipped it.

Look at that Room!

Running with the theme of luxury and “All-Inclusive Mexican Resort”, a bellhop took our baggage and showed us to our room. We were very near the front of the resort compound – which had its pros and cons (I’ll touch on that later) – but for the moment, it meant that we would get to our place in just a few minutes and could quickly get to dinner. I don’t think I’ve mentioned it yet, but we were pretty hungry, and very much ready for a bite and a drink.

We followed a porter to the room, and upon opening the door we were immediately taken aback by how awesome the room was. The bed was large and very comfortable and had cute towel animals each day when we would come back. A flat screen tv hung on the wall with a mini-fridge full of complimentary items opposite the bed. And there was a small sitting area with a couch and a few chairs and table – which held a complimentary bottle of tequila and some fruit – off to a great start.

But the crown jewel may have been the bathroom. We’ve gotten used to roughing it with our bathrooms in some places – freezing cold in Korea, concrete thrown through a window in Sri Lanka, brown water in Cambodia – but here, we were greeted by a very large jacuzzi tub with windows that open out to the rest of the room and a very nice shower. While Briana enjoys baths far more than me, even I found this to be extremely appealing – it is basically a hot tub!

We also had a balcony that provided a cozy view of the surrounding jungle, that was great for watching the storms roll through. At this time of night though, we weren’t really able to notice it – we would enjoy it later on during our stay.

Get In My Belly!

With our room tour over, we were ready to get to the food. It was getting a little late at this point and we still hadn’t eaten. A group of my family was eating at the Asian restaurant, so that is where we decided to join them. The restaurant, luckily enough for us, was connected to the front building and was just a minute’s walk away.

Upon arriving at the restaurant, we quickly greeted everyone, sat down to eat, and began to enjoy the “all-inclusive” experience. The dining experience followed the same type pattern you’ll expect from a cruise ship: everything on the menu is free, and you can get as much as you want. Naturally, I decided to try as much of everything as I could – sushi, egg rolls, pad thai, fried ice cream. It was all delicious and washed down with a beer.

A quick note on the food – Sandos Playacar has numerous places where you can grab a bite or imbibe with a drink. All of them are included as a part of the “all-inclusive” package. There are certain specialty items that cost extra, however. These items include, but are not limited to select wines and liquors, and special services. So that special $100 bottle of champagne is going to cost you, but otherwise, most alcohol and room-service is free!

Restaurants

• Asiana – located near the front of the resort, there is a wide variety of Asian dishes. From Japanese to Thai to Indian, there is a fair selection of items that are all delicious. There are also several vegetarian options. We visited once.
• Le Gourmet – a French restaurant that caters to a slightly more upscale atmosphere. We, unfortunately, did not get to visit due to our limited time. Upon inspecting the menu, there weren’t any vegetarian options, though I suspect that they could accommodate a request.
• Gourmex – focuses on contemporary Mexican cuisine. We didn’t get a chance to visit this restaurant either, but they focus on Mexican inspired dishes as opposed to authentic Mexican. Having just come from Mexico City, we got a taste of that there, but here the food catered a little bit more to the tourists, though that doesn’t diminish the quality of the food at all.
• El Gaucho – an Argentinean style restaurant and steakhouse. We visited here as part of the reception for the wedding, so we can’t comment on the actual food, but what was provided was great nonetheless.
• Fogo de Janeiro – is a Brazilian steakhouse. As in giant slabs of fire-grilled meat sliced just for you. We considered going here, but with limited time and few vegetarian options for Briana, we instead opted for a different place.
• Il Piemonte – was the last restaurant that we visited during our stay. Delicious Italian food, heavy with pasta and flavor, it is a must. Service was a little bit slow for us when we went, but the food was good.
• Riviera Grand Buffet – one of two buffets offered. There isn’t much to say really about a buffet other than the fact that it is easy and casual with a wide range of offering. Great for younger kids and families. It shares the same space with El Gaucho.
• Festival Grand Buffet – the other buffet, which we frequented the most of any place. It is the go-to for breakfast and lunch and offers a tremendous range of international cuisine. The wedding rehearsal and dinner were both held here during our stay. My favorite dish actually came from this buffet, a green shrimp ceviche.

