Posada Real Puerto Escondido

Posada Real is set in a calm, low traffic outer pocket of Puerto Escondido that perfectly echoes the resort’s super chill vibe. Tropical lush lawn and palm tree grounds with an extra wide cobblestone driveway prelude the resort’s sunset orange and Spanish roof-tiled facade. Colonial cues like lantern lighting and a tiered fountain arrive at wide bi-folds doors that bring the outside into the lobby which feels more like stepping inside a spacious open plan private residence than a hotel. The interiors features square-set recessed ceilings over Travertine-esque tiles with timber accents and terra-cotta pots spilling vibrant greenery. Easy listening classics (with plenty of old-school love songs) play through speakers. From the lobby, the resort unfolds like a giant U-shape amid perfectly manicured pool and garden grounds, scattered with palm trees, with views over the Pacific Ocean, and right up spectacular Bacocho Beach. A three-minute downhill walk through the gardens, Coco’s Beach Club is nestled into a southern pocket of the beach, and feels like a private resort unto itself. There’s an angular pool winding its way around a palm tree island centerpiece; a slew of hammocks slung between shady palms; a huge open-air restaurant palapa with jungle-esque murals painted on the walls; and roped swing chairs surrounding the bar, for a fun touch of Tarzan. Bacocho Beach is a long, stunningly scenic stretch that’s more or less deserted. Apart from Coco’s, there is another nearby resort beach club (that’s hidden from view), and a turtle nursery farther down where guests can pay to see hatchlings released into the ocean -- if the timing is right. In the early evening, Coco’s closes (odd, as it shutters before sunset), so guests head back up to the resort for sunset swims, cocktails from Albierto’s Bar (more like a hole in the wall), and La Hacienda’s buffet dinner. The crowd is a laid-back mix of local and international families and couples. Posada Real is smaller than the typical all-inclusive, and given guests can move between hotel grounds, Coco’s, and the beach, it doesn’t feel busy or crowded.

Set on the calm outskirts of Puerto Escondido, right above Bacocho beach, Posada Real is a five-minute drive from the international airport, and around 12 minutes to the area’s famed and terribly touristy “Zicatela” surfing beach. Other nearby beaches, more suited to swimming, include Carrizalillo Beach (15 minutes on foot), and Puerto Angelito Beach is about seven minutes by car. Benito Juarez Markets are a five-minute drive from the resort and it's seven minutes to "El Adoquin," the region's famed night markets. Airport transfers can be arranged for a fee, and taxis are easily arranged at the front desk.

Rooms are available in King, Double, and Single categories, which vary in size and outlook. Some overlook the garden grounds to the Ocean, while others look right up Bococho Beach, and all views are framed with huge picture windows that let in loads of light, but no rooms have balconies. During Oyster’s visit, many rooms had been, or were in the process of being updated, with a fresh, contemporary feel. The new decor marries rustic, wall-mounted timber slab headboards and matching sideboards and wardrobes, with crisp white walls, recessed lighting (of the harsh fluorescent kind), and neutrals in bedding, curtains, and cushions. Updated bathrooms feature shower stalls (no baths) with frameless glass, and are finished with marble and timber vanities equipped with free individual toiletries and hairdryers. However, grotty grout in showers and flooring takes away from the intended fresh aesthetic. Rooms are otherwise clean and vibrant with flat-screen TVs, stainless steel mini-fridges, coffeemakers, free bottles of water, blackout curtains, and free Wi-Fi. Guests that wind up in unrenovated rooms complain about it, so it makes sense to request an updated room to avoid disappointment. Irons and ironing boards are available on request.

Coco’s Beach Club is accessed directly from resort grounds via a winding garden pathway with lots of stairs (not suitable for those with mobility issues); however the hotel can drive guests there and back as required. Set on a private stretch of beachfront, the club features Coco’s Restaurant & Bar where lunch, snacks and drinks are provided throughout the day. There’s a large pool that winds around a palm tree island centerpiece, and is surrounded with sunbeds. On the beach there are plenty of plantation-style chairs and loungers beneath thatched shade umbrellas. There’s a shady palm treed hammock area; a playground for the kids; and while the long, wide beach is perfect for walks and frolicking, it can be terribly rough, so swimming isn’t advised. The resort’s primary grounds feature two more pools (including a small one for kids) that can remain more or less empty until guests head back up from Coco’s in the early evening when it closes. La Hacienda serves buffet breakfast and dinner (with mixed reviews from guests), while a la carte lunch and snacks are served down at Coco’s. There is also a lobby bar, but it was closed during Oyster’s stay. Sports wise, there’s a full-sized tennis court, a small basketball court, mini golf, and a games room that’s pretty uninspiring but may appeal to kids.