The Complete and Best Guide to Sandos Playacar Weddings

This Sandos Playacar wedding guide will provide insight into the hotel, the wedding venues, the packages, and how to save on your destination wedding. With a super-wide stretch of fine, white sand beach and the turquoise sea, this all-inclusive resort in Playa del Carmen is a picturesque venue for any beach destination wedding.

This family-friendly hotel offers over 800 rooms, a wide range of options for food and drink, daytime activities, a slew of sports and nightly entertainment, and nightlife.

oceanfront buildings at the sandos playcar
Oceanfront room area at Sandos Playacar

Where is Sandos Playacar?

Located in the gated Playacar community just south of Playa del Carmen town, this resort minute’s walk from the Hard Rock Golf Course (yes, we can get you discounts, get in touch) and only a 35-minute walk or 7-minute taxi from the famous 5th avenue in Playa del Carmen, a pedestrian walkway known for shopping, bars, and restaurants.

Our experience with Sandos Playacar Weddings

My experience with Sandos Playacar started years ago when I (Lisa) was working as a destination manager. I worked onsite with my Canadian groups and got to know the hotel from the inside out.

Since then, as a travel coordinator with wedding groups, my team and I have stayed at Sandos Playacar repeatedly, sold many wedding groups, been to many weddings at the hotel, and continue to have a great relationship with management, the sales teams, and the weddings department.

hola weddings and sandos playacar team
Photobooth Photo of the amazing wedding coordinator Ruth and I at our mutual client’s wedding! Our jobs can be so much fun!

All of the images and videos are our own, minus a couple that our friends in the weddings department shared with us (credit where credit is due!).

If you are still in the very beginning stages of planning, you may want to start reading our Complete Guide to Destination Weddings blog.

Sandos Playacar Resort Overview

Rooms: 819 rooms over 20 buildings
Exchange Privileges: with Sandos Caracol
Room Service: yes
Wi-Fi: included at designated hotspots
Restaurants: 9 restaurants
Bars: 6 bars
Kids Club: Yes, for kids 4-12
Teen Club: Yes, for kids 13-17
Nightclub: yes
Spa: yes
Beauty Salon: yes
Fitness Center: yes
Pools: 9 pools
Water Sports: non-motorized are included

main lobby area at sandos playacar
front desk area at the Sandos Playacar

Pros of the Sandos Playacar Resort

  • Great value for the price
  • Affordable wedding packages
  • Adults only areas
  • Great for families with kids and teens
  • Rooms that accommodate families of 5

Cons of the Sandos Playacar Resort

  • The family-friendly room area is the furthest from the beach (they do have shuttles but sometimes inconvenient with little ones)
  • Adults-only rooms can feel dated
  • Restaurants and services can be quite far apart
  • Timeshare salespeople (vacation club) can be pushy
  • Room service menu is very limited
bar in the theater area sandos playacar
Theater bar near the main plaza area

Rooms and Sections

The resort is separated into a few different sections, outlined here on the resort map.

Select Club Adults Only

This area was the original hotel back in the day. These rooms are located the closest to the beach.

Due to the era when they were built, the square footage is a lot smaller than the newer Riviera rooms, although all rooms have been refurbished.

There are a few elevators within the buildings. The rooms at the very front of the building are the oceanfront rooms, also 18+.

Other perks to the Select Club are:
*designated adults-only pool
*designated beach area for 18+
*designated beachside restaurant for breakfast and dinner
*a la carte restaurants on rotation for adults-only dining
*upgraded alcohol options at certain bars

select club double room
Select Club Room with two double beds and a tropical view

Hacienda Junior Suites

These are located in the middle of the property. Each building has 2 floors and each building has about 8 rooms. Each building has its own pool area with an outdoor Jacuzzi.

If you want the most spacious room available, opt for a 1 bedroom Hacienda, which has a separate bedroom area, a living room area with two single-day beds, with a bar, and two full bathrooms.

The Hacienda Junior Suites are also available in this area but have either one king bed or two double beds.

hacienda junior suite outdoor area with pool
Hacienda Junior Suite area with pool and Jacuzzi

Riviera Junior Suites

These rooms either have two double beds or one king with a bunk bed that can sleep 3. These rooms can accommodate families of 5. For some markets, these are also known as the SuperSaver rooms.

They are located the furthest away from the beach, but this area has its own pools, restaurants, and bars.

