Las Hadas By Brisas

Still primarily a port city, Manzanillo was put on the map for tourists when its first resort hotel, Las Hadas, was built in 1974. It grew in popularity after the hotel was featured in the film "10" with Bo Derek, Dudley Moore, and Julie Andrews. The resort is characterized by the whitewashed buildings, cobblestone walkways, and palm trees that make up the manicured grounds. It's a beautiful hotel built on the hillside, allowing all rooms to face the ocean, though some views are better than others. Inside the lobby, there are plenty of wicker couches and chairs in neutral tones, a white piano, and concierge desk. The resort is all-inclusive optional, but most guests choose that route as dining at the restaurants can be expensive. However, it differs from all-inclusive resorts like the Barcelo Karmina or Gran Festivall that have sprawling properties and a ton of activities. There are some planned activities by the pool and water sports available here, but the vibe is relaxed and quiet. It mainly draws vacationing couples, though families will also feel welcome. However, those with young children and older guests should be aware that there are a lot of stairs here, and going back to the room from the pool and beach will require a climb (worse for some rooms than others). Note that Las Hadas and other resorts in the area will have a large presence of locals during the weekends.

Las Hadas is located on a peninsula in Manzanillo, with its own quarter-mile stretch of beach and adjacent marina with 70 boat slips. The Playa de Oro International Airport is a 40-minute drive from the hotel. Most restaurants and sights require a car, though cabs are plentiful and inexpensive. The historic downtown of Manzanillo is about a 20-minute drive from the resort. It's a four-hour drive from the popular resort town of Puerto Vallarta and a three-and-a-half-hour drive from Guadalajara. 

The standard rooms (called Deluxe Rooms) are bright, with white walls, marble floors, and off-white furniture. Beds are comfortable, with white sheet and brown bed runners, some with geometric print throw pillows. All have flat-screen TVs, stocked minibars, in-room safes, and coffeemakers. The bathrooms have a similar design, featuring floor-to-ceiling marble and walk-in glass showers; hairdryers and Neutrogena toiletries are provided. One notable perk is that every room has a furnished balcony facing the water, though views vary. Fantasy Suites have similar decor, but include a living room area with either a couch or chairs and a table. Additional amenities include robes, large bathtubs, and lounge chairs on the balcony. Upgrading to a Brisas Beach Club room means Gilchrist & Soames toiletries and several perks outside of the room. For guests with mobility issues, staff will provide golf cart service. The 200 and 300 block of rooms are closest to the water and require fewer steps.

There's plenty of activities to keep busy at Las Hadas. The sandy stretch of beach has rows of wooden chairs set under tent-like canvases; there aren't any lounge chairs, but you can request beach beds. The main swimming pool is large, featuring a swim-up bar, adjacent kiddy pool, and plenty of loungers; sometimes there are activities being held at the pool. Upgrading to a Brisas Beach Club room allows access to the adult-only Brisas pool; the quiet pool has its own bar and nicer padded lounge chairs. The spa and salon has a variety of treatments available, including some for couples. The fitness center is small, but has modern cardio and strength-training machines and free weights. Other physical activities include a variety of water sports, volleyball, and tennis courts. There's also a PADI dive center on-site, though that costs extra. The 18-hole golf course, designed by Pete and Roy Dye, has 15 holes that play over the water.Kids ages 4 to 12 can participate in the Little Angels Club and babysitting can be arranged for a fee. There are also meeting spaces and a business center with two computers available.

There are two buffet restaurants and one a la carte restaurant at Las Hadas. El Palmar is a casual, poolside restaurant serving buffet and a la carte options for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. The Los Delfines restaurant is a gorgeous open-air space with thatched roof overlooking the water; it's open for lunch and dinner and has both a buffet and a la carte options. Note that you may have to ask to see the a la carte menu. The Legazpi restaurant is the gourmet a la carte option for dinner, serving Italian dishes with a Mediterranean flair. Margarita's Snack Bar is next to the beach and serves light snacks and drinks. Room service is available 24 hours a day. The food quality gets mixed reviews from guests and the buffet selection can be a bit limited. For adult beverages, the main pool has the El Duende swim-up bar. There's also a lobby bar, which opens at night with accompanying piano music. For guests that upgraded to the Brisas Beach Club, the Brisas pool has its own bar, where you can order both drinks and food.