After 25 years of friendship, a trip to Playa del Carmen revealed exactly what makes a girls' getaway work. Here's what I learned.
When you've been friends with someone for more than 25 years, a vacation together isn't just about the destination. It's about finding the right place where you can reconnect, recharge, and simply enjoy each other's company without the usual demands of work, family, and everyday responsibilities pulling you in different directions.
That's exactly what I was looking for when I planned a girls' getaway to Playa del Carmen, Mexico with my closest friends. As a travel advisor who wants to specialize more in girls' getaways, I also knew this trip would give me the chance to experience the destination through the eyes of the travelers I love helping most.
Finding Our Rhythm
We stayed at the Hyatt Vivid Playa del Carmen, an adults-only all-inclusive resort, and booked our vacation package with Air Transat. Traveling during the off-season turned out to be a blessing. The resort wasn't overly busy, which gave the whole trip a relaxed, unhurried feel that set the tone for everything that followed.
What surprised me most was the food. It wasn't about having endless choices at every meal. Instead, it was about quality. Almost every time we dined, there was a particular dish that genuinely impressed me or caught me off guard in the best way. Those unexpected moments at the table became part of the rhythm of each day.
But the thing I'll remember most is the balance we found between spending time together and having time to ourselves. We've been friends for more than 25 years, but that didn't mean we needed to spend every minute glued to each other. Someone might walk into Playa del Carmen, which was just outside our resort, while someone else strolled along the beach, had a nap, or hung out at the swim-up bar. Then we'd come back together for dinner and the evening. When you're normally juggling so much at home, having both that connection with your girlfriends and permission to do absolutely nothing for a while felt like a true luxury.
The Insider Details
One little discovery we made was the cabana rental. It was only about $60 USD for the day and included service from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., with drinks and meals brought right to us, plus a 10-minute massage for two. There were six of us, and they even set up two additional loungers beside the cabana so we could all spend the day together. For the price, I thought it was incredible value and something I would absolutely recommend to clients staying there.
And on a much smaller (but equally important) note: don't miss the matcha Frappuccinos. They were so good and became one of those little things I kept going back for daily.
I was also curious about the sargassum before traveling. I had seen social media posts showing significant amounts along the Cancun and Riviera Maya coastline, so I wasn't sure what to expect. While there was sargassum during our stay, it wasn't nearly as significant where we were as some posts suggested. The ocean was still swimmable, though the water wasn't as clear as you might hope for in the Caribbean. It was a good reminder that conditions change daily and vary depending on where you're staying. One photo on social media captures a particular place at a particular moment. It doesn't tell the whole story.
Who This Trip Is For
I think this trip would be perfect for a group of friends who want quality time together without feeling like every minute has to be scheduled. It's especially well suited to travelers who appreciate good food, a relaxed adults-only atmosphere, and the freedom to do their own thing occasionally. The location is a huge advantage for anyone who likes being able to walk into town rather than feeling confined to a resort.
I would probably recommend a different resort for travelers looking for a sprawling property with endless activities, a huge selection of food at every meal, or a high-energy party atmosphere. The shoreline here is also quite shallow, so someone who loves swimming in deeper ocean water may prefer a different beach.
This trip reinforced something important for me as a travel advisor: there really isn't one "best" resort. There's the resort that's the best fit for how you want to travel. Having experienced Hyatt Vivid myself, I can now explain not only what it offers, but who I think will genuinely love it and who might be happier somewhere else. That's the kind of insight I'm excited to bring to every client planning their next getaway.
