Wyndham Alltra Playa del Carmen Review: Cheap, Easy, and Packed Full of Fun!

When Jude and I started looking at Playa del Carmen, I was not expecting to find an all-inclusive resort in a great location at a price that made me do a double take. And then I found the Wyndham Alltra Playa del Carmen, and I booked it before I could talk myself out of it.

Best decision ever. Seriously.

This ended up being one of our cheapest vacations, one of our funniest vacations, and also one of our most packed vacations. We did not sit by a pool for a week. We did not sleep in. We did not do the resort bubble thing. We used this place as our home base, and it was absolutely perfect for that.

Here is everything I want you to know before you book.

The Wyndham Earners Business Card: Why I Paid Cash and Still Won

I am a Wyndham Earners Business cardholder, and yes, I had enough points to cover this stay entirely. But here is my logic, and I think it is worth explaining because a lot of people do not think about points this way.

When a room is running around $160 a night all-inclusive, burning your points there is not the best play. You can get significantly more value per point at a higher-priced property. So I paid cash, earned points on top of the stay, and saved my stash for a redemption where each point stretches further. And at 8 points per dollar spent at Hotels by Wyndham, a five-night stay at $160 a night adds up to a lot of points quietly stacking in the background while I was busy eating chicken Parmesan and swimming with whale sharks.

Now, if you do not have the Wyndham Earners Business Card yet and you travel even semi-regularly, it is worth a serious look. Here is how the earning breaks down:

You can earn up to 100,000 bonus points as a new cardholder — 45,000 after spending $3,000 in the first 90 days, and another 55,000 after spending $500 at Hotels by Wyndham in the first 180 days. For context, free nights can require up to 30,000 points per bedroom at participating properties, so that welcome bonus alone gets you multiple free nights.

On an ongoing basis, you earn 8 points per dollar spent at Hotels by Wyndham, which is where the real magic happens if you stay with them regularly. You earn 5 points per dollar on gas, EV charging, marketing, advertising, office supply stores, and shipping — which for a small business owner means a lot of everyday spending is quietly stacking points in the background. And then everything else earns 1 point per dollar, so paying bills, buying inventory, and general business expenses all count.

I use it for gas and a few other regular categories and the points add up faster than you would think. The key is just being intentional about where you redeem them instead of burning them on a trip where cash makes more sense.

The Location Is the Whole Argument

If you are on the fence about this resort, the location should be the thing that pushes you over. The Wyndham Alltra is steps from 5th Avenue in Playa del Carmen, which is this incredible open-air stretch of shops, restaurants, bars, and street performers that goes on forever. You can just walk out of the resort and be in the middle of everything immediately. Jude and I felt completely safe the entire trip, day and night, walking around and exploring. It never felt like we had to think twice about it.

The resort is about 34 miles from Cancun International Airport, which makes transfers easy to arrange. But what I really loved — and this is a huge practical win — is that every single excursion bus we booked picked us up directly from the resort. Every single one. Xcaret, Xel-Ha, Xplor, Xenotes, our whale shark excursion. All of them. We never had to figure out how to get somewhere or arrange a separate ride. We just walked outside and got on the bus. That kind of logistics simplicity makes a vacation so much easier.

The Room: Two Double Beds and Everything You Actually Need

I specifically wanted to make sure Jude and I each had our own bed, and one thing I really appreciated is that the Wyndham Alltra let me choose my bed configuration at the time of booking. No hoping for the best at check-in. I booked the Standard Room with two double beds and that is exactly what we got.

The room was spacious, genuinely clean, and had everything you need: flat-screen TV with HBO, free WiFi, a daily-restocked minibar, coffee maker, safe, bottled water, and a shared terrace. The bathroom had good products and a hair dryer. Nothing was worn out or tired-looking. It felt well maintained and honestly nicer than I expected at that price point.

The Food Was Better Than I Expected

All-inclusive food has a reputation, and sometimes it deserves it. But the Wyndham Alltra surprised me.

The Italian restaurant was the standout. I had the chicken Parmesan and it was genuinely one of the best I have ever had. I know that sounds like an exaggeration but I am telling you, I still think about it. The Mexican restaurant was our other favorite, and we went back there more than once. We also tried the steakhouse, which was fine but not our thing. Two out of three restaurants being legitimately great is a really good ratio for an all-inclusive.

Breakfast was solid every morning. We never did the dinner buffet because we always wanted to go to one of the restaurants instead, which tells you something about the quality.

The Convenience “Store” Included in the “All Inclusive”

One thing I want to make sure you know about because I feel like nobody talks about this: the grab-and-go area. There is a little room that is basically set up like a mini convenience store, and everything in it is free. Cans of soda, snacks, drinks, all of it. Just walk in, grab what you want, and go. It is open around the clock. I drink a lot of Coke Zero and I always feel a little weird asking for more at a restaurant, so having unlimited access to a cold can whenever I wanted it was genuinely my favorite perk of the whole trip. I know that sounds like a small thing but it made me so happy.

The Pools

The resort has two distinct pool experiences and they are pretty different from each other.

The main pool is oceanfront and social. This is where the energy is — music, daily activities, foam parties, the swim-up bar. If you want to be in the middle of things, this is your pool.

The rooftop pool is quieter and more elevated, with beautiful views of the Caribbean Sea. We spent most of our time up there. It felt more relaxing and a little more private. Both pools were clean. Like, really clean. The whole resort was clean in a way that I kept noticing and commenting on.

