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Introduction To Acapulco The legendary Acapulco, backed by mountains facing the awesome Bay of Acapulco, on Mexico's Pacific Coast, is one of the world's most breathtaking sights. As you round the last mountain on your way to town from the airport, the sight of the city--especially its high-rise hotels on a curving beach miles in length--literally causes you to catch your breath. It was the original and most famous of the Mexican resort cities, the getaway for Hollywood stars and other celebrated jet-setters in the 1940s to 1960s, a place that meant sophistication, abandoned vacation living and new lifestyles. Like most ultra-successful resorts, it was soon overbuilt by developers heedless to needs of the environment. By the late 1980s, the Bay had become polluted, sea life disappeared, and so did many tourists for a great many years. Eventually, Acapulco's city fathers changed their act. They imposed drastic environmental rules, checked the headlong dash towards expansion, cleaned the waters and the surrounding areas, banished peddlers from the streets (the latter were offered enclosed markets instead), and generally burnished Acapulco's atmosphere. By the early 1990s, Acapulco began to improve so greatly that tourism returned in numbers. While recent hurricanes have again damaged the touristic numbers, the prospects--in our view--are for a comeback of Acapulco, which to our minds is the single most satisfying beach resort of Mexico. The reason is that Acapulco is more than a beach. It is attached to a large Mexican city (that some visitors never see), which rewards the thoughtful tourist with the culture, art and cuisine of Mexico. Though you will probably be staying at the hotels of the tourist zone along the great curving Costera Miguel Aleman--the key seaside boulevard paralleling the beach--you should at some point go downtown to recapture the experience of being in Mexico. Moreover, in that tourist zone, you'll find that a great many hotel guests are themselves Mexican; the area is not an exclusive enclave of foreigners (especially Americans), as Cancun and Ixtapa are. It is a Mexican resort, and that lends an added dimension to the pleasures of your stay. Everywhere are Mexican restaurants, Mexican nightspots, Mexican shops and attractions, most with lower prices than you'd encounter in Cancun or Ixtapa, even lower--many think--than the prices of Puerto Vallarta. Before you visit any other Mexican resort, you should start first with Acapulco! Always remember that in the Acapulco of 1997-98, it's possible to bargain for rates. Make a long-distance call, tell them politely that you're seeking a room costing such-and-such, and more often than not, you'll be surprised to find the hotel in question coming up with just such a price. Hyatt Regency Acapulco
Bed and Breakfast Package
Las Brisas Acapulco (Frommer "TOP" hotel)Las Brisas Acapulco, P.O. Box 281 or Carretera Escenica No. 5255, Acapulco 39868, on a steep high-altitude hillside overlooking the majestic Bay of Acapulco; phone 1-800/228-3000 or 011-52-74-84-1580, fax 011-52-74-84-6071. Rates single or double $170 to $310, and include continental breakfast delivered to your room. World's most famous honeymoon hotel, but visited by romantic types of all ages and marital conditions, and not just the newly wed. Las Brisas perches on a rocky hillside overlooking the sparkling Acapulco Bay. The property consists of 300 independent casitas, or suites, units that range all the way from studios to three-bedroom suites, like little cottages with grounds of their own. Fully 250 of the units have private swimming pools, all of which are sprinkled with hibiscus blossoms every morning; you awake for breakfast, and from your bed (having first opened the French windows), you dive into your own pool. Each unit is decorated in cool pinks and whites, with the hibiscus also scattered on room service trays, towel racks, and pillows when the bed is turned down. Obviously, each unit has air-conditioning and a ceiling fan, plus minibar and every other deluxe amenity. Public facilities include a glamorous beach area (_La Concha Club_) down below (with restaurant and extraordinary white canvas chaise lounges and umbrellas), a health and beauty center, restaurant, shops, doctor's office and a gas station. And yes, you can rent your own pink jeep to run around in.
Quick Description: In 1954, a Spaniard bought 110 acres of steep hillside along the eastern edge of Acapulco's Santa Lucia Bay. Here he built an enclave of pink and white bungalows, each with private or shared pools, and arranged them among lush tropical foliage for maximum privacy. Named for the sea breezes which cool the resort, Las Brisas quickly became the favored playground of discerning travelers. Today, it's hard to imagine a more romantic spot than Las Brisas, where everything seems designed to help you forget your cares. Relax in complete seclusion in your pool, surrounded by bougainvillea and adorned each day with fresh hibiscus. Explore the surrounding countryside in one of the resort's pink and white jeeps. Or enjoy the sweeping views of the bay from the resort's El Mexicano or Bella Vista restaurants. Please note the child policy for Las Brisas: up to 2 children 12 and under can stay free in the same casita with an extra bed. Or, One child under 18 can stay free in existing bedding. Also note: a daily service charge of $20.00 per casita per day applies to all reservations. The fee includes all tips for bellboys, rooms attendants, waiters, etc.
Acapulco Princess (other Frommer "top") Acapulco Princess, P.O. Box 1351, Acapulco, Gro., in Diamond Point (the "Diamante") area, phone 1-800/223-1818 or 011-52-74-69-1000, fax 011-52-74-69-1016. Rates for standard room single or double $265 to $305 in high season (about December 15 to April 6), $115 single or double in low season (about May 12 to September 28), $160 single or double in shoulder seasons (rest of the year). Higher rates for superior and deluxe rooms and suites. Extra person in room $25 to $75, depending on season. An Aeromexico stewardess once described the Acapulco Princess to me as "the place where God lives"--it was that impressive to her. Situated on its own 480 acres along awesome Revolcadero Beach, this super elegant spot is halfway between the airport and downtown Acapulco (ten to 20 minutes in either direction). You cannot and will not miss it. It is in the shape of an Aztec Pyramid, whose main building has an atrium of 16 stories. That structure contains 424 rooms, 20 junior suites and seven penthouse suites. In the adjoining Princesa Tower, ten floors hold an additional 216 rooms and 36 suites. And finally, there's a ten-story Marquesa Tower with an additional 276 rooms, 36 suites and four penthouses. All rooms are quite spacious and have a private terrace, walk-in closet, separate dressing areas, and the usual deluxe amenities. Public facilities include seven restaurants (some high season only), a 24-hour coffee shop, bars and nightclub, 18-hole golf course (par 72), 11 tennis courts, six swimming pools, shops, doctor's office, and much more. Quick Description: A self-contained luxury resort, the Acapulco Princess is conveniently located just seven minutes from the airport and 20 minutes from the city of Acapulco. A trendsetter in the hotel industry, the Acapulco Princess is famous for its open air lobby, free-form pools, swim-up bar and impeccable grounds graced by peacocks, flamingoes and swans. The 480-acre resort complex features two 18-hole championship golf courses located side by side, free-form swimming pools, indoor and outdoor tennis, an exercise room, a variety of restaurants and more. The Acapulco Princess features Mexico's most exensive meeting facilities designed to accommodate groups ranging from a small board meeting of 15 to a major sales gathering or incentive program of 2,000. One of The Leading Hotels of the World, the Acapulco Princess offers approximately 42,000 square feet of indoor meeting and function space, audio/visual equipment, extensive outdoor theme party areas, and an experienced and dedicated convention services staff. The resort has built permanent backdrops, à la Hollywood sets, which serve as "stages" for its legendary outdoor theme parties, and the staff can create an entire Mexican town square, an Old West town or a pirate's cove.The Acapulco Princess is represented by Princess Hotels International, Inc. For more information and reservations, call your travel agent or Princess Hotels at 800-223-1818. |
