Essence at the Fives Beach

Playa del Carmen, Mexico

Star rating

Deluxe Room
One Bedroom Resort Residence
One Bedroom Pool Walkout
Zky Bar
Oka
La Brasserie
Koh Thai
Gin Bar
Flavours
Garden Room
One Bedroom Resort Residence
One Bedroom Resort Residence
3 Bedroom Resort Residence
3 Bedroom Resort Residence
3 Bedroom Resort Residence
Penthouse Resort Residence
Spa
Spa
Adult only pool
Deluxe Room
One Bedroom Resort Residence
One Bedroom Pool Walkout
Zky Bar
Oka
La Brasserie
Koh Thai
Gin Bar
Flavours
Garden Room
One Bedroom Resort Residence
One Bedroom Resort Residence
3 Bedroom Resort Residence
3 Bedroom Resort Residence
3 Bedroom Resort Residence
Penthouse Resort Residence
Spa
Spa
Adult only pool

The hotel

Looking to create your own memorable moments in Mexico... well we're sure the Essence at The Fives Beach deserves a spot in your Wishlist! Sitting on a picture-perfect beach in Playa del Carmen the stunning Essence at The Fives Beach delivers all your holiday desires. Starting with their generous all-inclusive plan that offers global cuisine and impressive cocktail lists in 10 trendy restaurants and bars, that's enough to keep any foodie happy! You have a choice of inviting pools, beach club, dreamy spa and a kid's club playhouse, where little ones will be entertained for hours thanks to the energetic activity programme. Phew! Plus there's a great selection of rooms to choose from too. How does all that sound? It's clear to see a holiday here combines a blissful beach break with something a bit more 'extra'... it's no wonder it’s proving popular with fun-loving couples and families.

Amenities

  • Tennis
  • Babysitting service
  • Kids Club
  • Bar
  • Evening Entertainment
  • Internet Access
  • Restaurant
  • Room Service
  • Spa
  • Swimming Pool
  • Beachfront location

Where is it

Perfectly sat on the white sand coast of the Caribbean Sea in Playa Del Carmen. Transfer time from airport: 35 minutes.

Hotel information

663 air-conditioned rooms. All with a balcony or terrace with pool or garden views, air-conditioning, LCD flat-screen television or smart TV, WiFi, coffee maker and daily stocked mini-bar. 

With features of contemporary coastal style, Deluxe Rooms have a large balcony or terrace with garden views, and either 2 double beds or 1 king- size bed, sleeping maximum 4 adults or 2 adults and 2 children.

All Inclusive includes: a welcome drink upon arrival. Meals and drinks at 10 bars and restaurants, plus casual dining options in the open-air eateries. Domestic and international premium liqueurs. Personal concierge in pool and beach areas. 24-hour room service.

Modern 1 Bedroom Resort Residences enjoy a separate living room with double sofa bed, and a full kitchen, as well as 1 king-size bed, sleeping 2 adults. These rooms are also available as a Swim Up Residence, where you can dip into the pool straight from your patio.

2 Bedroom Resort Residences feature a master bedroom, living room with double sofa bed and a second bedroom with 2 double beds (or 1 king-size bed), and a full-size kitchen. These rooms are also available as a Swim Up Residence, where you can dip into the pool straight from your patio.

1 Bedroom Penthouse Resort Residences have their own rooftop lounge area complete with a pergola, barbecue grill and a whirlpool tub.

  • Booking Bonus: Book by 30 Jun '25 to receive upto 65% off the accommodation cost between 09 May '25 - 23 Dec '27. Terms and conditions apply. Any applicable offers havebeen calculated into the prices shown. Offers may not becombinable. Blackout dates apply.

14 restaurants and gourmet corners including Flavours (family-friendly buffet restaurant with International dishes, open for breakfast and dinner), Lizzards (healthy delights and natural ingredient-based cuisine, open for lunch), Natura Day Club & Grill (adult-only, grill restaurant, open for lunch), La Brasserie (Bistro restaurant serving the best of International cuisine, all-day dining), Oka (sushi bar, open for dinner), Mestizo (authentic Mexican gastronomy, open for breakfast and dinner), Arezzo (adult-only restaurant, Tuscan cuisine, open for dinner), Sea Olive (Italian dishes, open for dinner), Koh Thai (Thai cuisine, open for dinner). Pop up food corners including pizza slices, Mexican bites, burgers and sandwiches and other pop up delights. 4 pool bars and 4 signature bars. Coffee shop*.

