Best Place to Stay in Playa Del Carmen?

Travel Info
Hi,
My Husband and I are thinking about going to a resort in January. We have been on 2 cruises and I have been to Cancun...we heard that Playa Del Carmen is nice...Where is the best place to stay?
If you don't recommend Play Del Carmen, where would you recommend that we go?

Thanks for any help!

Travel Tips

Playa del Carmen is beautiful, there are many great resorts there like Dreams, Bahia Principe, Secrets, any of the RIU's. If you Golf The Playacar Golf Club is an all-inclusive golf resort where your green fee includes the cost of your food and beverages, both from the traveling refreshment carts and from the 19th Hole cafe after your round has finished. Check out the Cenotes! Cenote Cristalino and Cenote Azul

Both are located on Highway 307 directly across from the Barcel贸 Maya Resort, about 15 minutes south of Playa del Carmen. Both have small signs near dirt roads that lead back to the cenotes. An admission fee is charged for each. Both cenotes are very large and can be quite deep. As the water is crystal clear, the snorkeling is very good. However, the sea life is very limited. Cristalino has a rock overhang from which the brave can jump into the waters below. Both places have a beautiful tropical jungle setting and both places are popular with locals as swimming holes. Snacks and restrooms available.

Have fun!!
Others

go to playadelcarmen.com......its a tiny pueblo, but beautiful beaches and very peaceful...
Occidental Grand Flaminco Xcaret. It is 10 Minutes away from Playa Del Carmen, and only a $10 taxi ride. The resort is amazing, All inclusive and you get a free entrance to the Xcaret eco park, which has an entrance from the resort, I wouldn't stay anywhere else.
Riviera Maya is beautiful. There are quite a few good choices of properties. I could list some, but honestly it wouldn't really help you. What one property is good for a friend, isn't right for you. That is why I would strongly recommend you contacting a travel professional. They can qualify you into the right property they feel is best for you.

As for the recommendation for the Occidental Grand Xcaret, if a beach is important to you don't stay here. It is on a man-made beach to where you blink and you miss it! Besides, the property itself really isn't that wonderful, there are so many better choices that are just the same price wise.

Most agencies they may charge a very nominal service fee, but it isn't like many think where we "tack" on a bunch of charges. See if you contact the company directly you pay the same amount, it's just that company isn't have to pay an agency, thus making more money which they like!

Actually many times when it comes to air/hotel/transfer packages we can get better rates! Online for so long undercut agents pricing and now they are raising them with no one the wiser.

Best of luck to you and please do me a favor and don't be like many who contact an agent to get there expert opinion only to try and book separate to avoid that nominal fee. If you find a good agent who knows there stuff one really can be invaluable to you!
Travel Specialist - 8 Years
Carlson Wagonlit Travel
Actually Playa is no longer a sleepy little fishing village, but a bustling city of over 130,000. If you're looking for more of a "local" experience, try Tulum or Puerto Morelos