Ixtapa Zihuatanejo Mexico

Fishing Report - September 18

noreply@blogger.com (Roberto Gonzales) — Thu, 18 Sep 2008 10:26:00 +0000

Ixtapa Zihuatanejo, Mexico Fishing Conditions

Fishing has been relative slow here this last week. Part of the blame is the fishing has actually been slow, but the main reason is there are very few charters going out fishing to find the concentrations and areas of fish. We have only 4 to 5 boats a day on the water, including both the inshore and offshore.

Sailfish are averaging about 1 fish per boat per day, and even though the 20 pound plus dorado are averaging 1 fish per day per boat, if you hit the right floating log, at the right time, the action can be fantastic.

There were no reports on the inshore action, but last week's 3 inches of rain, while not intense, kept the rivers flowing and the inshore waters stained.

Report provided by Ed Kunze - Sportfishing Charters in Ixtapa Zihuatanejo - www.sportfishing-ixtapa.com

Fishing Report - September 11

noreply@blogger.com (Roberto Gonzales) — Thu, 11 Sep 2008 09:37:00 +0000

Ixtapa Zihuatanejo, Mexico Fishing Conditions

With the recent rains, the blue water has moved out to the 15 mile mark, with a distinctive weed line defining the separation of off colored water and the blue water. The demarcation line is also holding game fish.

Martin, on the 35 foot cruiser Nautilus, fished the weed line for this last 5 days straight, averaging at least one 20 pound plus dorado and 2 sails a day. His 5 day total was 11 sailfish and 6 dorado.

September is usually the wettest month of the year for us, but most of the rain comes at night, with the fleet being able to fish every day so far. The only problem we had with the weather this week was, due to the heavy outflow from the rivers, the inshore water was murky. Plus, the waves along the shoreline this week were very high. These two conditions combined for very tough roosterfish fishing.

Report provided by Ed Kunze - Sportfishing Charters in Ixtapa Zihuatanejo - www.sportfishing-ixtapa.com

Fishing Report - September 3rd

noreply@blogger.com (Roberto Gonzales) — Wed, 03 Sep 2008 18:40:00 +0000

Ixtapa Zihuatanejo, Mexico Fishing Conditions

After a very below normal rainfall for August, we had a bit of rain this last week, which caused a lot of debris to come out of the rivers. Late Monday night we got a huge thunderstorm with 2 1/4" of rain in one hour.

This wiped out the inshore waters with stained water.

However, the blue water was only moved out to the 10 mile mark. The sailfish action is decent. Martin on the Nautilus had days of 2, 4, 1, and 3 sailfish starting on Sunday. He also reported lots of black skipjack tuna just off the dirty inshore water.

No dorado or tuna have been reported, but with the debris in the water, the dorado cannot be too far
behind.

Report provided by Ed Kunze - Sportfishing Charters in Ixtapa Zihuatanejo - www.sportfishing-ixtapa.com

Winter Travel: Fewer Flights, Elusive Bargains

noreply@blogger.com (Roberto Gonzales) — Tue, 02 Sep 2008 10:55:00 +0000

By Michelle Higgins, New York Times News Service | August 27, 2008

Last year, Nikki Frahm, operations manager at Carlson Wagonlit Travel in Forest Lake, Minn., arranged a February vacation for a family of four to Ixtapa, Mexico. They enjoyed the trip so much that last month, they called Frahm and asked her to sign them up for the same vacation this year.

There's just one catch: The vacation may be the same, but the price will not.

Last year, the family paid less than $250 per person to fly nonstop from Minneapolis to Ixtapa. This year, those same tickets are $504 a person, said Frahm, raising the cost of the family's vacation by more than $1,000.

As airlines cut flights and add fuel surcharges, "this is the kind of thing we're seeing over and over again," said Frahm. "Inventory is shrinking and the prices are escalating - supply and demand."

Fishing Report - August 28

noreply@blogger.com (Roberto Gonzales) — Thu, 28 Aug 2008 19:27:00 +0000

Ixtapa Zihuatanejo, Mexico Fishing Conditions

The fishing has been a bit slow this week. With the blue water only 6 miles off the beach, the conditions would seem to be very good, but we have had wind at least 4 days so far this week. The wind has kept the sailfish average down to only about 1 or 2 fish per day per boat, and nobody has been going out further than about 15 miles to look for tuna.

There are a few dorado showing in the counts, but it is only about 1 boat out of 3 scoring on the 20 pound plus fish.

Santiago, on the panga Gitana, fished inshore one day and had an unusual catch of triple tails. They scored on an even dozen of the 6 to 8 pound tasty fish. He found them off the outlets of the river mouths and hiding under the debris that had washed out from the river.

Roosterfish and jack crevalle action is still holding up with very good action.

Report provided by Ed Kunze - Sportfishing Charters in Ixtapa Zihuatanejo - www.sportfishing-ixtapa.com

Air Canada Winter Flights

noreply@blogger.com (Roberto Gonzales) — Fri, 22 Aug 2008 07:20:00 +0000

Air Canada has announced it's preliminary winter schedule for flights from Canada to Ixtapa Zihuatanejo, Mexico.

The details are as follows and are subject to change.

Vancouver – Ixtapa Zihuatanejo, 1 Airbus 319, Effective ?? (presumably December 20th).

Toronto – Ixtapa Zihuatanejo, 1 Airbus 319, Effective December 20th.

Calgary – Ixtapa Zihuatanejo, 1 Airbus 319, Effective December 20th.

No word yet on whether they plan to use their newly authorized routes from Edmonton and Montreal, under the Canada - Mexico bilateral agreement.

Fishing Report- Aug 21

noreply@blogger.com (Roberto Gonzales) — Thu, 21 Aug 2008 19:19:00 +0000

Ixtapa Zihuatanejo, Mexico Fishing Conditions

With the full moon late this last week, we are experiencing the normal slow down in the action. The blue water is still close to the beach, with all conditions leading to excellent fishing, if the moon phase would just cooperate.

However, the 1 to 2 sailfish per boat per day average is still not all that bad. The dorado and tuna are still a no show.

Inshore, the rains have been holding off and the water is clear. It is an ideal situation for roosters, and they are responding. There is excellent action on the roosterfish, and very good action on large jack crevalle to about 20 pounds.

Report provided by Ed Kunze - Sportfishing Charters in Ixtapa Zihuatanejo - www.sportfishing-ixtapa.com

More Flights From Canada

noreply@blogger.com (Roberto Gonzales) — Thu, 21 Aug 2008 16:18:00 +0000

Ixtapa Zihuatanejo may be better served by Canadian airlines in the future in accordance with the recently-expanded bilateral air transport agreement between Canada and Mexico.

In addition to existing flights to Ixtapa Zihuatanejo, the following new routes are available:

Air Canada
- Edmonton - Ixtapa / Zihuatanejo
- Montreal - Ixtapa / Zihuatanejo

Air Transat
- Calgary - Ixtapa/Zihuatanejo
- Edmonton - Ixtapa/Zihuatanejo

Westjet, SkyService, SunWing
They don't seem to have figured out that this is a destination for them!

Under the provisions of Canada’s international air transportation policy, all Canadian air carriers may apply to the Transport Minister for designation to operate scheduled international services.

The 1961 Canada - Mexico bilateral Air Transport Agreement, as amended in 1999 and 2007, governs scheduled air services between the two countries.

