Luxury All-Inclusive Royal Hideaway Playacar Maintains its Niche in Mexico

While the all-inclusive market in Mexico’s Riviera Maya corridor has exploded in growth over the past three decades, it’s comforting to know that the original forerunner in the luxury sub-segment still delivers on its original promise of gourmet cuisine, personalized service, and upscale accommodations.

When I first visited Royal Hideaway soon after its debut in 1999, I was impressed by the overall quality of the entire product, which represented a quantum leap above the competition at that time. Now, 26 years later, after several modifications, an ownership change, and the emergence of competing luxury all-inclusives in the immediate area, the property still largely holds up to its original ideals.

Set on one of the most impressive stretches of sugary, white-sand beach in Playa del Carmen, the adults-only Royal Hideaway is tucked into the private, gated Playacar complex, nestled among condos and other all-inclusives in a relatively quiet area only a 10-minute drive from Playa del Carmen’s popular downtown district and about 15 minutes from the spectacular Xcaret eco-archeological theme park.

Luxe Accommodations, Serene Atmosphere, Warm Service are Hallmarks

The resort’s 201 rooms and suites are situated in 2- and 3-story Caribbean colonial-style villas that are well spaced out through the sprawling grounds. Standard accommodations, sized at a generous 527 square feet, are tastefully decorated in mahogany woods and rich soft goods. All feature a king bed or two queens, individually controlled A/C and ceiling fans, stocked mini-bar, safe, lighted vanity mirror, patio, twin-sink vanity, separate stall shower and hydromassage tub, robust Wi-Fi and L’Occitane premium toiletries.

Each villa is staffed with a dedicated concierge to assist with dining reservations, local activities, transfers and other guest requests. Advisors should note that since the resort is primarily geared towards couples, there are only 20 units with two queen beds; the remainder all are furnished with kings.

The lushly landscaped resort grounds, crisscrossed with meandering rivers, pedestrian bridges and six pools, contribute to the air of serenity and exclusivity felt here. Daytime activities at the two principal pools are fairly low-key in keeping with the resort’s overall laid-back atmosphere, and beachgoers enjoy padded lounges enveloped by individual canopies for sun protection.

An onsite dive shop provides non-motorized water sports equipment including Hobie Cat sailboats, mask/snorkel sets and kayaks for complimentary guest use, along with free daily, in-pool scuba lessons. And despite the maintenance crew doing an admirable job of cleaning, raking and removing the daily sargassum accumulation on the property’s beach, it’s ultimately a losing battle with nature, as the stinky-seaweed scourge affecting Caribbean beaches can only be mitigated – not resolved completely.

Genuinely warm service from the Mexican team members predominates here, with smiles, efficiency and the ability to engage with non-Spanish speaking guests. The laid-back, resort ambiance continues after dinner, as nightlife here is defined by a variety of fairly sedate activities, including karaoke, lounge music, games in the Allegria Bar, and a weekly production show. Guests seeking more action typically take a short taxi ride to Playa del Carmen’s central district, where shopping, restaurants and myriad nightclubs with thumping music are prevalent. 

Ethnic Specialty Restaurants Provide Wide Variety of Cuisine

With four specialty, reservation-only restaurants on property, as well as a fifth steakhouse option available nightly, Royal Hideaway’s guests may choose from a plethora of included dinner options.

The pan-Asian eatery, Azia, focuses primarily on dishes from Thailand and Japan, with a teppanyaki experience also available here, too. Main menu highlights include sushi, tempura and a gorgeously presented pad Thai dish with a lattice egg covering.

Ventanas features Mediterranean dishes, with an appropriate focus on Spanish specialties given parent company Barceló Hoteles’ Iberian heritage. The region’s iconic Iberico ham is featured prominently on the sophisticated menu, along with grilled octopus, a red wine-braised lamb shank and an interesting crab ravioli in white wine sauce.

Unfortunately, Italian-themed Palazzo misses the mark on most dishes, with inappropriate saucing, fusions that don’t quite click, and disappointing desserts. Clients would be wise to skip this option when making dinner reservations – at least until the product improves.

But it’s Spices, the Mexican Caribbean restaurant, that offers an incredibly impressive array of local fare, including dishes native to Quintana Roo, Playa del Carmen’s home state. Seven varieties of gourmet tacos, including duck carnitas, shrimp and al pastor versions, are worthy starters, as is a trilogy of sopes and complex composed salads. Of the main plates (platos fuertes), camarones in a tequila sauce achieves perfection, as do the coriander rice and roasted spinach served as accompaniments. Many of the creative desserts here, including the Yucatan specialty, marquesitas (a wafer-like crepe stuffed with Edam cheese, tomato jam and rosemary), are served with delicious homemade ice cream flavors like mamey (a Mexican tropical fruit), burnt milk, cajeta, and rich vanilla.       

Also included in the rates are unlimited, premium beverage brands such as Chivas Regal 12, Johnny Walker Black Label, Courvoisier VSOP, Beefeater, Absolut, a large selection of Mexican tequilas and mezcal, wine, Mexican beers, coffee drinks, juices, smoothies, and bottled water.

Casual breakfast and lunch buffets, augmented by a menu featuring a mix of Mexican and North American specialties, are served at the open-air, beachfront Deck venue, which becomes The Grill steakhouse in the evening. And for guests looking for a decidedly gourmet lunch in air-conditioned comfort, Spices is open until 2 p.m.

Luxury with Limits

Although the physical aspects of the property – which has been well-maintained and upgraded over the years – still hold up to a luxury standard, not everything works as well as it should here, considering the expectations. Housekeeping service is inconsistent on several levels;  restaurant service is generally on point, with some notable exceptions; culinary quality in the specialty restaurants is uneven; and there is no beach beverage service, as guests must approach the pool bar themselves. 

But those issues aside, Royal Hideaway still fits among the upper echelon of all-inclusives in the Riviera Maya area with several distinct advantages: Its location in the still-exclusive Playacar development on the best beach in the area; proximity to Xcaret, the Tulum archeological site, and other nearby attractions; a beautiful, tranquil setting; and an overall aura of exclusivity that gives this property staying power in its niche.