My husband and I stayed here for 6 nights. We normally go to Puerto Vallarta or Costa Rica but wanted to try a different region. Overall we don't have any real complaints. Prior to going, we booked a private transportation for $60 from the airport to the hotel. This van hold up to 6 I think so if you have a large family, this would be very economical. But on the way back to the airport, the night before, we had the hotel arrange for a taxi, $50.

Because of Covid, masks are required in the lobby, restaurants, bar areas (not at the swim-up bar of course). Temp cks when you enter the lobby and the buffet/restaurants. All staff wear masks constantly. My biggest compliment to The Reef Playacar is the friendly, hard-working staff and the cleanliness!!

If you don't want to be surrounded by kids at a swim up bar, avoid this hotel and go to an adults-only. The buffet is not self-serve, which is ok, but you don't get the exact portions you would want. At breakfast your waitperson will take any egg requests (omelets, scrambled, etc) and specialty coffees (they don't advertise this so we didn't know you can get espressos, etc wearing the "cheap bands" (blue) until a few days had gone by). Yes, there was seaweed on the beach but they did a great job raking it up in the mornings. There was plenty of loungers/umbrellas. You didn't need to go out early to save a beach spot. The poolside, however, went much quicker but not like the 7am saves I have seen at other hotels. There are two pools. The swim up bar pool is not meant for activities, however, they let people bring in balls and floaties and there just isn't room for all that. All the staff is super friendly! They keep the grounds immaculate! The "gardens" are so amazing. All nature habitat with a few lizards and the very sweet Sereque/Agoutis roaming around. They reminded us of rabbits with no tails. Our room (#523) was very nice. King bed, TV (2-3 English channels), balcony close to the outdoor seating area w/small waterfall, safe, mini fridge (w/pop & water only, no beer for blue bands), ironing board/iron, large closet, five drawers in the vanity table. Bathroom is nice, no vent however, small window-don't leave open too long-lizards!, laundry line in the shower for hanging wet swimsuits. The A/C was awesome-our room was cold & had a ceiling fan as well. The bummer is no coffee maker/coffee in room-when we asked about it, they said for $20/night we could get one! Whaaat? Even the cheapest Motel 6 provides this! Well, we survived without it. Tried to go for a bike ride-all the tires were low, too hard to pedal so we nixed that idea. We did not use the kayaks, never saw the gym or spa either.

Bars/alcohol-yes, this is important to all inclusive vacation goers: Well, if you are cheap like us (blue bands) you will get watered-down alcohol--we even did shots and not mixed drinks--just like another reviewer said "no buzz"! Sad. No free wine either. I could have a sparkling wine-not sure what it was. The bar on the backside of the pool snack bar is the quickest service. The pool bar is the worse, they are overworked there. The snack bar has by far the best food! It is made to order-ate lunches there and a late night dinner. The pizza is no bueno but the veggie burrito is yum and the burgers/fries are good as is the quesadilla w/guac and pico de gallo. There is a huge open air bar upstairs where the nightly festivities are. Great seating, pool tables and nice bathrooms. It is only open in the eves. The Mexican and Italian specialty restaurants (reservations required) are super good and fancy food (fancy dressing is optional-hubby worse khaki shorts and a polo, I wore a sundress). Make sure you try both of these. The scam is to upgrade for two days to the gold band to get premium alcohol and go to their other Reef location for a "membership opportunity" (no longer calling it timeshares!). We opted out. You will get a postcard reminder in your door for a few days to come get your free gift. We didn't waste our time. The lobby bar is where you can get extra bottled water when needed. The ice cream is open 4-6pm (yeah, weird times!). But it is super good ice cream! We went nearly every night.

We took a $7 cab to the 5th Ave shopping (same ole, same ole) and that is where the Cozumel ferry is as well. We opted for the VIP $32pp seats (round trip), inside A/C, very nice. Took maybe 40 min to get there. We just walked around, ate, found a very cool must go place: Cozumel Rum Company. Free taste testing. This was my souvenir, a 12 yr bottle of rum in a hand blown glass carafe ($130 US). It actually made it home in our suitcase. He wrapped it very well. It is off the beaten path, but check it out. Then we walked down the street to Cerveceria Punta Sur-a tiny brewery (we are IPA snobs!) and had chips and guac/pico de gallo. And speaking of IPA, 8 min walk down the main road in Payacar is the Center-stop at the Barra Artesanal-outdoor bar w/local craft beer (about $4/pint) and small griddle to make street tacos. Next to it is an amazing bakery/coffee shop with the fanciest chocolate goodness you will ever have (very affordable!). Also got a Garra Rufa fish pedicare at this shopping center. Unique! Do it! $12 bucks-so worth it!

If you are reading this and hateful Covid still exists, you will need a reservation for your Covid nasal test at least 3 days prior to coming back to the US. The hotel doesn't offer testing on Sundays. It was done by a nurse, in one of the hotel rooms, took maybe 5 minutes for the two of us and we got our (negative!! whew!) results in a minute. This cost us about $50 for the two of us. They also print you out the results and email them to you. There were testing sites in town as well.