The Reef Playacar
Paseo Xaman-Há, Retorno Sayil, s/n, Fracc. Playacar, Playa del Carmen 77710 Mexico
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About
#81 of 344 hotels in Playa del Carmen
Location
4.5
Cleanliness
4.2
Service
4.0
Value
3.9
From the moment you arrive at The Reef Playacar, you’ll see why we’re one of the best family-friendly resorts in Playa del Carmen. The relaxed comfort of our boutique-style hotel takes inspiration from the Mayan traditions, magically blending the quiet seclusion of a tropical rainforest with the white-hot beauty of one of the world’s most spectacular beaches. Nestled among brilliant gardens in an exclusive gated community, just a 15-minute walk from the vibrant shops, dining, and nightlife of 5th Avenue, The Reef Playacar resort ensures that nothing comes between you and an unforgettable Riviera Maya beach getaway. Our resort is uniquely suited to provide you with a range of unforgettable experiences, from the exhilarating to the serene. You will have the chance to book your room with two different options: All-Inclusive package or bed + breakfast. Fill your days with diving, skydiving and eco-adventures or explore and relax in Playa del Carmen’s tranquil ancient setting.
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Property amenities
Free parking
Wifi
Pool
Fitness Center with Gym / Workout Room
Free breakfast
Beach
Bicycles available
Babysitting
Secured parking
Pool / beach towels
Pool with view
Outdoor pool
Yoga classes
Fitness / spa locker rooms
Fitness classes
Sauna
Bar / lounge
Restaurant
Breakfast available
Breakfast buffet
Complimentary welcome drink
Kids' meals
Snack bar
Vending machine
Swimup bar
Poolside bar
Rooftop bar
Diving
Snorkeling
Water sport equipment rentals
Aerobics
Bicycle tours
Billiards
Entertainment staff
Evening entertainment
Fishing
Karaoke
Table tennis
Indoor play area for children
Children Activities (Kid / Family Friendly)
Kids club
Kids pool
Highchairs available
Airport transportation
Car hire
Taxi service
Conference facilities
Banquet room
Meeting rooms
Spa
Couples massage
Facial treatments
Foot massage
Full body massage
Hand massage
Head massage
Makeup services
Manicure
Massage
Pedicure
Salon
Steam room
24-hour security
Baggage storage
Concierge
Gift shop
Outdoor furniture
Shops
Sun loungers / beach chairs
Sun umbrellas
ATM on site
Umbrella
24-hour check-in
24-hour front desk
Laundry service
Ironing service
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Room features
Air conditioning
Private beach
Housekeeping
Private balcony
Minibar
Refrigerator
Cable / satellite TV
Bath / shower
Safe
Telephone
Wardrobe / closet
Bottled water
Clothes rack
Iron
Wake-up service / alarm clock
Flatscreen TV
Complimentary toiletries
Hair dryer
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Room types
Non-smoking rooms
Family rooms
Good to know
HOTEL CLASS
HOTEL STYLE
Park View
Residential Neighborhood
Languages Spoken
English, Spanish
Hotel links
Location
60Somewhat walkable
Grade: 60 out of 100
55Restaurantswithin 0.75 miles
23Attractionswithin 0.75 miles
Paseo Xaman-Há, Retorno Sayil, s/n, Fracc. Playacar, Playa del Carmen 77710 Mexico
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7635Reviews424Q+A100Room tips
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The Reef Playacar is so stunning and gorgeous all around! The grounds are incredible and the rooms feel secluded and private. The staff is the BEST! Everyone I encountered was friendly, helpful, and so welcoming!!! Dive shop has great snorkeling/dive options. One night there was a cute market / live music by the pool! It was so fun! Lots of pool cabanas and shady spots by beach. We loved this resort and would definitely come back! The views everywhere are so beautiful. Thank you for such wonderful hospitality and great fun service!
