Emporio Acapulco Hotel

Emporio’s big marble lobby is a fitting introduction to a hotel where the facilities are consistently satisfactory but mostly unmemorable. There's some modern furniture in the space, like a white leather bench and lipstick-red sofas, along with a rock formation fountain in front of the entrance. The hotel’s restaurants, beach, and meeting spaces are virtually indistinguishable from the many other hotels crammed throughout the Costera -- they're functional but drab. There are, however, a few areas where the Emporio distinguishes itself from its neighbors: The two adults-only pools are a huge plus for the hotel’s mixed guest demographic, separating the splashing kids from the couples looking for peace and quiet. Even the hotel’s entrance, with its curved glass roof, looks a bit more elegant than guests might expect for the price. Families, couples, and singles are among the hotel’s typical guests.

The main draw for most guests is the hotel’s location, with the sands of Acapulco Bay on one side and the nightlife and shopping of the Costera found along the other. The Emporio is located along the city’s main tourist strip, Avenida Costera Miguel Alemán. Shops, restaurants, and bars stretch out in both directions along this busy, urban road. It’s less than a five-minute walk to the Galerias Diana Shopping Center, and a 20-minute walk to more shopping at Plaza Bahia. Papagayo Adventure amusement park can be reached in 15 minutes on foot. The Acapulco Convention Center is found a 10-minute drive away.The hotel backs onto bustling Plaza Condesa, with Playa Icacos found less than a 15-minute drive away. The Fort of San Diego, the Zocalo, and La Quebrada cliffs can also be reached in 15 minutes by car. Acapulco International Airport is 13 miles away, or about a 30-minute drive. Parking at the hotel is offered for a fee. 

Guest rooms at the Emporio are bright and inviting. Crisp white bed linens with subtle stripes combined with powder-blue bed runners and skirts give the rooms a modern appeal, although the light wood furniture could use a refresh. Coffeemakers are set on wooden desks with marble tops. Closets with sliding doors hold electronic safes. All room categories include balconies, furnished with basic metal tables and chairs. And some rooms have gorgeous ocean and swimming pool views.Bathrooms are plain, but large and feature shower/tub combos. Long countertops are stocked with toiletries in pleasant scents like almond and olive. Thoughtful extras include a razor, toothbrush, and bottled water. We didn't find any cleanliness issues on our visit, but past guests have complained that housekeeping can be spotty.

The hotel features three dazzling pools, two of which are adults-only. The adult pools include interesting water features as well as white daybeds shaded by canopies on pool decks. Seating is also available on loungers, some of which are set in the shallow waters around the edge of one pool. There are plenty of beach umbrellas, and one of the pools offers a row of lounge chairs sheltered by a long wooden roof.The main pool curves around an island that's home to La Isla Bar & Grill. It’s a charming pool with curved bridges, plenty of tropical plants, as well as a swim-up bar. This main pool includes a children’s play area with slides, which is designed to resemble a pirate ship. There’s also a small, round jetted tub found alongside the pool.La Isla Bar & Grill is simple but pretty with dark wood furniture, deep blue cushions, and white pillars. Surrounded by the main pool, this open-air bar offers views of the pool and lush plant-life on all sides.Sunset Lounge is a partially open-air restaurant which serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner. The front of the restaurant is quite lovely, featuring a circular layout, and it's dominated by an enormous marble-and-teak bar. The rest of the venue is relatively lackluster, although the windows along the far wall provide beach vistas.Inside the hotel is Condimento Restaurant, a big but generic-looking restaurant that serves buffet and a la carte fare. Seating out on the terrace offers appealing views over the pool. This is where the free breakfast buffet is served each morning. The lobby bar, Arka Bar, exudes more character with a long frosted glass bar, square club chairs, and bold red accents. Floor-to-ceiling windows offer views of the hotel’s landscaped greenery.The large kids’ club, Club Pireutes, is a bit dated but appears colorful and entertaining nonetheless. The club’s massive play area includes a ball pit, slides, bridges, swings, and craft tables, all of which are geared toward younger children. There’s also a party room for private kids’ events.There's a mid-size fitness center with a decent range of cardio and strength training equipment. And the hotel's spa offers facials, massages, and a hot tub. A small medical center is on-site as well.  The smart business center includes a printer, several personal computers, and plush rolling chairs. Wi-Fi is free throughout the property. Emporio also includes indoor and outdoor meeting and event space that can accommodate groups of up to 700 people. And the hotel offers wedding planning services. 

The hotel backs onto Playa Condesa, one of Acapulco’s busiest beaches. The hotel provides white Adirondack chairs shaded by cute striped tents. Although its sands are coarse, Playa Condesa is the city’s main beach for swimming and water sports. Like most of the other beaches along Acapulco Bay, the views here are stunning but usually blocked by the vendor tents lining the coast.