Binniguenda All Inclusive

Set back from Boulevard Santa Cruz with an open-floor concept lobby, Binniguenda All Inclusive has a laid-back atmosphere, but the vibe is lively. The spacious pool terrace is often busy with families playing in the water and couples relaxing while hit music plays in the background. Guests socialize at Santa Cruz Beach, where the shuttle runs all day, or in common areas throughout the hotel lobby and garden. Adjacent to the pool terrace is the Lobby Bar Maguey, which opens in the evening and keeps the pool terrace busy into the night. Restaurant Chahué, the hotel's main restaurant, features shows and theme nights like karaoke and dancing on the stage. The vast majority of guests here are Spanish families, though many Americans also book rooms. 

Binniguenda All Inclusive has an enviable location on Boulevard Santa Cruz, the main drag through Santa Cruz, and the hotel is a five-minute walk to the small tourist town's many shops, restaurants, and markets. The restaurants and shops of La Crucecita are an 18-minute walk from the hotel via a pedestrian walkway, or a 10-minute drive. The mega grocery and department store, Super Che, takes five minutes by car from the resort, or an 18-minute walk. Traditional Mexican street food like tacos, tamales, and tostadas can be found along Boulevard Chahue, an 18-minute walk or a five-minute drive from the property. The golden sands of Santa Cruz Beach is a 15-minute walk or a five-minute drive from the hotel, while the more populous Chahue Beach is a seven-minute drive or a 25-minute walk from the resort. For golf enthusiasts, it's nine minutes by car to the 18-hole Las Parotas Golf Course. Huatulco International Airport is a 20-minute drive from Binniguenda. 

There are 77 guest rooms at Hotel Binniguenda, and the majority of them fall into the Deluxe category, though there are also seven Select Rooms and some suites. Deluxe Rooms are spacious and simple, with generic wooden furniture and king or double beds, plus flat-screen TVs and coffeemakers. Colors throughout tend toward green, white, and beige, with abstract artwork on walls for pops of color. Beds have green striped bed skirts and throw pillows. Most units have French balconies, which are more for decoration than actually sitting. 

Each Select Room comes with a bottle of free wine, and other nice upgrades include minibars and freshly baked bread and coffee delivered to the furnished balconies in the morning. Travelers should note the Select Rooms are adult-only. Additionally, there is one Junior Suite and one Master Suite, which are modern and spacious with dark wicker furniture, stocked minibars, and kitchens. 

Most units have street, pool, or garden views. Looking out to the pool and garden is particularly lovely in the morning, as the area is quiet and serene, but it can get louder and lively by mid-afternoon.

Bathrooms are moderately sized with plenty of towels and vanity counter space. Deluxe and Select Rooms have stall showers and magnifying mirrors. The hairdryers and toiletries are nice extras for the simple bathrooms. 

Like any good resort, Binniguenda All Inclusive offers plenty of features to keep its guests busy. The hotel has a few drinking and dining options as part of the all-inclusive rates: a buffet restaurant, a snack bar, and an Italian eatery. The resort's main restaurant, Restaurant Chahué, is situated in the back of the property. It serves buffets with traditional Mexican cuisine for breakfast, lunch, and dinner in a spacious dining room. Guests can expect hot chocolate, sweet breads, mole, and chorizo, as well as a few made-to-order stations. It's also where evening entertainment takes place, which includes karaoke and staged shows. During the day, Snack Bar Chachacual offers casual grill fare -- nachos, burgers, salads, and wings -- in a relaxed, open-air space overlooking the pool. Restaurant Tangolunda is Binniguenda’s a la carte dinner restaurant. The adult-only eatery is only open select nights and features Italian cuisine in an intimate setting. Reservations and dress codes are required. Lobby Bar Maguey is open in the evening and offers beer, wine, and mixed drinks, and has flat-screen TVs. The open-air La Bocana has a dinner menu with casual Italian fare, salads, and sandwiches served on a small patio. Guests should note that La Bocana is the only restaurant that's not part of the all-inclusive package. 

For outdoor fun, there's a small, private beach club with a handful of loungers and umbrellas that's located off-site, but a free shuttle for guests runs there throughout the day. Binniguenda is centered around a spacious pool terrace with an adequate supply of lounge chairs and umbrellas. The pool has a waterfall, and is edged by a garden with a few benches for guests to hang out and socialize. Adjacent to the pool is the kids' club, which has an indoor toy room, small wading pool, sandbox, and playground. 

Other amenities include a small fitness center that overlooks the pool and contains a handful of cardio machines and a few free weights, though the room is a bit dingy and dirty, and some of the machines are broken. There's no on-site parking, but plenty of free street parking is available close to the property. Wi-Fi is free throughout, though some areas of the hotel have a spotty signal.