Just returned from Spring Break '08 in Playa del Carmen. The Playa Palms is a wonderful small hotel with a great location. All rooms have balaconies or porches with ocean views. The rooms are very clean as is the property itself. The staff was always working either cleaning the grounds or the rooms. Great location right on the beach with calm waters and comfortable padded beach loungers. We were very fortunate to find a room at this hotel since the hotel we originally booked was horrible. We just walked around the town and stumbled upon this gem of a hotel. Wouldn't hesitate to stay there again.

We recently spent a week at the Playa Palms Beach in Playa Del Carmen, Mexico.

It was an overall great experience. The rooms were spacious and clean, the staff friendly and helpfull, and the beach was perfect.

There are multiple restaurants and clubs for excellent food and night life. You are not restricted to an all inclusive environment.

Also note that we felt completely safe the entire time.

It is a great value and I would recommend it to anyone looking for a beach vacation.

We have stayed at this hotel 5 times in the last 7 years. The location is pretty nice, close to downtown, but the fishing boats anchor on the beach in front, but we have always been OK with that. Property is maintained nicely, looks better than past. But.... toilet had puddles around it on occasion. Was told by someone also staying there that Playa Palms was the only place he used his credit card, and that the next day there was $2K in nearby Office Depot charges. Our friends said they had weird charges as well. Last night of our stay there was loud remodelling work being done on two of the units ( they all kind of face each other) with the patio doors wide open complete with tons of banging and hammering( we were told something about a phone line....doubtful, husband is a builder and appeared to him that it was the HVAC being redone) ALL NIGHT LONG!! Charges were indeed higher, because they gave themselves a very favorable exchange rate( $1 to 11) pesos after quoting us in US dollars. It sounded generous to me until I realized my credit card had to change it back to US at the lower daily exchange rates, even taking exchange fees into consideration, it was still off by about $20. I will look elsewhere for next visit.

We stayed at this wonderful small hotel at the end of January beginning Feb o8. We booked through travelyucatan but they have their own website if you choose. It is a little tricky to find but it is about 2 blocks east of quinta avenida (fifth avenue) the main tourist pedestrian walkway, between 12th and 14th St North. It is right on the beach Position A. This is a small hotel all the rooms have one queen bed (except a suite that sleeps 6 in beds on two levels with a beautiful ocean view.) Most of the rooms have a stove small fridge and microwave. Acouple have a fridge and microwave. We really liked the room - not huge but quite big with a large patio door and good sized balcony/patio complete with hammock, chairs, table and candle. They provided bathroom supplies everyday and fresh bottled water and there was always extra bottled water in the foyer. Because the hotel is narrow the balconies opposit each other are kind of close but this didn't bother us. There is lots of greenery around the walkways and balconies. Most nights were very quiet but there was a group of three rooms that came in on the weekend that were noisy and inconsiderate - security asked them to go inside their rooms - they were also rude and noisy on the beach. This is mostly a couples hotel or couple and one child. It used to be a Blue Parrot hotel but there are quite a few Blue Parrot hotels in the area. there is a lovely little pool in the middle of the hotel just steps from the beach - we were in 310 and it was right at our door. The staff cleaned continuously - the pool, walkways, showers and were very friendly. There is always someone who speaks English - many of the staff do not. The hotel provides excellent lounge chairs with thick pads - really comfortable and there is always a security guard at night at the beach entrance and the street entrance to the hotel. The beach is really nice sand - there are some small boats moored on the beach but still lots of places to swim. It is quite shallow you can walk out a long way with water at your waist and the bottom is sandy. Lots of beach to walk up and down on with lots of small hotels and bars.- it goes forever. The street the hotel is on is quiet but if you like entertainment and bars and nightlife - walk a block and it is yours. Lots of traditional bars, discos - fusion bars, outdoor bars, and reataraunts right there. I t is the best of both worlds! A half a block and there is an internet/international call center. Don't make regular calls from Mexico - very expensive - use a call center. Great 'tourist' shopping on quinta avenida. A shopping center 'Mega' about 4 blocks away has really good hot and cold pre made foods and a liquor store so you can take home to your room - very inexpensive eating. If you want to rent a car 'Carribean rent a car' also called American is two blocks away and you can drop off at the airport if youwant. This is a good agency we used - great cars and they include ALL the insurances in their quoted price. Watch out for agencies that don't quote all the insurances or you will get your credit card dinged for 10 -20% of the value of the car till you return it! Try the restaraunt right on the beach beside the hotel with the cream 'leather' chairs and cabanas - very good food for really good prices - fajitas were fresh and hot with the green peppers still crispy; nachos good for sharing; breakfast omelete 3 toast, potatoes excellent! I don't think I would want to be here during spring break but then I don't think I want to be anywhere in Mexico during spring break! I think these rooms are actually owned by individuals so each has its own decorating but they definitely have much nicer character than the usual hotel style room -some have flatscreen TV I would definitely go again . We heard they may be putting their prices up next year.