Eurostars Hacienda Vista Real

Owned by a hotel group based in Barcelona, Eurostars Hacienda Vista Real unsurprisingly has a bit of European flair. Though the exterior looks rather Mexican, with tall palms and a palapa-style roof hanging over the open air lobby, the interior feels European, with marble floors, redbrick detailing, and colorful oil paintings. Throughout the day, the hotel is quiet -- almost eerily so -- and some guests may even find themselves asking “where is everyone?” Even at full capacity, the hotel remains peaceful; many guests choose to spend their days off-property, usually exploring Playa del Carmen, Tulum, or just hitting the beach. You won’t hear kids splashing around in the pool, or drunken spring breakers crowding around the bar -- this is a place where people come for true rest and relaxation. The only downside to the quietness is that it may be a little boring for some guests. Paamul Hotel, about 10 miles south of Playacar, has the same peaceful atmosphere as Eurostars, with a little more daily activity, thanks to its on-site restaurant, dive shop, and beachfront location.   

A gated resort community just south of downtown Playa del Carmen, Playacar is a tourist haven, where vacationers bike up and down the streets and beachgoers carry rafts and inflatable tubes toward the sand. Comprising private homes, vacation rentals, chain mega-resorts, restaurants, coffee shops (including Starbucks), and convenience stores, Playacar itself is massive. Eurostars Hacienda Vista Real is located within a gated community called Pakal; because of this, Playacar's size, and the area’s affinity for unmarked streets, the hotel is pretty difficult to find -- even seasoned cabbies don’t seem to know where it is. However, the hotel’s seclusion is part of its appeal. Though it’s not on the beach, Eurostars remains consistently quiet throughout the year, a real plus for vacationers looking to escape the overcrowded all-inclusives the area is known for. The hotel overlooks Playacar’s golf course, and is about a 35-minute walk or 10-minute drive to both Playacar Beach and Downtown Playa del Carmen. Cancun airport is about 50 minutes by car. 

If guests were to mistakingly think they were in Florence instead of the Mexican Riviera while glancing around the rooms at Eurostars, they wouldn’t be too far off. Rooms at Eurostars Hacienda Vista Real exhibit the same European flair as other parts of the hotel, with their patterned marble floors, dark woods, rounded archways, and stunning local oil paintings. Some rooms even have fantastic domed, redbrick ceilings that further the Florentine feel. Bathrooms differ from room to room, but all are appointed with marble. Some have separate showers and tubs, but all feel incredibly dark. There are three room types at Eurostars. All have the same decor, but vary in size. First is the Studio, which is the standard double occupancy room. Studios are smaller than suites, but tend to have larger bathrooms. Next is the Ambassador Suite, which has a bedroom with two double beds, a large living room, dining room, and fully equipped kitchen. Ambassador Suites also have massive balconies overlooking the golf course. Finally, Royal Suites have the same features as Ambassador Suites, with an added studio (living room, dining room, kitchen, two bedrooms, and two massive balconies). Royal Suites also have two bathrooms, where Ambassador Suites only have one. As previously mentioned, there is a certain European flair in all of the rooms, but some design elements fall a little short in both the Ambassador and Royal Suites, particularly in the common areas. The large living room seems rather empty, and haphazardly filled with dated, white leather sofas and a nondescript armoire for the TV. It doesn’t much feel like a “living room” as much as it does a room with a few couches in it. The dining room has a round table with four to six chairs (depending on the suite) and is open to the kitchen. The kitchen is small, but fully equipped with a stainless steel oven/stove, full-size refrigerator, microwave, and everyday kitchen necessities like plates, cups, utensils, pots, and pans. Cabinet and marble countertop colors vary from room to room, and though the appliances appear to be nice, upon closer inspection, they are actually rather cheap.      

There is one mid-sized pool at Eurostars Hacienda Vista Real that overlooks Playacar’s golf course. The pool is a sort of free-form kidney shape, with a zero entry point on one side and steps on the other. Blue lounge chairs surround the pool, and there is an awesome swim-up bar -- though it closes rather early in the afternoon, along with the pool’s snack bar. Just off the pool, there are two hot tubs. The pool area is rarely crowded, even during peak season, and there is definitely no need to stake claims on lounge chairs at some ungodly hour each morning. Some guests may find the pool area a peaceful respite from the nearby all-inclusives where the pools are filled with non-stop activity, while others may find it a little too quiet. The hotel offers free Wi-Fi and parking, but breakfast is not included in the room rate. Breakfast is served buffet style, and features both hot and cold items. Guests will typically find eggs, pancakes, fresh fruit, cereals, and even a few Mexican specialities each morning. Breakfast is served in the breakfast room, a plain, white-walled sort of room that overlooks the pool. But guests can take their morning meal to the outdoor dining tables should they so choose. There is no full-service restaurant at Eurostars Hacienda Vista Real, so guests will have to venture off the property to find other places to eat, or cook meals in their rooms.  There are lots of stairs Eurostars, but no elevators or ramps. Guests with mobility issues, or families traveling with small children can request a room of the ground floor, but may still find it difficult to get around, as the lobby, pool area, breakfast room, spa, and fitness center all require stairs to reach them.  

The hotel’s spa is surely its standout amenity. Housed in a building that looks something like an ancient Mayan ruin, the spa is a true retreat. The hotel’s European feel continues once inside the spa. Here, indoor heated pools are made to look like ancient Roman baths, with intricate mosaics on the walls and dim lighting. There are several treatment rooms that offer several types of massages, including sports, deep tissue, hot stones, and reflexology. The fitness center is housed within the spa, and features floor-to-ceiling windows and state-of-the-art equipment. The gym is typically more crowded than other parts of the resort because it is shared by the hotel and the local community of Pakal.