"It felt like I was visiting family..."
Hotel Plaza Playa Guest

Playa del Carmen has become a very popular destination among tourists from all over the world. What was just a small town with a spattering of hotels just a few years ago has become literally the world’s fastest growing city. La Quinta Avenida, or Playa del Carmen’s “Fifth Avenue” is packed with small hotels surrounded by nightclubs and bars that party into the late hours of the night. There is one hotel in Playa del Carmen that is not near the beach, does not have a pool, and is not luxurious, yet has become very popular among international tourists and locals alike.

Hotel Plaza Playa is located in downtown Playa del Carmen. The 34 room hotel is owned by Chany Medina and is run by his partner, Sigfrido Paz Paredes Jr.. Mr. Paz Paredes Jr.’s wife, Raquel Marrero has made a name for herself through her artwork. Originally, she created a few small items for the hotel. But visitors to the hotel were so intrigued by her work that she has now created lamps, decorative furniture and paintings that can be found throughout the hotel. She has opened a cafe / gallery in the hotel's facilities where guests and all visitors can admire and purchase her artwork. Mrs. Marrero works out of her home where she has created her own studio.

The hotel is simple, but offers very friendly service since the owner runs it himself. The minimalist design offers spacious rooms and open hallways which allows natural sunlight to glow throughout the hotel. While many hotels these days claim to be environmentally friendly, Hotel Plaza Playa takes it to another level. The hotel is solar powered and creates electricity from solar energy panels on the roof. Hotel Plaza Playa is built on top of the famous underwater rivers that run under the limestone foundation of Playa del Carmen. The hotel uses a water filtration system on site that supplies natural and fresh water which comes from natural rainwater.