Palace Resorts Introduces New Playa del Carmen Property - Playacar Palace Debuts December 15, 2005

December 15, 2005, Miami, FL – Along the inviting, white sandy beaches of the Riviera Maya in Mexico lies Playacar Palace, the latest addition to Palace Resorts’ line of all-inclusive luxury properties. The resort, which is debuted today, offers discerning travelers elegant yet modern décor and luxurious accommodations set in a peaceful tropical paradise that is steeped in deep-rooted Mexican culture.

“We are delighted to offer guests the new Playacar Palace in the beautiful and culturally rich city of Playa del Carmen,” said Roberto Chapur, President of Palace Resorts. “This stunning resort offers guests a luxurious yet affordable, all-inclusive alternative that is complemented by a world-class golf course and state-of-the-art spa. Now, visitors to Playa del Carmen can enjoy all of the wonderful amenities a Palace Resorts vacation has to offer.”

Playacar Palace is situated in the famed Playacar resort complex within walking distance of the city of Playa del Carmen. Located halfway between Cancún and Tulúm in the Mexican Caribbean coast, it offers guests unencumbered access to several of the regions ancient Mayan sites, the famous Quinta Avenida that is lined with wonderful shops and boutiques the coast’s gentle surf and beautiful beaches, thriving coral reefs and the area’s slow pace of life. Here visitors can enjoy the region’s laidback lifestyle by day and the lively nightlife by night.

Palace Resorts acquired Playacar Palace, formerly the Hotel Continental Plaza Playacar, in early 2004 and immediately began renovations to this 185-room property. The upgrades include the addition of 24 rooms, bringing the total room count to 209 Deluxe rooms, as well as the incorporation of double-Jacuzzis and romantic balconies that feature remarkable views. In each guestroom, guests will find luxurious Farouk bath amenities and a fully stocked in-room liquor dispenser that offers such premium night caps as Absolute Vodka, Johnny Walker Black label, Ron Bacardi Blanco, and Jose Cuervo Tequila Especial, as well as a mini-bar replete with sodas, bottled water and domestic beers, to name just a few.

Aside from luxurious accommodations, guests are provided with fine cuisine, 24-hour room service, top shelf drinks, sensational entertainment, wireless Internet access, taxes and gratuities, as well as unlimited select tours with the Palace Passport promotion. Through this offer, guests are given the opportunity to experience Mexican culture and history with their choice of excursions to Tulum, Chichen-Itza Day and Light & Sound, Isla Mujeres, Coba, Ek Balam/Valladolid, Wet’n Wild/Parque Nizuc Waterpark and Sail & Snorkel. In addition, when guests stay at any of the Palace Resorts, they are free to enjoy the amenities of select Palace Resorts at no additional charge.

When parents are looking for some alone time, there is no need to worry about the kids as they will have a blast at Playacar Palace’s “Kids Club.” This special service that is designed just for the kids, includes kids-only activities such as sports, board games, contests, crafts, movies, and video games.

Playacar Palace also features three delicious restaurants, two bars and a snack bar that complements the refreshing waters of the outdoor pool. Café del Mar, one of the full service eateries at the resort, features an international buffet for breakfast and lunch and at night changes to Mexican fare all served a la carte. Terrazza, which features authentic Italian cuisine, is just one of the two fine dining choices offered to guests for dinner. MoMoNoHana, the other fine dining restaurant, features traditional Oriental cuisine that can’t be missed. When looking for a quick snack, the Aquabar is just the place. This poolside café offers delicious food to eat all throughout the day. When the day is done and guests are looking to unwind, they need look no further than Luna Lounge and Cielo Bar. These two lively night spots offer top-shelf drinks throughout the night and are the perfect place to reminisce about the day’s events.

Golf-lovers are urged to experience the 18-hole, par-72 championship course at the nearby Playacar Spa & Golf Club. Designed by renowned architect Robert Van Hagge, the competitive course, which is recognized as one of the top courses in the world, will inspire golfers with its lush foliage, aquamarine waters, and greens that were carved from the dense Mayan jungle. Inaugurated on December 1994, this 7,144 yard course features a slope rating of 148 from the championship tees, 136 from the white tees, and 134 from the red tees, proving that it is as challenging to play as it is beautiful. The Club House features a traditional Mayan design and is home to a fully stocked pro-shop and men’s and women’s locker area.

After a challenging day of duffing it on the nines, golfers are invited to retire to the state-of-the-art spa facilities that are co-located at the Playacar Spa & Golf Club. The palapa-style décor of the Playacar Spa is complemented by the 14 beautifully appointed treatment rooms that are designed to soothe the body, calm the mind and rejuvenate the soul. Here, guests can choose from more than 60 spa treatments to indulge in tranquil bliss. In addition, prior to each treatment, every guest of the spa is invited to experience an hour-long visit to the hydrotherapy circuit where they can partake in an herbal steam, a pressure shower and a soak in the hydro-reflexology pools or in the refreshing lagoon, which is complemented by a breathtaking waterfall overlooking the golf course.

If its business that needs attention, Playacar Palace, with more than 4,600 square feet of flexible, unobstructed meeting space that is divisible into five sections through the use of the Playacar Ballroom, is the perfect place to meet. Here, groups can conduct the deal of the day in Playacar Palace’s spacious and state-of-the-art facilities that features individual lighting, audio controls, wireless Internet, digital display boards and air conditioning that can be customized for all five meeting rooms. This flexible meeting facility is also an ideal setting for a cocktail party or festive get-together, being that it can accommodate groups that range in size from 32 to 320.

A Playacar Palace vacation package is affordably priced and ranges from $332 - $482 per room, per night, depending on time of year.

Palace Resorts, the company that set the standard in five-star, all-inclusive resort accommodations, offers six all-inclusive properties in Cancún and the Riviera Maya. In May of this year, Palace Resorts opened the new Cozumel Palace and in July the new Vallarta Palace, Palace’s first property on Mexico’s Pacific coastline. Le Blanc Spa Resort, a new luxury brand by Palace Resorts, debuted in August.

For more information, guests may call (800) 635-1836 in the United States and Canada or visit http://www.palaceresorts.com.