Author's product rating: 
| Advantages: |
the weather, the people, the area, virtually everything in fact |
| Disadvantages: |
the beach sellers, the cockroaches, the long flight time from the UK, and a small earthquake . |
| Recommend to potential buyers: |
yes |
Firstly my general rule of thumb about going on holiday is, when choosing a destination it must be somewhere I have not been before, but Acapulco is somewhere I would return to in a heartbeat.
It has to be one of the best holidays I have had in a long time.
Why? I hear you ask.
We booked about 6 weeks before we went so not exactly last minute, but not ages in advance and paid around £750 each for all inclusive 4 star hotel for two weeks. All the hotels are arranged around the bay along a long road called La Costera, and many are actually on the beach.
The hotel was fabulous, on the beach and the staff were great, you didnt even have to get out of your sunlounger to go to the bar, the waiters came down on to the beach and delivered your drinks to you dripping with ice. Well you need to keep cool in 47C heat.
Before this turns into a review on the hotel, let me mention the resort of Acapulco. There is tons to do beside sitting soaking up the sun, if you are that way inclined.
We fit in a day diving, (cost about £80.00 each), a day on a boat trip ( around £150 to hire the boat and crew for a days fishing/sunbathing/dolphin watching).
You must visit the fort for some history of Acapulco. I cant remember the price to get in but it wasnt expensive, and its not huge so a couple of hours there would get you around everything. All the rooms there are air conditioned to protect the exhibits so can provide a welcome relief if the heat gets a bit too much for you.
There are loads of shops, even the supermarket was interesting. Some big names like Walmart, and a huge supermarket so even if you go self catering you will be able to get everything you need.
Make sure to see the cliff divers, this is truly amazing, these young men (boys) dive into a narrow passage of water and nearly kill themselves on the rocks and then climb out to do it again. They do a few dives throughout the day so try and take in a night and a day one. At night they do it by torch light. One word of warning, at night don't sit on the wall, it is full of cock roaches coming out of the cliffs. They run along it and you can hear their feet clicking on the stones. I am not talking our usual UK cockroaches either, these things are huge.
On your way back from the night dive, make sure you walk through the zocalo (the local square), it is really pretty, especially at night when it is all lit up and the bandstand has coloured lights all over it. Definately not to be missed.
Some of the drawbacks of the place are, the beach sellers, they wander up and down the beach, parading their wares which include everything from rope bracelets, to solid silver jewellery, clothing, fruit. You name it you could probably buy it off the beach. They can be intrusive and pushy. But a firm No Thanks usually sends them on their way. If you keep your sunglasses on and either pretend to sleep or be engrossed in your book they usually leave you alone. You can get a massage or get your hair braided on the beach as well. One thing that bothered me was the obvious poverty in the area, with lots of kids begging or trying to sell you stuff. I think this is pretty much the same wherever you travel.
There is a wide variety of restaurants from a veggie chain that sells wholefood, to traditional mexican restaurants to big names like Planet Hollywood and Hard Rock Cafe. As well as the usual fast food chains that turn up everywhere. So even if you are a really picky eater, you will not starve. But do drink only bottled water.
We were all inclusive so didnt have to pay for meals if we didnt want to, although we did eat out often. Mexico can be expensive, especially for things like souveniers. Silver is really cheap but be careful and inspect what you buy. Dont be conned into buying something that you dont really want, and do check the quality before you buy.
There are also lots of bars and clubs along the Costera so just wander along and take your pick.
Taxis are cheap, but the buses are easy to negotiate as well and can take you most places in the area that you want to go.
You will be warned not to go onto the beach at night because tourists tend to get mugged there at night although we never saw anything or felt threatened in any way. We did go down to the beach at night but did not go too far away from the hotel. There is a big police presence and you will often see trucks driving around with numerous police (curiously, all in different uniforms) carrying big guns.
We also fit in a weekend trip to Teotuhuacan, the mayan pyramids, which included Mexico City as well, and will take up a whole other review. This two day trip cost us about £150.00 each but could have been done cheaper if we had planned our own travel and accomadation and not just gone with the holiday company.
In conclusion, I love Mexico, I loved Acapulco. I loved the people, they are so friendly, and nothing is too much trouble. I loved the weather, and the whole Town. The drawbacks I have mentioned are only so you go there well informed and the good things outweigh them so much..
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