With just 96 rooms, Eurostar Blue is much smaller than other all–inclusives; its style is also markedly different, with sleek, Asian–inspired touches rather than old–fashioned frills and plush carpeting. It also dispenses with the usual all–inclusive restrictions, such as additional charges for premium liquors, and concentrates on concierge service and a really lavish spa (for which there are additional charges).

Eurostar Blue Tulum has also adopted many of the service details of high–end European–plan resorts, such as a pre–arrival questionnaire on which guests can note favorite wines, music, even scents, which will be placed in their rooms ahead of time. All rooms have iPods, DVD players, wireless Internet and a menu of pillows to choose from.

Even leaving aside these amenities, the standard suites are generous, each with a sitting area and a capacious bathroom. The standard suite has a double whirlpool tub outside on a terrace, while the higher room categories bring the tub indoors and increase the square–footage accordingly; which layout you choose depends on how much privacy you'd like, although the terrace tubs are not exposed. The decor is stylish but not austere, done in warm neutrals with pretty touches like bamboo plants and a blue–glass skylight over the tub.

One potentially major drawback––especially considering its location on one of the most beautiful seafronts on Mexico's Caribbean coast––is that the resort has virtually no beach. Instead, rugged cliffs dotted with greenery drop into the blue sea (which also gives the "ocean view" suites a novel outlook). In the center of the property is a small, terraced plot of sand; you can enter the water from a short pier that juts out into the water.

Nonetheless, the setting is beautiful, even potentially refreshing for those who might find beaches monotonous. The large infinity pool, ringed with black wicker double–wide lounge chairs and staffed by "pool butlers" bearing cold towels and plates of fruit, is perfectly adequate.

Like Royal Hideaway Playacar, Eurostar Blue Tulum prides itself on its food, but because it doesn't aspire to such haute cuisine as its competitor, it actually is more successful. The head chef's tastes, which play out in three restaurants, range all over the globe but emphasize natural ingredients and concentrated, pure flavors––very fitting for the tropical climate. All drinks are made only with fresh fruit, a huge range of sakes are available at the pan–Asian restaurant, and the house wines, produced for the resort by an Argentine winemaker, are quite palatable.

Thanks to its small scale and its more contemporary attitude (no co–ed water–polo matches here), Eurostar Blue Tulum might win a few converts to the all–inclusive vacation; its enthusiastic culinary program might also educate a few guests who wouldn't otherwise be so interested in the food.


Web Address: Eurostar Blue Tulum
Total Number of Rooms: 96
Published rates: from $320 to $667 per person, all–inclusive

Review and photos by Zora O'Neill