Fancy your own Mexican castle? Effectively a baronial stronghold given a modern, Miami-style makeover, Casa GiGi is easily Playa del Carmen’s most memorable villa. Located in the gated neighbourhood of Playacar Phase 1 – complete with a sandy beach and much tranquillity – it’s even topped by a watchtower, one from which you can gasp and gape as pink sunsets fall over the Caribbean Sea.

Below are four ensuite bedrooms, split between the two main floors. Each has a private terrace or balcony and high-end electronics, with all but one affording more tremendous ocean vistas. If you don’t plump for the full-board chef service (breakfast is provided either way), a tremendous kitchen makes cooking a pleasure. Meals can be devoured in a plant-lined courtyard or the dining room – elegantly decorated, like every interior space. Out front, mature palm trees lend privacy to outdoor lounges, a plunge pool and the sea-facing main pool – accompanying which is a swim-up bar. Should any scores need giggly settling, there’s also a shuffleboard court.

Playacar’s sandy shore is barely a minute away and offers plenty of kitesurfing opportunities, as well as ample space to laze around. The shops, bars and trendy restaurants of Quinta Avenida are also within strolling distance, as are tennis courts and a par-72 golf course designed by Robert Von Hagge. Tulum, and its Mayan ruins, is about an hour’s drive south past more wonderful beaches, and Cancun roughly the same distance north.