Anyone been to Las Brisas in Ixtapa? The various websites seem to consistenly rate it a four star. Has anyone stayed there? Does it have the typical rockhard beds one finds at resort hotels throughout the Carribean and Mexico? Hows the beach too? Hotel Villa del Sol is my plan B, but the nightly rate for a highfloor suite at Las Brisas is pulling me in!

Not sure if it is still a Westin, but stayed there when it was one about 2 yrs ago. It's a great hotel (but not luxury by any means), secluded, private-ish beach (so no constant peddlers), interesting architecture, OK food, great pool, nice jungly setting. Don't remember anything bad about the beds...

Villa del Sol has a great restaurant, so definitely go for dinner. Also La Casa Que Canta is great for food. These places are both in Zihuatanejo; the Brisas beach is most definitely nicer IMO. It's the only hotel on that beach, and the surf is good. We actually experienced an earthquake while on the beach - deep thumping sounds followed by intense vertical shaking... 10 minutes later all these marine plants & algae were washing up on the beach en masse...

We have been there the last two years (mid-February). The hotel has a very cool architechtural style (sloping up a hill). The whole style is very clean and modern Mexican. The rooms all overlook the ocean and are nice with tile floors, nice bathrooms, comfortable (but firm ... compared to say a Heavenly Bed), huge balconys with hamocks, two lounge chairs, a table and two other chairs. I am not sure that I would pay extra for a suite, and the higher room levels doesn't reall matter since the lowest room floor (11) is fairly far up the hill.

The food was good (better than last year). We ate some meals at the hotel, but mostly ate in Zihua (with one meal at the Marina in Ixtapa, and one at Villa Del Selva right next door. One note, you can buy a partial meal plan which turned out to be a great deal (it was something like 4 bkfst, 3 lunches, 3 dinners and a bottle of wine). We typically ate pool or beachside and the great staff will make what ever you want.

Drinks were fairly expensive, but in line with this type of resort. The two for one happy hour in the lobby bar watching sunsets was great.

The pools are very nice, the beach is great (totally secluded as mentioned) with no vendors. People say you can not swim, but it was fine, with fairly large surf but a consistent out flow and no rip tides.

We would go back in a second, if nothing else for the great staff and balconys.

Email me if you want more info