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Review collected in partnership with this hotel
Date of stay: May 2023
Value
Rooms
Location
Cleanliness
Service
Sleep Quality
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Helpful
Hotel's Favorite
My expectations were for a reasonable stay but not muck more. But the Reef Playacar exceeded my expectations. Everything was clean and well maintained. The staff was friendly and accommodating. Planning was efficient, as we booked 3 tours with them and round trip airport transfers. Everything was perfect. The buffet was more than adequate and met our expectations, breakfast was definitely the best. The reservation required sit down restaurants were comparable to 4 star restaurants we have here in the northeast. Loved it, would recommend to anyone.
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Date of stay: April 2023Trip type: Traveled as a couple
Value
Location
Service
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Helpful
Response from Lizeth Arratia, Director General at The Reef Playacar
Responded 2 weeks ago
Dear guest, Thank you for choosing The Reef Playacar to spend your vacations and for sharing your review. We are delighted to know that your expectation were exceeded and that you enjoyed our facilities and the service provided by our staff. We hope to have the opportunity to welcome you back in the future. Kind regards, Lizeth Arratia Hospitality Manager
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This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
First time visiting Mexico and the Reef did not disappoint! Rooms, staff, food, well everything was so very nice. The only issue was the agent booking tours never explained if you had any health issues most tours were not going to be able to accommodate. That was definitely a disappointment ☹️ Paid for tours some were unable to participate in and no refunds!
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Review collected in partnership with this hotel
Date of stay: May 2023
Value
Rooms
Location
Cleanliness
Service
Sleep Quality
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Helpful
Hands down one of the worst resorts we have stayed at. The food was really, really bad. I still cannot believe that for the 4 days we were there, the buffet restaurant never offered fresh avocado in any shape or form. In Mexico?!!!The food was bland and low quality. The NONSTOP blaring music at pool made it impossible to listen to your own music or relax or take a nap or read a book anywhere in the vicinity The Premier plus is a scam - the limited number of 'reserved' space behind the pool area is NOT REALLY reserved for people that pay for premier service because nobody is enforcing it. I was told that 'premier' is not about the room (they are all the same more or less) but about the amenities. We had 2 premier rooms and one did not even all the 'amenities'
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Date of stay: May 2023
Value
Location
Service
Room Tip: Avoid - much better options near by.
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This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Helpful
Loved this hotel! I will say I felt they were a little too pushy trying to sell the timeshare presentation at check-in, but all it takes is continuing to say "no" and then you're checked in. I also think the popup snack bars were a little unreliable (never found the coffee one) and the mini bar could be stocked a little more robustly, but you always had access to food and snacks, especially with the meal plan. I didn't leave the resort once! The jungle landscaping was really lovely and magnified the "resort" feel so I almost felt like I was at Disney or something. The food had a lot of variety and, while it was not the greatest food I've ever had, people who get a meal plan at an affordable resort like this and expect fine dining are a little out of touch. I only went to the buffets and snack bar. The beach always had plenty of chairs and umbrellas, as most people seem to flock to the pools, which has always puzzled me. Are we not here for the beach? The beach was the perfect temp and, with the umbrellas, I could sit all day with the perfect breeze. There was seaweed when I was there and they made a huge effort to clean it up every day. Walking down the coast, you'll see that is not a standard service, so I really appreciated seeing how diligent they were being about it. Service was really great, too. I would totally come back. …
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Date of stay: June 2022Trip type: Traveled solo
Value
Location
Service
Room Tip: Just say "no" to the timeshare. I saw a lot of reviews complaining about it and they must have...
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This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Helpful
Response from Lizeth Arratia, Director General at The Reef Playacar
Responded 6 days ago
Dear guest, Thank you for choosing The Reef Playacar to spend your vacations and for sharing your review. We are glad to know that you enjoyed the location, the jungle vibes, the beach and service. It will be truly a pleasure to welcome you back in the future. Kind regards, Lizeth Arratia Hospitality Manager
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This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
This is my first experience in Temaskal, and it was amazing! Absolutely worth your money. I recommend it Adela and Rocio provided perfect service in SPA. We were invoked I Mayan culture, got health treatment : steam spa wig grass smell, honey scrub, Aalloe mask for whole body, green tea, fresh fruited. Adela sing spesial songs for us! Michelle and Anna on redemption are polite and friendly. Thank you!!!!