Snacks

• Blue Moon – is a little beach shack snack bar. Located as far from us as possible, it is the closest place to the beach. I grabbed a burger here, which was disappointing, but not unexpected. The real reason to come here is to get a quick drink while lounging on the beach.
• Cupcake Cafe – if sweets are what you want, then you come and grab a cupcake here. Cupcakes, pastries, and coffee are what you can find here.
• Chayita – is a casual Mexican restaurant where you can get made-to-order burritos, tacos, and other quick eats.

Bars

• Riviera Lobby Bar – is the main lobby bar. The best place to go if you are waiting to get picked up for an excursion, are waiting for others to arrive, or just happen to be close by.
• Select Club Premium Bar – is a premium bar. This place is reserved for Select Club Adults only, so most likely, you won’t be visiting this place on your first go, but if you become a member, then you get exclusive access.
• La Plaza Bar – is an outdoor bar located near the main stage in the center of the resort. We found this bar to be a great place to meet in the evenings to chat with family and friends and catch a show.
• Lite Teen Club – not actually a bar, but actually a video arcade. It isn’t open to adults and is instead reserved just for teenagers, so great for families.

A Tour of the Resort

We finished our dinner at Asiana and my parents gave us a quick tour of the resort. Normally, a staff member will take you on the tour, but our circumstances changed that. We were quickly shown by my parents the main area, where the pools and restaurants were, and a few other amenities and then headed back to our room. With it being night, and us being tired, it was time for us to get to bed, and we would explore more the next day.

Our first full day at Sandos Playacar began early at the breakfast buffet where we enjoyed the first of many delicious meals. Our day would be dictated by the events of the wedding – as would our entire stay.

The ladies were doing something with hats and drinks, I don’t know. Briana said they had a fun time and played some games. Meanwhile, the men were left to their own devices which for me was mostly just exploring the resort with my dad while bar hopping. We had thought about going to the beach, but morning storms were rolling through which prevented us from doing so. It was not an issue though, as the storms were fleeting in length.

Once the mid-day activities were finished Briana came and found me at the beach. With drinks in hand, we relaxed on the gold-colored sand, watching the ocean looking towards Cozumel. The water is a comfortable temperature and not that rough either. So it is very easy to swim and play around in.

The beach is divided up into sections, with some areas only offered for select guests. Where you are allowed to be, is determined by the color wristband you are wearing – which is given to you when you check in. We found this out because we were told we couldn’t sit on the beds. This was not really an issue though, because there were still plenty of chairs we could use.

As happens in the tropics, within an hour or so, a massive storm rolled in from the sea. This prompted us to head back to our room. While this might have put a damper on some people’s plans, this actually worked great for us. We were still recovering from a rather nasty sunburn we got while at Teotihuacan in Mexico City, and getting out of the sun was a good idea for us. It also served as a good time to enjoy a few of the other sites.

Cat City and Local Animals

With the wedding rehearsal dinner a few hours away, this gave us ample time to say hello to the local wildlife. Sandos Playacar limits their impact on the ecosystem, this means that there are birds, coatis, squirrel-like animals, and all sorts of indigenous creatures wandering about. I found a resident peacock wandering around an outdoor venue area. They even help facilitate turtle nesting programs on the beach.

There is an enclosure housing a burro. I can’t really say too much about it, other than you can occasionally hear it, and that you shouldn’t go up and pet it – but you’ll totally try to anyways.

Our favorite animal section was – to no surprise – the Cat City. La Ciudad de Gatos is a place for the local semi-feral cats to live in peace. They arrive via different means, but the resort makes an effort to take care of them. There are little homes for them to protect from the rain, as well as fresh water and food provided to them daily. Guests are free to pet the cats. ca

Plenty of Amenities to Keep You Entertained

After enjoying the local wildlife, we met up with my parents to rent some bikes and explore some of the larger parts of the resort. Continuing with the all-inclusive resort theme, “renting” the bikes was also free. We enjoy riding bikes when we travel – we did so in Cambodia, Sweden, and Paris, and tried to in Mexico City – and this bike ride was a great way to see the surrounding area.

The bike rental area is a pretty cool little hut about mid-way through the resort complex. The ceiling is painted like a feathered serpent – a deity in Mayan culture – and has beer bottles embedded into the roof which catch the sun and make the interior sparkle. We ran into a small issue when trying to get the bikes though – I was wearing flip-flops and you have to have closed toed shoes. So, Briana and my dad rode bikes back to our room to grab my shoes. It was too far away to walk back to in a timely manner – but more on that in a bit.

