3 Best Hotels in Zihuatanejo, Ixtapa and Zihuatanejo

This new seven-room B&B is one of the more remote in Zihuatanejo, and the location has its plusses (tranquillity, sweeping bay views) and its minuses (it's a long walk to get anywhere, so expect to take a lot of cabs). Suites are spacious and airy, nicely decorated in neutral tones and polished concrete, each with its own private entrance, though the cheapest garden-view room is a bit cavelike. The grand suites have vaulted, exposed-beam ceilings, outdoor showers, and bay-view terraces equipped with lounge chairs and hammocks. A tasty breakfast is served daily in a palapa overlooking the infinity pool and small sundeck; with only a few snack options available (guacamole, quesadillas), it's not the best place to lounge poolside all day, though there is an honor bar stocked with beer, wine, and juice for those who want to do just that.

There's a B-movie quality to this old hotel, constructed in an angular 1960s style and now surrounded by tall trees and thick vegetation; it was last renovated and expanded in 2011 and 2012. Guest quarters are plain but well maintained and priced according to the quality of the ocean view. The cheapest, boxlike rooms on the first floor have no view; the spacious ones on the top floor scan the entire bay from hammock-equipped terraces. Furnishings are nothing special; bathrooms are tiled in blue and green; and the quality of mattresses varies from room to room—give 'em a bounce before you decide. The crashing waves below may lure you down more than 200 stairs to beach level, where there are lounge chairs, a pool, and a bar.

Though the namesake owner of this small, sharp hideaway overlooking Playa Madera passed away in 2005, the family has stayed true to the founder's high standards. Rooms have pristine white walls, tile floors, and balconies. The little suites still have wonderful sitting areas, bedrooms, mini-patios, and small dining areas (toasters, blenders, and coffeemakers available upon request).