Fishing Report - August 14

noreply@blogger.com (Roberto Gonzales) — Fri, 15 Aug 2008 02:38:00 +0000

Ixtapa Zihuatanejo, Mexico Fishing Conditions

The 82º blue water is just a couple of miles off the beach. Fishing has been very good for sailfish, but poor for marlin, tuna, and dorado. Most boats are averaging 2 to 3 sailfish a day each. Early in the week, Martin, on the Nautilus released 4 sails.

The roosterfish action is holding up well, as there have been no hard rains this week, and none in the forecast. Heavy rain creates a lot of runoff out of the silt laden rivers, discoloring the inshore waters. Jack crevalle action has also be good.

Report provided by Ed Kunze - Sportfishing Charters in Ixtapa Zihuatanejo - www.sportfishing-ixtapa.com

Fishing Report - August 7

noreply@blogger.com (Roberto Gonzales) — Thu, 07 Aug 2008 02:32:00 +0000

Ixtapa Zihuatanejo, Mexico Fishing Conditions

With the 80º blue water just a mile off the beach, the fleet is not going much more than 6 or 8 miles for a 2 to 3 sailfish per day average, per boat. The occasional floating log is still producing large dorado, but to find the log is mostly a matter of being in the right place at the right time.

Martin, on the Nautilius, did very well early in the week with 6 large roosters (35 to 45 pounds), 8 jack crevalle, and 4 very large sierra (about 4 feet long each). He took them off trolled live bait and casting surface poppers up at Buena Vista Beach.

Report provided by Ed Kunze - Sportfishing Charters in Ixtapa Zihuatanejo - www.sportfishing-ixtapa.com

Fishing Report - July 31

noreply@blogger.com (Roberto Gonzales) — Thu, 31 Jul 2008 08:14:00 +0000

Ixtapa Zihuatanejo, Mexico Fishing Conditions

The sailfish action has really been on the upswing. Talking to Martin on the Nautilus (Martin no longer owns the Isamar, and has bought a 35 foot twin diesel cruiser), he told me "mucho pesca". Which translates to "a lot of fish". I feel this is just a part of our annual July mini-migration, coming a couple of weeks later than usual.

The 82º blue water is a short boat ride to the 5 mile mark, with each boat raising between 7 to 12 sailfish a day, and catching between 3 and 4 fish a day (average).

On the down side, the 5 inches of rain we got in the last 24 hour period has blown out the inshore fishery for the roosters. The 24 hour period is also a bit misleading, because almost all of the rain came in three different 1 hour bursts. Intense rain like this really gets the rivers flowing, distributing discolored water all up and down the coast. Our monthly total now stands at 15.5 inches, so it has been tough finding decent rooster action all month.

Just before the rains hit, we were getting some action on small roosters in the Saladita area, and lots of large jack crevalle in the Troncones area.

Report provided by Ed Kunze - Sportfishing Charters in Ixtapa Zihuatanejo - www.sportfishing-ixtapa.com

U.S. Recession, Drug War Violence Cause Crisis in Mexico Tourism

noreply@blogger.com (Roberto Gonzales) — Wed, 30 Jul 2008 18:28:00 +0000

Kent Paterson | July 29, 2008

Americas Policy Program, Center for International Policy (CIP) americas.irc-online.org

At first, a song about the Mississippi Delta belted out on the moonlit shore of Zihuatanejo Bay, Mexico, seemed out of place. But the bluesy tune performed by U.S. musicians at this year's Zihuatanejo International Guitar Festival struck a chord in the Mexican town. These days, many locals know the blues very well.

Wandering along Zihuatanejo's small waterfront, harpist Jose Luis Ramirez lamented the absence of foreign tourists to serenade. Wearing a resigned look on his face, jewelry seller Margarito Batalla sat alone at his jewelry stand. And silver salesman Rolando Pineda Fernandez expressed the sentiments of many in the Pacific Coast resort. "We were expecting more people, but they didn't come," Pineda shrugged. "Who knows what happened?"

In 2008, Zihuatanejo and other Mexican tourist destinations are suffering a downturn in international tourism. The reasons are multiple: U.S. recession, high fuel costs, air route cancellations, new U.S. passport requirements, narco-violence, and environmental contamination.

In Mexico tourism rakes in about $83 billion annually and helps support 2.4 million jobs, according to the federal Secretariat of Tourism (Sectur, as it's referred to in Mexico). Foreign travelers account for nearly $13 billion of the tourist revenue, so fewer foreign travelers translates into economic pain. Tourism generates more money than the maquiladora export industry or remittances sent home by U.S.-based migrants.

"When there is a crisis like the one we are going through now, we see the weakness and vulnerability of the Mexican economy," said Zihuatanejo environmentalist and political analyst Silvestre Pacheco. "What happens in the United States has an immediate repercussion on our economy."

In the southern state of Guerrero, which includes the important tourist destinations of Ixtapa-Zihuatanejo, Acapulco, and Taxco, international tourism dropped 55% from 2000 to 2007, according to Acapulco's El Sur daily, citing the National Tourist Confederation.

Statistics from the State Secretariat of Tourism Promotion cited in the local media reported the flow of foreign tourists dropped from 515,771 during the first five months of 2007 to 401,753 for the same period this year.

According to Pacheco, tourist-dependent localities are in a jam. The economic planners who launched resorts like Ixtapa-Zihuatanejo in the 1970s expected investments to detonate local economies and benefit other sectors including agriculture, he said, but more than 30 years later the model is stuck on tourism.

"Agriculture has almost disappeared in this zone," Pacheco said. "The communities that were previously self-sufficient became dependent on the cities, and this problem is still not resolved."

Even in Guerrero, governed by the center-left PRD party, which billed itself as an alternative to the long-dominant PRI, development plans still center on expanding tourism, just as in the PRI years.

Despite the clouds on the horizon, Sectur is upbeat about the tourism industry. Earlier this year, the federal agency announced that international tourism actually increased nationwide, with tourist spending up more than 7% up during the first three months of 2008 in comparison to the same period for 2007. But the numbers are deceptive. Prices for basic tourist-purchased goods, especially food, have soared during the last year. Also, comparing the first quarter of 2008 with the same three months of 2007 is misleading because the two-week Holy Week and Easter holiday season—an intense period of tourism in any year—fell within the first quarter of 2008 but took place in the second quarter of 2007.

Although the Mexican tourism industry has been hurt by external circumstances for some time, negative trends have become especially pronounced in 2008. Worse yet, many say that a growing percentage of the foreign tourists who do stumble ashore are penny-pinchers.

Tatiana Meneses, a young university graduate who helps run a popular family restaurant in Puerto Vallarta, was surprised by the "evolution" of tourist spending. "I have never before had the experience, for example, of seeing tourists count coins ... one, two, three, four," Meneses said. Lately, the restaurateur accepts more orders for the cheapest plates on the menu and "two glasses of water" that are not bottled. High overhead costs and tight-wadded customers are putting the squeeze on the local restaurant business, Meneses affirmed. "A lot of restaurants are closing because they can't pay the rents anymore," she added.

U.S. airlines, hit by the same rises in fuel costs that are gouging into tourists' vacation budgets, have raised fares and cancelled routes. In recent months, air routes like the direct Albuquerque-Puerto Vallarta flight have been canned, and ticket prices have doubled in some cases.
Public Security Concerns

Rising violence and crime also hinder Mexico's tourism business. Precise numbers of tourists scared away are hard to measure, but Marcelina Celestino Martinez, a beach attire merchant in Acapulco, contended that outbreaks of narco-violence in the bustling port city during 2006 and 2007 have left their scars. The planting of victims' heads in public locations likely spooked potential visitors, Martinez speculated.

