Paradisus Esmeralda Playa del Carmen
Paradisus Playa del Carmen is a resort located in a private bay. It consists of two separate hotels: Paradisus La Esmeralda, Playa del Carmen which is focused on families and kids, and Paradisus La Perla, which is exclusively for adults and provides added luxury and service. Both hotels are all-inclusive and offer upgraded programs.
However, it’s important to note that the beach is narrow and depending on the season, there may be a lot of seaweed in the water.
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The Paradisus Hotels are located just outside the busy part of Playa del Carmen, but within walking distance of all the downtown sights. Despite its proximity, this location is quieter and less crowded than other areas. The hotel is a reasonable 45-minute drive from Cancun International Airport (CUN) and close to other local attractions.
Both lobbies are impressively designed with modern architecture and colorful stylized carpets that create a wide welcoming space. The lounges are glamorous and feature a bar, plenty of seating areas, and even double loungers for guests to relax and enjoy a drink or read a book.
La Esmeralda’s guest rooms offer ample space and come equipped with complimentary Wi-Fi, flat-screen TVs, DVD players, minibars stocked daily with free water, soda, and beer. Additionally, each room features a cozy seating area with a sofa and coffee table, as well as balconies or terraces for a relaxing stay.
The hotel’s upgraded rooms come with handy features like kitchenettes, hot tubs, and direct pool access. I highly recommend having a kitchenette, especially when traveling with family members who love snacking. The One Bedroom Suite is equipped with two double beds, a lounge with a kitchenette and a sofa bed, a bathroom with a whirlpool tub, and a terrace for relaxation. If you want the extra convenience of private pool access, you can opt for the One Bedroom Swim Up Suite.
The Paradisus Junior Suite can accommodate a family of up to four with either a king-size bed or two double beds. The suite also includes a bathroom with both a rain shower and a tub.
If you want a spacious and luxurious accommodation, check out the Master 2 Bedroom Suite. It comes with a kitchenette, a dining room, and a lounge area with two sofa beds. You’ll find two bedrooms, one with a king-size bed and the other with two double beds. Plus, there are two private terraces showcasing the lovely garden views.
Alternatively, the Premium One Bedroom Suite has a kitchenette, two double beds, and a separate living room with a sofa bed. You can unwind in the terrace whirlpool while admiring the scenery. The bathroom features a rainfall mayan shower.
The Family Concierge section offers guests access to a private pool, lounge, and beach area, along with butler service, free room service, turn-down service with milk and cookies, and plenty of in-room entertainment options for kids such as video games, beach kits, and toiletries. Additionally, Family Concierge guests can access amenities at the nearby La Perla resort and enjoy exclusive access to the Olio restaurant. There is also a separate lobby available for Family Concierge guests.
The amenities and privileges offered in the Presidential Suite are the same as in the Family Concierge, which includes personalized butler service. The Presidential Suite features a Hydromassage tub, a kitchenette, a separate bedroom area, a living area with a sofa bed, a daily restocked minibar, and direct access to the pool. As a Presidential Suite guest, you will receive complimentary beach Bali beds, a 25% spa discount, a 50-minute in-room couples massage, and late check-out at 4:00 p.m. Additionally, private transportation from Cancun International Airport is provided.
If you book a unique swim-up suite, you can step off your private patio right into a sparkling pool. If you’re staying in a Family Concierge suite, you’ll have your own private pool area with a swim-up bar and butler service. If you want fun and entertainment, the Activities Pool offers games, water sports, cultural classes and live music throughout the day.
There is a new water park that opened in December 2018 which is located outside of the kids zone area. It has a splash pool designed for toddlers. Furthermore, the park features an extensive pool area and a beautiful beach on a private bay with calm waters that are great for swimming, snorkeling and kayaking. Food, beverages and towel services are offered at both the pool and the beach. Additionally, there are cabanas, daybeds, chaise lounges and even submerged pool seats available.
The YHI Spa at Paradisus Playa del Carmen La Esmeralda is a large spa covering 8,503 square feet. It has 14 treatment cabins, a beauty salon, plunge pools, a spa boutique, and locker rooms with bathrobes, slippers, showers, and changing areas. The spa offers several services such as massages, facials, body treatments, waxing, and nail services. As part of the hydrotherapy circuit, guests can access wet and dry saunas, plunge pools of varying temperatures, and hydro-massage showers for free if they are Family Concierge guests.
The Fitness Center, which is shared by both hotels and is modern and spacious, has a great variety of cardio and strength equipment. It also has a free weight area for those who prefer traditional workouts. Overall, it’s a pleasant and comprehensive training experience.
