Kimpton Aluna Hotel: Tulum’s Hidden Gem

Feeling overwhelmed with the amount of hotels in Tulum? I was too until I found Hotel Aluna by Kimpton. If you’ve ever stayed at a Kimpton hotel before, you understand that there is truly a distinct difference from other hotel experiences. A stay at a Kimpton hotel is next level. The hotel group is leading the way in luxury boutique hotels and restaurants that provide truly unique properties with even more unique guest experiences to match. Kimpton Aluna is no exception. It’s Kimpton’s first property in booming Tulum and it does not disappoint!

My boyfriend, Michael, and I headed to Tulum for a relaxing vacation to celebrate our anniversary. We were looking for a place we could truly escape and forget all our worries. Kimpton Aluna Tulum was the perfect hotel for just that. With its stunning interiors and exteriors, affordable price for Tulum standards, versatile location, and top notch service you can’t go wrong.

Location

I loved the location of Kimpton Aluna Tulum. Located in Aldea Zama, between the beach and Tulum Town, it gives you the unique opportunity to explore both areas with ease. Hidden off the main road on an unpaved path, you will find the sprawling jungle property. My boyfriend and I biked into town for breakfast on our first day and it took about 15 minutes. The next day, we took a taxi to the sister beach club which only took about 10 minutes. All the prime locations are easily accesible. The area is also rapidly growing so there are lots of new shops, restaurants, and bars close by. For example, there is a new Aldea Zama location of the popular chain Matcha Mama only a 5 minute bike ride away from the hotel.

Service

The staff at the hotel was extremely helpful, friendly, and accommodating. Everyone greets with a smile when walking around the stunning property. Almost everyone on staff was fluent in English and for those that weren’t, they would always try their best to understand or find someone to translate. When you’re in a foreign country, communication is important! I appreciated the extra care they took to overcome that barrier.

Before we even arrived, the hotel was able to book our round trip private shuttle transportation to and from the Cancun Airport for us. All we had to do was send our itinerary via email and they took care of the rest! The hotel transfer was $205 round trip and was well worth it for the peace of mind we experienced. The driver waited for us at the terminal with a sign that had our names on it (this is always the coolest to me). We had a driver who spoke English and we had a spacious van with WiFi, air conditioning and ice cold water upon request. If you’re staying at Kimpton Aluna Tulum, I would highly recommend having them take care of your transport.

There were a few times when we needed items brought up to our room like extra towels, bottled water, or an ironing board. Each time, someone was at our door in less than 5 minutes with a friendly smile and our items to drop off. The staff is also full of AMAZING local recommendationsn in town like the restaurant Don Cafeto.

Service at the pool can be a little slower so I recommend just making the 30 second walk into the cafe to order and request that they bring it to you by the pool. If you’re at the rooftop pool – there isn’t any poolside service until 6pm when the neighboring restaurant Bhanu opens around 6pm. The swim up pool bar is beautiful but it isn’t opened. This is probably my only complaint about the hotel and it’s a very minor one.

We also made sure to tip anyone who helped us, even if it was just a dollar. The staff was always extremely grateful. I would highly recommend doing the same because this could have helped increase the amazing level of service we experienced.

Amenities

I can’t say enough good things about the amenities offered at Kimpton Aluna Tulum. They truly think of everything to make your experience effortless from end to end. One of my favorite amenities is the fact that you can access the Maia private beach club at their sister property, Ikal Tulum. They also have a shuttle that will take you there and back as well. The beach club is beautiful and they also have yoga each morning, make sure to get there EARLY if you want to get a beach bed cabana. They also have a beachside restaurant and bar with great food and drink selections.

The hotel also offers COVID-19 PCR testing on-site at the property which is convenient if you are not fully vaccinated yet. We made sure to schedule our tests with the front desk when we checked in. They currently only do testing on Monday, Wed and Friday. Per government mandate, you must test negative within 3 days of your return flight to the U.S. The nurse tells you onsite the results of your test and then results are emailed to you a few hours later for your records.

Social hour is also one of the best kept secret amenities at the hotel. Everyday from 5pm-6pm you can enjoy a complimentary cocktail and appetizers at the rooftop restaurant. You can pick any cocktail on the menu, we ordered the Hibiscus margarita, it was well mixed, beautiful, and refreshing. The appetizers were also delicious and change out daily. It’s a great start to dinner!

I can’t say enough good things about the 2 amazing pools on property! Both are stunning! The rooftop pool is more private and I absolutely loved the cabanas for lounging in once you get out of the pool . The downstairs pool is the main attraction surrounded by beautiful jungle with pool chairs to accompany. Much more room for swimming and chilling in the downstairs pool.

Other amazing amenities include:

• Loaner Bikes
• Coffee bar in the morning
• A/c
• Wi-Fi in room & public spaces
• Loaner Beach Bag
• Beach Towels
• Bottled Water
• In-room fridge

Dining

Kimpton Aluna boasts two unique restaurant concepts for hotel guests and walk-ins.

Bhanu is the brand new open air kitchen concept on the roof of the hotel. It is only opened for dinner starting at 5pm. The concept is dark with recessed lighting, very romantic for couples. In addition to tables, they also have longe area seating which is great for enjoying cocktails before or after dinner.

Parralel 20 is located on the first floor of the hotel and is adjacent to the pool in the center of everything. It’s bright, airy, and open. The concept serves breakfast, lunch, dinner, and cocktails.

We both personally preferred the food at Bhanu! The overall rooftop experience and fusion cuisine are a must try. Order the lobster roll and mac n cheese, they do not disappoint! For drinks, we stuck to the classic margarita which were truly some of the best margaritas we’ve ever had!!

Hotel Rooms

Boho chic at its finest! The rooms gave me major decor inspo for my own bedroom. The minimalist design with beautiful wooden furniture, stone walls, and macrame wall hanging was a whole vibe. My favorite part of the room was our balcony complete with 2 deck chairs and a hut fringed roof overlooking the jungle lanscape and gleaming pool. I highly suggest staying on the 3rd floor for this reason. We enjoyed coffee outside on the patio every morning to really soak it all in.

Another great room amenitiy was the waterfall shower. The design makes you feel like you are showering outside with the stone walls and pebble floors plus recessed lighting but has all the comforts of inside, AKA no bugs. The water pressure was divine and the temperature could get to boiling if needed! Just the way I like my 20 minute long hotel showers.

Overall, we loved our stay! It was perfect for the relaxing vacation we needed. If you are looking for a little more action and set on going out every night, you might want to stay closer to the hotel zone. However, if you’re looking for a laid back trip with an occasional night out then I 10/10 recommend. I will definitely be back.

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