π΄ The Fives Hotels: Four Resorts, Four Very Different Riviera Maya Experiences
One of the things I love about visiting resorts in person is discovering just how different properties can be β even when they're part of the same hotel collection.
I recently had the opportunity to visit four properties from The Fives Hotels & Residences in the Riviera Maya:
The Fives Beach Hotel & Residences
The Fives Downtown Hotel & Residences
The Fives Oceanfront Puerto Morelos
The Beachfront by The Fives Hotels
And while they share The Fives name, these are four very different vacation experiences.
You can choose a full-service beachfront resort, stay right in the heart of Playa del Carmen, slow things down in Puerto Morelos, or escape to an intimate adults-only beachfront property.
The key is knowing which Fives is the right Fives for you.
π΄ The Fives Beach Hotel & Residences
Best for: Travelers who want the complete resort experience
Of the four properties, The Fives Beach Hotel & Residences offers the most traditional resort experience.
Located along the Riviera Maya just north of Playa del Carmen, this is a sprawling beachfront property surrounded by lush tropical landscaping, with multiple pools, restaurants, bars and activities.
One of its biggest differentiators is the accommodations. In addition to traditional hotel rooms, you'll find spacious one-, two- and three-bedroom residences, making this an especially interesting option for families and groups traveling together.
β Overall Vibe
Think lively tropical resort rather than intimate boutique hotel.
There's a lot happening here, and there's enough variety that different generations and travel styles can vacation together without everyone needing to do the same thing.
The grounds are lush and tropical, and one of the property's most memorable features is the wildlife and natural environment woven throughout the resort.
π¨ Rooms & Residences
The residences are a major selling point.
Having separate bedrooms, living spaces and additional room to spread out can completely change the experience for families and groups β particularly on longer vacations.
It's something I would strongly consider for:
β Families
β Multigenerational trips
β Groups of friends
β Longer stays
β Travelers who appreciate residential-style accommodations
π½οΈ Dining, Pools & Resort Life
This is where The Fives Beach has the advantage over the smaller Fives properties.
There are numerous restaurants and bars, several pools, activities and entertainment, so you can comfortably spend most of your vacation on property.
If you're someone who likes waking up and deciding between pool, beach, activities, lunch, cocktails and another pool, this is the Fives property I'd look at first.
ποΈ The Beach
The resort sits directly on the Caribbean, but as with many Riviera Maya properties, beach conditions can vary, particularly during sargassum season.
I wouldn't choose The Fives Beach solely because you're searching for the perfect Caribbean swimming beach.
I'd choose it for the overall resort experience, accommodations and variety.
𧳠Who Should Choose The Fives Beach?
Best for travelers who want:
β A true resort vacation
β Families and multigenerational travel
β Lots of dining and pool options
β Activities and entertainment
β Spacious residences
β Plenty to do without leaving the resort
Think twice if you want:
β A small, quiet boutique hotel
β An adults-only atmosphere
β To be able to walk into Playa del Carmen
β A highly intimate luxury experience
π The Fives Downtown Hotel & Residences
Best for: Travelers who want Playa del Carmen outside their front door
Now take almost everything I just described and change the experience completely.
The Fives Downtown Hotel & Residences is about location.
You're staying in downtown Playa del Carmen, close to the restaurants, shopping, nightlife and energy surrounding famous Fifth Avenue.
Instead of spending your entire vacation inside a resort, Playa del Carmen becomes part of your vacation.
β Overall Vibe
The Fives Downtown feels more like a contemporary urban boutique hotel than a Caribbean resort.
The star of the property is its rooftop, where you'll find a pool, lounging areas and impressive views over Playa del Carmen and toward the Caribbean.
It's a completely different atmosphere from The Fives Beach.
π¨ Accommodations
Rooms and residences have a contemporary, residential feel, making this an interesting choice for travelers who want more space while remaining in the middle of Playa.
But the reason I'd book someone here isn't primarily the room.
I'd book you here because you want Playa del Carmen.
Step outside and you're surrounded by restaurants, bars, shops and local activity.
π Who Should Choose The Fives Downtown?
