Royal Hideaway Playacar Resort

Overview

A member of the prestigious Leading Hotels of the World, the Royal Hideaway Playacar Resort is situated on the finest stretch of white sand beach at Playa del Carmen. This smart Adults Only resort is within walking distance of popular 5th Avenue - the area’s premier destination for shopping, dining and nightlife. Guests choosing to stay at the Royal Hideaway Playacar will enjoy highly personalised and attentive service amidst luxurious tropical surroundings.

Accommodation

The Royal Hideaway Playacar offers 200 elegant Mexican-style rooms spread throughout stunning gardens. Each Luxury room has ceiling fan and AC with individual climate control, one king or two queen beds, marble bathrooms with hydro-massage bathtub and shower, satellite TV and iPod docking entertainment system, mini fridge, coffee maker, clock and safe. A fresh fruit tray is provided on arrival and guests can select their pillow choice for the best night’s sleep.

Luxury Ocean View rooms featuring partial sea views and suites are also available for the ultimate stay.

Other Facilities

The Royal Hideaway Playacar offers sumptuous cuisine from a selection of six specialty restaurants and a dinner theatre. Las Ventanas serves unique and creative international dishes from an a la carte menu and afternoon tea. Spices specialises in Mexican and Caribbean food, especially seafood, whilst Palazzo offers a romantic terrace for Italian dining with magnificent views of Cozumel Island. There is also award-winning gourmet Asian food, a weekly Dinner Show, and grilled fare to choose from at other restaurants. Guests will be similarly spoilt for choice at the three bars within the resort which offer a selection of snacks, drinks and cocktails, often accompanied by music.

The all-inclusive plan also includes 24 hour room service with a light fare menu and use of two floodlit tennis courts, six swimming pools, a fitness centre and nightly entertainment. Organised activities and sports include cycling, shuffleboard, bocce ball, kayaking, sailing, windsurfing and water aerobics. Guests are welcome to borrow DVDs from the video library and Wi-Fi internet connection is included. A luxurious spa offers a range of treatments (additional charges apply).

Location

The Royal Hideaway Playacar Resort is a 45 minute transfer from Cancun International Airport and a few minutes’ walk from the main nightlife and shopping district of Playa Del Carmen. Regaldive guests dive with the Pro Dive Mexico dive centre which is conveniently located on the beach at this resort.

Dive info

Both the well-developed beachside city of Playa Del Carmen and the sophisticated lifestyle resort of Puerto Aventuras offer a wealth of easy and relaxed dive sites that are well suited to all levels of experience. The majority of the dive sites are just a short 10-15 minute boat ride away and the reefs here typically feature low walls with over hangs, mini caves and swim-throughs. The reef tops are peppered with hard corals, colourful sponges and sea plumes. Schooling snappers, vibrant angelfish, spiny lobsters and electric rays are commonly seen. For guests staying at Playa Del Carmen, boats depart directly from the shore along the beach and from Puerto Aventuras the boat leaves from the marina.

Tortugas Reef

It takes a 10 minute boat ride to reach the Tortugas Reef between Playa Del Carmen and Puerto Aventuras. This is one of the most exciting deep dive sites in the area (max depth is 26m) and a well-known habitat for turtles (tortugas), hence the name. There are usually masses of turtles to be found here, munching their way through the sponges that cover the surface of the flat reef plateau. There’s also plenty of fish life to spot here – from barracuda to jacks of many species, cubera snappers, stingrays, green and spotted morays.

Wreck of the Mama Vina

The Mama Vina is an old shrimp boat that was sunk intentionally in 1995 to create an artificial reef. The boat lies almost intact at around 28m, with its bow facing the predominant south-north current head on. The strong currents can make for a challenging dive here. There is plentiful coral growth and a wealth of interesting inhabitants including barracudas, stingrays, green and spotted morays and large schools of tropical fish hanging in the blue.

Bull Shark Diving

This incredible experience is only available during the Winter months (November – February) and is a special excursion. Dive with these incredible solitary hunters with specially trained Instructors. This is most definitely a dive for advanced and experienced divers only.

