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Zihuatanejo Beach Hotel Rundown: Looking at Your Options

Once again, HotelChatter contributing editor Tim Leffel is moving around. He's left Acapulco for Zihuatanejo, Mexico where's he scoping out the burgeoning hotel scene. If you have a question about where to stay in Acapulco or Zihuatanejo, hit us on the tipline, or just comment below, and we will do our best to get you some sort of answer. Enjoy.

In the package hotel resort area of Ixtapa, there's basically one long beach lined with predictable hotel chains furnishing the usual all-inclusive arrangement. Just a few miles away in Zihuatanejo, however, there are three distinct beaches with very different looks and personalities.

Playa La Ropa is the swankiest, with Hotel Casa que Canta on one end, The Tides in the middle, and a Viceroy next door on the drawing board. This doesn't mean you have to be upper crust to stay here, however. There are plenty of hotels on La Ropa beach with great views from the balcony and easy beach access. Check out Catalina Beach Resort ($75 to $216 double) or Villa Mexicana ($99 to $169 double).

La Madera beach has more small, family-owned hotels and is an easy walk from Zihuatanejo town, making cabs or a rental car unnecessary. It also feels more Mexican than La Ropa, with a lot more domestic tourists. The best choices here are Brisas del Mar and Hotel Irma, with rates ranging from around $75 to $185 depending on the season and size. It's easy to wander around and find another hotel here if you don't like your first choice: they're all steps from each other on the same street.

Las Gatas beach (pictured here) is reached by a quick ferry boat ride from Zihuatanejo. The string of restaurants along the beach set you up with lounge chairs and then keep the food and margaritas coming while you tan and snorkel. At night, the whole beach empties out except for the guests at Las Gatas Beach Club. This collection of nice bungalows offers seclusion and quiet nights, but you're pretty much stuck after the last boat runs at sunset. Rates are a reasonable $115 a night though and drop to a bargain $65 from mid-May to October 1.

Related Stories:
· Zihuatanejo Hotel Guide [HotelChatter]
· Acapulco Hotel Guide [HotelChatter]