Vacation Rentals by Owner

Beautiful, Safe, Peaceful

Guest: Elizabeth
Date of Stay: 01/12/12 Review Submitted: 05/27/12

Thanks for the relaxation, warmth, and fun. Highlights for us--walking the beach, walking on Avenue La Quinta, hanging with family. Beautiful safe, peaceful, Gracias!

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Sandcastle Stay

Guest: Pete & Susan
Date of Stay: 12/09/11 Review Submitted: 05/17/12

Carla, Our short stay in Paradise was magnificent. Relaxing on the veranda with warm sea breeze in my face, admiring the sky line of Cozumel across Coco Bay. The brilliance of the full moon on the water with sipping tequila sharing thoughts with good friends. Walking the beach, taking in the sights on the beach and those frolicking in the Caribbean.

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Thanksgiving

Guest: Owen, Lloyd, Rick, and Paula
Date of Stay: 11/27/11 Review Submitted: 05/27/12

This place is great! Cave of the Monkey restaurant is by far our favorite. We snorkeled in Akumel and saw 5 turtles and 3 rays, we went to X Plore the ziplining was awesome. Tulum was beautiful and we saw about 100 iguanas. We loved the pool, it was so refreshing after a hot day at the beach. We had lots of soccer games and built great sand castles. The hot tub was great in the nighttime. Thank you for an amazing stay in Paradise!

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Perfect in Every way!

Guest: Ron&Beth (Madison, WI)
Date of Stay: 07/16/11 Review Submitted: 09/07/11

We recently returned from a week at Penthouse Karma. It was our second visit to this beautiful condominium in the past two years. We love everything about this place. The location gives you the best of all worlds. Located at the north end of Playa, it is a short walk to the many restaurants, shops, and nightlife on 5th Ave. There is a private beach club with lounge chairs and palapas for guests of the Elements. The beach options range from the very active beach club scene at Mamitas, to very quiet stretches to the north. Whatever you’re in the mood for, it’s all within a few steps from Penthouse Karma. The condominium unit itself is very luxurious, well appointed, and tastefully decorated. The private rooftop solarium with hammocks is the perfect spot for an afternoon siesta. In our opinion, however, the thing that sets this condominium far above others is the service we received from Carla and her management company. Carla was really wonderful to work with. She was always very timely with her responses to our many inquiries, and gave us advice that made our trip go smoothly. We cannot say enough about the great service we received from the folks who manage this condominium. Whether it was assisting us with airport transportation, or providing recommendations for restaurants, we felt that the service we received was some of the best we have ever experienced. Thanks so much to Carla, Mark, and their team for making our two visits to Playa Del Carmen a truly wonderful experience. We look forward to our next stay at Penthouse Karma.

Recommended for:Adventure seekers, people with disabilities, age 55+, families with teenagers, families with young children, girls getaway, tourists without a car, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

Gorgeous Condo

Guest: Alicia, Byron, and Ava
Date of Stay: 05/29/11 Review Submitted: 05/27/12

We had such a wonderful tmie staying in PLaya at your gorgeous condo. It was relaxing, comfortable, and beautifully decorated. The pool is amazing and the ocean was the perfect temperature! A few restaurants we loved: Cueva del CHango, nearby, a 5 minute walk. Delicious breakfasts, dinners looked great but we never made it back for dinner. El Fogon on 30th and 32nd...wonderful grilled meats, fajtas, tacos, and more..inexpensive, non touristy. La Pummarola was a 2 minute walk with delicious Italian food, very attentive, courteous, service. The beach club next door, CANNIBAL ROYAL, serves great drinks and the food is quite good. Last but not least, you can enjoy massages frome the lovely massage therapists who come to the ELements property, right on the beach daily. Ver reasonably priced and likely the best massages either of us has ever had! We will miss this beautiful condo in this beautiful location!

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Relaxing and Beautiful Vacation

Guest: Mexicago (Suburbs of Chicago, IL)
Date of Stay: 04/06/11 Review Submitted: 04/29/11

My husband and I absolutely loved the Elements! We swam for about an hour a day in the fabulous pool and spent lots of time on the gorgeous deck. We took beach walks and loved the quieter end of Playa (at least for now). The only intrusion from the quiet was the music from beach bar next door, but luckily it ended in time for sleep. In the evenings, we found many, many good restaurants both on Fifth and in other areas of Playa. We walked to most places, but occasionally took a taxi when we headed to some of the bigger stores in Playa. What a fantastic time! Thank you, Carla and Mark. Also, special thanks to Allan who helped us with our various inquiries and assisted us when we needed help. We are hoping to be able to return!