Once the shoe situation was addressed, we were on our way. We rode through the larger Sandos area for a good while. While Sandos Playacar is first and foremost a vacation resort, it is actually part of a much larger residential area. There are numerous condos, townhouses, and villas that you can rent or buy. So for those looking to live in Playa del Carmen, this is a great place to look if you want a little luxury.

Our ride took us a fair way beyond the resort area and we began to creep into the jungle. There was a light rain throughout our ride, but it wasn’t heavy enough to cause us to stop riding. At one point, we found a little detour off to the side of the road, where there were some Mayan ruins. They were small admittedly, but still a cool feature. Sadly, we didn’t really have the time to explore them at all, because the bike place was going to close soon.  

The resort does a good job at making sure there is something to do for everyone. There are numerous pools that guests can enjoy ranging from adults only, to pool volleyball and basketball, and a new section that just recently opened up with slides.

The morning of the wedding, I played mini-golf on a course that winds its way through the jungle. It is a little rough admittedly, but it only added to the challenge and made the game a little more fun, to be honest. But not only that, the resort offers the ability go windsurfing, surfing, go clubbing, and enjoy shows. There are games, concerts, and events. Sure, it might be a little cheesy at times, but the resort is focused on making sure you have fun and are enjoying your time.

The Wedding

We got back from our bike ride and prepared for the wedding rehearsal dinner. The dinner was held in the buffet, though we did have a sectioned off area for a little bit of privacy. The food was good, but here is where we – and a few others in the party – had a few complaints. The issue wasn’t with the food, it was great – but rather, we wished that we could have been at one of the actual restaurants. Regardless, the dinner went fine, and I got to have my delicious green shrimp ceviche.

The wedding took place the next day in the late afternoon. We were worried about the weather because it had been raining on and off the entire time that we were there and the sky looked stormy just before the ceremony as well. We took a tram – covered golf cart – from our room to my parents’ room, which was near the beach. At this point in time, it was pouring rain. So much so that it finally ruined my well-worn flip-flops – they were leather and practically disintegrated with the water.

No matter, the rain began to lighten up and we proceeded to the beach for the ceremony. The ceremony went great, there was no rain, the sky was cloudy enough to not have the sun blinding people, but not so overcast as to make it dreary. Rain before the wedding is good luck, right? Then it was on to the reception!

The reception was held in what is normally El Gaucho but had been transformed into an intimate dance and reception hall. It was also – of course – on the complete opposite side of the resort. This wasn’t a big deal though, it was easy for us to change into slightly more comfortable clothing for the night, and for me to put on shoes since the rain destroyed my flip flops and made me go barefoot.

The reception had an open-bar, which at this point was completely expected, if not mandatory – all-inclusive resort, right? The food was buffet style. The party lasted through the night, and all in all, the wedding was a complete success. We had a nice time talking and dancing with my family. 

Outside of the Resort

Now, while you could easily spend your whole time lounging by the pool and sipping on margaritas, we do like to get out and explore the local town. If you know anything about Playa del Carmen, then you know that there are TONS of activities to do, that should suit everyone’s needs.

Because of Sandos Playacar’s location on the Yucatan, you can easily reach any number of locals within a couple hours. We had debated going to Chichen Itza or Tulum, but because we had already been to Teotihuacan and Templo Mayor in Mexico City, we opted to go for a bit more of a unique experience.

We went caving in the Mayan underworld at Rio Secreto. Rio Secreto is a relatively recent addition to the ecotourism in the area. I won’t bother going into to much detail here, as we have an entire post already dedicated to it which we encourage you to check out.

Checking Out

After wrapping up our excursion at Rio Secreto which took up a good portion of our last day, we prepared for our trip back to San Jose later that night and then headed to dinner. Our final dinner of the night would be at Il Piemonte – the Italian restaurant.

We ran into the odd issue of them not being able to seat the entire wedding party at one table. We tried to get them to combine a bunch of tables together to form one large one, but for some reason, it just wouldn’t happen. But, as had been the case with the few issues we had had, it wasn’t a big deal at all and the night went off without a hitch.

