Birthday Weekend Help
 

I'm turning 30 this November.(before Thanksgiving), and I'm looking for a weekend away with my better half. We're experienced travelers, but it'll be our first trip to Mexico (we're recently relocated to the west coast), I usually prefer the caribbean because it's historically been closer. Thus, I'm at a bit of a loss as to where to go (and asking for help).

For this trip, I'd love something classically warm, beachy and very relaxed--just want to get away for the weekend and leave my phone at home, type thing. We'll need fairly easy access to the US west coast (no sense flying 10 hours each way for a 2.5 day trip). If at all possible, I'd love to avoid the whole huge resort thing, something more like Casa Chameleon in Costa Rica (http://www.hotelcasachameleon.com)--say less than 20 rooms, decent service (but I don't need the Four Seasons), tasty (though not necessarily expensive) food either on site or down the road, and not having to worry about things like "do I have to reserve a chair at 7AM?" I think that $300/night is approximately our cap.

Everything I've seen so far is huge resorts, but I'm sure that smaller, more personal options exist. Can anyone point me in the right direction?

Thanks!

La Casa Que Canta, Zihuatanejo. 3+ hours from LAX on Alaska. November is low season, and they are offering specials right now (24 Jul - 5 Aug). (High season begins in Mexico on 19 December this year.) Perhaps a bit larger than you are mentioning, but I have had friends stay over the decades and absolutely love it. ZIH serves Ixatapa, the quintessential resort (you can find my sister there on occasion), but Zihuatanejo is the older, pre-existing place with lovely bays and La Casa Que Canta is renown for its service and stress-free stays.

A little closer might be Loreto (Baja California) - a it more developed that in the day I used to visit (small aircraft or 4WD), but there are some good reviews of El Tiburón Casitas (see TripAdvisor.com). Also AS out of LAX.