Plan your trip to Playa del Carmen, Mexico

Once a sleepy Mexican town on the Caribbean, Playa del Carmen has nearly doubled in size the past few years due to its increasing popularity among tourists who have discovered the Riviera Maya region as an escape from Cancun. Four- and five-star boutique and luxury properties are opening, along with new shops, restaurants and spas. It’s still a more authentic experience than can be found in Cancun, however, so go now before it expands too much. The nearby Mayan Tulum ruins are another draw, as are the eco parks Xel-ha and Xcaret.