"When (narco-violence) wasn't a problem, tourism came here, foreigners came," she said, "but now it goes to other places—to Ixtapa-Zihuatanejo, Puerto Vallarta, Puerto Escondido."

As in other Mexican cities, more than a few foreign and national tourists have had unpleasant encounters with police in Acapulco. Reports of city cops shaking down tourists show up in the local press regularly.

In Canada, a country that traditionally sends an important number of snowbirds to Acapulco and other destinations, calls surfaced within the past year to boycott Mexico because of the suspected murder of a young Canadian man in Acapulco and the controversial arrest of a Canadian woman in Jalisco.

If grenade-tossing narcos and pocket-picking public servants weren't enough, Acapulco's chaotic traffic flow makes a simple stroll down the street a life-daring challenge for pedestrians; elderly Canadian and U.S. tourists have been run down in the street.

Bad publicity in Canada comes at a particularly inconvenient moment for Mexico. Enjoying a rise in the purchasing-power of their dollar, more Canadians should be flocking to Mexico.

Five hours from Acapulco by highway, Mexico City is increasingly promoted as a safe, must-see stop for foreigners. City officials claim the notorious street crime that ravaged their city during the 1990s has significantly diminished. But the Mexican capital remains potentially dangerous turf. In a three-day period during a visit last March, this writer was harassed by city police, robbed of $250 from a presumably secure room, and bilked for another $120 from the ubiquitous one-armed bandits called ATMs.

Nowhere in Mexico is the public security crisis having a greater impact on tourism than in the northern border region with the United States, an area bloodied by wars between competing drug trafficking gangs. According to a report by the Reforma news agency, Mexican hotel and other tourist industry sources estimated the border region could have lost 250,000 tourists, 6.3 million day visitors, and upwards of $100 million in 2007.

"Tourists get scared by the military operations, by the federal police at checkpoints, and by the news they see," said Carlos Cruz, spokesman for the Mexican Travel Agency Association.

In Ciudad Juarez across from El Paso, Texas, the public security crisis has deepened in 2008. Since the beginning of the year, the narco war has virtually wiped out the border city's tourist industry, which was already ailing from post 9-11 border crossing hassles. Shootings inside bars and on main streets have driven away all but the most intrepid visitors. Some businesses report sales are down by as much as 70%, and have started laying off employees. Travelers approaching Ciudad Juarez from the south are searched at an army checkpoint before entering a city where rifle-toting federal police and soldiers are readily visible. Still, the narco-violence continues.

A 2008 report by the World Economic Forum rated Mexico No. 122 in security for global tourist destinations. Near the bottom of the list, Mexico fell slightly behind China, Kenya, the United States, Colombia, and India.
Government and Popular Response

Though it maintains a positive public relations spin on tourism prospects, the Mexican government realizes serious problems exist with the long-standing reliance on U.S. tourism. Adjusting to the circumstances, tourism promoters are pitching Mexico in other nations in a campaign to recruit tourists from non-traditional places including Russia, China, and South America. It remains to be seen, however, if soaring fuel costs will put a damper on the viability of long-distance markets.

Mexican officials of all political stripes seemingly seek to transform every last patch of soil into one big tourist theme park even given the bad signs for the industry. Places once considered off the beaten tourist path, such as Morelia, Michoacan, now project a tourist veneer. To lure the tourist dollar or yen or ruble or peso, industry planners are carving out new travel circuits dedicated to virtually every vacation concept imaginable. Magic Pueblos, Route of the Gods, the Heart of Mexico, and the Green Coast are a few of the emerging, colorful-sounding itineraries.

"These are some of the measures that Sectur considers will place us in a better position of competiveness in the principal markets of the world," said Sectur Secretary Rodolfo Elizondo.

To boost tourism, federal, state, and local governments are spending public money generously. In Mexico City, for example, visitors are now offered free rides on tour buses. In Aguascalientes, site of the National San Marcos Fair, the state government spent $30 million last year to upgrade facilities for a once-traditional Mexican fair that is approaching the intensity of New Orleans' Mardi Gras or Brazil's Carnaval.

Tourist destinations are digging in their heels and trying to play off their strengths. Existing events like U.S. spring break in Acapulco or the Zihuatanejo guitar fest acquire extra importance. In an otherwise drab high season, the guitar festival temporarily pushed up hotel occupancy rates a few points, according to Guillermo Catalan, Zihuatanejo's municipal director of tourism.

Others are experimenting with individual solutions. At the small souvenir shop Maribel Cortez Ayala helps her sister run in Zihuatanejo, prospective customers used to see more indigenous arts and crafts from Oaxaca on sale, Cortez said. Nowadays, they're more likely to see Cortez family-made items manufactured from Coca Cola cans, potato chip bags, and magazine paper. "It's cheaper to make these," she said. "We don't need to buy many materials. We don't have to invest a lot."

In the short-term, Mexican tourist communities will count more than ever on spending by their own national tourists this year. Two remaining periods of the year, the current summer vacation and the Christmas-New Year's celebrations, could well prove critical for the immediate economic survival of many people. Although most Mexican tourists do not spend as much money as foreigners, they do provide vital income to people like Acapulco resident Marcelina Celestino Martinez. "We get by a little from what we earn during those days," she added. "The vacations come and go, then there are no sales, and we live a bit on that money."

Mexican tourism officials are publicly optimistic, but media dispatches about the first days of the 2008 summer vacation season don't augur well for the industry. Multiple sources report tourism down in the important destinations of Los Cabos, Loreto, Puerto Vallarta, Ixtapa-Zihuatanejo, Acapulco, Huatulco, Veracruz, and Cancun.

Ixtapa Zihuatanejo Hotels - Cool Hotels, Beaches & Activities

noreply@blogger.com (Roberto Gonzales) — Sun, 27 Jul 2008 20:58:00 +0000

One of the coolest things about going to visit Ixtapa-Zihuatanejo, Mexico, is you’ll find two entirely different destinations only about ten minutes apart! But first let’s talk about how to pronounce these two places! Ixtapa is pronounced “eek-Tah-pa and the tough one, Zihuatanejo, is pronounced see-wah-tah-NEH-ho. To reach both you can fly directly into Ixtapa/Zihuatanejo airport and both areas, located in the northwestern region of the State of Guerrero, are a short taxi ride away.

BEST ZIHUATANEJO HOTELS

Zihuatanejo, nested next to Zihuatanejo Bay, is a quaint fishing port with a history dating back centuries and will give you the true feeling of Mexico. You won’t find any huge high-rise hotels here. The two top places to stay here are both boutique hotels. The first-class Tides Resort is right on the beach and La Casa Que Canta is on a cliff overlooking the beach. You can’t go wrong staying at either!

Both hotels have excellent dining but if you’re looking for an authentic dining experience you can venture into town where there are all kinds of small restaurants dishing up traditional Mexican eats. You’ll also find some charming shops where local artists show off their talents and of course the usual Mexican souvenirs.