Shuttles run regularly to bring you to the beach area which includes a small water park and an oceanfront pool in addition to the stunning beach area.

sandos playacar riviera junior suite with king bed and bunk bed

The Beach at Sandos Playacar

WOW. The Beach. The beach at the Sandos Playacar is STUNNING. Lined with palm trees, super white, soft sand, and clear turquoise waters for swimming. Easily one of the best beaches in the Riviera Maya.

The Select Club has its own beach area with loungers and hammocks. The family-friendly area has loungers, an oceanfront pool, and activities taking place throughout the day.

hammock area at the select beach club

Food & Drink

There are two main buffet restaurants. On the family side, there is Riviera Grand Buffet, open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner so if you are in the Riviera Junior Suite section, you have an option close to home. The Festival Buffet is located in the plaza area, closer to the Select section, but is open to all guests.

main buffet area at sandos playacar
Festival Buffet at the Sandos Playacar

We have visited and stayed at countless hotels in Cancun and the Riviera Maya (a perk of the job, yes, we are very lucky!) and I can easily say that the Festival Buffet makes my top 3. Tons of fresh salad and fruit options, lots of variety (Mexican, Asian, Pasta, Pizza, Gluten-Free, and more), and they always have yummy desserts.

In addition to the main buffets, there are several a la carte options including Brazilian, Steakhouse, French, Italian, Mexican etc. If you want a quick snack, check out the Burrito Bar in the Chayita and make sure you stay for a crepe.

Coffee fans will want to head to the Cupcake Cafe for a choice of coffees, teas, and sweets.

cupcake cafe at the sandos playacar
Cupcake Cafe

Activities, Sports, Kids & Teen Club

The Sandos Playacar has both a kids club and a teen lounge. Kids aged 4-12 can be dropped off and enjoy activities in a supervised setting.

The Teen Lounge is open every afternoon and evening, and open to any kids aged 13-17. With video games, table games, and a mocktail area, your teens will never want to leave.

teen lounge with neon lights and video games

The hotel runs a daily theme of beach activities and also offers a variety of sports and games throughout the day. In addition, you can also get bicycles to use in the area, play mini-putt, enjoy the tennis courts, ping-pong, pool, and foosball as well as play basketball.

Nightly entertainment ranges from live music to theme nights and shows put on by the entertainment team.

Exchange Privileges

Bonus! Any guests staying at Sandos Playacar have access to the sister resort Sandos Caracol. You need to advise the concierge, and access is available every day from 11am until 11pm. Transport is not included, however, a taxi that fits up to 4 people costs roughly $15 (300 pesos).

The Sandos Caracol offers a large water park, a tropical feel, and a jungle vibe. Read more about weddings at the Sandos Caracol here.

water park area at sandos caracol
Park of the water park area at Sandos Caracol

Weddings at Sandos Playacar

The wedding packages at Sandos Playacar are based on weddings for 30 guests and cover all the basics, the ceremony, and a private 3-hour reception dinner. You can opt for a more complete package that adds on a cocktail hour and includes the DJ.

Packages for 30 start at $3150 and go up to $4750. If you have a smaller group, the option to build your own package is available.

beach wedding ceremony at sandos playacar
Beach ceremony with bamboo chairs, Sandos Playacar Weddings

Sample Wedddings Package

Here is the most complete (and expensive) wedding package at the Sandos Playacar.

Seaside Bliss Wedding Package
Cost: $4750US // 30 guests // Additional adults cost $79US per person

Need an average destination wedding cost based on more guests or different inclusions? We can help.

Ceremony inclusions: Symbolic ceremony • Ceremony setup as per resort location • Government beach permit (Mountaintop terrace at Sandos Finisterra) • 3 medium-sized flower medallions • Rose petals for the aisle during the ceremony (1 bag) • Sound system and microphone during the ceremony • 1 bouquet and 1 boutonnière, or 2 bouquets, or 2 boutonnières

Private Reception Inclusions: Private cocktail with open bar and appetizers (duration: 1 hour) • Private dinner reception with open bar (duration: 3 hours) • Basic setup and ambient lighting • Sparkling wine for the wedding toast • 3 tier custom made wedding cake • 3 centerpieces • DJ, light, and sound during dinner (duration: 3 hours)

Additional Perks: Wedding organization and personalized service from the wedding coordinators • Steaming service for the wedding outfit (arrival 3 days prior is required) • 1 make-up and hairstyle session (excludes trial) at the Sandos Spa • Commemorative certificate in the form of the “Sandos Wedding Tree” • Couple’s massage at the Sandos Spa (duration: 50 minutes) • Upgrade to next available room category (subject to availability) • Complimentary honeymoon amenities*

