Vacationers looking for a totally different type of beachfront resort in the Hotel Zone should look no further than Casa Turquesa.  Located next to Kukulcan Plaza shopping mall, this four-story, Mediterranean-style hotel looks and feels more like a private villa than a Cancun resort.  With only 30 large suites, Casa Turquesa is a boutique property which boasts a grand spiral staircase, multiple terraces with views of the gorgeous Caribbean Sea, beach palapas, and an infinity pool.  Perhaps the most unusual feature of Casa Turquesa is its onsite art gallery and use of museum quality artwork in both interior and exterior spaces.  Paintings, sculptures, and murals are placed throughout the hotel which provide countless hours of enjoyment for the art lover.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Stepping into the marble lobby, guests will be delighted at the grand yet serene atmosphere with its spiral staircase, comfortable sofa groupings, grand piano (there are four onsite), and numerous pieces of artwork which set the tone for the hotel.  After guests are checked in at the small reception table they are free to wander and enjoy views of the sea through floor-to-ceiling arched windows which infuse the lobby with natural light.  Stepping outdoors there is another grand staircase which leads down to the infinity pool, surrounding terrace, and El Mirador restaurant.  The pool has a large shallow shelf and swim-up bar; wooden loungers are padded but there are few shade umbrellas.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Guests who wander down to the beach will be thrilled with the soft white sand, shade palapas, several day beds, and the turquoise Caribbean Sea.  There is no need to get up at the crack of dawn to reserve chairs at Casa Turquesa, but early risers may have to set up their own beach loungers.  Vacationers who enjoy long walks on the sand can do so in either direction.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

There are wonderful ocean views offered from many of the hotel suites–some water views can even be had while lying in one’s bed, but this is not the norm.  Guest rooms are works of art in themselves with unique paintings, statues or vases in wall niches, with different décor in each room.  Various guest room categories offer such amenities as a balcony Jacuzzi, kitchenette, separate living room area, or two stories of living space.  Given the dated look of guest rooms in this property, efforts have been underway since 2015 to gradually renovate all 30 of them–check with the hotel prior to booking to see what rooms have been completed if this is important to a great vacation.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Guests who don’t need any planned activities to have a good time will find Casa Turquesa to be a much better fit with their vacation needs.  There is no “animation team”, no planned games, no theater, and no live performances.  Tennis lovers, however, will find a court; the bars and clubs for which Cancun is famous are only a 15-20 minute drive away for those wanting some evening entertainment (public buses are easily found along the main street).  While there is no official spa at Casa Turquesa, guests can have a massage either beachfront or in the privacy of their room.

Although this hotel advertises itself as being family-friendly, most children would find it to be extremely boring.  While there are no organized activities for children and no onsite playground, parents may find it appealing that children can stay free of charge (the cutoff age is 12).  This resort is primarily for couples or singles who want to get away from the hectic pace of life and enjoy some serious R&R in an elegant and art-filled environment.

Type of Resort:  Family-friendly, all-inclusive optional

Pro:  All-suites boutique hotel, beach

Con:  Very quiet atmosphere, WiFi and room service $, no lobby bar, rooms outdated

Best Suited For:  Art loving couples or singles who want the ambiance of an elegant, private Mediterranean villa with an oceanfront view.

No. of Rooms:  30

Room Amenities:  King or two queen beds, balcony/terrace, A/C, table and chair, walk-in dressing area and closet, flat screen TV, digital safe, iron/ironing board upon request, hair dryer, separate tub and shower, and toiletries (some rooms do not have a mini-bar and all rooms lack a coffee maker).  Room service and WiFi are an extra charge.  Here is a brief rundown of guest room categories:

• Garden Suite:  King bed in separate bedroom, living room with sofa and sofa bed, coffee table, mini-bar, robes, iPod dock, terrace with table and four chairs.  Ground floor suite.
• Jr. Suite Partial Ocean View:  King or two queen beds, sitting area with sofa, table and two chairs, vanity table and chair, terrace Jacuzzi, mini-bar.  Located on the ground floor with direct access to the pool.
• Jr. Suite Ocean View:  King or two queen beds, sitting area with sofa, table and three chairs, vanity table and chair, balcony Jacuzzi, iPod dock, robes.
• Honeymoon Penthouse Suite:  Two-story suite; the upper floor offers a king bed, full bathroom, access to a balcony with Jacuzzi and two full loungers.  The first floor offers a living room with sofa, two love seats, coffee table, kitchenette, half bathroom, and Jacuzzi.  This category also includes robes, iPod dock.  Ocean view.
• Minister Suite:  Two bedroom suite (king bed, two queen beds) each with its own private bathroom and flat screen TV, robes, iPod dock, living room with sofa, coffee table, mini-bar, and two armchairs, dining table and four chairs, balcony with Jacuzzi, table and two chairs.  Ocean view.
• Ambassador Suite:  Two bedroom suite (king, queen and twin bed) each with its own private bathroom and flat screen TV, robes, iPod dock, spacious living room with multiple sofas, two armchairs, coffee table, flat screen TV, kitchenette, dining table and six chairs, half bathroom, smoking room with cigar humidors.  This suite was created and decorated by Ernesto Milanes Ruiz, a renowned Cuban artist.  Oceanfront.
• Presidential Suite:  Two-story suite; the upper floor offers two bedrooms (king, two queen beds) each with its own full bathroom and flat screen TV, robes, iPod dock, while the first floor offers a spacious living room with two sofas, two armchairs, coffee table, flat screen TV, access to large balcony with table and four chairs and Jacuzzi, kitchenette, half bathroom.  Ocean view.
• Royal Suite:  Three bedroom suite (king, two queens, two twin beds) each with its own private bathroom and flat screen TV, robes, iPod dock, two living room areas each with multiple sofas and armchairs, coffee tables, dining room with table and six chairs, kitchenette, terrace with Jacuzzi and table and chairs.  Oceanfront location with direct beach access.

Physically Challenged Rooms:  This property is not recommended for the physically challenged.

Resort Amenities:  Infinity pool (there is a swim-up bar but it is not manned on a regular basis), Jacuzzi, beachfront massage tables, tennis court, art pieces throughout the property, beach wait service, library, fax/copying service, dry cleaning/laundry service, concierge, gift shop, limo/town car service.

Restaurants/Bars:  There are three restaurants including El Mirador and the open-air Belle Vue which are both open for breakfast and lunch, while the Celebrity a la carte restaurant offers international fare and is open for dinner.  There are two bars–the poolside bar and the bar within the Celebrity restaurant (the swim-up bar is open from time-to-time).

Entertainment:  There is no regularly scheduled entertainment since this is a quiet resort.  There are several grand pianos located throughout the resort which may produce some entertainment possibilities.

Website:  http://www.casaturquesa.com/hotel-overview.html