BEST IXTAPA HOTELS

As you drive toward Ixtapa you’ll notice immediately the closer you get to the hotel zone the fancier the landscape. Where Zihuatanejo has a few hotels discreetly along the beach Ixtapa has a bold Hotel Zone along Palmar Beach with dozens of large hotels to choose from. Two of the top rated Las Brisas and Melia Azul Ixtapa I also saw a lot of construction going on at the Club Med and learned that property is totally re-inventing itself and plans to unveil all the changes soon. No matter what you’re looking to pay from luxury all the way down to budget, you can find a hotel along the Hotel Zone.

SHOPPING IN IXTAPA

You’ll also find a lot of plazas where there are all kinds of shops (although I’m told if you’re looking for local Mexican artwork the prices are often better in Zihuatanejo).

FAMILY FRIENDLY

One of the things I was surprise to discover is that there’s so much to do for families coming to this destination. Where Zihuatanejo is more of a couple’s retreat, Ixtapa is geared towards families and there are all kinds of beach activities for the kids and if you’re feeling adventuresome you can do some snorkeling, kayaking and even swim with dolphins!

BEACHES IN ZIHUATANEJO AND IXTAPA

There are several wonderful beaches to choose from where the sand is as soft as talcum power and the water is clear and warm. Some of the best beaches to check out in Zihuatanejo are Playa Principal, Playa La Madera and my favorites Playa La Ropa and Playa Las Gatas.

In Ixtapa you have Playa El Palmar, Playa Quieta and Playa Linda. You can also check out the many beaches along the bay where the waves are gentler for small children.

THINGS TO DO

Of course relaxing on the beach here is pretty cool but if you’re looking for some exercise there are several great options. The area has two golf courses and there are several tours, besides the ATV tour I already blogged about, where you can get your heart racing with some zip-lining! Ixtapa-Zihuatanejo is also known as one of the best places in the world for fishing sports and hosts the International Sailfish Tournament and the Tag and Release Tournament every year. If you’re into diving you have about 50 different places you can explore and of course you can grab a board and do some surfing! The bottom line is, this destination has so much to offer, minus the usual tourist crowds, so check it out before everyone else discovers it, too!

[Note: This article was originally published by http://traveltherapytrips.com/2007/12/06/ixtapa-zihuatanejo/ but has since disappeared. It is reproduced here for your reading pleasure!]

Ixtapa Musicians Rodrigo & Gabriela

noreply@blogger.com (Roberto Gonzales) — Sun, 27 Jul 2008 20:28:00 +0000

My son, Jacob, recently turned me on to a couple of amazing guitarists from the region of Ixtapa, Mexico, who go by Rodrigo y Gabriela. As I was totally blown away by their music, they will be happy to know that I have personally purchased at least ten of their CDs as gifts for friends...

[Note: This article comes from another site]

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Club Med Ixtapa, Mexico Rock Climbing Wall

noreply@blogger.com (Roberto Gonzales) — Sun, 27 Jul 2008 20:23:00 +0000

After visiting Club Med Turks this June of 2007, my family and I became hooked again on the Club Med experience. We've booked Columbus Isle for October 2007/Cancun January 2008. Rock climbing walls are great fun and challenging for all ages.The one problem is Club Med only talks about Ixtapa having the wall.Lets have more of them in all village NOW...

[Note: This article comes from another site.]

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Top 5 Ways To Ruin Your Vacation In Mexico

noreply@blogger.com (Roberto Gonzales) — Tue, 15 Jul 2008 17:18:00 +0000

Coming to Ixtapa Zihuatanejo? Got your plane tickets, passport, bathing suit and money? Good. How about common sense?

Too often, people travel to Mexico encased in a "bubble" of security. Security in the fact that they are an American, Canadian, or citizen of ____ (fill in the blank), and that should things go wrong, they are protected by their laws.

WRONG. Abosultely, undeniably, completely wrong.

This article is not intended to scare you - Mexico is is a wonderful country with fabulous people, and Ixtapa Zihuatanejo has some of the best hotels and beaches around. What this article will try to do is awaken your common sense a little. I have seen too many vacations, and lives, ruined to keep silent!

Mistake #1 - You are not in Kansas anymore, Dorothy

The instant you cross the border into another country, not just Mexico, you are subject to their laws and customs, not yours. Mexican law is very different from most other countries in one big way - you are guilty until proven innocent. (Look up 'Napoleonic law' if you are interested). I cannot count the number of times I have heard an American or Canadian say "but I'm innocent, you can't throw me in jail!", or "I'm an American!". Forget it. In Mexico, you are subject to the same laws as any Mexican. Do a google search for "Brenda Martin" if you want to find out how "easy" it is to return home if you are accused of something.

Mistake #2 - Mexico is a party-til-you-drop, anything goes kind of place

Sure, you are on vacation and there are plenty of places to party in Ixtapa Zihuatanejo. Just bear in mind the following points:

Alcohol. At a minimum, excessive drinking leaves you wide open to opportunists, and that includes the police. Not to mention that alcohol is the leading cause of injury to tourists.

Drugs. No, no and no. You do not want to see the inside of the jail in Zihuatanejo. Unfortunately, with the huge demand for drugs in the USA, Mexico has become a major pipeline for illegal drugs, and as such, the Mexican government is engaged in a war with the drug cartels.

Weapons. Don't even carry a pocket knife.

Mistake #3 - Come on in, the water's fine

The beaches in Ixtapa Zihuatanejo are some of the most beautiful in all of Mexico. Several of them are on the open Pacific ocean however and demand respect. Breaking surf and strong undertows are common, and when coupled with a pitcher of margaritas, can prove fatal.

Mistake #4 - I'm insured.

By all means, drive to Ixtapa Zihuatanejo (it will take about 3 easy days from the border), but remember - your US or Canadian auto insurance is NOT VALID in Mexico. Coupled with #1 above, it can lead to a serious headache if you have even a minor fender-bender. Arrange adequate insurance before you leave (don't buy it at the border - the rates are astronomical and the claims process... well...). Lewis and Lewis in Califormia is a good, and I am sure there are others. You may be surprised how low the liability coverages are - that is because the courts in Mexico do not award punitive damages, only actual. Not a bad idea.

If you do have an accident, keep in mind the following:

Call your insurance company. Part of what you pay for is a 'get out of jail free' card, or more specifically, you will not be thrown in jail as the insurance company will respond on your behalf. The reason people are jailed for a traffic accident is to ensure that someone is held responisble. Both parties will be jailed until the blame is apportioned. With insurance, the Mexican authorities have the guarantee of payment should you be found guilty.

DO NOT pay anything to the traffic police that respond to your accident. Follow the process and insist on written infractions, it can result in your favour as well. A common trick is to ask for $100US or more so that your car is not impounded.

Mistake #5 - Mexicans are lazy bandidos from a 3rd world country

Don't even get me started on this one! Suffice to say that I don't know a lot of people that would mix concrete 10 hours a day under a hot sun for $15US.