There are 14 restaurants to choose from, but not all of them are open to everyone. Some are for adults only or are reserved for guests with specific service packages such as Royal Service or Family Concierge. Despite this, there is a diverse selection of restaurants with outstanding designs. If you’re interested in contemporary Mexican cuisine, the award-winning Mole restaurant is a must-try. On the other hand, Vento offers a unique combination of Turkish, Moroccan, Greek and Lebanese cuisines.
It is recommended to visit one of Playa del Carmen’s famous eateries despite the Paradisus hotels having some of the best restaurants in town. If you take a 25-minute walk, you can reach Piola, which is a restaurant where they prioritize making their guests happy by offering top-quality food and drinks. If you are interested in trying Greek food, the best restaurant in town for that is Milos, which will also require a 25-minute walk.
There are many types of bars at this location, such as rooftop terrace bars, tequila, sake, and martini bars, swim-up bars, and adults-only bars. Additionally, there are music bars and coffee corners. If you struggle with alcohol addiction, this may not be the best place for you.
If you want to experience Playa del Carmen’s famous ambiance, go to El Club de la Cerveza, which is just an 8-minute drive away from the location. Here you can enjoy the best craft beer while watching people passing by. For a luxurious beach bar experience, the only option available is the famed Zenzi Bar, which is around 14 minutes away. You can feel like a boho-chic star here.
The resort has a program called Family Concierge, which gives special treatment to guests of all ages. Family Concierge guests can access private facilities and receive exclusive services and amenities. They also have priority reservations in the restaurants, spa, and butler service is available on-call. Additionally, there are supervised children’s activities offered daily from 9 a.m. to 10 p.m., which include treasure hunts, talent shows, cooking classes, pool parties, beach games, and cultural excursions.
While the children are occupied with their clubs and activities, parents can take a break from swimming, sliding, and playing. They can indulge in frozen drinks at the swim-up bar or treat themselves to a revitalizing facial or massage. They can also participate in a cocktail class, learn salsa dancing, or learn to make Cuban cigars.
Parents can utilize the babysitting service or ask the older kids in the group to babysit, and make a reservation for a romantic dinner at one of the restaurants exclusively for adults.
There are several bars you might be interested in checking out, including Red Lounge, which is a disco bar with music, cocktails, and events. Additionally, there is Toji, Gabi Club Bar, M Bar, Blue Agave, and South Avenue.
La Esmeralda is a great choice if you’re looking for good dining, friendly staff, and comfortable accommodations. However, if you’re someone who enjoys nonstop live music and entertainment, this might not be the resort for you as it doesn’t offer as many activities and shows as some other resorts. That being said, La Esmeralda Playa del Carmen Mexico does have some nightly shows, so if you don’t mind having fewer options, it would be a good fit for you.
If you are looking for a beach with beautiful shoreline and without seaweed, La Esmeralda might not meet your expectations. The beach has white sand but can be crowded when many guests visit. However, if you are searching for a family-friendly location with kids’ activities, then La Esmeralda is the right place for you.
I recommend these travel resources for Mexico that I personally use:
🏨 Hotels: I have found that Expedia and Booking.com consistently have the best deals on hotels and resorts in Mexico. If you prefer to stay at a vacation rental, check VRBO that is usually cheaper than AirBnB’s added fees!
✈️ Flights: To find the best flight deals to Mexico, I always use Kayak. Remember to subscribe to their price alerts for the travel dates you want. Another great alternative for flight deals is Expedia.
🚗 Rental Cars: I always use and highly recommend Discover Cars because it allows me to compare several car rental companies and view ratings on various factors such as overall value, pick-up procedure, agent efficiency, car condition, and total time taken.
🚙 Cancun Airport Transportation: For the fastest and easiest way to travel, I suggest arranging a private transfer with Cancun Airport Transportation. Honestly, no better way to travel from the airport to your hotel or resort.
🤿 Tours & Activities: For tours and activities in Mexico, I highly recommend using either Viator or GetYourGuide. These websites offer a full refund if you cancel your booking 24 hours before the start of the tour, and they also provide excellent customer service in case of any issues.
🚨 Travel Insurance: I always suggest purchasing travel insurance as a precaution before traveling, especially after a recent accident in a taxi in Mexico. For short trips, I recommend Travel Insurance Master, whereas for digital nomads, Safety Wing is a better option.
📷 Best Camera for your trip: I always carry with me a GoPro, It’s light, compact, takes great video and pictures, and most importantly, it’s waterproof! You just can’t go wrong with one. If you are interested in higher quality video and photography, I always carry with me on my trips and highly recommend the Sony A7IV which I think is the best travel DSLR Camera out there.
☀️ Biodegradable Sunscreen: Remember to include a good sunscreen to protect yourself from the summer sun. I always use and suggest Sun Bum Sunscreen, which is vegan, reef-friendly, and cruelty-free.
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