120km (74 miles) SW of Mexico City
The whitewashed town of Ixtapan de la Sal (not to be confused with Ixtapa, on the Pacific coast) is known for its thermal mud baths -- this is an original spa town, with generations of healing traditions.
Hotels in Ixtapan (pronounced "eeks-tah-pahn") de la Sal tend to fill up on weekends and Mexican holidays, as the town is a popular retreat from Mexico City. Cuernavaca, Taxco, and Toluca are all easy side trips. The Marriott Ixtapan de la Sal Hotel & Spa, José Maria Morelos s/n, Fracc. Bugambilias (tel. 721/143-2010; www.marriott.com/hotels/travel/mexix-ixtapan-de-la-sal-marriott-hotel-and-spa), is a 189-room hotel at the town entrance with a full-service spa and more modern amenities than the better known Hotel Spa Ixtapan. Doubles range from $220 to $260 (£110-£230) per night.
