The experience changed my life in such a positive way! I saw how kind and generous the Mexicans were towards me, even when they had very little. I realized how much we take for granted in the US, and how blessed we are in so many ways.
Since that time, I’ve wanted to return to Mexico for another mission trip. But this time, my friends and I were on vacation, so we visited Playa del Carmen before our recent trip to Cuba!
No trip could ever replace that first time in Mexico though. I feel thankful that I was able to go to help others.
Winter Escape to Mexico Trip Report Index:
- Part 1 – Introduction & Planning
- Part 2 – Transport to & From Playa del Carmen
- Part 3 – Where to Stay in Playa del Carmen
- Part 4 – What to Do in Playa del Carmen
- Part 5 – Where to Eat in Playa del Carmen
- Part 6 – Blog Giveaway
Where to Eat in Playa del Carmen
Playa del Carmen is a lively area with more than its fair share of restaurants. We could very easily walk to all of these restaurants from our Airbnb. Here are my top 4 restaurant recommendations!
1. Chiltelpin
We spent our first night at a restaurant called Chiltepin. This restaurant was the closest to our Airbnb.
They had an assortment of Mexican and American food.
2. 100% Natural
The next night, we went to 100% Natural. We loved this place!
The food was amazing, and it was literally 100 yards to the ocean.
There was something for everyone! The restaurant was vegetarian, vegan, and gluten-free friendly. But there was still a lot of food for meat eaters, which made everyone happy!
The ambiance was very relaxing, and a little romantic.
We almost felt like we were in a rainforest!
I got some kind of chicken and cheese dish. It was delicious!
3. La Parilla
We also enjoyed our dinner at La Parilla. This was the most fun we’ve had at dinner in a long time!! The servers were so fun and laid back! If we were in Playa again, I’d love to come here again for dinner.
We ordered some life-size margaritas. We probably had a bit too much to drink, but seemed to be in good company.
They brought out the food and it was amazing! Beautiful presentation and very tasty.
After dinner, we were serenaded by a local band. I think they were surprised when we all got up and started to dance! 🙂
4. Ah Cacao
I love chocolate, so I was dying to try this place out. Ah Cacao makes hot chocolate an art!
You can choose from several chocolate drinks.
Our drinks came out and looked amazing! They were very rich. I don’t think I could have finished more than a size small.
Yum!
How You Can Do It Too!
I transferred Chase Ultimate Rewards points to Southwest to fly to Mexico for cheap. And so can you! Plus, if you have the Southwest Companion Pass, you can bring a friend for only the cost of taxes and fees!
| Round-Trip Coach Ticket From Austin to Cancun | 3 Nights in a Centrally-Located Airbnb for 6 People | |
|---|---|---|
| Retail Cost | $450 | $339 total |
| Our Cash Cost | $75 in taxes | $339 total, or ~$68 per person |
| Miles & Points Used | 25,000 Southwest Points | N/A |
| Source of Miles & Points | Chase Ultimate Rewards: - Chase Sapphire Preferred Current sign-up bonus of 50,000 points - Chase Sapphire Reserve Current sign-up bonus of 100,000 points - Chase Ink Plus Current sign-up bonus of 60,000 points - Chase Ink Bold Not available to new applicants Southwest Cards: - Chase Southwest Plus Current sign-up bonus of 40,000 points - Chase Southwest Premier Current sign-up bonus of 40,000 points - Chase Southwest Premier Business Current sign-up bonus of 50,000 points | N/A |
| Alternatives | - United Airlines - 35,000 miles round-trip + ~$50 in taxes - American Airlines - 30,000 miles round-trip (25,000 between September 7 and November 14) + ~$50 in taxes | - Use Barclaycard Arrival Plus World Elite Mastercard miles to erase $100+ travel purchases, like Airbnb - Use my Airbnb referral code for $20 off! - Use Hyatt points to stay at a hotel |
| Additional Information | - You can transfer your Chase Ultimate Rewards points to Southwest and United Airlines - Here's how to get the Southwest Companion Pass, so your companion can fly with you for (almost) free for nearly 2 years! | - Here’s how to choose a good and safe Airbnb - Here are tips on how to negotiate a better Airbnb price! - You can transfer your Chase Ultimate Rewards points to Hyatt |
Flights
Link: How to Transfer Chase Points to Southwest
Link: How to Earn the Southwest Companion Pass
To transfer your Chase Ultimate Rewards points, you must have either the:
- Chase Sapphire Preferred, with a current sign-up bonus of 50,000 Chase Ultimate Rewards points after completing minimum spending
- Chase Sapphire Reserve, with a current sign-up bonus of 100,000 Chase Ultimate Rewards points after completing minimum spending
- Chase Ink Plus, with a current sign-up bonus of 60,000 Chase Ultimate Rewards points after completing minimum spending
- Chase Ink Bold (no longer available)
You can also earn Southwest points by signing-up for the:
- Southwest Plus Credit Card, with a current sign-up bonus of 40,000 Southwest points after completing minimum spending
- Southwest Premier Credit Card, with a current sign-up bonus of 40,000 Southwest points after completing minimum spending
- Southwest Premier Business Credit Card, with a current sign-up bonus of 50,000 Southwest points after completing minimum spending
You can also use the Barclaycard Arrival Plus World Elite Mastercard to cover the cost of your flight. The current sign-up bonus is 40,000 Arrival miles after spending $3,000 within the first three months.
Airbnb
Booking an Airbnb is easy. Here’s how to choose a good and safe Airbnb, and tips on how to negotiate a better price! And don’t forget you can use the $20 off referral code!
Bottom Line
Playa del Carmen has some great dining options! I really liked 100% Natural because it was healthy and fresh. The atmosphere was peaceful, and the staff was very sweet.And La Parilla was my favorite restaurant in Playa because of the live music, large margaritas, and delicious food!