So, last week I had the chance to escape the cold of NYC and trade it in for warm weather and the blue-green oceans of Mexico’s Riviera Maya. I headed out to Playa del Carmen located in the state of Quintana Roo within Mexico. Although I was only away for a very short trip, I had a fantastic time and would definitely go back. Of the popular travel spots in Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula, Playa del Carmen is like a hidden gem that—although a popular tourist spot—doesn’t feel like it’s overrun with tourists. Anywho, for this trip, I got to stay at The Reef 28, an all-inclusive adults only resort that’s just steps from the beach and a quick walk from a very chic shopping center and very vibrant nightlife.
Getting to The Reef 28
First, Playa del Carmen doesn’t have its own airport. So you’ll need to fly into Cancun and arrange ground transportation. It’s a 45min to one hour drive from Cancun to The Reef 28.
Arriving at The Reef 28
When you arrive, you’re greeted with a mimosa. Now, this is a place after my own heart! What you instantly notice is that the lobby offers a very laid back vibe with swinging chairs—and more importantly there’s a lobby bar! So, whether you’ve arrived early and might have to wait for a room to become available, or you’re checking out and have a bit of time on your hands, you can kick back and relax with a drink or two…or three. ~_^
Dining & Cocktails @ The Reef 28
The Reef 28 offers three main dining options plus room service:
- Venti8cho (the top pic in the collage) is their buffet style dining space for breakfast, lunch and dinner. However, you can also opt for an a la carte menu if you’re not a buffet fan.
- Cachito (middle pic) is a Mexican restaurant that offers a lux re-imagining of popular Mexican dishes like chicharrón, churros and molcajete de arrachera. Personally, this was my favorite restaurant!
- El Asiático (bottom pic) is an Asian fusion restaurant where you can sample Thai, Japanese, Vietnamese and Chinese cuisine.
- Additionally, the rooftop bar offers a light plates menu and of course, room service has a full menu for breakfast, lunch, dinner and overnight snacking needs.
And just like there are options when it comes to dining, you also have three bars that all offer yummy cocktails. As I previously mentioned, there’s a lobby bar, a rooftop bar and a bar in the ante-room for Cachito and El Asiático which stays open the latest until 2AM.
Sleek Pools on the Roof
It wouldn’t be an all-inclusive if you didn’t have a pool. The Reef 28 has a gorgeous rooftop infinity pool with views of the beach and the surrounding city center. Thanks to the warm weather, the water is always the perfect temperature. But if you want to unwind even more, there are two whirlpools nearby. When you’re not in the water, relax on the lounge chairs, in a cabana or head over to the shade covered rooftop bar I mentioned earlier. Although I didn’t get the chance to experience this, The Reef 28 does offer rooftop parties (usually Thursday thru Saturday) complete with a DJ. So, if you can, try to come in the latter half of the week.
Get into Your Zen
If lounging by the pool or heading to the beach aren’t enough for you, The Reef 28 offers a great spa off of the lobby—Okom Spa. In addition to massage services, you can also enjoy their beauty salon and hydrotherapy which includes a sauna and steam room. But if you’re more of an “I’ve gotta sweat to relax” person, their fitness center on the rooftop level will be perfect for you.
Access to Everything
While The Reef 28 is a smaller venue for an all-inclusive resort, it’s really very centrally located if you’re someone who likes to venture out and doesn’t want to spend your entire trip inside the resort. You can head over towards Fifth Avenue which is a vibrant shopping strip with an open air mall (yes I saw H&M, Sephora and other international stores there), walk over towards the nightclub district or just enjoy locals offering their wares. If you coordinate with the concierge at the resort, you can also organize tours to ancient ruins in Tulum or take the ferry to Cozumel island, which you can clearly see from Playa del Carmen’s beaches.
Most importantly, when you stay at The Reef 28, you’re given a wristband. This band not only allows for you to freely eat and drink around the resort, but also gives you complete comped access to their sister resorts, Coco Beach and Playacar, which are their child friendly venues. Both of these resorts are a quick 10 to 15 minute ride away.
Stay tuned for more details from my trip to The Reef 28, where I’ll also talk about their event options for brides or honeymooning couples! To book your trip to The Reef 28 or their sister Playa del Carmen resorts, visit www.thereefresorts.com
***A big thank you to The Reef 28 for hosting my trip to Playa del Carmen!***
The Anti Bridezilla 