What You Need To Know Before Booking Thompson Playa del Carmen Main House

The author stayed as a guest of G Adventures. All opinions are the author’s own, and the hotel had no input in any part of this review.

I recently returned from an incredible trip to Mexico. This was my ninth trip to the country, but it was the first time that I traveled as part of an organized group tour. My trip started in Playa del Carmen, so I flew into Cancún International Airport (CUN). My hotel, the Thompson Playa del Carmen Main House, was about 45 minutes from the airport by private vehicle transfer.

Thompson Playa del Carmen Main House is an adults-only boutique hotel. Centrally located for quick access to shops, clubs, and restaurants, this hotel has more of a city vibe than a beach vibe.

I think some people will love this property, while others might be better off elsewhere. Before you book, there are some things you’ll want to know to make sure this is the right hotel for you.

Booking Thompson Playa del Carmen Main House

I was traveling to Mexico on a Geluxe trip with G Adventures, so the tour company made all of my hotel arrangements. Because of that, I didn’t know anything about the hotel before I stayed there (which is unusual for someone like me who will plan an entire vacation around a specific hotel). I love Hyatt, so I was really excited to see that my first hotel of the trip was part of the Thompson Hotels brand.

There Are 2 Thompson Playa del Carmen Locations

The first thing you’ll want to know before booking Thompson Playa del Carmen is that there are 2 locations — Thompson Playa del Carmen Main House and Thompson Playa del Carmen Beach House. These are separate hotels (although guests can use facilities at either location) that are located a few blocks apart from each other.

The hotel I stayed at, Thompson Playa del Carmen Main House, isn’t on the beach. If you’re looking for direct beach access, you should opt for the Thompson Playa del Carmen Beach House.

The other big difference between these 2 hotels is that Thompson Playa del Carmen Main House is for adults only, while Thompson Playa del Carmen Beach House welcomes guests of all ages.

Bottom Line:

There are 2 Thompson hotels in Playa del Carmen, Mexico. Thompson Playa del Carmen Main House is for adults only and is located a few blocks from the beach. Thompson Playa del Carmen Beach House is a beachfront hotel for all ages.

Booking Thompson Playa del Carmen Main House With Points

Thompson Playa del Carmen Main House is a Hyatt Category 4 hotel that costs 12,000 (off-peak), 15,000 (standard), or 18,000 (peak) points per night. You can also use your Hyatt Category 1-4 free night certificates here.

Hot Tip:

Earning World of Hyatt points is easy. Not only can you use The World of Hyatt Credit Card to rack up points, but Chase Ultimate Rewards points transfer to Hyatt at a 1:1 ratio. That means you can use cards like the Chase Sapphire Reserve^® or Chase Sapphire Preferred^® Card to earn points that can be instantly transferred to Hyatt.

Booking Thompson Playa del Carmen Main House With Cash

Cash prices for Thompson Playa del Carmen Main House start around $119 per night for a non-refundable rate or $157 for a refundable member rate.

To get some extra perks, consider booking Thompson Playa del Carmen Main House through The Hotel Collection from American Express.

Select American Express cardholders are eligible for extra benefits like a room upgrade and a $100 property credit on bookings of 2 nights or more at The Hotel Collection properties.

Plus, those who have The Platinum Card^® from American Express can save up to $200 on a prepaid stay of 2 nights or more (and earn 5x points per dollar spent).

Hot Tip:

There’s currently a special offer for booking select hotels (including Thompson Playa del Carmen) through The Hotel Collection. Get a complimentary third night when you book by September 30, 2024, and travel by December 19, 2024.

Thompson Playa del Carmen Main House: What You Need To Know

The Front Entrance Is on a Pedestrian-Only Street

The front entrance of Thompson Playa del Carmen Main House is on a pedestrian-only street. While that’s neither positive nor negative, it’s good to know so you aren’t confused when your driver drops you off and points to the hotel a block or 2 away.

Keep this in mind when packing — it may be a bit difficult to navigate to the hotel if you have lots of luggage. However, with just a rolling carry-on bag and a backpack, I didn’t find it to be a problem.

The Food Was Excellent

There were 3 bars and restaurants on the rooftop of the Thompson Playa del Carmen Main House hotel — Cinco, Alessia Rooftop Dayclub, and UMI Rooftop + Tokyo Kitchen.

When I arrived at the hotel around noon, my room wasn’t ready (check-in was at 3 p.m., and early check-in wasn’t available), so I headed up to the rooftop deck to grab some lunch.

Not sure what I really wanted, I kept it simple and ordered chips and guacamole. As it turned out, I ended up with enough guacamole for 6 people (at least), but it was delicious.

Hot Tip:

My stay was covered as part of my Geluxe tour package. However, I paid for my lunch at the hotel’s rooftop restaurant before I joined my tour group. I charged my meal to my room and paid with the World of Hyatt card to earn 4x points (on top of the 6.5x points I would earn as a Hyatt Globalist.)

The next morning, I grabbed breakfast at the hotel’s rooftop restaurant. It was included in my tour package with G Adventures, but I would have gotten it anyway thanks to my Hyatt Globalist status. I had fruit with yogurt and granola, followed by eggs, potatoes, and black beans. It was simple yet delicious.

The Pool Had a Party Vibe

The rooftop pool at Thompson Playa del Carmen Main House had a definite party vibe, which isn’t usually what I go for when I’m at a pool. If you’re looking for a relaxing, laid-back pool area, this hotel isn’t for you. However, if you prefer a pool with loud music and a party scene, the Thompson Playa del Carmen Main House would be right up your alley.

Regardless of my feelings toward party pools, it was a beautiful spot with lovely views of the surrounding town and the ocean in the distance.

The Rooms Were Modern and Comfortable

I really liked my room at the Thompson Playa del Carmen Main House. It was modern, spacious, and comfortable — everything I look for in a hotel room.

The bathroom was clean and functional, with a big walk-in shower.

My room had a balcony with a daybed and a small table with chairs.

Unfortunately, my view consisted of rooftops and the street below (great for people-watching, not great for relaxing.)

It’s a Noisy Area

The biggest negative of staying at the Thompson Playa del Carmen Main House is that some rooms (including the one I stayed in) can be extremely noisy.

My room overlooked a pedestrian area where street performers would be during the day. While that’s not ideal for a daytime nap, it was cool to be able to watch from my balcony.

The real problem was at night. My first clue that it might get noisy was the complimentary earplugs left by my bed.

Even after seeing those, I couldn’t comprehend how loud my room was going to get. There were 2 nightclubs next to the hotel that played music into the wee hours of the morning, and my balcony door was powerless to stop the sounds from permeating my room.

The next morning, I swapped can-you-belive-how-loud-it-was-last-night stories with my fellow travelers and discovered that only those of us staying in certain rooms on one side of the hotel were affected.

Bottom Line:

Some rooms at the Thompson Playa del Carmen Main House can be very noisy. If you’re planning on staying there, I would suggest requesting a quiet room.

Final Thoughts

The Thompson Playa del Carmen Main House is a modern, adults-only, boutique hotel located just a few blocks from the beach. While some rooms can have noise issues, it was a comfortable hotel with good food and in a good location to explore Playa del Carmen’s shops, restaurants, and nightlife.