There really isn't much of a difference. Playacar is directly south of Playa Del Carmen. It could be considered a subdivision. There are several resorts that line the beach in Playacar and behind them is a pedestrian friendly road to use to get into downtown PDC or bike or walk around. Also a golf course and a little mall. If you go to www.locogringo.com and click on maps and aerial maps and check out PDC, you'll get a better idea, though it's a couple years old. Some great AI resorts for honeymooners in the PDC/Playacar area are Royal Hideaway (where we stayed!), Royal Playa Del Carmen, Playacar Palace. There are some other resorts in between Cancun and PDC that are supposed to be nice too-

the new Iberostar Grand, Secrets Capri, and Excellence Riviera, but they aren't within walking distance to town and you'd have to rely on some kind of transportation to get you places. Have fun and good luck on your search!

really depends upon what you want. playacar is exactly what you'd expect... it's a very large gated community south of pdc, though walkable to the town. it you want to be in pdc (close to restaurants, etc.), then i'd look at the royal and others in pdc. if you don't mind being a bit further, then playacar is fine. do be aware the beach erosion has ocurred, especially in the more northern parts of playacar. the best reviewed resort in playacar (the royal hideway) is said to have very little beach left.

You might want to consider Playacar Palace or the Royal Hideaway. Both are in Playcar, but very close to PDC.

PDC is the original old town , fishing village.

Playacar is the newer development for tourists. Much more modern, similar to a golf course- resort community development like you would see in Florida. (only much better beach)

Thanks for all your fine help- I really appreciate it. I have two follow up questions:

What's the best online resource for checking beach conditions at PDC? I'm reluctant to go somewhere with "beach erosion".

Lastly, when you say Playacar is the new development, further from "downtown" PDC, how developed is downtown actually? I hadn't planned on necessarily leaving the resort, but it sounds like there's an actual bar/restaurant/shopping scene (hardly Rodeo drive, I'm sure, but like any other island- local shops) in downtown?

5th Ave runs thru downtown. It's "the Place" to hang out. No traffic allowed. shopping, bars, restaurants -lots of open air places to sit and people watch. There is some very upscale shopping, right next to to "junk, souvenier shops. Sort of like Bourbon St , New orleans only much more fun.

I did alot of searching prior to my trip (with my wife) to Playa Del Carmen. 2 years ago - we stayed in Playacar - which was a 5 minute taxi ride from "5th avenue". We made plans to come back - and I kept reading that the beaches in Playacar had alot of erosion - so this year, we booked at Royal Playa del Carmen (adults only resort - AI). We are currently here in a beachfront room. It is beautiful here - 5th avenue is 1 block away and it runs for about 12 blocks (approx) to the pier. It has lots of shops, restaurants (however, we're at an AI), bars, and is the "happening place" for the night time. I'd be weary of going to Playacar with the beach conditions as is. Incidentally, our beach here is gorgeous, however the next hotel away (around the bend) has a terribly eroded beach with sandbags all over. So, do look around. There are many other nice resorts (on the Riviera Maya) - but they are further away from town (5th avenue). Hope this helps.

I did alot of searching prior to my trip (with my wife) to Playa Del Carmen. 2 years ago - we stayed in Playacar - which was a 5 minute taxi ride from "5th avenue". We made plans to come back - and I kept reading that the beaches in Playacar had alot of erosion - so this year, we booked at Royal Playa del Carmen (adults only resort - AI). We are currently here in a beachfront room. It is beautiful here - 5th avenue is 1 block away and it runs for about 12 blocks (approx) to the pier. It has lots of shops, restaurants (however, we're at an AI), bars, and is the "happening place" for the night time. I'd be weary of going to Playacar with the beach conditions as is. Incidentally, our beach here is gorgeous, however the next hotel away (around the bend) has a terribly eroded beach with sandbags all over. So, do look around. There are many other nice resorts (on the Riviera Maya) - but they are further away from town (5th avenue). Hope this helps.

We have just returned home from Iberostar Tucan in Playacar. It is US$5 in a taxi to PDC/5th Ave. The beach at the Tucan is still huge but to the left past the Rui hotels you can see the sandbags.