Blue Diamond Riviera Maya
Einar's test review
Between the tourist towns of Cancún and Playa del Carmen, the all-inclusive Blue Diamond Riviera Maya specializes in relaxation. The resort’s crisp white bungalows follow the natural waterways of its Riviera Maya plot: two lagoons, babbling streams, a Mayan cenote and one of the area’s few palm tree–lined beaches. The resort is surrounded by mangroves, so herons and iguanas frequently peek out onto the walkways.
Leaving the ornamentation to nature, the 128 rooms are soothingly minimalist. The decor eschews color and pattern in favor of clean lines and high-quality marble, limestone and polished bamboo structures. By day, floor-to-ceiling windows keep the interiors bright; by night, onyx lamps lend a softer glow.
Take your pick between the two oceanfront pools — one for laps, one for lounging.Adding to the Zen feel, Asian touches like sliding Japanese doors and rock gardens remain from the property’s former life as a Mandarin Oriental. (The Spanish hotel group BlueBay gave the grounds and rooms a $5 million renovation and reopened the Blue Diamond in January 2012.)
Leaving the ornamentation to nature, the 128 rooms are soothingly minimalist. The decor eschews color and pattern in favor of clean lines and high-quality marble, limestone and polished bamboo structures. By day, floor-to-ceiling windows keep the interiors bright; by night, onyx lamps lend a softer glow.
Take your pick between the two oceanfront pools — one for laps, one for lounging.Adding to the Zen feel, Asian touches like sliding Japanese doors and rock gardens remain from the property’s former life as a Mandarin Oriental. (The Spanish hotel group BlueBay gave the grounds and rooms a $5 million renovation and reopened the Blue Diamond in January 2012.)
But despite the natural surroundings and understated decor, you won’t be roughing it. Eager golf cart chauffeurs shuttle guests between the two oceanfront pools — one for floating, one for laps — and the indoor/outdoor spa, complete with his-and-hers hammams. All the guestrooms have rain showers, top-of-the-line bath products, huge flat-screen TVs and customized minibars, which are replenished daily with large bottles of Absolut Vodka and tequila.
Unlike many full-service hotels, which rely on mass buffets, Blue Diamond serves à la carte dishes at the three on-site restaurants. Ambar, named for its stunning amber chandelier, offers fine dining and an occasion to dress up, while the more casual Aguamarina and the beach tapas bar have Caribbean views. Aside from daily ceviche and an occasional molé sauce on the rotating menus, the offerings are international rather than Mexican. At breakfast I had a choice of eggs benedict Italian-, Spanish- or Diamond-style (with black truffle hollandaise).
With Playa del Carmen, Cancún and the ruins of Tulum all nearby, the resort’s location makes it easy to explore Mexico. But with the warm Caribbean breeze and unlimited fruity cocktails, it’s just as simple to let the world slip away.
Unlike many full-service hotels, which rely on mass buffets, Blue Diamond serves à la carte dishes at the three on-site restaurants. Ambar, named for its stunning amber chandelier, offers fine dining and an occasion to dress up, while the more casual Aguamarina and the beach tapas bar have Caribbean views. Aside from daily ceviche and an occasional molé sauce on the rotating menus, the offerings are international rather than Mexican. At breakfast I had a choice of eggs benedict Italian-, Spanish- or Diamond-style (with black truffle hollandaise).
With Playa del Carmen, Cancún and the ruins of Tulum all nearby, the resort’s location makes it easy to explore Mexico. But with the warm Caribbean breeze and unlimited fruity cocktails, it’s just as simple to let the world slip away.
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