Ixtapa, Mexico

Ixtapa vacations encompass Mexican luxury at its finest. A popular beach resort right next to the beach town of Zihuatanejo, Ixtapa Mexico is really quite different from its neighbor. Modern infrastructure and comfortable hotels line the Ixtapa Mexico beachfront, including the popular Club Med Ixtapa, excellent for Ixtapa family travel. The history of Ixtapa Mexico is comparably short. In the last few decades, folks looking to boost the Mexican economy created an area of Ixtapa resorts to complement the sleepy village of Zihuatanejo. The result was a resort paradise, featuring every modern accommodation available.

One of the most popular Ixtapa resorts is the Club Med Ixtapa. Club Med Ixtapa is an excellent choice for Ixtapa family travel. The hotel features a host of activities for children of all different ages, from water sports, to games and babysitting for younger children. Rooms feature kitchen appliances such as small refrigerators and microwaves, and tend to be nicely sized. Although Club Med Ixtapa is on the high end of the price scale, many folks looking for Ixtapa family vacations will find Club Med Ixtapa to be a great fit.

Another popular Ixtapa resort is the Barceló Ixtapa, a family friendly resort that is all-inclusive. At the Barceló Ixtapa, as with all-inclusive resorts, the cost of meals and drinks are included in the room rate. Although this will be more expensive upfront, for many families all-inclusive resorts provide a convenient way to feed an entire family for the length of your vacation as you travel Mexico. The Barceló Ixtapa also has a myriad of programs for children of all ages during the day and babysitting upon request at night. With so many high-end resorts, Ixtapa vacations often involve an all-inclusive resort. For less expensive travel, check out Ixtapa"s sister city, Zihuatanejo.

Travelers will find Ixtapa visitations to have ready access to the beach just about anywhere you stay. Since so many resorts line the beachfront, the beaches themselves are clean and well kept, particularly nearby Isla Ixtapa, accessible by boat or water taxi. Activities like snorkeling, swimming, body boarding and soaking up sun along the white sand. Families with children will find the beaches safe and easy to find.

If you do plan to leave the Ixtapa resort area to eat out, downtown Zihuatanejo has a nice group of excellent restaurants, and even some famous Mexican bakeries. The main strip of eateries is located near the public market. Travelers can make a nice afternoon of shopping and eating in the lively area, a nice addition as you travel Mexico. After-hours eating can be a bit tricky. For the most part, clubs, bars, and restaurants die down around midnight, with the exception of one or two on a busy weekend night. You"ll want to be sure and plan ahead if you plan to be out late.

Another popular day trip from Ixtapa is an excursion to Playa Las Gatas. A quick, inexpensive cab ride to the main pier in Zihuatanejo will place guests near a ticket booth, where tickets can be purchased for the water taxi to Playa Las Gatas. The water taxi drops guests off at the beach along a lovely line of shop fronts and restaurants that can easily provide entertainment for a day. The eateries feature great cuisine. There are some quaint and unique local shops. Be sure you"ve saved your ticket from the trip out and your ride back to Ixtapa is free.

Ixtapa vacations offer a luxurious way to travel Mexico. Whether you stay at the Club Med Ixtapa, the Barceló Ixtapa, or any other of the Ixtapa resorts, you won"t get far in Ixtapa without encountering the finest that Mexico has to offer.