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Date of stay: May 2023Trip type: Traveled with friends
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Helpful
Response from Lizeth Arratia, Director General at The Reef Playacar
Responded 6 days ago
Dear guest, We would like to thank you for choosing again The Reef Playacar to spend your vacations and for sharing your nice review. We are delighted to know that you especially appreciated your experience at the Spa and that you highly recommend it. It will be truly a pleasure to welcome you back soon. Kind regards, Lizeth Arratia Hospitality Manager
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This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Terrible! Even contacting them is impossible. I’ve been trying to reach out since the 5th of may with a simple question and they couldn’t respond to that. Just one automated response. If it’s like this messaging then, then the service will be horrible there too. I’m staying away, so many better places!!
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Date of stay: May 2023Trip type: Traveled with friends
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Helpful
Response from Lizeth Arratia, Director General at The Reef Playacar
Responded 1 week ago
Dear client, Thank you for choosing our hotel for your upcoming stay. We are sorry that you had such a poor impression of our service due to the lack of response to your inquiries. We have sent you a private message to assist you. Kind regards, Lizeth Arratia Hospitality Manager
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This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Overall, wasn't the best experience. Food was awful, wifi didnt work at all during the trip.First night we had dinner at the italian restaurant.Chicken picatta was a drumstick and potato lol. The worst part is we paid $700 for the boho dinner, advertised as a three course meal which turned out to be tacos. Totally not worth it and I do not reccomend. We could have went into town and ate food that was worth it. They also advertised a photographer included with the package, but charged us $300 for the photos. Straight rip off. Will never stay here again.
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Date of stay: May 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
1 Helpful vote
Helpful
Response from Lizeth Arratia, Director General at The Reef Playacar
Responded 2 weeks ago
Dear guest, Thank you for choosing The Reef Playacar as your vacation destination and for sharing your feedback through Trip Advisor. We regret to learn that our food offerings were not of your liking and that your expectations regarding the boho dinner were not met. We are sorry that you have had discomfort and do hope to have the opportunity to change your perception and serve you again in the future. Kind regards, Lizeth Arratia Hospitality Manager
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This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
This was my first (and my last) experience at an all inclusive resort. The hotel check in was just an experience in personal invasion (who we are traveling with, names of our friends and others) and upselling. We really were not allowed to go to our room unless we purchased something. Upon getting to the room, the door wouldn't open. We were never offered Bell service so we just left our luggage outside the room to request help. Maintenance never showed and we literally had to wait till housekeeping let us in (a safety issue) and "wedge" the door open (another safety issue) the whole time we were there. Upon numerous attempts to tell front desk that we literally couldn't get into our room, they never fixed the door. Dinner service is worse than lousy. We went to the Italian restaurant and and the service, no matter how many times we asked for a glass of water, or butter for the bread (we counted 9 times) it never came. Service was so slow, dinner was over 3 hours and 40 minutes. In fact, it was so bad our waiter, without us even complaining actually gave up, saying "do you still want to continue service" after we paid. I felt bad they were severely understaffed but 3.5 hours to get a plate of pasta (which never came anyway since they brought the wrong order. About halfway through the meal, they switched off ALL the lights in the restaurant and we were in complete darkness. They never told us they were going to do this. After enquiring, they mentioned they need to save electricity and they turn the lights all off for a total of an hour. Breakfast service was just as bad. Asking for a coffee every single day we were there (a total of 9) and it just never came. I get it, the staff aren't tipped but still, when they come around and ask what we want, our requests go into the black hole. We confirmed a taxi and got a confirmed quote and rate. After we got in the hotel ordered taxi, the rate suddenly tripled. Then, we left the property and a mile out the taxi drove us back saying, "I'm sorry, I meant to pick up someone else,I can't take you. This was just a REALLY bad experience all around. All inclusive doesn't mean ALL inclusive. You have to upgrade to eat at the restaurants or even use the facilities. Please do not stay at this property if you want a hassle free experience. …
