My family recently stayed at El Taj for seven days. It was simply the most elegant hotel or condo we have ever been at. We had a two bedroom, two bathroom unit. They were beautifully appointed with amazingly comfortable beds, terrific closet and storage space, vessel sinks, and marble tile. The living room area was a huge comfortable space that connected to the kitchen/dining section, containing stainless steel Bosch appliances. The terrace area provided turquoise ocean views. A table and chairs for sitting or dining, and the hot, hot, hot tub, made this a favorite hang out.

The beach club contained lounges, large comfy beds and umbrellas - all included as guests of El Taj. It was interesting to watch the reaction of the beach walkers, as they past in front of the hotel. Many would stop, stare and comment on the beauty of the complex. There was also a multi-level pool that had seats with whirlpool jets at the top, swimming at the bottom, and full ocean views all around.

We had breakfast at the hotel's restaurant each morning, with tables and chairs set right on the beach. Breakfast on the beach, just a few feet from the ocean was a great way to start the day.

The staff was extremely friendly and helpful. The concierge and front desk people were great. One night we had them try to make a reservation at a nearby restaurant. The restaurant's telephone was out of service. The person helping indicated that he was done working for the day, and would stop at the restaurant on the way home and make the reservation for us. Twenty minutes later, he called us to confirm that it was done. Pretty cool.

The condo is absolutely beautiful inside and out. It's a retreat from the busy Playa del Carmen streets, but so close by to all the action when you're ready for some shopping or an after dinner walk. The breakfast at the hotel was terrific. The watiers and staff are fabulous. The beds on the beach are fantastic and the workers are there at the ready to set you up with an umbrella or bring food and drinks. The Gym was a terrific facility. Loved doing yoga there, hearing it all in Spanish. A special treat was Saturday yoga on the beach. Amazingly professional instructors. I was impressed. I didn't do too many classes because you have a beautiful long beach to walk and enjoy the warm climate. Get the internet package for $50 for the week which enables you to call the states for no charge. At night it could get noisy in the streets, but I put on my white noise app on my phone and it was no problem. This is a gorgeous facility. Enjoy!

Carebian ocean colors, inviting swimming pool, breakfast on a sandy beach served from an Italian kitchen and go-at-your-pace amenities. What else would you ask for in a vacation?

Overall the experience that we had at the El Taj was very wonderful but there was one down point. We stayed in the Beachside 302 which is the largest unit (8 people) for ten days at the end of January. El Taj has a wonderful location in the city and the condo is great. It met all of our needs except for the need to sleep, and all of the balconies were great! Plus the jacuzzi at the top was wonderful.

First the positives:
- The staff is wonderful and very helpful and gracious. The concierge staff (Theresa and Eduardo) go above and beyond in helping to make your stay wonderful and filled with many activities. They suggested trips that we were unaware of and had them planned to perfection. We also dealt with the front office staff and management and they were friendly and very helpful and listened to our concerns.
- The location is great- we were able to walk to the main streets and around town with no problem and we were right across the street from the beach.
- The facilities were great! The pools were all amazing, the pool chairs were comfy and the lounges were so nice!

The negative:
- Most of us were unable to sleep due to the clubs in the area. The music is loud (very loud- like you are in the club) and starts around ten and doesn't end unitl 5am. We talked extensively with the front desk staff and they were able to provide us with earplugs and they insisted that they were doing as much as they can. I guess it is a governmental issue that they have been fighting for awhile and we weren't the first visitors to experience this. All four bedrooms were really loud and while the earplugs did help, it never cut the noise. While this is not the fault of the hotel, it would have been nice have an idea of this problem beforehand!

I would say go and enjoy the hotel but be prepared about the noise at night! This was a great and relaxing experience!