ITTN’s Shane Cullen is in the luxurious setting of Hilton Tulum, set along the stunning coastline of Mexico’s Yucatán Peninsula. As a guest of Aer Lingus and Hilton, Shane travels with the Irish travel trade and media to experience Aer Lingus’ direct service from Dublin Airport to Cancún and explore what this part of Mexico has to offer Irish tourists.
While there have been direct charters from Dublin to Cancún in the past, this is Aer Lingus’ first direct service, operating thrice weekly up to the end of April. Hilton Tulum attracts an international clientele with many from the USA, increasingly Canada, Mexico and across Europe. The direct service makes this long-haul destination significantly easier, and with the airlines’ flexibility, guests can opt for a duration that fits their timetable.
Hilton Tulum Riviera Maya
This five-star luxury property stretches along a sizeable private beach with turquoise waters under the Mexican sun. Two commanding doors open, perfectly framing the seaview from the lobby. Touches of vibrant Mexican colours adorn the furnishings and artwork, lending a local energy and personality to this vast property. Guests were welcomed with a margarita cocktail on arrival.
All-Inclusive Resort – Tulum Riviera Maya
This is a vast, low-rise complex with a dozen buildings and 735 rooms (59 of which are suites) set in lush, tropical grounds. The premium (Enclave) rooms are closest to the main building, where many of the activities are located. At the far end is the very well-equipped children’s centre and splash pool area. The hotel has its own private beach as well as eight outdoor pools (including an adults-only pool).
This property is about 1 hour and 45 minutes from Cancún Airport, though it has a great beachside location (private beach) and is a few minutes (6km) from Xel-Há Amusement Park. The hotel can arrange airport transfers (additional cost).
Travelling in January, the temperature was an idyllic 28 degrees Celsius and beautifully sunny.
Before detailing the extensive facilities, the atmosphere is worth emphasising. The staff are terrific, friendly and engaging – they chat, listen and joke. It feels like a holiday, luxurious but also relaxed and fun.
Dining & Drinks
This is an all-inclusive resort with 13 bars and eateries. This includes two buffet main dining options (one in the main building and a second near the end of the resort, where many of the children’s activities and the splash pool are located). There are five speciality restaurants which are also part of the all-inclusive offering (certain menu items may have a surcharge).
The group dined in the main restaurant for breakfast with an extensive, high-quality, flavourful breakfast. Staff took coffee orders at the table, and there was plenty of choice to cater for all tastes. Beverages here are premium label, and cocktails are high-end, crafted by mixologists. And when in Mexico, try the Margaritas.
Wifi is fast (even fast enough for video calls) and when you’re not missing loved ones at home (or gleefully calling from glorious sunshine), there is plenty of activities to keep guests occupied and entertained – beach movie nights, silent discos, fire artists, live musicians, dj sessions and plenty of kids activities.
There is a wide variety of options when it comes to dining:
- Maxal Mexican Chop House restaurant offers vibrant flavours of Mexico in a refined, authentic setting. Maxal brings traditional cuisine to life with bold regional spices and expertly prepared chicken, beef, and fish dishes. Enjoy handmade tortillas, fresh corn, and classic sides—all part of an effortless, all-inclusive escape that celebrates Mexico’s culinary heritage.
- Chiringuito Seasalt Mexican Restaurant – offers Mexican fusion grill and serves a selection of tapas
- Vela Norte – showcasing international favourites alongside authentic Mexican cuisine for breakfast, lunch and dinner.
- La Luce offers the flavours of Italian cuisine
- Noriku Asian restaurant offers contemporary Asian cuisine and features signature sushi rolls, sashimi, alongside hand-crafted cocktails, wine, and beers.
- Auma Steakhouse offers cuts of beef expertly cooked by skilled chefs.
- Azulinda Café offers soups, salads, sandwiches, ice-cream and coffee around the clock.
- Azulinda Lobby Bar – offers food and drinks, with outside balcony seating overlooking the sea.
There are also three pool bars, plus a lounge bar and a poolside grill exclusively for Enclave guests
An Upgrade to Enclave Offers Guests an Elevated Experience
- Private lounge with dining, a cocktail bar, billiards, outdoor seating and premium Wifi.
- Access to Chiringuito Cocomar poolside grill with seafood specialities, exclusive to Enclave guests
- Priority access to wellness activities and fitness classes
- 2 pools set in lush palm trees with loungers and umbrellas – exclusive for Enclave guests
- Enclave guests also have an upgraded minibar and coffee area
Lead-In Sea View Room
I stayed in the lead-in seaview room in the fourth block. The ground-floor room was spacious, spotless and stylish.
The large bathroom area has a separate toilet and shower, plenty of posh amenities, a sizeable storage area and a mini-bar with snacks and drinks plus a coffee station (Nespresso). The complimentary minibar was restocked daily.
Happy Kids, Happy Life
The hotel offers a kids club for children aged 4-12, filled with arts and crafts, gaming stations and toys. There is a water playground, a family pool, unlimited ice cream and plenty of activities to keep little ones entertained with circus shows, treasure hunts, make your own piñatas and even evening slumber parties (1 hour 45 minutes or plenty of time to have a quiet meal sans enfants).
There is also a teen zone. Teens aged 13–17 can kick back in their own exclusive lounge—a safe, stylish space to relax, watch TV, enjoy music, and connect with new friends. It’s the ultimate chill-out zone designed just for them with video games, pool table, table tennis, mini-golf and more.
Easter Inspiration
The flights with Aer Lingus are very reasonable given the long-haul destination. This could be a fantastic Easter holiday for families or an ideal winter/spring getaway for a couple or group of friends. The hotel easily earns every one of its stars, the staff are friendly, and it feels like Irish hospitality abroad – they even get our humour.
