"Why book? After its recent $50 million expansion, the Banyan Tree Mayakoba is the star of the Mayakoba development in Playa del Carmen, with 34 private beachfront pool suites and a brand-new beach club with an infinity pool overlooking the ocean. The backstory: Set within Mexico’s Yucatán Peninsula, the Riviera Maya is known for its luxury resorts that mostly cater to upscale travelers from North America who prefer to stay in one location during their vacation. Within the 620-acre Mayakoba development, Banyan Tree Mayakoba stands out amongst its neighbors with its recent renovation: The $50 million expansion also established a brand-new beach club with an infinity oceanfront pool and an all-day restaurant and raw bar. Set the scene: Beneath wooden pergolas and linen umbrellas of the Sands Beach Club, city dwellers on a seaside escape bask in the balmy Yucatán air before the languid Caribbean waters of Riviera Maya. The rooms: The property has an array of rooms, from older models more attuned to the Thai hotel group's roots to recently-debuted sleek and contemporary beachfront suites, each with a private heated plunge pool and direct access to the resort’s white-sand beach. Food and drink: With several restaurants at the resort, a few stand out above the rest, including the relaxed Sands Beach Club, where guests dine on omelets for breakfast, and guacamole and ceviche by lunch. Saffron is the resort’s mainstay eatery for classic Thai dishes like crispy crab-fried rice and classic wok-cooked pad thai. Guests can also opt for the Ixchel dining experience to enjoy breakfast of a moonlight dinner aboard a traditional Mexican trajinera, or flat-bottomed wooden boat. The spa: A retreat within a retreat, the Banyan Tree Spa offers wellness therapies within opulent treatment pavilions, each adorned with distinct Balinese interior design. Treatments range from Chinese-inspired, correcting the flow of qi within the body, to Ayurvedic, rooted in India’s most ancient healing science. Before or after their treatments, guests can add on the spa’s hydrothermal journey, which includes steams, saunas, themed showers, and hot tub jets. The neighborhood/area: Banyan Tree Mayakoba is located within Mexico’s Yucatán Peninsula and is part of the greater 620-acre Mayakoba development, which also includes a Rosewood, Fairmont, and Andaz property. The development includes a waterway lined with mangroves perfect for kayaking excursions, over two miles of biking and walking trails, and a Greg Norman-designed, 18-hole golf course. The service: Though this property is at the beach, so to say, service is exceptional—with the entire staff ready to assist every guest. For families: The resort offers a program called the Rangers Club, a space located in the Sands Beach Club that’s filled with books and games for kids to enjoy. Eco effort: The resort has various sustainability initiatives, including a commitment to operating as a single-use plastics and managing its very own turtle field since, where four of the seven species worldwide come to nest on the beaches of the complex. Anything left to mention? Some of the resort offerings feel a little forced (or like an episode of White Lotus), especially the Haab dinner experience when locals dress up in traditional Maya garb and put on a performance to honor the four cardinal directions." - Michaela Trimble
