AAA recently announced its Five Diamond list of top-tier properties. This year sees the addition of six new hotels, two of which are in Mexico – we’ve rounded up the details on them to keep you up to speed.
Hotel Xcaret Mexico, which opened in December 2017 in Playa del Carmen, is a new listing this year. The all-inclusive resort has 900 suites, the most over-the-top of which is the Master Suite Ocean Front; it’s a 2,4760-square-foot space with ocean views, direct pool access and amenities ranging from complimentary butler service, massages and body wrap treatments to access to a private rooftop pool and complimentary 60 minutes of babysitting. Families or large groups can also opt for the Master Suite Family Premier, which can sleep up to five. This suite likewise has oceanfront views and a range of kid-friendly perks, such as a kid’s backpack, babysitting services, a dining table and living room for eight and access to the Xiquillos Kids Club and the Xiipal Teens Club.
For dining, the resort has 10 restaurants and eight bars. Ha’ is the hotel’s signature restaurant, serving up a menu of contemporary Mexican cuisine and wine headed by Michelin-starred chef Carlos Gaytán. Las Playas, on the other hand, offers beachside fusion dishes inspired by the flavors of the Mediterranean, Caribbean and India.
All-inclusive rates at Hotel Xcaret also grant access to Grupo Xcaret’s five eco-friendly theme parks. There, guests can enjoy nature tours, water rides, biking and walking trails, live shows and adventurous excursions such as zip lining, underground river rafting and high-speed water slides.
UNICO 20°N 87°W Hotel Riviera Maya in Akumal upgraded this year from a Four Diamond property to a Five Diamond one. A recent 30Under30 pick for one of the top destination wedding and honeymoon resorts in the country, it draws a younger, hipper crowd, with events like mixology classes and live painting demonstrations. (The in-room minibars here can even be stocked according to guests’ preferences).
The resort, which also opened in 2017, offers a number of high-end accommodations, such as the top-tier Estancia Suite, with a large oceanview terrace with an outdoor hydro spa tub, plus a large living area separate from the bedroom. There is also a hacienda-inspired Oceanfront Villa, which has two master bedrooms, a full kitchen, dining room, living room and powder room, plus a complete bar and a large terrace with two outdoor hydro spa tubs.
All spa treatments and nine beauty salon treatments are included in the resort’s all-inclusive rate for a 25 percent service fee. The property’s local host service can also arrange one of 11 tours to the surrounding area, or unlimited golf at two nearby golf courses. Six additional signature tours are also available for an additional fee.
Five Diamond is AAA’s highest hotel designation, representing less than 1 percent of the nearly 60,000 Diamond-rated properties across the United States, Canada, Mexico and the Caribbean. To earn the rating, hotels must pass an evaluation that includes unannounced, in-person inspections, anonymous overnight stays for hotels and a review by a panel of experts. All AAA Diamond Program hotels and restaurants are re-evaluated annually.
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