Cala de Mar Resort & Spa Ixtapa

We just finished our stay at Cala de Mar. The positives were the property itself (the location, the design of the building, the layout of the suite, the patio, the plunge pool, and the incredible views from every part of the hotel [even the gym!]) and the amazing staff (the response to requests was speedy quick and each staff member was very friendly, kind, and helpful). The negatives were the overt or hidden supplementary costs. My husband and our four friends all felt that the cost for food and beverages far exceeded the quality that was provided. We thought that either the quality and variety of food options would need to significantly improve to justify the cost, or the pricing would have to drop by at least half to justify what was being offered. The pricing of food items was a lot higher than what we pay for comparable items in the US or Canada. Another issue was tipping. We felt that we should have been informed at the outset that every food or beverage service was already adding a required service fee (or tip) to each receipt. That line item is buried in with what we presumed were taxes. Each receipt also has an additional space which prompts guests to tip further. We did not appreciate until our last day that we had been over tipping (by 20-30% on every service). There were a couple of other overpricing issues… Our American friends noted that they spent the equivalent of $70 USD for a tube of sunscreen at the resort (?). The pricing of the return airport transfer was also way overpriced. We were quoted 6400 pesos for that service, which comes out to $500 CND (!). Our friends signed up to use that service only to discover that they were put into a regular cab at the airport and were sent on their way. A regular cab should only cost about 600 pesos (about $47 CND) each way. So it should have been 1200 pesos for a return service in a regular cab. Rectifying these inflated costs would definitely push this property’s rating up to a guaranteed 5 stars as guests would then feel that they were truly receiving the luxury experience they are paying for.

This resort is perfection. Perfect for a romantic getaway. Food and drinks were great however expensive compared to restaurants nearby. The views and rooms are unmatched. Seats by the pool fill fast so best is to get up early and lay towels down to reserve. 24/7 personal assistant for each guest and every room has a plunge pool. Each day at 5PM, they deliver guacamole, pico, chips & beer. Coffee and pastries available each day in the library. We saw dolphins and whales from our room each day.

Had an amazing stay at the Cala de Mar. Resort, staff, food and drinks were 5 star! Edwin and Ulysses were wonderful to us and we are thankful to them!! Only recommendation for management is to provide air conditioning for the bathroom area. Other than that we certainly will be going back!!

Just amazing!!!! All staff was super professional and very attentive! The views are breathtaking! Such a peaceful place! I would come back again and again! The food was also delicious!!! So worth it!!

Looking to escape winter? Then you have found the perfect place! Ixtapa \ Zihuatanejo is nice and HOT for all you snowbirds. We had an absolutely wonderful time staying at this beautiful place and everyone was warm and friendly. So then, I am sure during your search you came across some unflattering reviews. I was a bit uneasy as well but carried on nonetheless. Well, our experience was quite good. The only mistake I made was staying here the first leg of my trip! It would have served me so much better if the best was saved for last. I shall definitely repeat! Go ahead and book.. Go enjoy your life! Wash away the winter blues with some Sea,Sun, and Tranquility.

After an unfortunate housekeeping incident last year during our stay, we used a gift certificate to come back for a couple of nights. Again the rooms are beautiful and the views are stunning. Room service was quick and very good. We were able to visit the seafood market this year and the food was delicious, but the service was slow as mentioned by many others. They seem to have lots of staff but all ordering is left to one very busy man while the rest of the team just run orders in and out. I truly appreciated the opportunity to revisit the hotel and wish them much success in the future.

After reading many reviews, we decided to book this beautiful resort for our New Year's week vacation. Service, Food, Amenities, and the Wonderful ocean facing rooms with private plunge pools were the very best of any 5-star hotel. The standout staff member is Mariadna Juarez, who is the General Manager. Mariadna was always there to attend to our needs. She responded promptly to our questions and requests and was instrumental in making our stay unforgettable.

My husband and I had a fantastic experience at Cala de Mar. The rooms are spacious with beautiful views and a private pool in each room. The food was great (expect higher prices than downtown Ixtapa, but we knew that coming in). Every staff member was friendly and accommodating. Omar at the pool deserves a special shout out for his kindness and positive energy. The spa offers a wide variety of services, including prenatal massage. Both of my massage experiences were amazing. My husband enjoyed the hot tub, sauna, and steam room included in the spa treatments. We will definitely be coming back again!