Krystal Beach Acapulco

Krytsal Beach is a 20-story oceanfront hotel that opened in 2013. The building itself is a bit older and went up around 40 years ago. While Krystal Beach has done a pretty good job of keeping the hotel updated, vintage pockets still remain. The partially open-air lobby is bright and modern with gray and white marble and chunky, marble-wrapped pillars. It also has plush couches and gorgeous ocean views. Most of the hotel amenities take advantage of the views. It’s hard to miss the cacophony of laughing kids at Krystal Beach. If their ruckus doesn’t reveal it’s a family-friendly spot, the billboard-size black-and-white photos of families on the beach certainly will. From the pool to the beach to the kids' club and the game room, kids are pretty much everywhere. It’s no surprise then that a majority of the hotel guests are parents with children (and mostly from Mexico City). 

Krystal Beach has a walkable and picturesque location at the east end of Acapulco’s Papagayo Beach. A big shopping mall with a cinema is across the street and there's another mall with another cinema a 10-minute walk away. Also across the street from the hotel is Papagayo Park, a lush park with walking trails, lots of silver vendors, and activities for kids. There’s a fast food restaurant, bars, and pharmacy a three-minute walk from the hotel. Restaurants serving Mexican, Mediterranean, Argentinian, sushi, Venezuelan, and Italian cuisines are a five- to 10-minute walk from Krystal Beach. The closest supermarket is a five-minute walk and the nearest bank is a six-minute walk (there's also an ATM on-site). The Acapulco Historical Museum, located in an 18th century Spanish fortress, is an 11-minute drive away. La Quebrada, the famous Acapulco spot to watch cliff divers jump from 80-foot cliffs into the sea, is a 15-minute drive from the hotel.  General Juan N. Alvarez International Airport is about a 35-minute drive from Krystal Beach.

The guest rooms at Krystal Beach are a mix of Standard Rooms, Junior Suites, and an apartment-sized Presidential Suite. Guest rooms have either king beds or double beds with orange and mustard-colored bed runners, bed skirts, and decorative throw pillows. Some of the bed’s headboards are plush, mustard-colored vinyl while others a more modern, wall-mounted shadow box that frames brown and orange rectangles. Room’s have wood desks, dressers, and 19th-century style Louis armchairs that are a bit too dark and traditional for the otherwise airy, tropical vibe. Furniture is slightly scuffed up and the plush chairs could use a shampooing. Other room standards include air-conditioning, flat-screen TVs with cable channels, free Wi-Fi, telephones that can dial locally, irons and ironing boards, luggage stands, and safes. Bathrooms (some are a bit small) have marble counters and stand-up showers. Expect bar soap, body lotion, shampoo, conditioner, a loofah, a shaving kit, and a toothbrush and toothpaste. Bathrooms also have hairdryers. All units have private balconies (corner units have huge wraparound balconies) with plastic chairs and amazing views of either Acapulco Bay or Acapulco town, built upon the mountains behind the hotel.

Krystal Beach has a gorgeous oceanfront full of thatch umbrellas, plastic chairs, and lounge chairs -- there are a few caveats though. The beach can get crowded with hotel guests and hawking vendors. Krystal Bay’s two freshwater pools are more popular than the beach. The big infinity pool has lots of lounge chairs and a pirate-themed waterslide. The second shallow depth pool is designed for little kids and has a sprinkling fountain. There’s also an adult-only whirlpool. The hotel’s three restaurants get mixed reviews but have beautiful ocean views. All-inclusive packages are available. Aquamarina is the buffet restaurant that serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Bahai Restaurant and bar is a lunch spot that serves pozole, a traditional Acapulco corn and chicken dish. La Palapa is the oceanfront a la carte seafood restaurant (that’s not included in the all-inclusive packages). There’s also a lobby bar, an oceanfront lounge, and a poolside bar and snack bar. For families, there's a castle-themed kids' club and a dedicated game room holds a pool table, table tennis, and dartboards. Belleze Integral is the hotel’s full-service spa offering massages, manicures, pedicures. It also has a dry sauna and steam room. There’s also a small 24-hour convenience store and an ATM. The huge top-floor ballroom has amazing panoramic Acapulco views and there are also conference rooms. Laundry service is available. There’s a fee for valet parking, and it's the only option. A Catholic Mass is conducted every Sunday. Other hotel amenities include laundry service, room service, and ice machines. Fast and free Wi-Fi is available throughout Krystal Beach Acapulco.