Hey
New member on this forum and also first post.
I travel a lot but am in a couple of days going to Acapulco for the first time. Tried to search the forum after posts about it but couldn't find it. Has anyone been there lately? How's safety and how's the airport? Flying in on United from Houston and out of there on United via Mexico City.

It has been a while since I have been to Acapulco - used to go a lot "once upon a time" as it was only a few hours' drive. However - it's an old resort, some infrastructure is kind of old (so choose carefully) and there is some health hazard due to untreated sewerage (particularly in the rainy season, which should long be over by now - the government denies any problem but periodic outbreaks of cholera nearby give away that lie, but I'd avoid shellfish like oysters, clams, etc.) and it is in the state of Guerrero.

The state of Guerrero is known for drugs growing and narco-terrorism, corruption and Hatfield-McCoy feuds, not necessarily in that order.

That being said, Acapulco has long been known for good fishing, some nice beaches (take the small boats over to Roqueta, for example, or go out of town to watch the sunset at El Revolcadero beach near the Hotel Fairmont Acapulco Princess south in Puerto Marqu�s - and nort, Pie del la Cuesta (pee-eh day lah quest-ah - you can sometimes see sharks in the huge waves outlined against the setting sun, but beware the huge undertow and the mozzies and bugs coming in at dusk from the Laguna de Coyuca a- a decent place for wildlife and bird watching - lagoon nearby), its night life, etc. Check here to begin with (but be aware it strikes me as a bit overly promotional, but that's me).

Best thing to do is to get some local knowledge, avoid shady places - particularly at night (for example, the "Zona Roja", or prostitution zone and its bars - prostitution is "regulated" in Acapulco).

So the trip went well. Although Acapulco looked a bit run down, there were some nice spots around. Some police here and there but I felt completely safe. The airport is mostly sad though, a lot of renovations so that will most likely change. Even Aeromexico flights were on time so I caught my connections in Mexico City and Houston

Thanks for post in follow-up. Where did you stay and how was it? Any recommendations? We'd love it if you could share for those interested in visiting.

I stayed at Camino Real which was nice. A bit outside but right by the ocean. Since my visit was so short I didn't see much, but people recommended to hang out by the new area closer to the airport, rather than the "old" Acapulco city and it looked pretty clean.

I am a big fan of Acapulco, still! I usually stay either at the Fiesta Americana (in the middle of Acapulco, right on the bay) or Los Flamingos (much older hotel, in the oldest part of Acapulco)
The Fiesta Americana is exactly what you would expect from a 3+ star hotel. Clean, comfortable, with nice views of the bay, and with all the normal amenities. It is right in the center of the action, near the clubs - the north/NW (or sunset) side can be a little noisy. The opposite side is very quiet.
Hotel Los Flamigos is one of the oldest hotels in Aca - and in truth, it shows its age. But the staff and family who owns it are fantastic, and the view from the cliffs make for the best sunset views in Acapulco.
The Diamante/Puerto Marquez area is new, shiny, and more popular. A lot of condos and more of a all inclusive vibe.
Acapulco has had a LOT of problems in the past 7-8 years. A narco cartel power vacuum created by the removal of the controlling BLO cartel made Acapuclo a lucrative and violent location for crime. But as public and dangerous as it was for the locals (and sometimes Mexican tourists), the tourist areas were generally spared.
Things are still far from normal there - foreign tourism is scant, it is more of a weekend destination for Mex City travelers. There is still plenty of English speakers, but there is definitely a more "Mexican feel" than, say, Cancun. A little Spanish goes a long way! What had been a 7 day/all night party atmosphere has evolved into busy Wed-Sat nights, with Sunday, Mon and Tuesday being very quiet.
There has been a lot of private investment in the old section and golden zone, and a number of public works projects - redoing the Costera along the bay, a new bus system, and a professional soccer stadium. Security has been stepped up, and with positive results. The drug violence has peaked, and seems to be receding.
I can't say that at this moment I would recommend Acapulco over more family-friendly (and relatively untouched locations) Cabo or Playa del Carmen - though Acapulco is still my #1 choice. The people are fantastic, there is plenty of good food, and the beaches and views are as good as anywhere!
Hopefully in a few years, things will return to normal!

RFNJ, those are excellent points!

Years (and years) ago we used to stay at the Hotel Boca Chica (on the north side of Caletilla) and really enjoyed. Of course, it was a short few hours drive from Cuernavaca, and it had its own bay - I learned to scuba dive there in 1954! If you got tired of the baylet and Caletilla - Caleta, you could always take the motor boats to Roqueta island - I think they have had a series of beer-drinking donkeys there over the years!

Amazingly, the Boca Chica continues - now operated by Design Hotels! 60 years later - quien lo pensar�a!

Got to say, I still like Zihuatanejo for a laid back and less crowded experience.

Acapulco in the rainy season - that's a great time to stay away. Roads do get washed out, flooding does occur (Aug - Oct can be rains, and even an occasional Pacific hurricane).

Here's a great video of what happened in the 2013 floods - a crocodile (Crocodylus acutus) on the streets of Acapulco! (I knew they liked "la mordida" in Acapulco, but this is a bit too far. )

Seriously, we used to see these near Coyuca de Benitez, the lagoons north of Acapulco and some of the estuarine and marshy areas south.)