Taxi Rates Within Ixtapa Zihuatanejo and Beyond

noreply@blogger.com (Roberto Gonzales) — Sat, 28 Jun 2008 10:24:00 +0000

Taxi Fares – 2008

NOTES:

All rates are in Mexican Pesos. $1 (CDN/US) is approximately
$10 pesos.
There is an extra charge of 5 or 10 pesos if you call a cab
by phone.
There is an extra charge of 40% for air conditioning,
although it is not always applied.
Add 50% to all rates between 12:00 a.m. (midnight) and 6:00
a.m.
Taxis do NOT take credit cards and do not carry a lot of
change (or so they say).
Always check the fare with the driver before getting in.
Unfortunately there is a lot of overcharging. Taxis are supposed to
have a list of rates in the cab, but getting them to show it is like
pulling teeth.
Telephone numbers:
- APAAZ 554-3680 / 554-8872
- UTAAZ 554-3900 / 554-2816
- UTZI 554-4763

FROM Airport TO: Purchase your ticket in the arrivals area. The current fares are clearly posted.
To	Taxi – Sedan – Private 4 persons plus luggage	Suburban – Private 6 persons plus luggage	Collective – Shared Departs when full
Downtown Zihuatanejo	$ 280	$ 540	$ 115
Playa La Ropa / Playa La Madera	$ 320	$ 540	$ 115
Ixtapa (Hotel Zone)	$ 320	$ 580	$ 115
Playa Linda / Hotels: Club Med, Melia, Qualton	$ 370	$ 620	$ 125
Barra de Potosí	$ 420	$ 840
Playa Blanca	$ 420	$ 840
Troncones (Private Taxi)	$ 480

TO Airport FROM:
Downtown Zihuatanejo	$ 100
Playa La Ropa	$ 150
Ixtapa Hotel Zone	$ 150
Playa Linda / Hotels: Club Med, Qualton, Melia	$ 220
Troncones	$ 400
Zihuatanejo TO:
Barra de Potosí (Approximate)	$ 300
Within Downtown Zihuatanejo	$ 18
Playa La Madera	$ 20
Playa La Ropa (Middle / End)	$ 30 / $ 35
Puerto Mio	$ 35
Ixtapa Hotel Zone	$ 60
Marina Ixtapa	$ 70
Playa Linda / Hotels: Club Med, Melia, Qualton	$ 100
Troncones (approximately)	$ 300
Ixtapa TO:
Within Ixtapa	$ 30
Marina Ixtapa	$ 30
Playa Linda / Hotels: Club Med, Melia, Qualton	$ 60
Downtown Zihuatanejo	$ 60
Puerto Mio	$ 80
Playa La Ropa	$ 100
Playa Linda / Club Med / Qualton / Melia TO:
Ixtapa Hotel Zone	$ 60
Downtown Zihuatanejo	$ 100
Puerto Mio	$ 130
Playa La Ropa	$ 140
Troncones TO:
Zihuatanejo Downtown	$ 300
Ixtapa Hotel Zone	$ 250
Airport	$ 400

Beaches Outside Zihuatanejo - Playas Larga, Las Pozas, Blanca, Barra de Potosi

noreply@blogger.com (Roberto Gonzales) — Sat, 28 Jun 2008 10:21:00 +0000

The following four beaches are really part of the same 10 mile stretch of sand. With Playa Larga at it's northern end, the airport in the middle and Barra de Potosi at the far southern end.There are three entrances to this complex of beaches. The first access is on the highway to the airport. About halfway there, just before the cutoff to Acapulco, turn right at the large billboards, just after the nursery. This road takes you directly to Playa Larga only. Access to Las Pozas, Playa Blanca and Barra de Potosi is from the road at the airport, or from a town called Los Achotes, on the way to Acapulco. Detailed directions are given below.

Playa Larga

Playa Larga, and for that matter all ten miles of beach here, is all about space. Sure, there are a dozen or so beach restaurants, serving seafood and cold beer, but the main attraction is space. Miles of sandy beach and open ocean. At the far northern end, at the rocks, you can fish with a hand line, just like the locals do. At this spot on the beach, you are directly behind Playa Las Gatas, one of the beaches in the bay of Zihuatanejo It is possible to hike over the hills and wind up on the beach in Zihuatanejo, but take someone who knows the way as it can be a bit confusing.There is a large stable of horses in Playa Larga - on the left just before the 'T' junction. Pablo offers 1 1/4 hour horseback tours of the beach and coconut groves.A word of caution: the beach at playa larga, as well as the entire beach right down do Barra de Potosi, is on the open Pacific ocean. The surf can be fearsome, and coupled with a strong undertow, can be downright dangerous. This is not a place for small children to swim in the ocean. Luckily, virtually all the restaurants have swimming pools for this very reason.

Las Pozas and Playa Blanca

The beaches at Las Pozas and Playa Blanca can be accessed either from a road at the entrance to the airport, or by taking the road from Los Achotes on Highway 200 (the coastal highway to Acapulco). You can always enter via one road and come back via the other.Just as you arrive at the entrance to airport, and immediately beyond the last taco stand, there is a dirt road on your right that follows the airport property fence. A few kilometers down you arrive at the section of beach known as Las Pozas and it's lagoon. There are a half a dozen seafood restaurants here. If you were to go to the right, you would be in Playa Larga, but due to the lagoon, you can't.Heading south along the beach is the area known as Playa Blanca. Apart from a few locals houses and newer villas, there are a few bed & breakfasts and more upscale hotels as well as a few small restaurants.After a few more miles, you reach a 'T' intersection. Turning left will take you to the highway, via the village of Los Achotes. Following the road along the beach, will lead you to...

Barra de Potosi

As previously described, there are two ways to get here. The first is via Playa Blanca, as described above, and the other is via the village of Los Achotes.Coming from Zihuatanejo, follow he highway towards Acapulco, until you reach Los Achotes. There is a large green highway sign at the turn off. The road passes through Los Achotes and winds it way to the beach. This is the smoothest and quickest access to Barra as well as Playa Blanca.The beach and lagoon here are the most popular of the entire stretch of beaches, and can therefore get a little crowded on Sundays and during national holidays. Have lunch at one of the enramadas and then strike out along the beach until you find a quiet spot.

Apart from the beach, one of the primary attractions of Barra de Potosí is the large lagoon. Tours are easilyarranged with the local boatmen and are well worth the time spent. The bird life in this mangrove lagoon can be spectacular.

This is one of a series of articles on the beaches of Ixtapa Zihuatanejo. The others are:

Water Strike - Action Plan

noreply@blogger.com (Roberto Gonzales) — Thu, 26 Jun 2008 13:52:00 +0000

Zihuatanejo City Council's Plan to Combat the Water Strike by CAPAZ

Update: 13 July, 2008 - The strike has finally been settled.

"With the equipment that a day before was removed from the CAPAZ offices will work a provisional office in the municipal palace, informs the mayor

"There are teams to operate pumping stations, treatment plants, wells, valves and transport, and drivers, meter readers and collectors"

FELIPE SALINAS GALVÁN despertardelacosta.com

The City council of Zihuatanejo de Azueta started up an emergency plan to take care of the population due to the strike started yesterday by more than 300 unionized CAPAZ workers.

The mayor Juan Noriega Urieta presented the preventive actions to representatives from the tourist sector and authorities of the three levels of government that participated in the presentation, before whom who it was revealed that its administration will not allow that the inhabitants and the hotel zone remain without water.

Later, interviewed by local reporters, the mayor informed that in the facilities of the municipal palace, beside the property tax offices, an emergency office will be set up where administrative workers of CAPAZ will receive water bill payments and will take care of public inquiries with two telephone lines.

"It is already the plan of contingency to continue giving service to the community because it is the law; it is not possible leave people without water, as a hospital cannot operate without medical attention. We have our plan of contingency, that consists of counting on personnel to operate pumping stations, treatment plants, wells, valves, transport, drivers, meter readers, and bill payments, we are making this effort to ensure the service stays”, he emphasized.

The municipal president called on the population to trust that service will be maintained, as well as to the hotelkeepers with the coming of the summer vacation season.

