Las Brisas Ixtapa
Is it a ziggurat or a pyramid? Whatever the answer, this massive, cubist resort, in a giant stair-like building that cascades down a steep mountain, is impressive—for its rooms, for its jungly grounds, and most importantly for its lovely and very private beach. Rooms have a streamlined luxury to them with cushy white duvets (topped with hand-embroidered pillows for a touch of local flair), real sitting areas with comfy couches, and sea-facing balconies complete with hammocks (all rooms get a sea view). The grounds are laced with half a dozen trails leading guests through seemingly virgin jungle to the mid-sized pool, the tennis courts, the beach, and some of the on-site restaurants (there are four). Unlike the hotels in Zone 1, here you have a stretch of serene sand to yourself. Tip: With this many rooms to fill, the hotel has partnered with pretty much every air/hotel packager under the sun, so search the Web for packages, where the best rates are found. (The prices I list are land-only).
Is it a ziggurat or a pyramid? Whatever the answer, this massive, cubist resort, in a giant stair-like building that cascades down a steep mountain, is impressive—for its rooms, for its jungly grounds, and most importantly for its lovely and very private beach. Rooms have a streamlined luxury to them with cushy white duvets (topped with hand-embroidered pillows for a touch of local flair), real sitting areas with comfy couches, and sea-facing balconies complete with hammocks (all rooms get a sea view). The grounds are laced with half a dozen trails leading guests through seemingly virgin jungle to the mid-sized pool, the tennis courts, the beach, and some of the on-site restaurants (there are four). Unlike the hotels in Zone 1, here you have a stretch of serene sand to yourself. Tip: With this many rooms to fill, the hotel has partnered with pretty much every air/hotel packager under the sun, so search the Web for packages, where the best rates are found. (The prices I list are land-only).
