No More Service to ACA?
 

Wife and I used to love to spend a week or so at the Las Brisas Resort in Acapulco. We haven't been able to do this for probably three years now because of the reduction and then elimination of all flights from both DFW and ORD on AA, CO service from IAH, and DL service from ATL. At one time several European carriers even flew into ACA "in season." Even the cruise ships won't stop there anymore. It's damned near impossible to get there without overnighting in MEX and that takes a couple of days away from the fun in ACA. Are there any other Acapulco lovers who have found a viable way to get to this sensuous city or have the drug dealers, cartels, extortionists, etc. scared all but Mexican residents away? We dearly love renting a casita with private pool, the great dining choices, and the best views of the city day and night, breakfast delivered to the room on demand and other amenities been lost to the hoodlums who terrorize the place? I'm really hoping the allure of this magnificent city has not been lost forever.

<redacted> UA operates IAH-ACA non-stops five days a week in February.

<redacted>

Does flying into ZIH and driving to Acapulco not work? I would probably do that rather than overnight in MEX.

suggestions:

- try going from an LAX area airport
- try taking one of the buses from Mex to ACA - about 5 hours. see the wiki thread on buses.
- as mentioned above - try driving or bus from ZIH

The only people I have known who have driven from ZIH to ACA (or vice versa) were stopped at gunpoint and had all of their possessions removed - including cash, jewelry, and all identification. So no driving or bus for us - thank you anyway!!! considering the fact that they were both beautiful French young ladies, I'm surprised they weren't molested. The drive from SAN to LAX is also torturous and usually involves an overnight in MEX when traveling by Aeromexico. And no more Mexicana! The Feb. service from IAH is promising.

The Bus travel in Mexico, the definitive thread has considerable information on the bus between Mexico City and Acapulco as an alternative - the best busses are quite more luxurious than the airplane many of us rode in on, and are economical, safe and reliable.

Round trip MXN $470 (USD $36) for Pluss, MXN $615 (USD $47) for Diamante, Mexico Taxqueña to Acapulco, is possibly cheaper than the tolls on the highways alone, for a five hour comfortable trip with reclining seats with legrests (only 24 per bus), in-seat power, touch-screen IFE, snacks and beverages, lounge whilst waiting, etc. on Diamante.


assuming one didn't just want to connect at MEX to domestic services - less than one hour to ACA on Aeromar, Aeroméxico, Aeroméxico Connect and Interjet from MEX. (Same bus company connects Zihuatanejo - Ixtapa and Acapulco, MXN $160 - $180 (to USD $13), Pluss or Primera EDO, just under five hours).

To the OP, I think your post describes the problem: Acapulco just isn't what it once was. It might be crime (real or perceived); it might be decision of the tourism industry there years ago to go more downmarket and "spring breaky"; it might be that Acapulco has been eclipsed by Puerto Vallarta, Cancun, and Los Cabos. The demand for flights isn't there like it used to be, and that's reflected in airlines cutting back service. You can still get there. It won't be as convenient as it was.

Still NO nonstop Service to ACA
 

There is service from IAH to MEX on UA which still requires a change of planes to Aeromar. All the majors fly to MEX, so what's the difference? I'm looking for NONSTOP service from the states to ACA without going through MEX.

there are no nonstops from airports within 150 miles of San Diego. And you are right, it appears that almost all flights to ACA are from MEX.

However, as mentioned earlier, United flies nonstop r/t IAH to ACA; flt 4094/4618 4x a week and there appear to be some regularly scheduled non-stops from YYZ, HOU, and SAT.

Yes, that is pretty much it. Acapulco was in its heyday in the 1950s and '60s, '70s even, but is much less the destination it once was. (I always liked Zihuatanejo for its smaller aspirations and cozy bays). Of course, Mazatlán sprawled into what it is, and Miguel Alemán's computers found Cancún and now the tourist love has spread, particularly toward the Belize border; Ixtapa came along, just north of Zihuatanejo; Puerto Vallarta was developed (the Alemán influence again) and now it has spread hugely north and south, Los Cabos developed (and there is a development action encompassing the once-tranquil bays of Mulegé, Loreto, etc.) and more growth is occurring in Manzanillo; Puerto Esconico never hit it as big as any of these, and some like it precisely for that reason.

How to get to Acapulco??
 

I would like to spend Christmas in Acapulco but apparently it's not as easy as buying a ticket...

There are no direct flights from LAX or SFO. I don't believe there are any direct flights from any of the regional airports in So/NoCal either. Everything is routed through Mexico City. Fares are $600+/person RT and even pricier (from $300-500/person) for one-way routes. Worst of all, flight times are ridiculously long... like transcontinental duration! 7 hours from Southern California is just stupid. And if anyone could explain the one United operated flight from LAX to ACA that I pulled up on Hipmunk with a 2hr layover in HOUSTON (?!?!?!?) I would like to shake your hand.

I realize the airlines like the rest of the travel and tourist industry, are hurting right now due to the int'l safety warnings, but this just seems outrageous.

I even priced a domestic flight thinking we could drive to San Diego and spend a night or two in La Jolla, then cross into Tijuana, but that's priced at $600/person ONE-WAY... within Mexico!!

Is it basically impossible to travel to Acapulco from anywhere in Calfironia at reasonable cost and convenience this year? Why are AeroMexico's itinerary so screwy? Is there any possible way that I can still make this trip or should I just give up and look to other destinations?

When demand is high, prices are high. I'm not sure why you are so surprised, that's one of their peak tourism times.

Try PVR. Much nicer, IMO, and lots of non-stops. Of course, it will be expensive, too, but maybe $100 cheaper. I'm seeing it on UA for $460 nonstop.

Let me know if you want a hotel recc in PVR.

Thanks but I really wanted to see Old Acapulco and stay at the Las Brisas, visit the Boca Chica and all those mid century hotels that were the vacationland for 1940s-50s Hollywood. I've always wanted to visit and the appeal is the well preserved '50s architecture; sort of the Palm Springs of Mexico!

I may do the Yuccatan Peninsula instead, or somewhere in Southern California. It's not so much the prices that are shocking, but the overall trouble. The fact that there are no direct flights from LA says a lot. I was under the impression that Acapulco's international tourism was getting battered by the safety warnings; perhaps I put too much weight to that. The fact that there are no reasonable flight times is baffling. I could fly to Canada just as quick as I could fly to Acapulco, which is scary! It just seems like a very inaccessible destination from what should arguably be (and historically has been) a very popular point of departure - California!

We might do 4-5 nights at Hacienda San Angel in Puerto Vallarta over NYE actually... not a bad idea!