Hilton Playa del Carmen, an All-Inclusive Adult Only Resort

The bars here are set up with conviviality in mind: A cigar lounge, as well as the swim-up bar and bar adjacent to the large, airy lobby, promote mingling with fellow guests, though there are a plethora of locations offering romantic privacy as well. The resort has frequent evening entertainment, often with local themes. The Hilton Playa del Carmen, an All-Inclusive Adult Only Resort welcomes guests 16 and over and is particularly attractive to a younger crowd, including couples and groups of people traveling together.

The resort is directly on a strip of beach across from the island of Cozumel and is a few minutes walk away from Fifth Avenue, a popular tourist destination for shopping, bars, and nightlife. The Hilton Playa del Carmen, an All-Inclusive Adult Only Resort is about 45 minutes from the Cancun airport; the hotel can arrange a transfer for a fee with advance notice. There are also taxis and group taxis at the airport.

All of the rooms here are actually large, sophisticated suites -- with sizes ranging from the 655-square-foot Junior Suite (with one king or two double beds) to the 1,900-square-foot Presidential Suite (with two balconies and a private pool). The textiles and furniture in the rooms nod to local color schemes; bed throws have rich red and brown hues and headboards are made of carved dark wood. 

All rooms are air-conditioned and have a balcony or terrace with a hammock and a 44-inch flat-screen TVs with satellite channels and DVD player. The minibars stocked with alcohol and soft drinks are kept refilled throughout stays, and beds generally get high marks for comfort. Two-person jetted tubs are usually placed directly next to the bed -- convenient for amorous couples, but perhaps slightly awkwardly placed for other guest. Other cross-category features include ceiling fans, hairdryers, bathrobes, slippers, data ports, coffee and tea facilities, and turndown service.

Swim-up suites are available, though these do not connect to the main pool and feel secluded from the main activity of the resort. Those in search of proximity to the sand should consider the Beachfront Walkout Suites.

The lowest-level rooms lack ocean views, and the quality of ocean view tends to improve the higher up in room category you go. Be warned that the hotel website's preview function available for booking can be misrepresentative of the vistas for each room type.

The property has an array of on-site bars and restaurants, including a beachfront tapas restaurant and bar, Pelicanos. Food and alcohol are served 24 hours a day in the VIP Lounge, and the Coffee House is popular for light bites, sweets, and, of course, excellent gourmet coffee. The all-day buffet restaurants have show cooking stations, while the Mexican-French fusion option, Maria Marie, is open for dinner only. The Asian restaurant open for lunch and dinner is also popular, and the resort's food gets high marks overall.

In terms of activities, guests have access to a tennis court, scuba center offering a free introductory lesson, and fitness center with a handful of machines. The spa has a full array of services, plus a hydrotherapy zone (plunge pools, hot tubs, saunas) and a Temazcal steam bath. The sprawling pool complex is beautiful and has gorgeous ocean views; finding a chair is usually not a problem. The white-sand beach has abundant shaded daybeds. 

A convenience store sells basics like flip-flops and swimsuits, and 24-hour room service is available.