Extra Costs to Consider

  • Photography and Videography
  • Dance floor
  • Lighting
  • Decor tweaks
  • Floral Tweaks
  • Outside Vendor Fees
  • Wedding Favors

Did you know that for groups of 30 or more at the Sandos Playacar we will include custom maracas that you can offer as wedding favors?

beach wedding reception with string lights on sandos playacar beach
Beach reception set up with string lights, Sandos Playacar Weddings

Same Sex Weddings Sandos Playacar

The Sandos Playacar offers same-sex weddings and is one of the few resorts that has actually modified their wedding packages to accommodate two brides or two grooms.

Sandos Playacar Wedding Promotions

Get $2000 off the wedding package cost. Based on your final number of room nights for your group, you can earn $1000 off for 90 nights or $2000 off for 180 nights. This is an amazing wedding promotion available at most Sandos Resorts. Ask us how.

real sandos wedding bride at the beach
A gorgeous Hola bride walking to her wedding ceremony on the beach

Sandos Playacar Wedding Venues

There are 4 wedding venues to choose from for Sandos Playacar Weddings. You can also mix and match so if you want the ceremony on the beach and the reception in the garden, it can be booked this way.

Beach wedding

The expanse of beach at Sandos Playacar is what beach destination weddings are made of!

Super wide, white, soft sand and a turquoise background await. Different areas of the beach are used for ceremony, cocktail (under the palm trees), and the reception, so you can have all three on the beach.

https://youtu.be/IqDrr2c6h_s

CAPACITY: 100 guests // AVAILABLE FOR: Ceremony, Cocktail & Reception

Beach wedding venue tips:

  • Choose a later time for both privacy and heat
  • Soft sand, so no heels are recommended
  • If choosing for a wedding reception, factor in extra lighting as an additional cost
  • If choosing for a wedding reception, consider investing in a dancefloor
  • Curfew is 9pm from May 1 – Oct 31 and 11pm from Nov 1 – April 30

Beach Gazebo

This unique beach gazebo is relatively new to Sandos Playacar (2020) and adds a certain level of privacy and shade to a beach wedding ceremony.

CAPACITY: 80 guests // AVAILABLE FOR: Ceremony

https://youtu.be/5y9FTCYvE4M

Beach Gazebo wedding venue tips:

  • Due to the shape of the domes, views of the ceremony could be partially obstructed. 45 guests can see comfortably.
  • The sand is soft, so no heels are recommended.

Garden

Dreaming of a lush tropical garden wedding? This area at Sandos Playacar ticks those boxes, plus it is private!

garden venue with gazebo and tropical foliage

CAPACITY: 100 guests // AVAILABLE FOR: Ceremony, Cocktail & Reception

Garden wedding venue tips:

  • Heels are fine, but stilettos will dig into the grass and stick
  • Curfew for music is 11pm
garden venue with white wedding set up sandos playacar weddings

Lobby Terrace

There is an outdoor and an indoor area that is located right off of the main lobby at the Sandos Playacar.

area for cocktail party, the lobby terrace at sandos playacar

OUTDOOR CAPACITY: 60 guests // AVAILABLE FOR: Cocktail & Reception

INDOOR CAPACITY: 100 guests // AVAILABLE FOR: Ceremony, Cocktail & Reception

https://youtu.be/PSQuEqz_n0M

Lobby Terrace wedding venue tips:

  • If you choose the indoor area it is covered, so you do not need to plan for a backup.
  • This is a hard surface, so no dance floor necessary
  • You can also save on lights as the lighting is sufficient
  • Curfew for music is 11 pm

Check out Sandos Virtual Tours of the wedding venues

Conclusion

If your perfect destination wedding includes a hotel with a beautiful beach, a variety of options for food and drink, and affordable weddings, then the Sandos Playacar may be right for you.

Our team is here and happy to assist. (You can get to know our team here…)

With helpful service in English, French, and Spanish, we can work with groups coming from both the US and Canada to find the best rates and options for your Sandos Wedding.

Have questions or doubts? Get in touch?

1-888-472-7077

[email protected]

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We are a team of dedicated, passionate travel experts that understand just how important your destination wedding is. Our job is to make your destination wedding planning EASY. Just get in touch!

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