He assured that the unionized workers of CAPAZ have the obligation to provide service and said that when these fail, then the emergency teams will enter, and that was the reason that Tuesday afternoon, computer equipment, tools and automobiles were removed to be able to operate from the offices of the municipal government.

"It is administrative unemployment; people are unemployed, but in the offices; they do not allow that our administrative people work, for that reason is that we had to remove transport, tools, spare parts, and computers, to be able to continue operating”, he explained.

He finally stressed that with the putting in operation of the well in Barrio Viejo a few days ago, and the beginning of pumping in Salitrera next week, the potable water supply in Zihuatanejo will have considerable coverage, “not one hundred percent”, but considerable to combat the lack of water in the higher altitude neighborhoods.

Beaches in Zihuatanejo - Playas La Ropa, La Madera, Las Gatas, Municipal

noreply@blogger.com (Roberto Gonzales) — Sat, 14 Jun 2008 20:40:00 +0000

Beaches (playas) in and around Zihuatanejo

Playa La Ropa

The best beach in the area is undoubtedly Playa La Ropa. The beach, with it's low surf, is great for swimming and also great for walking (it's about a 2.5 kilometer or 1.5 mile round trip) .
The beach is only crowded during Christmas and Easter, the rest of the year it is easy to find a spot. Along with many retaurants, there are also umbrella and lounge chair rentals available. All the usual watersports are available.
Accommodations range in price and amenities from reasonable to very expensive. Beach front hotels range from around $100 a night up to $1000, with everything in between.

Conveniently located, the beach is a 30 minute walk from downtown Zihuatanejo or a 5 minute taxi or bus ride. Buses run along the main avenue in Zihuatanejo and currently cost $5 pesos and run from early morning until about 6pm. Look for the ones with “Playa La Ropa” in the window. A taxi will cost $30.
Several hotels along the La Ropa beach participate in the local turtle conservation campaign. Eggs are gathered and protected during their incubation (August through December). When hatched, the baby turtles are kept in tubs and released periodically back into the ocean. The young turtles are released at sunset and anyone who happens along is welcome to help.

To reach Playa La Gatas, one can walk to the southern end of La Ropa and then over the rocks to the beach. It is a little rough and not recommended for those in bare feet, but is easily reachable otherwise.

Playa La Madera

Walking south from the waterfront in town, you pass by the local museum, then over a footbridge which marks the start of a walkway to Playa La Madera. While not nearly as popular as the beach at Playa La Ropa, it is a popular spot for swimming and body surfing. There are a handful of restaurants and dozens of small hotels and apartments overlooking the beach.

Playa Las Gatas

If you like snorkeling then Playa Las Gatas is an excellent choice. The beach is protected by a reef, built by the Tarascan king Caltzontzín (according to legend). This is a great beach for children as there are almost no waves inside the reef. Outside the reef you will ocassionally see surfers, depending on the state of the waves.

This beach is accessible on foot from Playa La Ropa as mentioned above, but is normally reached by boat from the pier in Zihuatanejo. Water taxis cost around $5US and run until 5 or 6pm depending on the season.
A dozen or so restaurants are located along the beach, as well as snorkel and scuba rentals. The snorkeling is best right alongside the reef, and especially outside (but be careful of the waves). And please, please, please do not touch the coral – it dies.

Playa Principal or Municipal Beach

Playa Principal (Or Municipal) beach is a short stretch in the heart of downtown Zihuatanejo.

On one end is the local museum, and the other is the pier. Water taxis to Playa Las Gatas leave from the pier, and it is also the landing site for sports fishermen.

Along the beach is the local fish market - the best, and cheapest, place to buy fresh fish in Zihuatanejo.6-7am is the time to go.

Further along is the basketball court (or La Cancha) and the previous site of city hall. The basketball court is the site of Sunday evening cultural events, small fairs and concerts.

Continuing along, you pass a half a dozen beach restaurants and wind up at the museum. Crossing the footbridge beyond the museum will leave you at the path to Playa La Madera.

This is one of a series of articles on the beaches of Ixtapa Zihuatanejo. The others are:

Tesoro Hotel Ixtapa Offers Hurricane Guarantee

noreply@blogger.com (Roberto Gonzales) — Mon, 09 Jun 2008 11:45:00 +0000

Tesoro Resorts Mexico Launch Travel Guarantee

NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Tesoro Resorts and their three properties, Tesoro Ixtapa, Tesoro Los Cabos and Tesoro Manzanillo, announce a Hurricane Proof vacation package so guests can comfortably book their next Mexico getaway knowing that their vacation dollars are salvageable if weather takes a serious turn for the worse.

Available now through Oct. 31 and good for a minimum three-night stay at any of the Tesoro properties, the Hurricane Proof package consists of all-inclusive accommodations, free travel insurance, rum-based hurricanes at check-in, a large umbrella and waterproof mascara. Tesoro’s package also includes a sunshine-themed CD (think Bob Marley’s “Sun is Shining”, Natasha Bedingfield’s “Pocket Full of Sunshine” and Sheryl Crow’s “Soak up the Sun”). All-inclusive rates for the Hurricane Package start at $80 per person per night, based on double occupancy (airfare separate) at all three properties and can be booked using promo code HURRICANE online at TesoroResorts.com or by calling 1-866-99-TESORO.

When the National Hurricane Center classifies weather in any of the areas surrounding Tesoro properties as a subtropical storm or worse, the Tesoro Hurricane guarantee goes into affect. Once weather conditions have been declared, guests can call their travel agent or Tesoro’s toll-free number to reschedule or cancel the trip with no penalty.

Beaches in Ixtapa - Playas El Palmar, Linda, Ixtapa Island

noreply@blogger.com (Roberto Gonzales) — Sun, 08 Jun 2008 13:45:00 +0000

Beaches (playas) in and around Ixtapa

Playa el Palmar

Ixtapa, as a tourist destination, was developed starting in the 1970's (along with other resorts such as Cancun and Huatulco). Before the Federal Government decided to build a world-class resort, this main Ixtapa beach was just a 3 km long stretch of sand, backed by lagoons and coconut plantations.

Ixtapa's main boulevard, Paseo Ixtapa runs behind the major hotels lining the beach. On the other side of the boulevard is what might be called “downtown” Ixtapa where you will find every kind of restaurant, bar, souvenir shop and other activities. Other large resorts have been developed a little further north around the beach Playa Quieta. A word of caution regarding this beach. As Playa el Palmar, along with many other beaches in the Ixtapa Zihuatanejo area, is on the open Pacific ocean and thus can be subject to dangerous breaking surf and strong undertows. While lifeguards are stationed along the beach, common sense should prevail, especially with small children.

Beach activities of course include volleyball, football (soccer), para sailing, boogie boarding, and at the far end, near the marina, surfing.

Playa Linda

Moving up the coast, north from Ixtapa is Playa Linda. Only a quick 10 or 15 minute bus ride from the main Ixtapa hotel zone, the southern end of the beach has an area of restaurants and a small arts and crafts market. Jutting out from this end of the beach is the pier where water taxis shuttle people back and forth to Isla Ixtapa.

Just before reaching the reaching the beach and the small commercial center, there is a mangrove swamp that is home to a good number of crocodiles as well as turtle, iguanas and a variety of birds. Set aside as a sanctuary for these animals, it is completely fenced. The beach proper stretches north some distance. The southern end of the beach is protected by Isla Ixtapa and is thus good for swimming. The northern end of the beach is better for surfing. Playa Linda also has horseback riding stables offering trips along the beach.

