Restaurants range from simple to deluxe; dress is casual. In general Zihuatanejo is less expensive than Ixtapa, but both are considerably less expensive than Pacific Coast counterparts such as Los Cabos and Puerto Vallarta. Happily, there are no U.S. fast-food franchises yet, but good pizza, ribs and hamburguers can be found.

NIGHT LIFE

For night owls, Ixtapa offers several lively bars and discos. Carlos’n Charlie’s has a fun fiesta atmosphere with dancing on the beach, next to the Hotel Posada Real. The elegant Christine Disco at the Krystal hotel is the area’s poshest nightclub with an incredible light show.

For spectacular sunset views, try the lobby bar at the Westin Brisas or, inthe new Marina Ixtapa, there´s El Faro, a sunset bar perched atop an 85-foot-high light-house with live music and dancing.

La Valentina: is a classy extravagant club with tropical decor next to Posada Real.

Sanca Bar is a chic-rustic club with live tropical music at the Hotel Sheraton. Also in Ixtapa are Sr. Frogs, Free-way Pub, and live music in the lobby of most hotels. In Zihuatanejo head to the El D’Latinos (live and disco music) or Fandango (live music for dancing). Mr. Mike’s is a hip cantina and nightclub on the hill, Puerto Mio Disco has trendy adult music, and Dino’s down the street offers open air night life.

There are also fiesta nights at some Ixtapa hotels (Sheraton and Dorado Pacífico are recommended) with buffet, handicraft bazaars and live entertainment on alternating nights of the week.

LODGING:

Ixtapa
Ixtapa’s string of deluxe modern hotels (totaling just over 3,500 units) are nearly all on the same stretch of sandy beach-exceptions are the Villa del Lago, Qualton, Meliá, Club Med and Westin Brisas hotels. Hotels tend to be clustered close to one another, yet each displays a unique architectural styling. This breaks up the resort’s skyline and affords visitors a degree of choice without having to select one resort area over another (as is the case in Acapulco, Puerto Vallarta, and other resorts).

Zihuatanejo
Hotels here are scattered around Zihuatanejo Bay or along the village’s downtown streets. The hotel scene here is characterized by smaller, low-rise properties, many of which offer a more affordable, albeit less sophisticated alternative to Ixtapa. The offerings are buoyed by three of Mexico’s best smaller inns giving Zihuatanejo an elegant up-scale side that contrasts nicely with the city’s more Bohemian properties.