With just 96 suites, the Eurostars Blue Tulum luxury resort on Mexico's Riviera Maya is intimate, ensuring personalized service from attentive staff during your stay. The luxury property is set right on the Caribbean Sea and boasts stellar views of the turquoise waters. This is a new resort that just opened in 2007, and much care was taken to maintain the natural integrity of the area's lush tropical flora. This is evident as soon as you enter the main, open-air lobby, where jungle vegetation peeks in from the outdoors.

Luxurious accommodations

Rooms here are designed in a contemporary, Mexican-Mediterranean style. Soothing natural hues set the tone for tranquility. Each guest is given a menu to select custom pillows, aromatherapy scents and soaps for the room. And each suite features an oversized balcony with an outdoor Jacuzzi and views of the lush gardens or the ocean.

The suites are located in six villas, and each separate villa building is staffed with its own concierge desk and butler, who will attend to your every need. this is pampering at its finest!

Upscale dining options

The gourmet dining options are outstanding. No long lines at buffets here. Instead order off an a la carte menu at Globe, the main restaurant that is open for breakfast, lunch and dinner, or the poolside View restaurant for lunch or dinner. Yuzu grill and sake parlor is open in the evening, with Asian cuisine. Have a drink at the swim-up bar or at Tinto, the sophisticated wine and piano lounge. Remember, this is an all-inclusive property, so food and drink is included in the price of your room rate. Order margaritas to your heart's content!

Romantic and pampering amenities

Lounging outside takes on new meaning at the stunning, free-form "infinity pool" at Eurostars Blue Tulum. The innovative flow features makes it appear as if the pool water runs right into the Caribbean Sea. Four outdoor hot tubs are located steps away from the pool, under airy shelter offering respite from the hot sun. Two other sweet spots for snuggling: the swings-built-for-two and the "kissing chairs" that face the ocean.

Other fabulous amenities include the expansive Akta'an Ha Spa (which means "in front of the sea" in Mayan), which offers soothing treatments, including hot stone massage, Thai massage, couples massage (in private VIP suites), as well as body scrubs, facials and herbal baths. One unusual ritual is the Temazcal, an ancient Mayan purifying and detoxifying ritual performed in a sweat lodge by a shaman. (Personally, I'd like to try the "Chocolate Bath" treatment--pure decadence!) A full-service salon offers manicures, pedicures, waxing and hair styling. And the fitness center has entirely new, state-of-the-art equipment.

A few things to keep in mind

Eurostars Blue Tulum is located in the southern section of the Riviera Maya, nearly two hours from the Cancun International Airport. So, be prepared for a lengthy taxi or shuttle ride before you arrive at your hotel. You might consider renting a car so you can have the flexibility to explore the coast on your own. The ancient Mayan ruins of Tulum are just a few minutes away. Other inviting activities including snorkeling in the many cenotes (underground natural rivers) in the area or visiting Xel-Ha or Xcaret, two vast ecological parks, with opportunities for snorkeling, kayaking, innertubing and more.

The resort does not have much direct beachfront, so if you're looking to frolic in the waves right in front of your hotel, it's not going to happen at Eurostars Blue Tulum. There is a some sandy spot with lounge chairs near the rocky entrance to the ocean, but if it's a long stretch of beach you want, you can take a complimentary resort shuttle to a public beach in Tulum.