Ixtapa Island

Ixtapa Island is all about snorkeling. Home to 4 separate beaches there is a bit of everything - seafood restaurants, coral beaches and winding paths affording a variety of views. As for watersports, apart from snorkeling of course, there is parasailing, jet skis, and banana boat rides.

Isla Ixtapa is accessible by small water taxis (pangas) that currently ferry passengers between it and the pier at Playa Quieta in Ixtapa. Boats are also available from the pier in downtown Zihuatanejo .

Cuachalalate beach is the first beach on Ixtapa Island. All the boats from the mainland arrive here and the small pier. The beach is lined with seafood restaurants. Banana boats, jet skis and snorkel equipment are all available on this beach.
Varadero beach is just a couple of minutes walk away. Also well populated with restaurants and various water sports.
Playa Coral is the most popular, and protected, beach for snorkeling.
Playa Carey or Playa Sacrificio is the most secluded beach of the four. The walk through the hills and the spectacular views alone are worth the effort.

This is one of a series of articles on the beaches of Ixtapa Zihuatanejo. The others are:

Tourist Tax Refund?

noreply@blogger.com (Roberto Gonzales) — Sun, 25 May 2008 14:30:00 +0000

Mexico to refund taxes on visits to Ixtapa Zihuatanejo

But... not on your hotel bill!

[Excerpts]

In light of slow economic growth in Mexico, the Tourism Ministry announced a tax credit on May 15 in the hopes of maintaining tourist interest
...
Starting in June at five main airports, foreign tourists who have spent at least 1,200 pesos ($115) in approved shops will be able to use kiosks to claim back the 15% tax that had been charged on souvenirs and other goods they bought at various resorts and cities, the Mexico Tourism Ministry said on May 15.
...
Benjamín Díaz, the Tourism Ministry official charged with improving regulations governing the industry, says 80% of foreign tourists visiting Mexico were from the U.S. The move is aimed largely at keeping working- and middle-class Americans flocking to Mexico's pristine beaches and Mayan ruins.
...
The break will apply to shopping, not to hotels or restaurants. It will first be available at Mexico City, Cancún, Guadalajara, Los Cabos, and Puerto Vallarta airports. Five more airports, including those at Cozumel and Mazatlán, will join the list by the beginning of 2009, followed by the rest of the country's airports and cruise ship maritime ports.
...
Of the money they can claim back at airports, tourists will be able to get half in cash pesos, up to a maximum of 10,000 pesos ($955). The rest will be credited to their bank accounts or credit cards within 40 days. Officials are hoping the windfall will tempt some returning tourists into the country's own duty-free shops.

Good start. Too bad you won't be able to claim the refund on your hotel bill, but something is better than nothing. There is also no mention of a date as yet for the Ixtapa Zihuatanejo airport, but it will make flying through Mexico City a little less onerous.

Finding Cheap Hotel Rates

noreply@blogger.com (Roberto Gonzales) — Tue, 20 May 2008 18:01:00 +0000

Some tips on getting discount hotel rates in Ixtapa Zihuatanejo.

If you arrived at this page looking for list of super discount hotel rates, you are going to be disappointed. There are a bazillion sites offering the “Discount Rates on Ixtapa Zihuatanejo Hotels”. Yeah, right. On the other hand, if you want a little free advice on finding your own hotel discounts, read on.

As a hotel owner, I am perhaps slightly qualified to pass on a few tips on getting a discounted rate for your next visit Ixtapa or Zihuatanejo. You make also want to check out my article on how to How to Choose a Hotel in Ixtapa Zihuatanejo, Or Choosing a location.

Anyway, if you are still with me, here are some ideas to try:

Call the hotel directly.

TIP:

Make a reservation in the evening.

Virtually every hotel in the world will cancel a reservation if you don't show up by 6pm, unless of course your room is secured by a credit card. This of course will only work if you are already in Ixtapa or Zihuatanejo, or are planning to arrive within a few days or so. With the smaller hotels, especially in Zihuatanejo, a canceled reservation may also mean that the owners have withheld some or all of the guest's deposit. You may find the owner more inclined to give you a discounted rate. A very typical policy is to require a 50% deposit up front and then only refund 80-90% of it if the room is re-rented.

Make a “high-season” reservation in the “low-season”.Again, from personal experience! The months of May/June and September/October are the lowest seasons in Ixtapa Zihuatanejo. Everyone is out, or running out, of money and are therefore more motivated to discount at these times. Hotel maintenance is expensive and never stops! Neither do the staff salaries! Be prepared to leave a substantial deposit though – you will get a better discount in the future by leaving them with cash-in-hand now.
Negotiate.

not

Settle for second best.

Playa La Ropa

Book one night and wait-and-see.

Decide whether the area you picked is where you want to be. Perhaps Ixtapa is not to your taste after all and you would rather have a room in Zihuatanejo, for example.

Ask around and explore other options and negotiate a rate you are happy with. The previous advice about cancellations now applies.Another Caution: DO NOT TAKE ADVICE from the friendly guy on the beach, the taxi driver or the waiter that offers to show you his “amigos” hotel. They almost invariably are in it for the commission. On the other hand, if you do strike up a conversation with someone who is not trying to hand you a flyer, bundle you into a taxi or worse yet, trying to sell a time-share, listen to them.

This really belongs under the topic of choosing a hotel, but can also help in finding a better rate. Caution: Do NOT attempt this at Christmas, New Year's, Easter or during summer vacations. All the hotels, and even the crappiest rooms, fill up during these holidays in both Ixtapa and Zihuatanejo. You could well find yourself sleeping on the street (no, not on the beach, it's not allowed). If you don't know the Ixtapa or Zihuatanejo areas well, or suspect that you can get a better price while you are “on the ground”, consider booking just one night at any likely looking hotel. Once you are here, you can then:

Consider other accommodations.

Playa La Ropa

Playa La Madera

Thanks for reading and yes, I promise to have a list of phone number posted here Real-Soon-Now. Why not click the “Subscribe via RSS” or “Subscribe via Email” above – that way, you'll be the first to know when a new article is posted.

Choose A Hotel In Ixtapa Zihuatanejo

noreply@blogger.com (Roberto Gonzales) — Sun, 18 May 2008 11:27:00 +0000

A rough guide to choosing your specific Hotel in Ixtapa or Zihuatanejo, Mexico

OK, so you've read my post on choosing a location “Best Hotel Location - Ixtapa Or Zihuatanejo?” (if you haven't, perhaps you should do so now!).

You've settled on a location, perhaps even have your plane tickets in hand, now how in the heck to decide which Hotel is “best” for your specific needs? First question:

How much time and effort do you want to spend?

This is the single most important factor in determining how well your hotel choice “fits” you. Obviously, the more (productive) time spent researching hotel choices, the better off you will be in making an informed choice.

NOTE: In the previous paragraph I said “productive time spent”, not just “time spent”. Especially while researching on the Internet, there are a huge number of “time-traps”... sites that are geared towards making reservations at any cost, with very little real, unbiased information. The goal of EVERY reservation site is to MAKE RESERVATIONS! Sure, they may have reviews (*see caution below*) and pretty pictures, but what they really want is your money. They do not care how.

OK, back to the topic. In increasing order of time invested, your choices are basically these:

Travel Agents.
Specific hotel or chain sites.
On-line reservation sites.
Specific Ixtapa and Zihuatanejo sites and forums.

