Casa Gigi
Description
The day begins at Casa Gigi in the courtyard, where the air smells slightly of fresh coffee and sea salt and palms and bougainvillea create lacework shadows on cool stone.
With arched passageways, a sun-drenched watchtower, and areas that beckon you outside without ever sacrificing comfort, the house has a whimsical, castle-like silhouette that seems suited for stories. This is the Riviera Maya, six years old and immaculately maintained: breakfast in the shade as the gardens awaken, a leisurely stroll to the swim-up bar for a refreshing drink, and a leisurely stroll to the beach where the water is shallow and turquoise and the pace slows down. Climb the tower to see the sky turn pink over Playa del Carmen as evening approaches; it’s the kind of view that slows down conversation and keeps you there long after the last rays of light have gone out.
Casa Gigi’s interior is intended to foster community while providing space. Although the open kitchen is fully furnished for actual cooking, most visitors delegate the task to a private chef, ensuring that meals are served at the ideal times for the pool, beach, and mood of the day. No one ever feels confined indoors because the living areas spill out onto the terrace and the shuffleboard turns into a friendly competition between dips.
The ground-level suite provides convenient access for early swimmers and late readers, and the four ensuite bedrooms ensure everyone is comfortable. Three of the bedrooms face the Caribbean, so you wake up to horizon lines and the sound of surf. Everything is set up to make family time or a friend’s getaway feel effortless: bright social areas for laughter, shaded nooks for peace and quiet, and that alluring pool with a bar you’ll talk about long after you’ve left. Textures are tactile, and tones are natural.
Much of the heavy lifting is done by the address. The villa is located inside Playacar Phase 1, the first gated seaside community of Playa del Carmen. It offers peaceful streets, patrolled beach access, and a shoreline that is ideal for leisurely walks. Once you exit the gate, Quinta Avenida, with its cafés, gelaterias, and boutiques lining the pedestrian spine, is a pleasant stroll away.
If you head back along the waterfront, you’ll see the late boats making their way to Cozumel. The neighborhood’s beach has the soft entrance that makes families relax, and tennis courts are close by with views of tiny Mayan ruins—one of those juxtapositions that can only be found in Playa. No matter how you plan your day, the house beckons you back for a final float under dark-blue, starry skies and sunset on the tower.
Casa Gigi is located at the southern edge of central Playa, close to 20.620° N, −87.079° W, if you prefer precise directions. The main entry point is Cancún International Airport (CUN); allow 50–60 minutes for a private transfer under normal circumstances, and 70–90 minutes during rush hour or on weekends. The ADO coach takes about 55 to 75 minutes to get to the Playa del Carmen terminal, and a taxi takes 5 to 10 minutes to get to the Playacar gate.
All roads are paved, with the final kilometer consisting of short sections of cobblestone and serene, security-gated lanes that are suitable for any typical sedan or midsize SUV. The Cozumel ferry pier is a 12- to 15-minute walk along the waterfront, and the majority of Quinta Avenida restaurants are within a 10- to 15-minute walk, depending on pace. Grocery stores are nearby: Chedraui and Mega Soriana in town are usually 6 to 10 minutes by car, with corridor pharmacies in the same window.
The week will take care of itself if you establish a basic rhythm. Begin with a swim and a stroll along the beach at sunrise before breakfast, then take advantage of the pool and its swim-up bar during the hot midday hours before drifting to the tower as the breeze cools and the sky turns sherbet.
Take a quick taxi to the golf club one day for an early round, and another day stay in the courtyard for a chef’s Yucatán tasting before heading to Quinta for a nightcap while the music is playing. The house delivers on the promise of a true coastal retreat, eliminating hassle and transforming ordinary moments into treasured memories, regardless of how you choose to spend your time there.
A guided kite-lesson taster on the main beach when the breeze is just right before an unhurried dinner back at the pool, a late-afternoon game of tennis by the Playacar ruins followed by sunset gelato on Quinta, and a morning ferry hop to Cozumel for snorkeling and lunch on the waterfront are three simple local pleasures that don’t require too much planning.
Casa Gigi’s unique watchtower-and-courtyard architecture, swim-up bar pool, and Playacar Phase 1 beachfront location are what really make it stand out. It offers walk-everywhere convenience and storybook character in a completely gated, discreetly upscale community.
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Availability
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| 1 $ 1,200 | 2 $ 1,300 |
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| 3 $ 1,300 | 4 $ 1,300 | 5 $ 1,300 | 6 $ 1,300 | 7 $ 1,300 | 8 $ 1,300 | 9 $ 1,300 5 |
| 10 $ 1,300 5 | 11 $ 1,300 5 | 12 $ 1,300 5 | 13 $ 1,300 5 | 14 $ 1,300 5 | 15 $ 1,300 5 | 16 $ 1,300 5 |
| 17 $ 1,300 5 | 18 $ 1,300 5 | 19 $ 1,300 5 | 20 $ 1,300 5 | 21 $ 1,300 5 | 22 $ 1,300 5 | 23 $ 1,300 5 |
| 24 $ 1,300 5 | 25 $ 1,300 5 | 26 $ 1,300 5 | 27 $ 1,550 5 | 28 $ 1,550 5 | 29 $ 1,550 5 | 30 $ 1,550 5 |
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| 1 $ 1,550 5 | 2 $ 1,550 5 | 3 $ 1,300 5 | 4 $ 1,300 5 | 5 $ 1,300 5 | 6 $ 1,300 5 | 7 $ 1,300 5 |
| 8 $ 1,300 5 | 9 $ 1,300 5 | 10 $ 1,300 5 | 11 $ 1,300 5 | 12 $ 1,300 5 | 13 $ 1,300 5 | 14 $ 1,300 5 |
| 15 $ 1,300 5 | 16 $ 1,300 5 | 17 $ 1,300 5 | 18 $ 1,300 5 | 19 $ 2,000 7 | 20 $ 2,000 7 | 21 $ 2,000 7 |
| 22 $ 2,000 7 | 23 $ 2,000 7 | 24 $ 2,000 7 | 25 $ 2,000 7 | 26 $ 2,000 7 | 27 $ 3,600 7 | 28 $ 3,600 7 |
| 29 $ 3,600 7 | 30 $ 3,600 7 | 31 $ 3,600 7 |
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