Recommended for:Age 55+, families with young children, girls getaway, tourists without a car, romantic getaway.

Truly a Wonderful Property!

Guest: Alex and Jo Ann (Kelowna BC Canada)
Date of Stay: 09/15/10 Review Submitted: 11/03/10

Hello from Alex and Jo Ann in Kelowna BC Canada. My wife Jo Ann and I just recently returned from a fantastic 17 night stay (Sept 15/10 to Oct 2/10) in Penthouse Del Karma..We enjoyed every minute of it and would have NO HESITATION in recommending this condo to any of our friends or family. In fact we liked this property so much that we have already booked a return visit in January 2011. If you book this property you will not be disapointed as the pictures and description of this condo on this website are completely accurate. It is very clean, comfortable, stacked with everything you need and tastefully decorated. The Elements Complex, Coco Beach, Playa Del Carmen and this Condo are of the highest calibre for even the most discerning traveller. We like the best when we travel and found it here. Carla the property owner was very helpful and attentive right through the entire booking process and during our stay. Carla happened to be in PDC during the last couple days of our vacation and we got to meet her and join her for dinner at El Fogon and we found her to be very pleasant indeed. Thank you Carla for everything! If you need any 3rd party information regarding this property please feel free to contact me through my personal email: adaada1963@live.com Cheers, Alex

Recommended for:Adventure seekers, people with disabilities, age 55+, families with teenagers, families with young children, girls getaway, tourists without a car, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

Honeymooners

Guest: Beth and Ron, Madison
Date of Stay: 07/12/10 Review Submitted: 05/27/12

We arrived at this beautiful condo and area after the hustle and bustle of planning a wedding and becoming husband and wife. We couldn't have picked a better place for our honeymoon! This condo was so comfortable and allowed us to feel like we had our own place to cook, relax by the pool, walk the beach, and visit so may wonderful sites. We had some great food, learned alot about the culture, people, and wheeling and dealing for prices. The massage therapist gives wonderful massages at very reasonable prices. We will be back. We loved it here! Thanks so much, Carla for providing an incredible setting! Thank you Matt and Allan for all of your help.

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Paradise Awaits.

Guest: TRICIA W. (Noblesville)
Date of Stay: 05/15/10 Review Submitted: 05/25/10

Just came back from a week at Penthouse Karma. It was perfect. From the tasteful decor to the well stocked kitchen and storage room, Penthouse Karma exceeded our expectations. The beds were comfy, the balconies were amazing, and the hot tub was perfectly relaxing. The pool was even better than the pictures and having the beach loungers was an extra special touch. We loved the location. A nice walk to everything. We only took a taxi a couple times. There are great restaurants close by as well. The facilities are well kept. I would return in a heartbeat. Thank you.

Recommended for:Adventure seekers, age 55+, families with teenagers, families with young children, girls getaway, tourists without a car, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

Flawless!

Guest: Jenna H (Dallas, TX)
Date of Stay: 04/27/10 Review Submitted: 05/05/10

Three of my girl friends and I just got back from a 6 night stay at the Penthouse Karma condo. It was absolutely amazing. The condo was roomy, clean, fully stocked in the kitchen with supplies for cooking and cleaning, great water pressure, loved the purified water provided, the views were clear and not obstructed, peaceful, and quiet. We were supposed to go home after the 5th night, but weren't ready so we just had to stay an extra night. The two balconies were perfect, the hot tub was nice, hammocks were comfortable, and it was just gorgeous. If we needed anything, we called Matt & Allen who quickly responded. There were two people who gave $25/hour massages on-site, and they were wonderful. The concierge always got us a taxi quickly, and the people who were staying at the Elements were mature, quiet, and friendly...definitely not a party place and very relaxing. I loved this place so much that I sent my mom the pictures, told her all about it, and she said we could take a family vacation there. We haven't been on a family vacation in more than 10 years, so that's exciting! Thank you so much to Carla and Mark for making our vacation affordable and luxurious!! It's very close to 5th Avenue, and you can easily and quickly walk the beach south to the Cozumel pier and main shopping areas. Beautiful beaches and water...I miss it already!

