Where this comes from
VentasPlaya is made from Playa del Carmen. We know the places we recommend: we go, we use them and we come back. We do not copy lists from other sites or translate TripAdvisor rankings.
How we choose the places
Every ranking comes from three things:
Local knowledge. Living here means knowing which place dropped in quality after changing owners, which one is full of tourists and empty of good food, and which one has been doing the same thing well for fifteen years.
Verification. Before publishing we confirm the place is still open, at the same address and with the same hours. Businesses that have closed come off the list. That is why you will not find recommendations here for places that no longer exist, something fairly common in guides that are not kept up to date.
Our own judgment. There is no open voting or "most popular". If a place is good and nobody knows it, it gets in. If it is famous and not worth it, it does not.
Rankings are reviewed and updated. When something changes, we change it.
How the site is funded
VentasPlaya is free for readers, and that is supported in two ways:
Affiliate links. When we recommend a tour, a park or a product, in some cases we use links that pay us a commission if you book or buy. It costs you nothing extra: the price is the same with our link or without it.
What this does not change. No business pays to appear in a ranking or for its position. Commissions come from large platforms, not from the local businesses we recommend.
Most of our lists are ordered best to worst. Some are deliberately unordered: in coworking, for instance, we have a stake, so we would rather not crown anyone. In no case is a position bought. If a place is at the top, it is because we think it is worth it, not because it pays.
Where we have a stake
VentasPlaya holds a stake in Kiin Hub Cowork, which appears in our coworking ranking.
We say so because we would rather you hear it from us. You can weigh that recommendation however you like. The rest of the spaces on the list are evaluated with the same criteria as everything else, and if one of them serves you better, there they are.
Contact
Corrections, suggestions and outdated details: vive@ventasplaya.com
If a place closed, changed address or is no longer what it was, let us know. It is appreciated.