Ixtapa and Zihuatanejo offer two kinds of stay. On the Zihuatanejo side you can choose a hotel on the calm bay, close to the town and its waterfront, and on the Ixtapa side you get larger resorts along the open beach. Where you sleep decides whether your days start with a walk to the pier or a swim in the resort pool, so match the area to the trip you want. The five hotels below were checked against recent guest reviews and current rate pages, and each showed rates for November 2026 or recent reviews.
Playa La Ropa, Zihuatanejo
This is the most popular beach in town and the best base for a bay-focused stay. Thompson Zihuatanejo is the splurge, with three outdoor pools, a swim-up bar, a spa and plunge-pool rooms, and it is a short walk from the beach and about twenty minutes from the airport. Catalina Beach Resort is the mid-range option, with its own beach, a beach bar and sea-view rooms, though reviews mention stairs and no elevator. Both are close to the start of the kayak to Las Gatas and to sunset restaurants on the sand.
La Madera and the center of Zihuatanejo
Hotel Irma is in La Madera, about a minute on foot from La Madera Beach and close to the bay, the Paseo del Pescador and the museum. It has two pools, ocean-view rooms and some rates with breakfast, so it is a strong choice for families and anyone who wants to walk to town for dinner. Rooms are on a hillside, so expect some steps, and ask for an ocean view because it is the most popular room type.
Ixtapa hotel zone
Ixtapa is the resort side, with wide roads, large hotels and a long open beach. Emporio Ixtapa has a private beach, pools, a swim-up bar, a spa and an optional all-inclusive plan, and it is a short walk from Playa El Palmar and Magic World Aquapark. Gamma Plaza Ixtapa in the Palma Real area is the budget pick, with a pool, a playground, free parking and an elevator, though it is a walk or short ride from the sand. The surf here is open ocean, so use the pools and take a boat to Isla Ixtapa for calm water.
How to choose
If you want calm water, a walkable town and a quieter feel, stay on the Zihuatanejo side at La Ropa or La Madera. If you want a large resort, a kids club feel and all-inclusive options, stay in Ixtapa. Many travelers split the stay, spending a few nights in each, since a taxi between the two takes only a short time. Rates change by season, with busier and pricier weeks around holidays and in winter, so compare dates and confirm what your rate includes, including breakfast and parking.
Good to know
Check air conditioning and elevator access when you reserve, since some rooms rely on fans and some hotels are hillside with stairs. Confirm which pools and restaurants are operating, and ask about airport transfers, which some hotels offer for a fee. Whichever area you choose, book ahead for peak weeks, because the better rooms and the lower rates go first.