Recommended for:People with disabilities, age 55+, families with young children, girls getaway, tourists without a car, romantic getaway.

Absolute Heaven

Guest: BrookeandBill (Chicago, IL USA)
Date of Stay: 03/12/10 Review Submitted: 04/19/10

My husband and I stayed in Carla and Mark's condo the second week of March. We had been to Playa for the first time in early January. Not knowing the lay of the land, we booked ourselves into an all-inclusive, and, wow, was that a waste of money. After eating the tired buffet food for a day, we discovered the adventures along the beach and Avenida Quinta, and we never ate at the hotel again. Playa exerted its magic, and we knew we had to come back within the year. VRBO was a great way to find something more personal. Carla and Mark's condo seemed perfect, and Carla was extremely kind to accommodate our request. Mark and Allan's management service is top-notch. Maria anticipated our wishes before we knew we had them. The condo is situated in the perfect spot--right at the front of The Elements, with amazing unobstructed views of the sea. The roof-top was heavenly. My husband relaxed and read on the lounge chair while I was mesmerized for hours by the cyan/aqua/apatite-colored water. The Elements is quiet and laid-back. The pool is gorgeous, but the beach was the real draw. And the new beach club is extremely cool with excellent food, very kind waitstaff, and a European/Latino vibe. We had hoped to go to Coba or even Chichen-Itza during our stay, but we were so relaxed that we never left the area. For food, we loved Cuevo del Chango, Fusion, 10, and Piola's (try their chocolate mousse--a huge serving and so rich). Thank you, Carla and Mark, for a wonderful place.

Recommended for:Age 55+, families with teenagers, families with young children, girls getaway, tourists without a car, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

Guest: Anonymous
Date of Stay: 02/10/10 Review Submitted: 02/10/10

The apartment was perfect for our recent family holiday in Playa. The location is perfect for the beach and the compulsory evening walk into the town along the beach. We really enjoyed the space that the apartment offers is great and the roof deck is the icing on the cake. The setting was very peaceful and relaxing the only decision you need to make is whether to relax on the beach, by the pool or in a hammock. Would we go back? Yes! We just need to book our time off work.

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We made the right choice staying here!!!

Guest: Elliep (London, Ontario, Canada)
Date of Stay: 01/28/10 Review Submitted: 04/05/10

I can't say enough how perfect our stay was here at the Elements. Carla's unit is beautiful! We enjoyed the beautiful sun rise every morning. The beach was beautiful and not rocky at all like some of the areas north and south of where the Elements is. Close to everything and great place to interact with the locals. I got to practice my spanish and the people appreciated my attempts to speak spanish. Within walking distance to Quinta Avenida. Great walk along the beach will get you to the tourist section of playa del carmen. We felt absolutely 100% safe where we were and we had our 7 and 10 year olds with us. Allan who manages the property was excellent. I can't say enough about how much he cares about you and your family. He gave us tips, visited us to see how we are doing. I was sad to leave because we had met so many wonderful people on this trip and Alan was one of them. The concierge service with Maura and Maria that is included was excellent. They set us up with the best car rentals, and tickets to excursions which would cost much more if you booked through an all inclusive resort. And the best thing is that they had door to door service and met us at the condo. They also arranged for a wonderful cook by the name of Blanca. She spoke great english and catered to what we wanted. She was awesome and comes highly recommended. So what can I say? If you are thinking about an all inclusive or renting a condo do the condo! I had a great talk with Carla and she was able to talk me thorough my decision. We can't wait to come back again!!! This was by far one of the best trips we have ever had and the most beautiful accommodations to come back to after a day of touring. We visited our friends at an all inclusive down the road from us and yes, it was nice but we had so much freedom staying at the Elements. We will do this again next year for sure!!!! Thanks for everything Carla and Alan. We miss your place!!

Recommended for:Adventure seekers, age 55+, families with teenagers, families with young children, tourists without a car, romantic getaway.

Guest: Angela43 (Vancouver, BC)
Date of Stay: 11/24/09 Review Submitted: 11/24/09

My friend and I just returned from a 5 night stay at Penthouse Karma. The unit and entire complex far exceed the pictures and descriptions! The view is amazing, and having the two private decks was such a nice luxury to have. We found the location to be perfect. It is a short 10-15 minute walk into the heart of 5th Ave where all the action is, but miles away as far as noise is concerned. We loved that we could go out for dinner and have fun in town, then come back to our quiet oasis in just a few minutes. We mostly walked everywhere, and for two women traveling alone, we felt perfectly safe at all times. Carla's property managers Matt and Allan were terrific, and their concierge contacts Maria and Maura gave us great suggestions for restuarants, beach clubs etc. With all the walking we did over the 5 days we saw many properties and locations, but I can say very few would be a better choice than Penthouse Karma. You'll love it!