A Quick Word About the Beach

The beach at the Wyndham Alltra is not going to be the highlight of your trip, and I just want to be upfront about that so it is not a surprise when you arrive. It is there, it is accessible, and you can absolutely sit on it .. but it is not a pristine, wide, postcard-perfect stretch of sand. For us it was genuinely a non-issue because we were gone on excursions almost every single day and were using the resort as a home base rather than a beach destination. But if your dream vacation involves long lazy days on a beautiful resort beach, just know that going in so you can plan accordingly. Playa del Carmen has some great beach clubs nearby if that is something you want to build into your trip.

We Did Not Sit Still for One Single Day

Jude and I are not resort-sitters. We go on vacation to actually do things, and this trip was no exception. Here is what we packed in:

Xcaret was incredible — it is a full eco-archaeological park with rivers, ruins, wildlife, and shows. We spent a whole day there and still did not see everything. I love this place!

Xel-Ha is a natural aquarium park right on an inlet of the Caribbean. We snorkeled for hours. It is one of those places that feels genuinely magical.

Xplor is for the adrenaline days. Zip lines, amphibious vehicles, underground rivers. Jude and I loved this one.

Xenotes takes you to four different cenotes and you do a different water activity at each one: kayaking, rappelling, snorkeling, and zip lining. It is a smaller group experience and really special.

The whale shark excursion was something I had wanted to do for years and it completely lived up to it. You go out into open water, jump in, and swim alongside whale sharks. They are enormous and completely harmless and it is one of those experiences that stays with you.

Every single one of those buses picked us up at the resort. Every one. We just showed up outside and got on. I cannot overstate how much that simplified things.

A Note on Who This Resort Is For

The Wyndham Alltra is adults only, so if you are traveling with younger kids, this is not the right fit. But if you have adult children — and by adult I mean 18 and up — it works great. Jude was 18 when we went, which is exactly why we could do this trip together. And we were not the only ones. I saw a lot of moms with adult daughters and sons, adult sibling groups, that kind of crowd. It seemed like a really popular spot for that dynamic and I totally get why.

Also, if you are looking for a massive resort with lazy rivers and a full entertainment complex and a thousand rooms, this will feel small to you. It has 287 rooms, which gives it a more boutique feel. For some people that is a dealbreaker. For us, it was one more thing we liked about it.

Would We Go Back?

Without question. The Wyndham Alltra Playa del Carmen hit every mark for us: clean, well-located, affordable, good food, easy logistics for excursions, and a vibe that fit the way we actually travel. We came home exhausted in the best possible way and I was already looking at dates for a return trip before our bags were unpacked.

If you are the type who wants to use a resort as a launchpad rather than the destination itself, I genuinely think this place is one of the best values out there right now.

Frequently Asked Questions: Wyndham Alltra Playa del Carmen

Is the Wyndham Alltra Playa del Carmen worth it?
Yes, especially for budget-conscious travelers who want a clean, well-located all-inclusive without paying luxury resort prices. At around $160 a night with food, drinks, and entertainment included, it offers strong value — particularly because of its walkable location on 5th Avenue and the ease of excursion pickup directly from the property.

Is the Wyndham Alltra Playa del Carmen adults only?
Yes, the Wyndham Alltra Playa del Carmen is an adults-only resort. Guests must be 18 or older to stay. It is a popular choice for couples, solo travelers, and families traveling with adult children.

How far is the Wyndham Alltra from the Cancun airport?
The Wyndham Alltra Playa del Carmen is approximately 55 kilometers, or about 34 miles, from Cancun International Airport. Transfer time is typically 45 minutes to an hour depending on traffic.

Do excursion buses pick up from the Wyndham Alltra?
Yes. Major excursion operators including Xcaret, Xel-Ha, Xplor, and Xenotes offer pickup directly from the resort. Whale shark tour operators also pick up on-site. This makes it an excellent base for active travelers who plan to do multiple day excursions.

How many pools does the Wyndham Alltra have?
The Wyndham Alltra has two pools: a main oceanfront pool that serves as the social hub with a swim-up bar and daily activities, and a quieter rooftop pool with elevated sea views suited for relaxation.

Is the beach good at the Wyndham Alltra Playa del Carmen?
The beach at the Wyndham Alltra is available but is not the resort’s strongest feature. Guests who prioritize a premium resort beach experience may want to factor that in. However, guests who plan to spend most of their time on excursions or exploring 5th Avenue typically find the beach situation a complete non-issue.

Can you walk to 5th Avenue from the Wyndham Alltra?
Yes. The resort is steps from 5th Avenue in Playa del Carmen, making it completely walkable to shops, restaurants, bars, and nightlife. This is one of the biggest advantages of the property’s location.

What restaurants are at the Wyndham Alltra?
The resort has multiple dining options including an Italian restaurant, a Mexican restaurant, and a steakhouse, along with a breakfast buffet. The Italian restaurant and Mexican restaurant are standouts. There is also a 24-hour grab-and-go area stocked with free snacks and drinks.

Is the Wyndham Alltra good for families?
Because the resort is adults only, it is not suitable for families with children under 18. However, it is popular among families traveling with adult children, particularly the 18-25 age group.

Can you earn Wyndham Rewards points at the Wyndham Alltra?
Yes. Stays at the Wyndham Alltra Playa del Carmen qualify for Wyndham Rewards points. Using a Wyndham Earners credit card can significantly increase the points earned per stay.