Pierre Mundo Imperial

The Pierre Mundo Imperial was originally built in the
1950s as a personal retreat for American industrialist J. Paul Getty. The
building was converted into a hotel a few years later, and many staff members have
worked here for decades. Set on lush grounds dotted with palm, mango, and lime trees, the large property is composed of Mexican villas, bungalows,
and low-rise buildings. The resort has a cozy, intimate feel, with stone pillars, wood accents,
and airy corridors as a reoccurring theme throughout. It’s a refreshing change of
pace from the sprawling mega-resorts found nearby, including the hotel’s sister
property, the Princess. The pools are calmer, the restaurants are
better, and overall it feels like there’s a higher emphasis on quality. One
pool is designated as a quiet area, a thoughtful touch that allows couples to
relax away from splashing kids.  

The
Pierre Mundo Imperial is located a 15-minute drive from Acapulco
International Airport, on the southern edge of the city. The nearest main road,
Boulevard de las Naciones, is lined with shops and restaurants, but most
are too widely spaced apart to be accessible on foot. Guests without their own
transport will need to rely on taxis to explore the area. It’s a 10-minute
drive to La Isla Shopping Village and 20 minutes to the shops, bars, and
restaurants of downtown Acapulco. The resort is set on scenic Playa Revolcadero, one of the
longest beaches in Acapulco. Other beaches in the area include Playa Diamante and Playa Puerto Marques, both under 20 minutes away by car. Parking is offered at the hotel for an extra fee.

The guest rooms are the one real letdown here; they’re neat and well-maintained, but the decor needs to be modernized to live up to the hotel’s boutique marketing. Decor
varies quite a bit from room to room, and the one thing they have in common is almost
all room categories could use an update. The Casita Gardenview Room we checked out during our
visit includes a bed with an old-fashioned light-wood headboard, as well as a
clunky armoire and side tables with dated metal hardware. The room has a
somewhat piecemeal look -- nothing clashes terribly, but nothing really matches
either. The color scheme of the striped chairs is completely different from the
bed runner, and the wooden furniture comes in a variety of shades.The
bathroom is attractive enough, but again, the beige marble looks anything but
contemporary. Bathrooms include shower/tub combos as well as Rose 31 bath products, which are produced by Le Labo. All
room categories feature furnished balconies or terraces with ocean or garden
views. Some casitas and suites offer outdoor plunge pools, as well as separate living
and dining areas. Past guests have complained that the air-conditioning doesn't always work. 

The hotel features three large pools, two of which face
toward the beach. Alberca Texcoco is the official quiet pool, surrounded by a
large concrete deck with wicker lounge chairs. Umbrellas and a few narrow tents
provide shelter. Similar seating surrounds the hotel’s main pool, Alberca
Ixtapa, which centers on a distinct dome with an interesting fountain feature. There’s a tiny outdoor kids’ club area found near the pool, which offers
regular supervised activities.The third pool, Alberca Chapultepec, is hidden away in
another area of the property. It’s smaller but less crowded than the other two
pools, and includes a separate kids’ pool. There’s also a little children’s play
area with slides and swings. The pool is set on an appealing landscaped green
area of the property, but it offers little shade from the sun.The hotel’s large fitness center offers a range of Precor cardio equipment and weights, plus stability balls and ample room for stretching. And guests can use the private golf course at Turtle Dunes Country Club for an additional charge. There’s also a big but no-frills business center
with two personal computers and cushy office chairs. The hotel features 17,394 square feet of
flexible meeting and event space, with conference rooms that can accommodate up
to 500 people and outdoor banquet areas for up to 1,000. Wi-Fi is available
throughout for an additional fee. The hotel offers a program called Stay in One, Play @ Three, which allows guests access to its nearby sister resorts, the Princess Mundo Imperial and Resort Mundo Imperial. For a daily fee, guests receive day passes to the other two resorts as well as discounts on services and dining at all three. The Princess (which has a spa) can be reached in an easy 20-minute walk along the coast, or a free shuttle service also connects the three resorts.  

Tabachin Restaurant & Bar is known for attracting non-guests with its contemporary Mediterranean menu. Open for dinner only, it's won Wine Spectator’s Award of Excellence. The restaurant’s elegant interior features dark woods, glass-doored cabinets with wine bottle displays, and burnt orange accent walls. The decor on the terrace is more basic, but it offers views of the hotel’s main pool.The hotel’s casual dining venue, Bar Pierre, is open for breakfast, lunch, dinner, and drinks. The restaurant’s interior has a sports-bar feel, with foosball, air hockey, and flat-screen TVs. The large terrace offers views of Playa Revolcadero. Neighboring, 24-hour Pierre's Café & Delicatessen features grab-and-go-style meals, such as salads, sandwiches, and pastries in addition to snacks like chips and chocolate. It also encompasses a souvenir shop that sells Mexican art and handicrafts.Open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, La Terraza Restaurant & Bar is simple but lovely. This open-air restaurant faces toward the main pool, featuring stone walls and columns as well as pretty teal chairs with pink cushions. The restaurant’s terrace features a gorgeous pergola covered in twisting branches, leaves, and vines. It offers buffet-style fare, including special theme nights. Unfortunately, breakfast isn't included in the room rates. 

The hotel backs onto the soft, beige sands of Playa Revolcadero. Wicker lounge chairs are available for seating, shaded by widely spaced triangular shelters. It’s one of Acapulco’s quieter beaches, and an excellent spot for surfing; however, the waves are typically too strong for swimming.