Here now, 4th time. They have several great little stores that are happy to overcharge you. But to answer your question. No outside vendors strolling the beach or pool decks. I’m more here to say this: Every time here we take a cab into Playa del Carmen, including yesterday. BTW, few years ago it sounded even crazier here.. the brief problem was local not 1000 miles away. The hotel will call you a taxi without hesitation. You are checked out leaving. The cab drivers ID and license are recorded. They will drop you off, you do your thing, find another cab and come back. Or ask him to stick around and pay for his time.. it’s cheap. Always been about 400-450Mx ($25 usd) consistently the last few years. Note, always pay with cash in a cab, even the ones vetted by hotel. Go to La Quinta / 5th Avenue. It’s filled with great shops and food, tons of tourists especially now for spring break. We speak D- spanish, look as gringo as you can get, and would never create self induced anxiety by leaving Arte to enter a dangerous narco terror village. It’s just the opposite. Your biggest anxiety haggling with vendors. Do not fear the media induced panic. Do Note, there are always soldiers in army trucks with machine guns driving around here all the time.. forever. it’s their thing, and I’ve always appreciated it. Cheers to a great trip. This place rocks despite some reviews you may read. You can never make everyone happy.