A high-end, kid-friendly, all-inclusive resort on the north end of Mexico’s Playa del Carmen, Paradisus La Esmeralda caters very well to families. The resort is part of a massive two-section complex; the adults-only Paradisus La Perla section (also Aa1) next door shares many of the complex facilities, but is better suited for couples. On-site water sports are somewhat limited for a property of this caliber, and some rooms are a little bit of a walk from the beach; but La Esmeralda offers one of the best kids clubs in Mexico, a separate activities program for teens, very impressive dining variety (14 restaurants and 16 bars) with outstanding food for an all-inclusive, a beautiful white-sand beach with a good amount of space, a brand new SPLASH water park (new in 2019) with a few small waterslides, and an alluring 20,000 square-foot spa with a hydrotherapy circuit. Booking the Family Concierge rooms provides access to a private lounge, private pools, a cell phone to easily contact your concierge (via call or WhatsApp), turndown service with milk and cookies, a personalized mini-bar with drinks and snacks for children, and in-suite video games (PS2, XBox 360, Wii). Activities include wine and tequila tastings, yoga and spin classes, Pilates, Latin dance classes (salsa, merengue, tango), jet skiing, beach volleyball, beach soccer, water polo, a seasonal sea turtle release program, and highly unique sushi-making classes. The heart of downtown Playa del Carmen isn’t within walking distance, but it’s a quick taxi ride away and there are off-site shops and restaurants in the immediate vicinity.
Complimentary COVID-19 antigen tests are offered to guests returning to the United States that stay a minimum of three nights. In the event of a positive test, affected guests can extend their stay up to 15 days at no extra charge.