La Quinta

Playa del Carmen's main street, La Quinta Avenida, runs parallel to the shore and serves as a pedestrian walkway for travelers and locals. The avenue is lined with an assortment of restaurants, hotels, hostels, condominiums and bars, making it one of the best nightlife spots in the city. As Frommer's says, "it seems as if everyone in town is out strolling along La Quinta until midnight."

High class restaurants and local bars dominate the nightlife scene of La Quinta. One of the most popular restaurants is Casa Mediterránea, described by Frommer's as a "small, homey restaurant" that serves excellent Italian cuisine and fine Italian wines.

Should you need amenities beyond a quick meal or a kitschy souvenir, check out the intersecting Avenida Juárez, the commercial district's main thoroughfare equipped with banks, grocery stores and gas stations. You can also check out the town's Zócalo, or town square, for cheap souvenirs and local goods.