Be Playa

It takes all kinds of hotels to properly lodge all the Riviera Maya’s visitors, and in this crowd, a strong point of view is perhaps the best way to stand out. To that end, one could do a lot worse than a bold and graphic little all-suite boutique a few blocks from the beach. Here the Mayan influence, and the endless tropical sunshine, are tempered by what seems unmistakably to be the influence of the villa hotels of the Far East, as well as some cleverly constructed spaces which seem designed both to open the suites to the air and to shut out the intense noonday sun.

Some of this is achieved through color — the rich hues here replace the seemingly inevitable white of the typical Riviera Maya boutique. Junior suites come with whirlpool tubs that open out to the balcony, and the Master Suite is the same, only bigger, and positioned on the corner for maximum exposure.

With just twenty-three suites, Be Playa could get away with minimal services. Happily they’ve not stopped short. A very stylish, very modern restaurant space serves inventive seafood-derived cuisine. And the pool deck is the hotel’s centerpiece — ideal for sunning by day, mixing and lounging by night.

How to get there:
Be Playa is 55 km (45 min) from the Cancun International Airport. Transfers can be arranged for USD90 for up to 5 guests, one way.