Zihuatanejo-Ixtapa Message Board - Trip Report, 3/11-3/17

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Trip report, 3/11-3/17
There was really only one major problem with our third trip to Ixtapa/Zihua: we were only there 6 nights. Need to correct that problem in the future!
We took the 1:05 a.m. Aeromexico flight from Chicago and it went pretty well. My husband was questioning how much money we’d really saved with this schedule as we sat in the Mexico City airport from 5:30-8:30 waiting to board the 9 a.m. flight to Zihua. But after we arrived at the hotel by 10:30 and had our first Coronas by 11:30, his attitude was just fine.
Krystal Hotel: We thought it was a fine place to stay if you don’t want All-Inclusive and plenty of others feel the same way, including some former Dorado Pacifico customers (like us).
Dinners out: Bigotes de Zapata in Ixtapa (great tacos pastor), Daniel’s (fish in parchment, yum), Sunset Bar for drinks and then Paty’s for dinner (fish fajitas, yum again), Chez Arnold on Las Gatas (wonderful service, pescadillas not so good but great shrimp tacos), Chili Beans in Ixtapa (Solaiedo was closed this night, Chili Beans bill was 20 percent too much and we had to complain; and the number of children trying to sell us things was NON-STOP), Nardo’s (awesome, best dinner of the week, best margaritas ever, best staff, please go!), and finally on the last night, we went to Los Braceros early for an order of fish tacos and then later went to Lety’s for coconut shrimp and shrimp in chipotle cream sauce (split two dinners among four of us). That’s what happens when you’re only in town six nights—you double up for dinner. The place on my bucket list we didn’t make was El Manglar.
On the day we went to Las Gatas, we rode the bus to the Elektra store and then walked through the Mercado municipal. It was so fun! My sister in law had never been to I/Z before so we had fun taking her around town. We’d never been to Las Gatas on our previous trips so that was on my bucket list. Enjoyed the snorkeling and wonderful service from our waiter Shey (sp?).
Carnival in Zihua: Would prefer not to be there during this event in the future. The crowds, the traffic, the loud music and everything else got old after the first night we were in town. Missed the usual hum of life around the basketball court in the evenings.
All in all, a great trip. My college-age, blond-haired daughter loved using her Spanish and at places like Nardo’s we had three waiters hovering around us—but they were so fun! Can’t wait to go back, maybe in two years? So many places to visit, so little time.

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Thanks for your report!

Loved the comments about your daughter and the 3 waiters. Typical!

And I also appreciate your comments about the Carnaval. This is obviously a matter our local community leaders and authorities have not given enough thought to. Carnaval was originally brought back as a celebration after decades of being abandoned with the excuse to promote tourism because the government hasn't a clue what it's doing with regards to tourism. They don't know what the local attraction is or how to promote it, so they resort to promoting Disneylandish gimmicks. They don't understand Zihuatanejo's role in the scheme of things and they believe we are competing with Cancún, Puerto Vallarta, Acapulco and Los Cabos so we must copy them, especially Acapulco. The booze vendors made out great from the Carnaval, but I haven't noticed any increased sales of anything else. Tons of garbage in the streets and I believe there's a new smell downtown that hopefully will be washed away.

If we can't celebrate Carnaval on the appropriate dates we should not celebrate it at all. That's one of my feelings on the subject.

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I agree...good trip report and comments on Carnaval. In years past when our visits have coincided with Carnaval events, we have preferred to stay on La Ropa and avoid going to town at all costs - even during the day. Traffic is a mess, it's too loud and too many people for starters. Z is such a lovely place normally. I just don't think it really helps the wheels of commerce or tourism in Zihuatanejo.

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I total agree as to Carnaval. I have never seen so much garbage around town and in the Zocalo! Also, the noise level was way out of line!! Never went near the zocalo after the first Sunday!!

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While I completely agree with Rob about the dates of Carnival, I mean that has to be a duh concept in a Catholic country, I disagree with the concept that the noise, crowds, etc. of the young locals celebrating something that is theirs is a tourism negative. Do stay on La Ropa if a Mexican celebration is too much for you!