Daily and nightly entertainment.

7 outdoor pools. Spa*. Gym. Outdoor tennis courts. Basketball court. Running and jogging circuit. The Beach Club with loungers and sun beds. Aluxitos Play House (4-12 years) offering fun supervised activities for kids, ranging from fitness classes, arts and crafts and tennis lessons. Interactive cooking class*. Joy & Wellness Programme (variety of activities designed to refresh and renew both body and mind. These include yoga classes, sport activities, evening entertainment and cooking classes).

Butlers in the pool and beach areas. 24-hour room service*. Dry-cleaning/laundry services*. Babysitting service available*. 

Guests staying in the Mexican state Quintana Roo are required to pay a travel tax of $11 per adult (over 15 years old). The payment can be made prior to travel, upon arrival or during your stay, as the tax will be imposed upon departure. There is also an additional Environmental Sanitation Tax of $4.25 USD per room, per night that will be added to your hotel bill (payable locally, subject to change).

* Denotes local charge. 

Rating summary

  • Location Image of the Tripadvisor rating
  • Sleep Quality Image of the Tripadvisor rating
  • Rooms Image of the Tripadvisor rating
  • Service Image of the Tripadvisor rating
  • Value Image of the Tripadvisor rating
  • Cleanliness Image of the Tripadvisor rating

Traveller rating

  • Excellent (13083)
  • Very good (2701)
  • Average (1135)
  • Poor (551)
  • Terrible (657)
Image of the Tripadvisor rating Fantastic 20th wedding anniversary trip with free upgrades

Jun 10, 2025 William J

Got a free upgrade for our anniversary, the room and facilities were fantastic (sun beds need upgrading for a 5 star hotel), the food was awesome in the majority (olive was a bit disappointing) and staff were attentive, tipping is an issue!!
Image of the Tripadvisor rating Great Mexican Experience - Worth every penny

Jun 10, 2025 Victor A

Amazing and unforgettable experience, this hotel all has definitely a special place in my heart. The food is unreal, I felt I was going to a proper restaurant every night, from greeting to desert everything is high quality. All staff is very friendly and ready to help, just made me feel very comfortable. Facilities are great and room is always… Read more
Amazing and unforgettable experience, this hotel all has definitely a special place in my heart. The food is unreal, I felt I was going to a proper restaurant every night, from greeting to desert everything is high quality. All staff is very friendly and ready to help, just made me feel very comfortable. Facilities are great and room is always sparking clean. It was just amazing coming back to nice fresh clean bed and towels and some cold drinks in the fridge, our steward Francisco never missed it, just perfect. Hotel is so big and there are so many different areas that if you want to get out of the crowd, you can easily find a quiet and relaxing spot. This resort is a must go and definitely a repeat. Read less
Image of the Tripadvisor rating Still a Solid Family Getaway, But Missing the Karisma Spark"