Diving the Cenotes

A chance to dive the Cenotes is the reason so many divers head to this part of Mexico and these majestic limestone caverns can be reached in just over an hour’s drive inland from Playa Del Carmen and around 30 minutes from Puerto Aventuras. The Cenotes is a vast network of subterranean rivers, caverns and sinkholes (cenotes) that extend literally for miles inland. Used as a source of fresh water by the ancient Maya, these distinctive geological formations offer some of the most exciting and unique diving to be found anywhere. Read more about Diving the Cenotes here

Diving in Cozumel is also possible as a day trip from Playa Del Carmen. Find out more about the diving in Cozumel here

Dive prices

Pro Dive INTERNATIONAL Mexico – Riviera Maya

Established in 2003, Pro Dive International is an award winning water sports service provider operating several PADI 5 Star Gold Palm Resorts in the Riviera Maya and Cozumel area. All of Pro Dive's centres have been bestowed the prestigious National Geographic Dive Centre and PADI Green Star Awards and in 2012 they attained the much coveted Tripadvisor Certificate of Excellence.

The secret of Pro Dive’s success is the quality of their services and the professionalism of their staff. Diver safety is Pro Dive’s main priority, however they have certainly not lost touch with the philosophy that “diving is fun!” Pro Dive Mexico offers a complete range of PADI courses, from Bubblemaker and Discover Scuba experience programs all the way through to Instructor courses at its PADI 5 Star Career Development Centre.

Guests staying at the Allegro Playacar Resort and Royal Hideaway Playacar Resort dive with Pro Dive International - Playa Del Carmen. Guests staying at the Dreams Puerto Aventuras Resort & Spa and the Catalonia Riviera Maya Resort & Spa dive with Pro Dive International - Puerto Aventuras.

At Playa del Carmen, the PADI 5 Star Dive Centre is located directly on the beautiful sandy beach of the Royal Hideaway Playacar Resort and all services are available for guests in the neighbouring hotel Allegro Playacar, just a two minute stroll along the beach. In Puerto Aventuras, the PADI 5 Star Dive Centre is located right on the beach at the Catalonia Riviera Maya Resort and is just a short walk away from the Dreams resort. All reefs are accessible in just 5-15 minutes by fast boat which leaves directly from the beach at Playacar, or the marina in Puerto Aventuras. Diving is operated on a two tank morning and two tank afternoon basis subject to availability. This offers guests greater flexibility and also the potential to make up to four dives a day. All dives and courses are led by fully certified PADI Instructors.

Excursions to the world famous Cozumel National Marine Park and the inland Cenotes can also be organised from both Playa Del Carmen and Puerto Aventuras. Cenote diving is conducted at any one of a number of sacred inland Maya sites. The excursion typically includes two dives with lunch and refreshment provided between the dives. All Cenote dives are led by fully qualified cave divers.

Dive Pack Prices (Guided)

Options available include 6 and 10 dive packages, 'Mini Cenotes' and 'Mini Cozumel' dive packages (4 dives over 2 days), plus 'Yucatan Explorer' which consists of 8 or 12 dives. 
Typically, a standard 5 day /10 dive package starts from £450 per person excluding equipment rental. Please discuss your requirements with the Regaldive team, who will prepare a quotation suited to your needs.

Dive Courses

A range of diving courses is available for those looking to learn to dive. Please enquire for details.

Extras in Resort (USD)

Prices listed below are an indication only, and subject to change.

• Nitrox Fills:  FREE
• Riviera Maya Marine Park Fee: $6 per day
• 15l Tank:  $19 per dive
• Bull Shark Excursion:  from $57  (supplement on top of your pre-booked day diving package - price depends on hotel pick-up location)
• Cenotes day Excursion: from $109 (supplement on top of your pre-booked day diving package - price depends on hotel pick-up location)
• Cozumel day Excursions : $139 (supplement on top of your pre-booked day diving package - price depends on hotel pick-up location)
• The Sailfish Run - snorkelling full day safari (Dec - Feb / Mar): $259
• Whale Shark Safari Express via Cancun (Jun-Sept): $249
• Equipment Rental: $8-24 depending on item

Resort info

With great all year round diving conditions, Mexico’s Yucatan peninsula is an ideal destination for those looking for a mix of different types of diving. If you want to combine diving with relaxing on beautiful beaches and visiting historical and tourist attractions topside, Mexico is hard to beat.

Getting Around

Mexico’s well-established tourist infrastructure and its proximity to the USA means that getting around here is relatively simple. Cozumel is reached by a regular 45 minute passenger ferry that departs from Playa Del Carmen every two hours. Taxis are plentiful and relatively inexpensive in Riviera Maya and Cozumel. There are many well established tour agents that can provide excursions to the areas wealth of historical attractions.