A few hours later, after enjoying a few last drinks with family, we made our way to check out. The check out process was exceedingly simple and presented us with no problems. My parents drove us back to the airport for our midnight flight, where we ran into a mess of problems related to the airline overbooking the flight and us afraid that we wouldn’t be able to make it home, then proceeding onto a couple sleepless semi-miserable layovers (flights with better routing were just too expensive) but that is a story for another time.

In Closing

Our first time at an all-inclusive Mexican resort was great. There is no way that it could be described as anything else. Great food and drinks, an actual vacation that totally differs from our standard style of travel, and of course tropical paradise. So what do we have to say about the whole thing?

Pros

• •Our room was awesome, with a big bed, private porch, stocked mini fridge, and of course the jacuzzi bathtub.
• •All the drinks, all the time. We could get a delicious drink at any time, at no cost. We rarely get alcohol due to price, so this was a big win for us.
• •The food was delicious and offered a wide variety that was able to satisfy all of my wants and all of Briana’s vegetarian needs. For families, it would be able to accommodate even the pickiest of eaters.
• •Plenty of activities that can appeal to everyone. Nobody should get bored – they have everyone covered on things to do.
• •There are so many pools. If you want quiet, you can get a quiet place to lounge, or if you want to be a part of the action, you can find a game of volleyball, or go down a slide.
• •There is a private beach. It extends for a long distance, so if you walk far enough, you can get the tropical paradise all yourself.
• •The resort is eco-conscious so you know that at the very least, the animals’ well-being is considered.
• •Sandos Playacar provides each room with a large and durable umbrella. Because of frequent downpours, we would always keep it with us and it kept us dry through our whole vacation.
• •For those really looking to relax, or have a romantic getaway, there is a spa and fitness center that offers tons of different packages to meet your needs. You can get massages, facials, and other treatments though these do cost extra and are not a part of the all-inclusive package.

Cons

• •We really don’t have much to complain about. The only thing that was a bother was the fact that the wedding rehearsal and reception was relegated to the buffet food. I, along with a few others, was a little disappointed that we couldn’t go to the specifically themed restaurants. I’ll reiterate again, that the food was always delicious – but we felt that for paying for an all-inclusive experience, we should have had the option to go to the restaurants.
• •We weren’t able to go in the pools. This was for various reasons, though mostly because the wedding events kept us too busy to do so, and when we weren’t occupied with that, it was storming. This issue is really hit or miss, and can’t be blamed on the resort by any means.

For Consideration

There are a couple things worth considering as well. These items don’t fall into the pros or cons, but they do merit a consideration.

• •It rains a lot in the Yucatan, especially during the summer months. This didn’t bother us, because we were recovering from sunburn and weren’t looking to spend a tremendous amount of time in the sun anyway, but it could dampen your vacation.
• •At the same time, summer and fall is hurricane season, and the Yucatan can get hit hard. Impossible to predict, you just have to take your chances that you won’t have to cancel your plans.
• •The resort is huge. To get from the front of the resort to the beach can easily be a half-hour walk. There is a golf-cart tram that ferries guests to various locations every 10 – 15 minutes though. This didn’t bother us, but we heard a few random guests complain a bit. We enjoyed the walks though.
• •There are very distinct accommodation differences. We were in the adult area, which is quieter, more private and intimate, but also further from most activities. There are beachfront rooms, which my parents had, and also villas with private pools for just a couple rooms which a few of my aunts had. So it is worth deciding what experience you want to have.
• •The alcoholic drinks – with the exception of beer – seemed to be a little weak. We can’t confirm, but we suspect the alcohol was a little watered down. Did this bother us? Not at all – in fact, it just meant we could drink more. But if you’re wondering why you can keep drinking and don’t seem to be feeling it as much – here’s your answer.

Sandos Playacar

Sandos Playacar was our first time at an all-inclusive Mexican resort, and our first time at an all-inclusive resort period and we thoroughly enjoyed it. Although it isn’t our preferred method of travel, we can definitely say that this is an ideal way to vacation. It was an experience that we look forward to experiencing again in the future (hopefully). 

Have you been to an all-inclusive resort? What do you think? Let us know in the comments!

*We were not paid to endorse Sandos Playacar or any other aspect of this review. This is solely our experiences while at the resort. Our views are our own and do not reflect the views of the resort or any other outside influence. We visited in late August of 2017.

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