excursions

Even though you are probably visiting Playa del Carmen as a tourist, you might want to avoid an all too touristy experience. Our guests at Playa Palms Beach Hotel come here to relax, enjoy the beauty of the Caribbean, and get to know the Mexican culture. If that is your idea of a perfect vacation, make sure to keep it that way by staying away from these tourist traps.

5^th Avenue

Playa del Carmen’s most famous street itself is probably the biggest tourist trap. But, let’s be honest, would you expect otherwise? Some restaurants and bars have very high prizes that are unreasonable taking their food quality in account. But of course, there are also many very recommendable places. Our concierge at Playa Palms Beach Hotel knows the best places to have dinner or a drink.

Walking along the 5^th Avenue, you will pass by many souvenir shops that advertise with “special prize” or “Sale” signs, or telling that they are closing soon, making you believe that they have an extra good deal for you. Only that it’s not true, they always have the same prizes. Better look at different stores and buy your souvenirs where you find the best price after comparing.

 

Taxis

As in probably every city around the globe, the taxi drivers here usually try to rip you off. To avoid paying three times the actual prize, ask the staff at the front desk of your hotel how much a taxi should charge you for what distance or ask them to order a taxi for you.

Guests at Playa Palms Beach Hotel can explore the city center easily by foot, since restaurants, nightlife and entertainment are within short walking distance. For more information about getting around in Playa del Carmen, read here.

 

Tours

Playa del Carmen is surrounded by plenty of interesting places to visit, like Chichen Itza, Tulum or Xcaret. But not all excursions are created equal and if you asked different tour vendors, you’d find out that prizes vary widely. Talk to the concierge desk at your hotel to find out which tour guides and companies offer the best value for your money. The concierge desk at Playa Palms Beach Hotel knows the highest-quality tours in the area and can make the necessary accommodations for you.

 

Currency and exchange

You can pay pretty much everywhere in Playa del Carmen with US dollars. Just be sure to know the actual exchange rate. While for tours, parks or accommodations the prices in pesos or dollar usually are the same, at restaurants or bars they often use an exchange rate that doesn’t benefit you at all and you end up paying more using US dollars.

We recommend to always have Mexican pesos on you too. The best way to get pesos is by using an ATM. Make sure it’s an official bank ATM, not the blue ones on the 5^th Avenue, since the exchange commission rate there is about 30%. For more tips about currency exchange, read here.

When you make your reservations at Playa Palms Beach Hotel, our staff will ensure you have the exclusive Riviera Maya vacation you were dreaming of.