NOTE: If you came here looking for links to recommended travel, hotel or reservation sites, you will be disappointed. I do not post links to any sites, although I may mention some that I (personally) like. The idea is not to promote one site over another, the idea is to impart techniques and “food-for-thought”. Who is to say whether WhizBang Bookings is better or worse than BestOnline Bookings?

Travel Agents

Easy right? Walk in, pick up a brochure and squint over the 5x5 cm pictures. Choices? Let's see (I am actually looking at a brochure as I write this). 8 hotel choices in Ixtapa and 3 in Zihuatanejo. Not bad you say? There are hundreds of hotels, bungalows, villas, condos etc. In the Ixtapa Zihuatanejo area!

Why these particular Hotels? I am not saying there aren't any good ones in the list but the one and only criteria for being listed in a travel agency or package vacation company brochure is the following:

These are the hotels that have a deal with the agency. Period.

You can draw your own conclusions. I am not in any way against travel agents or package tour operators – in fact you can sometimes get a great deal from them, and if you happen to know an agent well and he or she has actually been to Ixtapa or Zihuatanejo, even better.

Hotel Web Sites

Obviously, you can't expect a Hotel's website to give you fair unbiased reviews of their properties, but they do have one distinct advantage:

You are in contact directly with the hotel.

Calling their phone number or sending an email will put you in touch with the hotel (or chain) directly. This can quite often lead to:

Better rates -- they don't have to pay a commission to anyone.
Last-minute cancellation deals – who knows better than the reception or reservations clerks?
More room options. Especially with package deals, you choices may be limited. For example, the rooms with the best view may not be offered in a package deal as it would “break” their $999 super saver deal.

NOTE: you can tell if a telephone number is local to Ixtapa Zihuatanejo very easily – the area code is “755” as in 755-555-1212 and the country code is “52” as in 011-52-755-555-1212.

On-line Reservation Sites

There are dozens, even hundreds. Why? Easy... it is a very lucrative market to be in. Think about it, no inventory, no physical product to deliver, just collect commissions.

More and more there is very little difference between the big boys. The price differences are marginal between say Expedia and Travelocity (no endorsement implied!). By all means, use them, just keep in mind the following:

Know who you are dealing with. The big sites are well established and trustworthy, but some of the little guys... who knows. Save yourself some trouble and do a little research. As a Hotel owner in Zihuatanejo, I can tell you from experience that not all booking services are alike. There are times when I haven't been paid, or it has taken ages to get paid. Meanwhile of course, the guests have arrived, they have paid and have every expectation of receiving what they paid for, and rightly so.
Ignore the star ratings. Well, to a point. Bear in mind that star ratings are entirely subjective. Especially in small towns like Ixtapa or Zihuatanejo, there is no, repeat no “star rating authority” (AAA for example). I have seen Hotels here that rate one star on a particular site and 3 stars on another!
If the site boasts reviews or user-forums, use them. Read the reviews or comments with a grain of salt to start. If a Hotel only has one review... well, obviously it can't be the consensus opinion can it? Also, depending on the site, the user comments can be a little suspect too. Not on the big sites, but the smaller ones. It is pitifully easy to “seed” positive comments about your own property.
Not all hotels are listed. The biggies in Ixtapa sure, but the majority of smaller ones, especially in Zihuatanejo, are not. Nor will you find apartments, bungalows, private villas etc. Look to the local sites for them.

Ixtapa Zihuatanejo Sites and Forums

These are not booking services per se, although they all have links and advertising. I am now going to break my rule about not giving anyone a free plug, but if you don't already know the site, you should: TripAdvisor. They have forums for both Ixtapa and Zihuatanejo.

Check it out. By far the vast majority of people are honest and helpful and the site makes it very difficult to engage in self-promotion.

Lonely Planet can be good too, but they just don't have the volume. There are also forums on some of the local sites but they tend to be populated with two types of people – those looking for information and locals trying to promote their businesses. Not useless by any means, but again, take it with a grain of salt.

In summary, the more homework you do, the better chance you will have of being happy with your choice. If you haven't done so already, make sure you read “Best Hotel Location - Ixtapa Or Zihuatanejo?”. If you have, move on to "Finding a cheap hotel".

Ixtapa Zihuatanejo Mexico

Fishing Report - September 18

Ixtapa Zihuatanejo, Mexico Fishing Conditions

Fishing Report - September 11

Ixtapa Zihuatanejo, Mexico Fishing Conditions

Fishing Report - September 3rd

Ixtapa Zihuatanejo, Mexico Fishing Conditions

Winter Travel: Fewer Flights, Elusive Bargains

Fishing Report - August 28

Ixtapa Zihuatanejo, Mexico Fishing Conditions

Air Canada Winter Flights

Fishing Report- Aug 21

Ixtapa Zihuatanejo, Mexico Fishing Conditions

More Flights From Canada

Fishing Report - August 14

Ixtapa Zihuatanejo, Mexico Fishing Conditions

Fishing Report - August 7

Ixtapa Zihuatanejo, Mexico Fishing Conditions

Fishing Report - July 31

Ixtapa Zihuatanejo, Mexico Fishing Conditions

U.S. Recession, Drug War Violence Cause Crisis in Mexico Tourism

Ixtapa Zihuatanejo Hotels - Cool Hotels, Beaches & Activities

Ixtapa Musicians Rodrigo & Gabriela

Club Med Ixtapa, Mexico Rock Climbing Wall

Top 5 Ways To Ruin Your Vacation In Mexico

Mistake #1 - You are not in Kansas anymore, Dorothy

Mistake #2 - Mexico is a party-til-you-drop, anything goes kind of place

Mistake #3 - Come on in, the water's fine

Mistake #4 - I'm insured.

Mistake #5 - Mexicans are lazy bandidos from a 3rd world country

Taxi Rates Within Ixtapa Zihuatanejo and Beyond

Taxi Fares – 2008

FROM Airport TO:

TO Airport FROM:

Zihuatanejo TO:

Ixtapa TO:

Playa Linda / Club Med / Qualton / Melia TO:

Troncones TO:

Beaches Outside Zihuatanejo - Playas Larga, Las Pozas, Blanca, Barra de Potosi

Playa Larga

Las Pozas and Playa Blanca

Barra de Potosi

Water Strike - Action Plan

Zihuatanejo City Council's Plan to Combat the Water Strike by CAPAZ

Beaches in Zihuatanejo - Playas La Ropa, La Madera, Las Gatas, Municipal

Beaches (playas) in and around Zihuatanejo

Playa La Ropa

Playa La Madera

Playa Las Gatas

Playa Principal or Municipal Beach

Tesoro Hotel Ixtapa Offers Hurricane Guarantee

Beaches in Ixtapa - Playas El Palmar, Linda, Ixtapa Island

Beaches (playas) in and around Ixtapa

Playa el Palmar

Playa Linda

Ixtapa Island

Tourist Tax Refund?

Mexico to refund taxes on visits to Ixtapa Zihuatanejo

Finding Cheap Hotel Rates

Some tips on getting discount hotel rates in Ixtapa Zihuatanejo.

Choose A Hotel In Ixtapa Zihuatanejo

A rough guide to choosing your specific Hotel in Ixtapa or Zihuatanejo, Mexico

Travel Agents

Hotel Web Sites

On-line Reservation Sites

Ixtapa Zihuatanejo Sites and Forums