Playa del Carmen’s Best Swim-Up Suites

At these premier beachfront properties, you can step right from your room into the pool

 

Water plays a prominent role in most tropical vacations. Whether sailing, snorkeling, relaxing beachside, splashing about in the pool, or relaxing in a private soaking spa, chances are you are planning to get wet. Hoteliers understand this, and a growing number are offering what might be considered the ultimate take on a water themed vacation: a room that opens directly onto a pool. These “swim-up suites” are a signature feature of properties along Mexico’s Riviera Maya, and we’ve found four of the best.

Grand Hyatt Playa del Carmen Resort

The Grand Hyatt combines the amenities of a world-class resort with the convenience of a downtown location. The property sits directly on the beach and fronts Playa del Carmen’s lively Fifth Avenue shopping and entertainment district. Rooms feature a clean modern design with rich woods and open spaces that invite sea breezes. The resort is family friendly, with dedicated children and teen facilities and activities. But adults are also indulged with onsite spa services, a fitness center, entertainment spaces, and exclusive beachside cabanas. A select number of rooms also offer terraces that open directly onto pools surrounded by gardens or the native mangrove thickets that have been incorporated into the resort’s landscape. Floor to ceiling windows bring views inside to create a personal oasis of calm that is just steps away from water, and from all that Playa del Carmen has to offer.

Azul Fives

The Karisma Azul Fives Hotel provides an all-inclusive atmosphere that is equally welcoming to couples, groups and families. Azul is Spanish for blue, and blue water features prominently in the décor and resort grounds. Guests can snorkel directly from the beach; relax in private cabanas, or head poolside for refreshments at a swim-up bar. Azul Fives offers a wide range of engaging youth programs, while adults can discover indulgences such as moonlight couples massage. A variety of on-site shops, bars and restaurants provide all one could want in a beachside resort experience. In addition, the attractions of Playa del Carmen are just ten minutes away. For the ultimate water feature, guests can select a one-bedroom suite with an adjacent water deck that opens right into the main pool. These suites offer a separate living room with a sofa bed and a kitchenette, making them an especially good option for families or those wanting to entertain.

Paradisus Playa del Carmen La Perla

Located on a private bay fronted by coral reefs and the blue waters of the Caribbean, the adults only La Perla blends luxury and exclusivity with a high level of personal service. Though convenient to all of the attractions of the Riviera Maya, and just ten minutes from downtown Playa del Carmen, guests may never feel the need to leave the property. Fourteen onsite restaurants and 16 bars provide a wealth of dining and entertainment options, with spa services for relaxation and a range of water sports for the active. Pools offer swim-up bars and private lounges, while on the beach Balinese sun beds enjoy butler service. All guest suites provide the indulgences of rainfall showers and deep soaking tubs, while a number also include terraces with whirlpools and direct access to swimming pools via private steps.

The Royal Playa del Carmen

For guests who can’t decide between a swim-up suite and a waterfront walkout, the Royal Playa del Carmen offers a solution: have both. This all- inclusive, adults only property is located directly on the ocean in the heart of downtown Playa del Carmen. As an upscale, all-suite property, it offers all the amenities one would expect, including a diverse range of cuisines at seven onsite restaurants, sparkling pools, a spa and fitness center, and private cabanas on the town’s best beach. While upper floor accommodations offer balconies and sweeping waterfront views, a number of first floor rooms feature private terraces that incorporate personal splash pools. For the ultimate combination of water features, a select few rooms sit directly on the beach and also include a private pool. After sunning at a private oceanfront cabana, guests are just steps away from their own private pool, where they can take a refreshing dip.