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Guest: Edward5 (Chicago, IL)
Date of Stay: 11/16/09 Review Submitted: 11/16/09

My wife and I spent our week long honeymoon at Karma. What an absolute joy it was to have such a wonderful place at our disposal. The unit was well taken care of. There were plenty of amenities (hot tub, business center, gym, and of course the HUGE infinity pool). The staff, property managers, and concierge service made the stay that much better. Karma was close enough to the tourist area to walk via the white sand beach each night for dinner and far enough from the ruckus to enjoy quiet time in the hammocks, pool, or hot tub. The unit was spacious and beautiful decorated. We couldn't stop raving about our stay when we got back home. Thanks so much Carla!

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Guest: Paul C. (San Francisco bay area)
Date of Stay: 06/27/09 Review Submitted: 06/27/09

We just returned from a week in Carla and Mark's wonderful Play del Carmen condo and can't wait to return! The location was perfect for our family of five. Situated on the quieter north end of town with it's own locals beach just out the door. We had $25 hour long massages right on the beach! The unit itself was perfect. Comfortable beds, well appointed, hammocks and hot tub on the rooftop and view, views, views! Carla was great to work with, the property manager personally took care of our needs including arranging a cab to drive us to out of town locations for far less $ than the going rate. We met residents of the Elements complex who befriended us and felt like family by the time we left. A fantastic vacation spot for those looking for a relaxing getaway in a awesome location.

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Guest: Travelbug4 (Midwest)
Date of Stay: 05/06/09 Review Submitted: 05/06/09

Perfect condo in Playa del Carmen. Located on the quiet end of the city but close enough to easily walk to all the great restaurants and 5th st. area. The condo is immaculate and has everything you need including lots of beach towels for the beautiful quiet beach next to the condos. The penthouse feature is nice with the added space, hot tub and hammocks. What a great place to relax with the view of the water. The pool is beautiful! Carla had great suggestions on restaurants and things to do. I will recommend this condo to my friends and can't wait to go back! What a terrific week in paradise.

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Guest: Jim and Cheri Myers
Date of Stay: 05/04/09 Review Submitted: 05/03/09

Recently stayed at this condo for seven nights. Would we stay here again? ABSOLUTELY! We miss the sun and the sand!!!! The condo was great! We were very happy with everything and there were no surprises! We were VERY happy with the location! Close enough to 5th avenue (where all the shops and restaurants are) but away from the very busy beach clubs. We usually walked to 5th avenue and took a taxi home - because we were tired and the taxis were inexpensive. The private hot tub was wonderful! And the hammocks were also a great touch! Having a washer/dryer was also nice – able to pack less. Carla, the owner, was great! I had a TON of questions – over several emails - and she very patiently answered each and every one of them! She also provided a LOT of information on the area. We found all of her information to be accurate and the condo and the area turned out to be exactly as she made them out to be. She went above and beyond our expectations! Our housekeeper, Lulu, was so sweet! She made little shapes everyday with a few of the towels and although she didn't speak English and we didn't speak Spanish, we managed to communicate a bit through gestures and just guessing. Our daughter was able to help us a bit as she knows some Spanish. By the end of the week, Lulu told us that she was praying for our safe return home and that she felt like we were family and then hugged each of us! She was so nice and did a good job cleaning the place. Rene, the Elements concierge, was also very friendly and offered suggestions for various things! His English was very good. I admit, before we left we were wondering about him, only because his email communication wasn't very good, but in person he is very friendly and efficient! Bottom line, we really had a great time in Playa del Carmen and were very happy with our decision to stay at this condo! It was a great area and the owners are very helpful and friendly!

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Guest: Anonymous
Date of Stay: 04/02/09 Review Submitted: 04/02/09

We just returned from a week stay at this lovely penthouse unit. What an amazing place with something to offer for everyone. We loved the proximity to the beach and the gorgeous views as well as being on the more peaceful end of town. The pool was perfect for our children and the walk to town on or off the beach was enjoyable and a nice distance. We are already hoping to be able to stay there again.

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