Two New Tulum Hotels That Highlight the Best of Luxurious Resort Life

The Conrad Tulum: The brand’s first foray into the Mexican Caribbean

Photo: © 2023 Hilton

The playful Conrad Tulum is the brand’s first foray into the Mexican Caribbean market. With a design inspired by Tulum’s jungle-meets-ocean landscape, it’s a luxury property that still has a fun vibe. The entire property looks like it was designed as a social media creator’s playground with so many TikTokable spots.

When I stayed, the clientele were mostly youngish couples or groups of friends. This is the kind of place where DJs spin by the pool on weekend afternoons and four-course full moon dinner parties are thrown on the beach with communal tables.

Photo: © 2023 Hilton

Everything about this property is beautiful and classy. The five swimming pools are perfectly laid out with options for chairs in the water, with water surrounding it, or in a cabana. The spa is a wonderful place to relax. Treatments are inspired by ancient rituals and local elements.

Photo: © 2023 Hilton

The beach here is equally gorgeous and, when I visited, it was void of the seaweed that often plagues this area. Explore the turquoise hued water in a kayak or SUP board or grab a mask, snorkel, and fins to check out the underwater reef with its bright coral and fish accessible from the resort’s beach.

Nearly all the Conrad’s 349 rooms and have boast ocean views. All have private balconies with an outdoor relaxation tub. Even the entry level rooms have impressive bathrooms with spacious showers with windows, double sinks, and luxe amenities. The rooms all feature polished wood furnishings, black stone floors, Nespresso machines, 65-inch HDTVs, and lots of closet space. Suites add more space and have dining space for eight.

An impressive food and beverage program

Photo: © 2023 Hilton

The Conrad has 11 dining venues showcasing flavors from across the globe. This is not an all-inclusive resort, however, so meals and poolside drinks can add up pricewise. But when compared to other area 5-star hotels, I found the prices at the Conrad to be more affordable (you’ll pay $10 to $15 for a cocktail instead of $25, for example).

Autor is the signature Mexican restaurant, and offers a curated tasting experience that reflects the history and heritage of the chef in residence. Ukai serves sustainably sourced sushi and does a great bowl of ramen. While Maratea serves Mediterranean fare that pays tribute to cuisines from Spain to North Africa, Greece to Turkey.

Photo: © 2023 Hilton

My favorite dining experience at the Conrad is at Arbolea. The restaurant is only open for breakfast and does a fabulous buffet spread. There is a station where you pick your fruit to be squeezed into fresh juice, and another dedicated solely to avocado toast. The omelet and quesadilla stations are also heavenly. The bed and breakfast package isn’t cheap, but you’ll be so full afterwards you won’t need lunch.

Hilton Tulum Riviera Maya: A glam all-inclusive luxury resort

The Hilton Tulum All-Inclusive Riviera Maya Resort feels like a glamorous luxury property, yet still delivers an all-inclusive experience. The hotel is Hilton’s first all-inclusive resort to open in this region. In another first for the brand, it offers an “Enclave Level,” which is its version of a club level. Rooms and suites on this floor come with private check-in, a lounge with snacks and beverages, elevated in-room amenities, and a private pool area.

The 735 key hotel shares an oceanfront location with the Conrad, but both hotels feel separate from each other. And even though the Hilton Tulum is Hilton’s largest resort in the Caribbean and Latin America, it still feels personal.

Designed with locally sourced materials to match the natural environment, each guest room comes complete with a private balcony offering either a nature or ocean view. I stayed in one of the 59 suites, all of which have ocean views from generous balconies and large, separate living and dining spaces. The ambiance is fresh and modern with an earthy color palette.

Amenities are Plentiful at the Hilton Tulum Riviera Maya

Photo: © 2023 Hilton

The Hilton Tulum Riviera Maya features plenty of amenities to keep you busy. If you love a good pool, you won’t be disappointed by the selection here. There are nine resort pools, each offering something different – including one reserved just for adults. There is also a well-equipped fitness center with a yoga studio and spin room.

Photo: © 2023 Hilton

A family-friendly hotel, Hilton Tulum also has plenty of amenities geared towards kids. This includes a kids’ club with organized activities from pinata making to pool float races. There’s also a splash-pool, a water park playground, and an indoor playroom. Teens have their own club with a movie room, video games, and ping pong and pool tables.

Photo: © 2023 Hilton

The resort’s multiple dining experiences are also top notch and include five signature restaurants, bars and lounges with an upscale beverage program, a coffee shop and deli, as well as numerous casual poolside offerings. Maxal serves locally sourced, traditional Mexican fare, while La Luce is the Italian restaurant, that does excellent wood fire pizzas. Auma is a classic steakhouse, while Noriku does modern Asian quite well. Enclave guests also have access to Chiringuito Cocomar, which does ceviche and other seafood dishes. There are also bars by the pools, including some swim up options.

For an all-inclusive resort, the quality of the food impressed me — as did the strength of the drinks and the premium liquor available for them.