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Date of stay: April 2023Trip type: Traveled as a couple
Value
Location
Service
Room Tip: Avoid! Its a spring break party crowd (ok if you are into that)
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This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Helpful
Response from Lizeth Arratia, Director General at The Reef Playacar
Responded 2 weeks ago
Dear guest, Thank you for choosing The Reef Playacar for your first all-inclusive experience and for sharing your review. We regret to learn that you left disappointed due to the details you described. We offer you a sincere apology for the inconveniences you experienced during your stay. Rest assured that the situations you describe will be forwarded to the corresponding departments in order to avoid any similar situation in the future. Likewise, we would like to thank you for mentioning some aspects of improvement for our services, without a doubt the opinion of our guests is of the utmost importance for us, because thanks to this we could focus our efforts to achieve in the future full satisfaction of our travelers. We do hope that if your travel plans point again to Playa del Carmen you give us another opportunity to restore your faith in our hotel. Kind regards, Lizeth Arratia Hospitality Manager
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This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
The hotel facilities are good. The spa is very relaxing, I have had my best experience at the spa. Abril was very kind to me and my husband, he explained everything to us. We will definitely be back soon, thank you for everything.
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Date of stay: November 2022Trip type: Traveled as a couple
Value
Location
Service
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Helpful
Response from Lizeth Arratia, Director General at The Reef Playacar
Responded 2 weeks ago
Dear guest, Thank you for choosing The Reef Playacar to spend your vacations and for sharing your review. We are glad to know that you enjoyed the location, friendliness of our staff and the Spa. It will be truly a pleasure to welcome you back in the future. Kind regards, Lizeth Arratia Hospitality Manager
Read more
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
PRICE RANGE
$141 - $244 (Based on Average Rates for a Standard Room)
ALSO KNOWN AS
reef playacar hotel playa del carmen, the reef playacar, reef club playacar, reef playacar mexico, reef playacar playa del carmen
LOCATION
MexicoYucatan PeninsulaQuintana RooRiviera MayaPlaya del Carmen
NUMBER OF ROOMS
198
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Claim Your ListingTHE REEF PLAYACAR $136 ($̶2̶5̶2̶) - Updated 2023 Prices & Resort (All-Inclusive) Reviews - Riviera Maya/Playa del Carmen, Mexico
Frequently Asked Questions about The Reef Playacar
Which popular attractions are close to The Reef Playacar?
Nearby attractions include Plaza Playacar (0.4 miles), Zona Arqueológica Playa del Carmen (0.6 miles), and Piste Cyclable sur Paseo Xaman-Ha (0.5 miles).
What are some of the property amenities at The Reef Playacar?
Some of the more popular amenities offered include a swimup bar, a rooftop bar, and free breakfast.
Which room amenities are available at The Reef Playacar?
Top room amenities include a minibar, air conditioning, and a flat screen TV.
What food & drink options are available at The Reef Playacar?
Guests can enjoy a swimup bar, a rooftop bar, and free breakfast during their stay.
Is parking available at The Reef Playacar?
Yes, free parking and secured parking are available to guests.
What are some restaurants close to The Reef Playacar?
Conveniently located restaurants include Casa Rivieras, Lara&Luca Playa del Carmen, and Los Aguachiles Av. 10.
Are there opportunities to exercise at The Reef Playacar?
Yes, guests have access to a pool, a fitness center, and a sauna during their stay.
Does The Reef Playacar have airport transportation?
Yes, The Reef Playacar offers airport transportation for guests. We recommend calling ahead to confirm details.
Does The Reef Playacar offer any business services?
Yes, it conveniently offers meeting rooms, a banquet room, and conference facilities.
Which languages are spoken by the staff at The Reef Playacar?
The staff speaks multiple languages, including English and Spanish.
Are there any historical sites close to The Reef Playacar?
Many travelers enjoy visiting Zona Arqueológica Playa del Carmen (0.6 miles).