Best for:
β Couples
β Friends traveling together
β Independent travelers
β Foodies who want to explore local restaurants
β Travelers who enjoy nightlife
β Short stays before or after another resort
β Anyone who values location over an all-inclusive resort experience
Think twice if you want:
β A traditional beachfront resort
β A secluded tropical atmosphere
β An all-inclusive vacation where you rarely leave the property
β Extensive resort activities and multiple pools
This is the Fives I'd choose when the destination itself is part of the experience.
π The Fives Oceanfront Puerto Morelos
Best for: Couples and travelers who want a quieter Caribbean escape
Then there's The Fives Oceanfront Puerto Morelos, which shifts gears again.
Puerto Morelos is considerably more relaxed than Playa del Carmen or Cancun, and the resort reflects that.
This is a smaller, more laid-back oceanfront experience where the focus is less on having dozens of things happening around you and more on slowing down and enjoying where you are.
Another important distinction: unlike The Fives Beach, all-inclusive is optional here, which gives travelers more flexibility in how they experience the resort and Puerto Morelos.
β Overall Vibe
The atmosphere is contemporary, casual and relaxed.
One of the biggest advantages is the setting.
Puerto Morelos retains much more of the feel of a Caribbean beach town than the larger resort destinations nearby. You can enjoy your hotel but also get out and experience the restaurants and personality of Puerto Morelos.
π¨ Accommodations
The residence-style accommodations provide considerably more space than you'd typically find in a conventional hotel room, with one-, two- and three-bedroom options available.
That makes Oceanfront particularly attractive for travelers who don't necessarily want a massive resort but still appreciate space, comfort and upscale accommodations.
π Pool & Beach Life
Here, the ocean becomes much more central to the experience.
The property features two infinity pools, including an elevated rooftop experience, along with the RoMarley Beach House.
You're not choosing between an enormous collection of resort pools and activities.
You're choosing a smaller oceanfront retreat where the Caribbean setting itself is a major part of the appeal.
𧳠Who Should Choose The Fives Oceanfront?
Best for:
β Couples
β Relaxed vacations
β Travelers who dislike mega-resorts
β Longer stays
β Travelers who want spacious accommodations
β People who enjoy exploring local restaurants and towns
β Travelers who want Puerto Morelos rather than Cancun or Playa del Carmen
Think twice if you want:
β A huge restaurant selection
β Extensive nightlife
β Constant activities and entertainment
β A sprawling all-inclusive resort
For the right traveler, its smaller scale is exactly the point.
ποΈ The Beachfront by The Fives Hotels
Best for: Adults who want intimacy without giving up resort amenities
Of the four properties I visited, The Beachfront by The Fives Hotels offers the most intimate experience.
This adults-only property sits on peaceful Xcalacoco Beach, just north of Playa del Carmen, and is designed for travelers who don't want the size and activity level of a traditional resort.
But there's an important twist that makes The Beachfront particularly interesting:
Guests also have full access to The Fives Beach Hotel & Residences nearby.
That means you can retreat to your smaller adults-only beachfront hotel while still having access to the restaurants, bars, spa, beach clubs and amenities of the much larger resort. Transportation between the two is included.
β Overall Vibe
Think barefoot, relaxed and intimate.
This is the property I'd consider for travelers who tell me:
βI don't want to stay at a huge resort, but I still want options.β
That's what makes The Beachfront different.
You don't have to give up the amenities of a larger resort just because you don't want to stay in the middle of one.
π¨ Accommodations
The accommodations are designed specifically for two adults, reinforcing the property's couples-oriented atmosphere.
The experience feels more private and personal because of the hotel's scale, with the Caribbean and beach taking center stage.
ποΈ The Best of Both Worlds
This may actually be The Beachfront's greatest selling point.
Spend your day enjoying the quieter adults-only atmosphere at The Beachfront.
When you want more restaurants, bars, activities or resort amenities, head over to The Fives Beach.
Then come back.
It's essentially a small-hotel experience with a much larger resort available when you want it.
𧳠Who Should Choose The Beachfront?
