Puerta del Mar

Puerta del Mar (which means "Sea Door") is hidden from the street behind a wall and gates. The relaxed and laid-back hotel is filled with Mexican inspired charm via colonial inspired architecture, open-air spaces, and stunning tropical flowers. Centered around two massive pools, a poolside swim-up bar, and an open-air patio restaurant, most of the action at the hotel is around pool from morning until night. Some of the common areas can get fairly busy with kids playing, but with massive suites featuring spacious private terraces, there are plenty of places for guests to get away for quiet. Two bars have daily specials and some theme nights, so there is a small social scene at the hotel. With one- and two-bedroom suites, expect to see lots of families and young children, hanging out at the pools or playing sports on the spacious soccer field. 

Renting a car isn't necessary as Puerta del Mar is centrally located by the popular Boulevard Ixtapa, running through downtown and bordered by restaurants, bars, and shops. Taxi service is easy and fairly cheap from the hotel as well. It's an easy seven-minute walk to the main shopping center in town. The hotel is a four-minute drive or 15-minute walk to the white sands of Playa el Palmar. Zihuatanejo's downtown is a 25-minute drive from the hotel, with plenty of restaurants, traditional Mexican street food, and the bustling Mercado. The less populated Playa la Ropa is a 22-minute drive from the hotel, while the busy Paseo del Pescador, the busy boardwalk bordering Playa La Madera, is a 20-minute drive from the hotel. Allow 25 minutes of travel time to get to the Ixtapa-Zihuatanejo Airport.

There’s a lot to like about the massive suites at Puerta del Mar. There are two categories: Junior Suite and Master Suite, with the main difference being the size. Junior Suites have one bedroom and Master Suites have two bedrooms. All suites feature microwaves, blenders, and refrigerators. Suites come with both flat-screen and tube-style TVs, most rooms have two TVs. Doors to all the rooms are textured glass. All rooms come with a dining area, separate living room, and full kitchen. Wi-Fi is free, but can be spotty. The vibrant and colorful rooms feature white walls with color in the decor skewing towards greens, oranges, and reds. Expect to see heavy stone dining tables, cushioned concrete banquet couches, and blue stone headboards. There are a few pieces of artwork for extra pops of color, as well as a few small pieces of traditional Mexican sculptures. Bathrooms are moderately sized and come with standing stone showers. All suites come with two full bathrooms -- which is a nice extra for families. Bathrooms feature plenty of stone vanity space and toiletries. The spacious furnished terraces are one of the highlights of the spacious suites.

Puerta del Mar offers plenty of features to keep its vacationing guests busy. The hotel is centered around two massive pools nestled amongst beautiful manicured grounds and gardens. The main pool has a slide and separate children's area, while the second pool has a small whirlpool. There are plenty of lounge chairs and straw-thatched palapas around both pools for guests to hang out and sunbathe. A casual poolside bar is open throughout the day and it features different drink specials. The open-air patio restaurant, El Molcajete, is open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, serving casual Mexican fare. The menu mainly consists of traditional Mexican dishes -- tacos, enchiladas, and guacamole. The restaurant also serves room service throughout the day. Adjacent to El Mocajete, is a small, casual lobby bar serving beer, wine, and cocktails in the afternoons and evenings. The spacious grounds include lovely soccer fields, a 24-hour lobby, and ping-pong tables. There is plenty of free parking on offer. Wi-Fi is free throughout the hotel's common areas.