Jun 10, 2025 mistfairy Toronto

Still a Solid Family Getaway, But Missing the Karisma Spark" We recently returned from a family vacation at Fives Beach Resort in Mexico, and while the overall experience was positive, there were definitely some noticeable changes since the resort's separation from Karisma. Traveling with children, our initial suite was located too close to the… Read more
Still a Solid Family Getaway, But Missing the Karisma Spark" We recently returned from a family vacation at Fives Beach Resort in Mexico, and while the overall experience was positive, there were definitely some noticeable changes since the resort's separation from Karisma. Traveling with children, our initial suite was located too close to the front of the resort, where it was much too loud for restful nights. Thankfully, the staff was incredibly gracious and accommodating, and they moved us quickly upon request. That said, the suite we were moved to was noticeably more dated—stains on the mirrors, pitted flooring, and a shower area that still bore marks from a long-gone shower caddy. Our original room was clearly more modern and recently renovated, so the downgrade was a bit disappointing. There was a hiccup with sleeping arrangements as well—they forgot to include a pull-out cot for our oldest child. However, once I called the front desk, they delivered it quickly and courteously. The grounds of the resort are beautiful, and we enjoyed exploring the lush surroundings. The pools and entertainment staff were a highlight—energetic, fun, and fantastic with the kids. As always, the staff across the board were friendly, helpful, and a true asset to the resort. Food-wise, the breakfast buffet was decent, though not consistently stocked with tropical favorites like mango and guava. The melons tended to be overripe, and overall, we noticed a drop in food quality and variety compared to past visits. Since parting ways with Karisma, the restaurants feel more cookie-cutter and less premium. The house wines left something to be desired, but the cocktails were excellent and definitely helped balance that out. All in all, Fives Beach Resort remains a strong choice for families, especially due to its welcoming staff, kid-friendly amenities, and beautiful setting. However, if you’ve been here before and are returning with expectations based on the Karisma-era experience, you may notice a shift—particularly in the dining and room quality Read less
Image of the Tripadvisor rating Would not return

Jun 9, 2025 Julia S

This resort is a solid 3 star. The staff works hard and do what they can to help. The property is big. They call themselves an all inclusive resort but the truth is, it’s a condo community with amenities that are not large enough to accommodate its size. As an owner:member there are more options than there are to hotel guests. We came during… Read more
This resort is a solid 3 star. The staff works hard and do what they can to help. The property is big. They call themselves an all inclusive resort but the truth is, it’s a condo community with amenities that are not large enough to accommodate its size. As an owner:member there are more options than there are to hotel guests. We came during low season (early June) and were assigned a room in the furthest section from the beach (a 15 min walk or wait for a trolly). We asked at check in to be moved closer to the beach and were offered an option for the same room with an unshaded rooftop terrace at a rate of an additional $150/nt. We decided to stick with what we have. The blackout shades were stuck and didn’t close all the way (called in, and never repaired), asked for extra towels and delivered 3 to a room that had 4 people. Overall, the resort is a pig with lipstick. It looks nice until you have to use it. Many broken details. Hotel guests are not permitted to use certain areas and pools. My biggest problem was the lack of shade. Of at least 12 pools on property, I was advised that 3 might have some umbrellas for shade (not including the pools that were designated for owners/members). We were stuck sitting in the room until the afternoon b/c there was nothing to do and no shade to sit in. Very disappointing. The food here is sub par, though you can find 1 decent item at each rest , certainly not the culinary journey they are advertising. I have been to many all inclusive resorts in the Quinta Roo area, and this is by far the least favorite. To be fair, this is our first time back since the pandemic. There are multiple restaurants on site, none take reservations (at least not from hotel guests) so we waited some nights for over an hour to be seated. No buffet options after breakfast. Once seated the service was extremely slow (took 2 hours to have a meal once seated at the Italian restaurant). Overall my family will not be returning to this resort as hotel guests. I would not recommend it Read less
Image of the Tripadvisor rating Loved it soooo much!

Jun 4, 2025 Joella E

Just got home from The Fives and was so sad to leave. The resort is beautiful, immaculately kept, lovely rooms, super comfy rooms with perfect air con. The setting is stunning, in amongst the most amazing tropical jungle with mangroves in the middle. Amazingly kept gardens and planting. Load of lush, clean pools with super fun swim up bars. Great… Read more
Just got home from The Fives and was so sad to leave. The resort is beautiful, immaculately kept, lovely rooms, super comfy rooms with perfect air con. The setting is stunning, in amongst the most amazing tropical jungle with mangroves in the middle. Amazingly kept gardens and planting. Load of lush, clean pools with super fun swim up bars. Great choice of restaurants that are easy to get tables at, and if they are full one night they will ensure you can get a table elsewhere and go to the other another night. The staff are wonderful, friendly, fun and super helpful. The beach is lovely. A bit of seaweed at this time of year but it was cleared constantly and really didn’t bother us. Lots of wildlife around, which we loved. Great evening entertainment, the Joy and Wellness team are outstanding. Once in a lifetime excursions can be book from the hotel. Amazing! Read less