Best All-Inclusive Resorts in Playa del Carmen
Blue Diamond Luxury Boutique Hotel
All-Inclusive Boutique Hotel near Playa del Carmen, Mexico
Before I tell you all about The Blue Diamond Luxury Boutique hotel in Playa del Carmen, Mexico, I have to share how we happened upon this absolute gem.
We were looking for:
- A luxurious escape
- Somewhere that was relatively easy to get to
- Great value, we’re willing to pay a little more for the extras of a great boutique all-inclusive resort
- Beautiful spa
- Great pool
- Beach view
- Wonderful all-inclusive meals & drinks
- Zen atmosphere
We found all of the above, plus some great extras:
- Complimentary golf cart service
- Complimentary bicycles
- Entertainment available nightly
- An incredible steam room, domed and meticulously lined with reflective mosaic glass tiles
- A 2nd jungle pool, which was in the center of the spa
- Free activities – sailing lessons, water aerobics, archery
- Infinity pool overlooking the Caribbean Sea
- Cenotes – more on this
- The joys of adults-only hotels (this was our first experience)
The Blue Diamond is about 30 minutes from the Cancun International airport via taxi service. We booked a service in advance, but this isn’t really necessary, as there are multiple services available when you arrive at the airport. I appreciated the level of security at the gate and every time we left the resort. They would document what taxi driver we left with and recorded his ID number.
The hotel is along the main highway connecting Cancun with Playa del Carmen and Tulum. You’ll see the entrance gates to many resorts along this highway. I loved the agave plants in front of the sign, classic Mexico to me.
Upon entering the property you are greeted by lush tropical gardens. As you approach the lobby building, which is a large palapa, you see that it’s surrounded by water. As we entered, we were welcomed with a tray of cookies and our choice of coffee or tea. Check-in was relatively quick and we were on our way to our rooms.
Pro Tip:
I’d ask for the activities schedule upon check-in. We didn’t know until a couple days in what the full schedule was for evening dinner entertainment and activities around the property. Also, if you want to do the The Mayan Temazcal experience, I’d call ahead to book. We weren’t able to book this while we were there. Cenotes were not open for swimming in 5/2020, although they were working to get them re-opened after a Covid shutdown.
The property is about a mile long from the entrance to the beach, so a fun feature here is 24/7 golf cart service. We didn’t have any trouble during our stay, the longest we waited was 15 minutes. There are also complimentary bicycles (request on arrival) or you are able to walk the lit paths.
After unpacking a bit, we wanted to go see the main building which is pool side and beach front. (Check out my packing list here.) We called the front desk, which promptly sent a golf cart and driver to pick us up. This is a great service, we felt very posh being carted around the property. My mother has a little trouble walking long distances, so this is a must.
Dining at The Blue Diamond Luxury All-Inclusive Boutique Resort
The main building features two of the three dining areas at the resort. Aguamarina restaurant is on the main floor next to the pool. We alternated between this and the Ambar restaurant for dinner. There is also a cafe called Tapas Bar Ceviche located on the lower level, beach front. It seemed to be open during dining times at the two main restaurants. Since we arrived before dinner we enjoyed a snack at the tapas bar. QR code menus are available.
The beach front pool area is gorgeous and never feels over crowded. There are plush loungers amply available for guests. Pool side cabanas are also available, first come first serve. On the beach, which unfortunately during our trip had extensive Sargassum, you could also find hammocks and beach chairs. The upgraded ocean front rooms come with their own cabanas.
After enjoying the amenities we retreated back to the room to get freshen up and enjoy the cenote view.
The first evening we chose to dine at Ambar Restaurant. Here is a menu from our visit. It was available via QR code.
Candle lit elegance awaits at the Ambar restaurant. As you enter you’ll see the extensive wine collection, moving forward into the circular room tables are positioned for privacy. This restaurant is one of the two dinner options available nightly. Reservations not required at either, but they will ask for your selection. Make sure to cross-check with evening entertainment schedules.
Dinner here is chef prepared with an open kitchen view of all the action. Don’t forget your cell phone or tablet, you’ll need it to access the QR code menu. Since this is an all-inclusive hotel, you’re invited to try multiple options on the menu. Everything is delicious, portions are reasonable, but I’d suggest ordering a 2nd appetizer just in case.
For breakfast we headed to the Aguamarina restaurant. We were pleasantly surprised by all the fresh fruit options on the bar along with fresh squeezed juices. Ordering ala carte was available. Here is my delicious waffle breakfast from day 1.
Overall, this was just the perfect getaway location for us. The vibe here is very relaxed and private. Much of the time we didn’t see other guests, only while visiting the main buildings. The design of the resort creates private areas for ultimate relaxation. Service is top notch and the staff is friendly and helpful. Proximity to Playa del Carmen is great, only about 15 minutes via taxi. I would recommended using taxi services vs. renting a car. The front desk is happy to arrange and once in Playa del Carmen there is a taxi stand for your return.
Here are a few more pictures from our time at The Blue Diamond Luxury Boutique Hotel.
Virtual Tour of The Blue Diamond Luxury Boutique Hotel
