The sister hotel to the Gran Porto across the street is brighter and more spacious. This property is the former Royal Porto Real Playa del Carmen. An almost Vegas-like stone porte cochere leads up to the lobby, which sports a stained-glass ceiling and six giant TV screens behind the check-in desks that display hotel features and tours. Beyond a columned archway in the lobby are stairs down to a fountain and large sitting area with a stage for live music, two billiard tables and a bar.
Guests have five dining outlets to choose from, including Maria Marie for French-Mexican fusion, Pelicanos for Caribbean dishes and Asiana for Japanese fare. Dinner at Maria Marie or Asiana requires nice attire. Spice offers a buffet for all meals, or diners can order a la carte. Trade Winds at the beach offers light fare and snacks. Guests also have full privileges at restaurants at the Gran Porto.
The accommodation wings rest on either side of the two free-form swimming pools, which have plenty of chaise longues and places to slip them into the water. Two whirlpools and a swim-up bar adjoin the pool, which also has water polo, volleyball and basketball set-ups. The beach is sandy, and the surf sometimes comes in strong enough for amateur boarders. The town's stylish beach clubs are located just north of the hotel beach, offering plenty of eye candy for the see-and-be-seen crowd. Nonmotorized watersports and bicycles are included. A spa, gym and lighted rooftop tennis court complete the amenities, and guests also have privileges at Gran Porto.
A meeting space accommodates up to 600 people, and the business center offers Internet service to supplement the wireless signal in the lobby.
Rooms are in long open 
halls with ornate columns. Wood carved doors open to white marble floors, columned archways in the foyers, and wood beam ceilings. All accommodations are air-conditioned and provide a king or two queen beds, ceiling fans, 29-inch flat-screen TVs with satellite and cable, CD/DVD players, direct-dial phones with voice mail, coffeemakers, safes, irons and ironing boards, robes, slippers, minibars and alcoholic beverages. Rooms also offer a unique "Magic Box" feature to deliver breakfast without disturbing the guest's privacy.
Baths are shower-only with pink marble vanities with hair dryers and shaving mirrors. A sitting area includes a Cleopatra lounge chair and a light for reading. Spacious balconies or terraces open to the pool area, the street or garden and offer hammocks with oblique views of the sea. Double whirlpools sit two steps from the beds. There are six one-bedroom master suites with all the amenities of a junior suite, but they 
are twice the size with an added living and dining room area, bar and a much larger terrace or balcony. The ground-floor master suites have terraces that front the activities pool, allowing guests to jump right in and swim up to the bar. The two presidential suites come with private plunge pools on the balconies, one bedroom, and a kitchenette and dining room. Room service runs 24 hours.
This is the nicest large-scale hotel inside the city, sitting just off of 5a Avenida, the main shopping and restaurant area. Gran Porto doesn't really compare. Those looking for boutique charm might consider the slightly more affordable Shangri-La just up the beach, or Mosquito Blue if they are willing to spend more for personalized service.
