My husband and I are planning a trip to Playa Del Carmen in June and would like hotel recomendations. We are not big fans of all inclusive hotels, but that is all I seem to find. I guess I'm not opposed as long as you think it is a good choice. We just want a nice hotel, with a good pool, maybe a spa. My husband will dive during the day and I just want to relax. It is our first trip since the birth of our son a year ago. So we want it to be great. Any help would be appreciated!

There are dozens of small 2 & 3 star hotels in downtown Playa. A few have pools, I'm not sure about spas. Take a look at the Playa Maya right on the beach. The Treetops is 1/2 block off the beach, and has a small pool. The Alhambra is a nice looking place right on the beach, and does have some type of spa amenities.

It sounds like Hotel Las Palapas has the ammenities you require. And it's on a great beach. You can book it with breakfast and dinner included or just breakfast. Send me an email for photos I took last year.

My husband and I stayed at the Iberostar Tucan in Playa Car, which is where all the hotels are. I too don't like all inclusives, but there weren't too many other options. There's hardly any restaurants around because all the hotels are all inclusive. The hotel was nice, had a jungle, and nice pools. The food was alright. It seems that all the hotels have a variety of food, but it's the same variety over and over. The only beer they serve is Dos Equis. Mixed drinks you can get whatever you want. I don't think I would stay in Playa Del Carmen only in Playa Car. Take a cab into town. The ocean is awesome for snorkeling. Keep in mind it will be very hot and humid in June. We went in July and it was miserable. The service in the riviera area is ok, it's not all like Ixtapa where you're treated like a king and queen. If you want to get served while laying by the pool or on the beach go to Ixtapa. Overall, the Iberostar hotel was pretty nice and the surrounding area, but I probably won't go back for awhile. I don't think there's a spa here.

There is a very large selection of restaurants and hotels in in Playa Del Carmen. The majority of the AI's are in Playacar which borders PDC to the south. If you want to stay in Playa Del Carmen a good place to start looking is at www.cancunmap.com to look at the location of places or look to other PDC websites that have forums and trip reports. There are many hotels right on the beach that would suit your needs and the food is excellent in town. I'm sorry JAMS2 didn't have a great time but the differences between the west and east coast of MX are significant. We always go in June and July. It is hot and humid but the water is like a bathtub and beautiful. I went for a few days in Dec this year and found the water a bit too chilly for my taste but that's just me. Don't be afraid to explore and wander north to and west to eat off the beaten path. Playa Maya, Blue Parrot, Las Palapas, Shangri La Caribe, are nice places to stay in. There are many others. Try the trip planning function at www.playa.info.com. Hope you find what you're looking for and have fun.

Little hard to figure out jams2 who said--

"My husband and I stayed at the Iberostar Tucan in Playa Car, which is where all the hotels are. I too don't like all inclusives, but there weren't too many other options. There's hardly any restaurants around because all the hotels are all inclusive."

She is talking about the strip of AI's south of PdC and that is definitely not where all the hotels are. There are tons of hotels in Playa, many along the beach--wide range of prices and both AI's (Porto Real) and non-AI, economy range to upscale. Restaurants everywhere. Much variety. And there is Akumal and Tulum. Something for everybody.

Locogringo.com and Playainfo.com both have a good list of Playa hotels.

another vote for las palapas. we are hoping to go again (3rd time) in june. the hotel is just the right size, never seems crowded, lounge chairs under palapas always available on a perfect beach. be sure to get the breakfast which is fabulous! go into town for dinner.

one caveat . . . last year was our first time there in june, and it was hot, HUMID, and my daughter had many bug bites. regardless, we all can't wait to go back!

Melissa, do you know if the bites were from sand fleas? Planning a trip in late May or early June, and I was all gung ho to go to PdC until I read your post. I had an allergic reaction last time I got a lot of sand flea bites (of all things to be allergic to when I love the beach!). I have been to Cancun several times (years ago), and no problem with sand fleas there, but don't want to go back to that area on this trip.

Is there a sand flea problem on PdC beaches?

no, it definitely wasn't sand fleas, more like mosquito bites. oddly, my husband and i only got a few, but my (9 y.o.) daughter and her friend got a lot more. i hope this doesn't turn you off PdC! maybe young girls are particularly sweet.

at las palapas, the larger family-size rooms are in the back part of the property, closer to the "jungle," and there may be more bugs there. for you and your husband, you could get a "standard" (or beachfront) room which are closer to the main path.

hope to see you there in june!

We stayed at Hotel Maria Bonita in Playa del Carmen, although that was 8 years ago. It is very simple, with a small pool, a block or two off the beach, one block off 5th Ave., which is the major "tourist" road in town. The food along 5th Ave. was fabulous, so much better than AI.