Camino Real Acapulco Diamante

Camino Real’s a modern hotel with beautiful views and a catch: stairs. The property is built on a steep hillside and arriving travelers drive down a steep, windy road to the hotel’s covered entrance staffed with free valet attendants. The hotel has an open-air floor plan that starts in the marble-floored lobby with double-high vaulted ceilings capped with an Art-Deco chandelier. A grand staircase framed by two waterfalls leads to a covered (and partially uncovered) patio with lots of couches, tables, and chairs. The patio, like most of the hotel’s rooms, restaurants, and pools have fabulous bay views. Elevators lead to guest rooms but there are tons of steps (decorated with yellow sun tiles) to get between the pools, and importantly, the small private beach. Mixed into the hotel’s grounds are lush groves of plants, palms, and blossoming flowers. Hotel guests are mostly domestic families from Mexico City in particular.  

Camino Real’s located on the northern edge of Acapulco’s Puerto Marques Bay, a small bay south of central Acapulco’s hustle and bustle. The hotel’s situated on a hillside and there’s really nothing within walking distance besides a few other hotels. Fast food pizza and burger restaurants are a six-minute drive from the hotel. The closest bank is a five-minute drive and the nearest supermarket is a 10-minute drive. Across the bay from Camino Real, at a 12-minute drive, is the seafood restaurant lined Marques Beach, a local spot for inexpensive seafood. There’s an upscale shopping center a 15-minute drive from the hotel with a bank, boutique shops, and restaurants serving international, Japanese, Mexican, and Italian Cuisines. The La Diana artisanal market, full of kitschy and crafty souvenirs, is a 20-minute drive from Camino Real. There’s also a beachfront bungee jumping attraction a 20-minute drive from the hotel. Downtown Acapulco and San Diego Fort (which Houses Acapulco’s Historic Museum) are a 30-minute drive away. La Quebrada, Acapulco’s famed spot to watch cliff divers plunge 80-feet into the Pacific Ocean below, is about a 40-minute drive. General Guan N. Alvarez International Airport is a 16-minute drive from the hotel. 

The rooms at Camino Real are a mix of Suites, Club, and Deluxe Rooms with off-white walls, turquoise-tinted x-ray photos of nautilus shells and starfish, and marble floors and counters. The Club and Deluxe room interiors are essentially the same -- the only difference being Club rooms have better views, and include free bottled water and buffet breakfasts in the room rate. All units have either singular king beds or two double beds and geometric-shaped furniture like rectangular, wood and fabric wrapped headboards, marble cube nightstands, and chrome-neck floor lamps with cylindrical tan and off-white shades. The two-room Suites are definitely a step up. They offer a sitting room with plush lounge chairs, tan love seats, and black dining tables with seating for six. Guest rooms also have big, flat screen TVs with cable channels including movie channels, irons and ironing boards, safes, luggage stands, phones, minibars, and free Wi-Fi. All rooms have private, bay-view terraces furnished with chairs and lounge chairs, but the Suites excel with a huge private terrace with whirlpool tub. Bathrooms in all room types have marble countertops, marble-framed tubs, wall-mounted hairdryers, illuminated magnifying mirrors, and lots of toiletries. Expect: bar soap, shampoo, conditioner, shower gel, body lotion, shoe-shine towels, sewing kits, and shower caps. The suites have a full bath and a half-bath and also add robes. Smoking rooms are available, and definitely smell like cigarettes. 

Camino Real’s beach has something few other Acapulco hotel’s can claim: privacy. The hotel’s beach is pretty small but the privacy outweighs the size. That means no hawkers or vendors hustling massages, snacks, or souvenirs. It also has lots of lounge chairs, umbrellas, and a floating swimming platform a short swim offshore. There are three freshwater pools surrounded by lounge chairs and umbrellas, plus a shallow pool designed for kids. La Vela (Spanish for a ship’s sail) is the is the hotel’s nautically-themed oceanfront seafood dinner restaurant. The casual dining option, La Huerta, serves Mexican and international cuisine with gorgeous pool and bay views. It has a tasty (but expensive and not included in all rates) breakfast buffet, and a la carte lunch and dinner. The third restaurant is similar to La Huerta but only open during the high season. Room service is available 24-hours. There’s also a bar in the lobby. Spa Miguett offers standard spa services like massages, facials, salon services, and also has a dry sauna. Camino Real’s gym has a wall of floor-to-ceiling windows and is located next to the spa. It’s stocked with a treadmill, stationary recumbent bicycles, elliptical machines, a weight machine, and dumbbells. Other hotel features include a kids' club, gift shop, an ATM, ice machines, and three ballrooms. Laundry service is available. There’s also free valet parking. Camino Real's tour desk can assist in renting wave runners, scuba and snorkeling equipment, boats, cars, water skis, tubing, and private tour guides. The business center has multiple computers and free printing. Wi-Fi is free throughout.