Climate

Mexico’s Yucatan peninsula has a warm tropical climate with an average temperature between 24 and 30 °C throughout the year. There are pronounced wet and dry seasons. Most of the country experiences a rainy season from June to mid-October and significantly less rain during the remainder of the year. Mexico lies squarely within the hurricane belt, and all regions are susceptible to these storms from June through November.

Water Temperature and Underwater Visibility

Water temperature tends to mirror air temperature ranging from 24- 30°C. Visibility is generally excellent all year round and in excess of 40m is the norm. Diving in the fresh water of the Cenotes is considerably cooler after diving in the balmy Caribbean Sea and a 5mm semi-dry wetsuit is advised.

Time

Mexico is 6 hours behind GMT

Currency

The official currency is Mexican Peso ($), however US Dollars are accepted almost everywhere. Please note: the $ sign is used for both Pesos and US Dollars. This can cause a lot of confusion so always ask for clarification if you are unsure or if something seems unusually cheap, or far too expensive.

Language

Spanish is the national language but English is widely spoken in tourist areas.

Telephone and Internet

In Mexico, the predominant cellular service company is called Telcel. Most UK service providers will work on this network but roaming charges can be very expansive. If you have an unlocked GSM compatible phone it is possible to purchase a pay as you go Telcel Mexico SIM card. Wi-Fi internet is widely available; however it is comparatively expensive, so a holiday in Mexico could be the ideal opportunity to completely disconnect!

Activities

Mexico is both vast and fascinating. A rich tapestry of history and a well-established tourist infrastructure, coupled with superb natural resources make it perfect for holidays of all kinds. Visit the UNESCO World Heritage Site and sacred Maya city of Chichen Itza, dine on fine Mexican cuisine in the historic colonial town of Valladolid, explore the ancient coastal walled city of Tulum, or simply relax on perfect white sand beaches lapped by enticingly warm, turquoise seas.

Travel info

Flight Information

Cancun (CUN) is the gateway for UK visitors visiting the Caribbean coast of Mexico and is well served with regular direct flights  from London and Manchester, and regional departures may be available seasonally.

Flight times: 9.5-11 hours.

Departure tax: Charter flights are subject to a departure tax of approx. MXN $900 (approx. £50) – payable locally in cash only.

Transfers: Playa Del Carmen Hotels - 45-60 minutes, Puerto Aventuras Hotels – 60-80 minutes. Cozumel Hotels - 45 minutes by boat from Playa del Carmen, 12 services daily from 6am until 10pm.

Twin centre: Mexico makes an ideal twin centre destination and you can split your holiday between both Riviera Maya and Cozumel. Please ask one of our sales executives for more information.

Passports & Visas

Passengers travelling to Mexico must have six months valid on their passport from the date of entry into Mexico. British passport holders visiting Mexico as a tourist do not need a visa, but you do need a tourist card, which you can get on arrival by completing an immigration form available on-board flights to Mexico.

Note: If you are travelling to Mexico via the US, even if you are only transiting, you must check the US entry requirements. If you do not have the correct authorisation you will not be allowed to travel to or transit through the US.

Vaccinations

There are no compulsory vaccinations, but we recommend protection against typhoid, tetanus, hepatitis A and rabies. The risk of malaria in Mexico is generally very low and therefore anti-malarials are not required for travel to the Playa del Carmen or Cozumel area. However, there is a moderate risk in some south western parts of the country. If you intend to travel beyond the Yucatan Peninsula we would recommend that you contact a travel clinic for the most up to date advice.

Vaccination requirements are subject to change and should be confirmed before departure. For the most up to date advice please consult your travel clinic. Further information regarding vaccinations for travel to this country can be found at www.fitfortravel.nhs.uk and from your local healthcare provider.

Prices

At Regaldive, we offer tailor-made scuba diving holidays to Mexico, including flights from the UK, transfers, accommodation and your scuba diving activities.

The price panel above provides an indication of a lead-in price for your holiday, based on the cheapest time to travel. Prices shown are per person, and based on two persons sharing. 

Our friendly and experienced team can arrange holidays of varying durations for singles, couples, friends and dive clubs. We can also advise you on the best time of year to travel to maximise your scuba diving experience, and receive the best value for money. Flights from regional UK airports may be available, depending on your destination and date of travel.

We can also arrange extensions to your diving or snorkelling holiday, including cultural tours, nature and wildlife-focused activities, plus city breaks.

Please call 01353 659999 or e-mail Regaldive, using the link below, for a quotation.

Our Price Promise

At Regaldive we are committed to offering you the best possible value for money on all our diving holidays. That's why we offer you a price match promise. Learn more about our promise to you.

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