We had a great time at Camino Real Diamante. The hotel is lovely and in a beautiful spot. We selected a "CLUB" room to include breakfast and a cocktail hour. Unfortunately, they never seemed to recognize this, and we were always billed for the meals and cocktails - and then they needed to check with the front desk and get them reversed. This was not really a big deal, but a constant annoyance. The staff was very friendly and nice. The room itself was very nice with a fabulous view and nice amenties. The bath was also lovely. We enjoyed the restaurants and found them to be reasonably priced. There are several pools and they are beautiful. All in all it was a great time -I would have rated it "excellent" if it weren't for the confusion with the charges. We used a very good driver both from the airport and for a tour of Acapulco. His name was Roberto Alarcon and you find his phone number by searching on the web.

Having read dozens of reviews of the Camino Real, we really didn't know what to expect, but as we have discovered in the past, the "Trip Advisor" reports generally paint an accurate picture, if not one tempered by a single positive or negative experience.

Acapulco is a hate it or love it kind of place. It's crowded, dirty, crime-ridden, but at the same time, beautiful, active, and of course tropical. We absolutely didn't care for the city, and after a run-in with the local traffic cops, who, after stopping us for unknown reasons, had to bribed so we could continue on our way. We wisely decided to spend our long holiday weekend in or around the resort.

Upon arrival at the Camino Real we upgraded our room to a suite on the 8th floor which is located on a building separate from the main buidling. The suite was huge, impeccably clean, and with lovely views towards the Bay and the beach areas to the East.

The two tiny beaches in front of the Camino Real are quite a delight compared to the usual Acapulco fair - they are nearly private, with gentle waves, and devoid of the incessant beach peddlers who will pester you nearly each minute. One day we visited the large beach over at the Acapulco Princess for a change, but we eventually beaten into retreat by vendors and huge bone-crushing waves!

The La Vela restaurant was excellent and we ate there every evening. The food was well prepared, tasty, and a delight to enjoy while overlooking the bay. Prices were moderate compared to American fair, although a bit high for Mexico (typically running $50-60 dollars a person with wine or drinks). The other restaurants were pleasant, and we usually ordered lunch and drinks while lounging around the pools or beach area. As others have mentioned, once you understand the layout of the resort, it is possible to nearly always find a quiet or private area to relax.

Our only real complaint, and it is a serious one, is the indifference of the staff. Rarely did any of them seem interested in our well-being or desire for prompt service. The room service staff rarely got our order correct, and the beach/pool people seemed more attuned to the wealthy Mexican families around us, and would often ignore us unless we went out of our way to try to snag their attention. There were some exceptions, namely Tomas who brought us plentiful margaritas and wonderful seafood preparations for lunch each day.

Would we return?... no, but only because we didn’t think much of the city and there are so many other places in the world where the beaches are nicer, the prices lower, and the staff a bit more friendly.

My family (husband, 17 yr old son and 10 yr old daughter) recently returned from Acapulco. We stayed at the Camino Real hotel. It was really an excellent hotel, and we were very pleased with every aspect of it. It is in this gated community and, once you go thru the gate, you drive down a rather long winding drive to get to the hotel down near the bayside. Puerto Marquez bay, where the hotel is located, is a pretty little bay, without all the people and busy-ness of Acapulco bay. The hotel grounds are terraced and have some really nice views of the bay and surrounding land. Per some of the other reviews of this hotel, the beach is not very big at all, and it's on the bay not ocean. But from what I understand the beaches of hotels on the ocean aren't all that great anyway because the surf is too strong and dangerous. If you have kids of any age, this beach at Camino Real really has many advantages. It's small so kids can't really get lost. The water is mild and swimmable, even for small kids. All Acapulco beaches are open to general public, and some we visited were very crowded with local residents - many selling various wares. At Camino Real, because of it's location within the gated community, there is really no one from outside the hotel that goes to the beach, except for two or three jet ski rental guys who rent out their "skis" to hotel guests. If you have a plain and simple snorkle mask, you can see some great little fish right there near the rocks just there in knee or waist deep water. If you are a beach person that needs to be on the sand and in the sun, this may not be the place for you. But the other aspect is that the many terraces across the grounds offer whatever you might want - can be next to pool with great view of bay and in sun or shade with waiters bringing you drinks and food, can be on a mostly tree shaded terrace with great view of bay and beach, can be on very private little "peninsula" with just 2 chaises and right out in prime sun, surrounded by the bay. there are great opportunities for finding a nice private spot for yourself. The grounds are interesting too - reminded me of some places in southern Spain - because there are these many steps and paths and levels.

It's worth paying the higher rate to have daily breakfast included. It's a bit of a taxi ride to get to anywhere offsite, and the breakfast buffet at the hotel is great - includes traditional mexican (some of which seems more like lunch than breakfast) but also eggs any way you want them, pancakes, french toast, crepes, fresh fruit, etc. The other restaurant down by the beach is very good as well - all open air and nice views. All of the rooms in the hotel have bay view, and are very comfortable and clean. Someone said the mattresses are hard, and it's true. No Westin Heavenly Bed here. But, being a loyal fan of Westin HB and rather picky on rooms, I was very happy with the rooms here.

Happy hour in the open-air lobby bar was really pleasant - and looked forward to every day.

As for transportation, we saw the great reviews on Roberto Alarcon on TripAdvisor, and contacted him advance via email. He met us at the airport and basically took us whereever we needed to go. He gave us city tour, which was great. And he speaks great English, is very pleasant and polite, incredibly accommodating and we highly recommend him. If you put his name in the search box on TripAdvisor Acapulco pages, you'll see other reviews and info on him.

A really GREAT restaurant in town is La Mansion. Steak house. Get the Arracherra for sure.

The pluses -
Nice swimming pools. Decent service. Nice restaurants with view of the ocean. Tennis court. Ping pong table. Nice people, no loud spring breakers.

The minuses -
The little beach isn't the best. Jet skis leave oil in the water. The towels are a little worn, not fluffy. No bathrobes. The room was humid with a musty, moldy smell. Don't order the spaghetti bolognese. Other food was fine. Poor TV reception. Only three channels.