New Acapulco Hotels

 

The new Banyan Tree Cabo Marqués will be Acapulco’s first luxury, all-villa spa resort when it opens in January

 

This hasn’t exactly been Acapulco’s best year for tourism. Like most of Mexico, it suffered at the hands of a crumbling economy and the stigma of the H1N1 virus. But with 260 hotels in the city, and just under 19,000 rooms, this famed resort destination is ready for a turnaround. And the latest hotel news to come out of Acapulco is a good indicator that 2010 will be brighter.

Here are five properties, either brand-new or renovated, we think you should keep an eye on in 2010 and beyond.

The new cliff-top Banyan Tree Cabo Marqués will be the first luxury, all-villa spa resort in the region when it opens in January. Impressive accommodations, world-class amenities and a Banyan Tree Gallery of indigenous arts and crafts from around the world will be on offer.

The award-winning Banyan Tree Spa has set up shop at a complex consisting of seven spa treatment pavilions where guests can find an extensive array of Asian and European massages and wellness therapies, including the signature Rainmist treatment. The resort has 47 private all-pool villas. The Presidential Villa—the best room in the property—is enveloped by gardens and overlooks the magnificent Puerto Marqués Bay. The property boasts four restaurants, including Saffron, which combines great views from over a cliff with contemporary Thai cuisine. Private events can be held in the wine cellar. The resort best suits adults, couples and leisure travelers.

At the famed Boca Chica hotel in the Traditional Zone of Acapulco, Grupo Habita, an increasingly popular Mexican hotelier, has partnered with architects Frida Rojas and Jose Escobedo and owner Fernando Romero, to renovate and restore the property’s 36 guest rooms back to its original 1950s glamour. The project is slated for completion in February 2010.

Boca Chica will have three Caleta Suites with a living room, hammock and private terrace with a view of the Santa Lucía Bay; three Privado Suites with an outdoor living room, hammock and private terrace; three Caletilla Rooms with two queen-size beds, a hammock and private terrace; seven Garden Rooms with a king-size bed, hammock and private garden; and 20 Roqueta Rooms with a king-size bed, hammock and private terrace. We recommend the Privado Suites for their outdoor living rooms.

The Boca Chica Hotel is best for hip, trendy couples who want to experience a hotel as a destination and would want to take advantage of the spa, sushi bar, the palapa and a unique experience with a sense of Acapulco. Contact Melania Bracho, director of sales, at [email protected].

Following a $30 million renovation, The Fairmont Pearl hotel tower on the Fairmont Princess property houses 310 rooms of luxurious accommodations and world-class services along with a private pool exclusive to the Pearl guests.

The Pearl opened this year to guests as part of Fairmont Acapulco Princess & Pierre Marques properties. It will be unveiled as a separate property in 2010 but no official opening date was announced at press time.

The best room is the Penthouse Suite, #3932, which comes with welcome cocktails and has a full sea view from its bed. It has a dining room, living room, bar, a 37-inch flat-screen TV and an iPod dock.

The Pearl guests have access to the renowned Willow Stream Spa, the golf course and great dining establishments—Tabachin, Chula Vista and Terraza among them—and many bars and lounges at both the Fairmont Acapulco Princess and the Pierre Marques.

The hotel is ideal for couples, families, business or leisure travelers. Agents should contact Eduardo Mejia, leisure director, at 011-52-744-469-1000.

 

 

Hotel Encanto in the Punta Diamante district has 44 rooms, 22 of which have private pools on the balcony


 

The 23-story Grand Hotel Acapulco & Convention Center, with great views of the Acapulco Bay, has 14 meeting rooms, a ballroom and banquet services. Formally known as the Hyatt Acapulco, it is in the first stage of an extensive renovation and remodeling project.

New room categories have been planned. Two hundred rooms are slated to open by press time. The remodeling will ultimately focus on the hotel lounges, restaurants and pools, as well as the construction of a new, exclusive spa. The renovations, which began in May, are scheduled to be completed by December 2010. By then, the hotel will have 632 guest rooms in all, two executive floors exclusive to guests 18 years and older and two swimming pools and a poolside bar.

Among the hotel’s accommodations are the Grand Room, ideal for small families or couples; the Grand Executive Room for business travelers; the Grand Tower Suites, with a front ocean view, for couples; and the Family Corner Room, which can accommodate up to three adults and two children.

Agents should contact Mariana Echanove, director of sales and marketing, at 011-52-744-469-1234, ext. 8360.

Hotel Encanto, which opened in November, is a unique boutique hotel and spa in the exclusive Punta Diamante district of Acapulco. Owner and architect Miguel Angel Aragones has invested $20 million in Encanto, which has 44 rooms, 22 of which boast private pools on the balcony. The property also has a full-service spa with eight treatment rooms.

The best accommodation, the Encanto Suite, is also the hotel’s largest and best serves couples. Guests have three food and dining options in Flor de Mar 360°, Lounge and La Tienda with menus created by renowned Mexican chef Monica Patino.

The hotel is in the process of hiring a reservations manager. For now, the reservations desk can be reached at [email protected].

 

 

Work is under way at the famed Boca Chica to restore the property back to its 1950s splendor