Best for:
β Couples
β Adults-only vacations
β Quiet romantic getaways
β Travelers who value privacy
β Beach-focused vacations
β People who prefer smaller hotels
β Travelers who still want access to a larger resort
Think twice if you want:
β Everything immediately outside your room
β A large social resort atmosphere
β A packed activity schedule
β A family-friendly resort
π€ So...Which Fives Would I Choose?
This is where visiting all four properties was particularly helpful.
They're not really competing for the same traveler.
π΄ Want the full resort experience?
β The Fives Beach Hotel & Residences
Best combination of pools, restaurants, activities and accommodations, particularly for families and groups.
π Want to experience Playa del Carmen?
β The Fives Downtown Hotel & Residences
Choose it for the rooftop experience and the ability to step outside and immediately explore the city.
π Want something smaller and more relaxed?
β The Fives Oceanfront Puerto Morelos
A strong choice for couples and independent travelers who appreciate the slower pace and personality of Puerto Morelos.
ποΈ Want adults-only intimacy without sacrificing options?
β The Beachfront by The Fives Hotels
Stay at a smaller adults-only beachfront property while retaining access to the amenities at The Fives Beach.
βοΈ Mapman Notes
A few things stood out to me after seeing these properties in person that are worth understanding before choosing one:
Don't assume βThe Fivesβ means the same type of all-inclusive vacation at every property. The concept varies. The Fives Beach is an Γ la carte all-inclusive resort, The Beachfront is adults-only and all-inclusive, Oceanfront offers all-inclusive as an option, and Downtown operates as a Curio Collection by Hilton hotel.
The residence-style accommodations are a real differentiator. This isn't just marketing language. Having separate living areas and multi-bedroom configurations can make The Fives particularly compelling for families, friends and longer stays where a standard hotel room starts to feel cramped.
The Beachfront has a hidden advantage: access to The Fives Beach. This is important. Guests get the intimacy of a small adults-only beachfront hotel but also have access to the restaurants, bars, spa and beach clubs at The Fives Beach, with transportation included.
Downtown is a property where I would embrace the location. Part of the reason to stay here is having Playa del Carmen's enormous selection of restaurants, bars and entertainment nearby. If you plan to spend every day inside an all-inclusive resort, this isn't the Fives I'd choose.
Puerto Morelos and Playa del Carmen aren't interchangeable destinations. Someone who loves being in the middle of Playa's activity may find Puerto Morelos too quiet. Someone deliberately trying to escape the busier tourist centers may feel exactly the opposite. The destination should be part of the hotel decision.
Room category matters at these properties. With everything from traditional rooms to multi-bedroom residences, oceanfront accommodations and some spectacular premium categories, I'd pay closer attention to where and how you want to spend your time than simply choosing the least expensive available category.
The Fives isn't trying to deliver the same vacation four times. That's actually what I found most interesting about the collection. It gives me considerably more flexibility as a travel advisor because I can potentially recommend a Fives property to very different types of travelers without recommending the same experience.
π My Final Take
What I appreciated most after visiting The Fives collection is the range of experiences available within one hotel brand.
A family wanting space, restaurants, pools and activities can have a completely different vacation at The Fives Beach than a couple wanting to spend their days wandering Playa del Carmen from The Fives Downtown.
Someone looking for the slower pace of Puerto Morelos may love The Fives Oceanfront, while an adults-only couple who wants something smaller and quieter β without completely giving up the amenities of a larger resort β has a particularly interesting option with The Beachfront.
That's where seeing these resorts firsthand matters.
I wouldn't recommend βThe Fivesβ to a client. I'd recommend the specific Fives property that fits the way they actually want to travel.
And for the right traveler, there are some very compelling options here.
π΄ Ready to Find Your Fives?
Choosing a resort isn't just about finding a nice room and a good price.
It's about matching the resort to you.
Whether you're looking for a full-service Riviera Maya resort, the energy of Playa del Carmen, the relaxed atmosphere of Puerto Morelos or an intimate adults-only beachfront escape, I can help determine which property β and which room category β makes the most sense for your vacation.
β¨ Start Planning Here: Travel Request