Look at these pictures of the young people of Zihuatanejo celebrating at a time of economic downturn in their home town(tourism of course but have you been reading the stories in the local newspapers about the demise of the fishing industry) Their future is up in the air. Let them celebrate without worrying about a bunch of old gringos. :vivamexico:

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I agree Tess about your post....Aside the dates of the carnival,I have no issue with the event itselfalthough some better planning and site organisation would not hurt. But the idea behind the carnival is sound as it is an occasion for the locals to celebrate and whatever tourism business you make is a bonus but if properly planned and advertised I have no doubt it could be an asset for Zihua.

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While our local government is on the verge of bankruptcy, I have a hard time justifying them spending hundreds of thousands of pesos on an off date Carnaval if it isn't designed to attract tourism or at the very least put money INTO the public coffers. But seeing as it has been a money-losing venture for the city government from the start I find it hard to justify just to give local young folks an excuse to party even more than they already do. We have no shortage of holidays or partying youths here.

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So where does all the money go? By all means lets plant more trees and plants that have never had a drop of water so they die. Lets also keep on painting the streets. I could go on, but doubt the planning of what is done will make any difference for the next year at least. As one group leave and another comes along nothing much accounted for.

You and I could get together and plan Carnival and possibly the city could make some money if it is not on what they do now.

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Julio's Tours
www.juliostours.com

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My husband and I were in town for that first re-visited Carnaval they had, was it 5 or 6 years ago (not sure exactly when), and loved it. We considered coming next year in early March instead of late Feb, but we will be sure not to come during Carnaval week. We would be really upset if town was too busy to enjoy.

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The worst night was our last night, Friday. We ate at Lety's and thought we'd stroll through the area one last time. But the basketball court was completely walled off for a concert!!! You couldn't see anything, just hear the noise. It wasn't like that the other nights, you could see what was going on at least. The first night was fun, after that, not so much. The cabs couldn't go any further than Nicholas Bravo. To get a cab at night we would walk down Nicholas Bravo as far as we could past Pozole Alley and try to get away from the traffic near the canal.

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Enjoyed your report.

Carnival and everything else related to the basketball court has never been the same since they re-designed the cancha.

Poor planning on the part of carnival people, poor planning on whoever redesigned the area and poorer managing of letting people know what is happening when and where.

Loved the last night of Carnival with the good band, big lights and great music . (Not the one where the cancha was closed off)

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Julio's Tours
www.juliostours.com

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The part I liked most about the Carnaval was they closed our street during the evening all week to traffic. Worked great until the last night when they let a bus from the Carnaval though but a tractor-trailer blocked Juan N. Álvarez so the bus got stuck in front of our home for a half an hour as car owners were found and cars moved so it could make the turn (instead of simply moving the tractor-trailer).

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Just wish we were there

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The trailer was there but there was no truck under it to be able to move it. I was down there when the bus was stuck and I am surprised it ever made the corner. There was just one white car in the way when I finally left. I thought you might be down directing traffic, but no.

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Julio's Tours
www.juliostours.com

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We stayed at Hotel Suzy for last night of trip, coming from Ixtapa. Thought our young adult children would enjoy carnival, 2 of the three got their phones ripped off out of the suitcases, with their doors locked,while they went swimming, apparently the balcony door had been opened somehow. Never again will I stay in a place where they seemed so nice, but couldnt care less.

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We stayed at Hotel Suzy for last night of trip, coming from Ixtapa. Thought our young adult children would enjoy carnival, 2 of the three got their phones ripped off out of the suitcases, with their doors locked,while they went swimming, apparently the balcony door had been opened somehow. Never again will I stay in a place where they seemed so nice, but couldnt care less.

I'm really sorry to hear that, Sheryl, and I wish you had given me a heads up or at least mentioned the incident here on my Message Board while you were still here. I'm right across the street and I may have been able to help.

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I did walk across the street to see if you might be available, but it was Sunday. Did not have internet. If there is anything you might be able to do, I would appreciate it. We tried to explain it to the mother (older lady)but to no avail.
Thanks

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The trailer was there but there was no truck under it to be able to move it. I was down there when the bus was stuck and I am surprised it ever made the corner. There was just one white car in the way when I finally left. I thought you might be down directing traffic, but no.

I was but I finally had to walk away to keep from laughing at the Tránsitos and hurting their feelings.

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