We did an RCI exchange for 2 Junior Club rooms since we were traveling with our friends from Denver. There was a car, with a very friendly and curteous driver, waiting at the airport to scurry us to the resort. Upon our arrival at check-in we were offered a drink! Check-
in was a breeze. There was a time share person there but we gave him the heave-ho and no one bothered us. Our rooms were close to one another with a MAGNIFICENT view of the beach and ocean!

The food was pretty good, especially the evening of the Mexican fiesta. Each night was a different theme and the show was according to the theme. Alfredo was our waiter each evening and he was super.

You are allowed to make reservations at their two restaurants one time each. La Pergola (Italian theme) had a wonderful setting, excellent service and wine, but the food was average. Still lots of fun. The last evening we ate at El Faro. Everything about this restaurant was excellent, including the live Kenny G type music. They had lost our reservation but that was no problem as the host led us to an exquisite table.

Breakfast was buffet style. Very good. The wait staff was very good about seating us promptly and quickly filling our coffee cups.

The rest of the time was spent on the beach basking in the brilliant sun and enjoying the thundering surf. You could almost walk forever on the wide beach. We had two waiters each day, both named Luis. They made sure we had sufficient beers and chi chi's. They certainly earned their tips on us.

A few times we walked into town to visit the market to buy souveneirs. I took advantage of the bike tour one morning. The surf was too big for us to use kayaks.

One drawback is that our rooms are located on the side of a large hill. While the view is stunning, if the gondola was not running, we had to climb 297 stairs (yes, I counted!).

Even though tips are included in the all inclusive fee, we felt our service was so good, we tipped many service people extra. Their faces really lit up because they did not expect it! We learned from a person in town that most of the employees at these resorts make $5 per day.

Like the title of my review states, "We'd go back in a heartbeat!" Everything about the place we thoroughly enjoyed!!!!!!!

We did a time share exchange into a Junior Club, supppose to accomodate 4 adults (on top of one another) perfect for 2 adults and 1 child. After our initial shock of the resort being 99% mexican guests, although we did meet 2 very nice couples and their familes who were american, in the week we were there. Be ready to do ALOT of walking and be at your palapa by 7:00a.m. to get a good beach site and chairs and make sure you have your name on the "list". The room was definitly hotel size with nowhere to put your luggage. It did have a musty odor to it, a few ants, but it was clean and the view of the beach was nice. Housekeeping was good. Upgrade to another room would have been $564.00U.S. We declined. The open air trucks and vans available for in the resort transport were very useful, you can call ahead and they will pick you up at your room. We did use the gondola quite often which you can take right down to the beach level from the reception area or El Faro. The buffett was satisfactory for B/L/D, service was slow at times. El Faro and La Pergola were very good. They even prepared our just caught mahi mahi and it was fantastic. The 2 pools were nice. There is a private pool for the "sands" guests. The beach was clean and beautiful. Sunsets every night were gorgeous, 90 and sunny all week. If you want more american feel, stay at the Barcelo or Club Med. Ixtapa is a very non-americanized town. There is a Subway Sandwiches closer to the market but the food in the market was exceptional. Casa Moreles, Da Baffone, Franks, Senor Frogs, Heaven & Hell (american translation) all had great food. Franks was the "american embassy" and had all the football, Packers, Bears, or whatever you asked for, drinks were cheap and good. People were all friendly. Taxi to Zihua was $20 U.S. We will go back and now knowing a little more about Pacifica Resort, we would stay again but not with kids unless you all speak spanish. If you do stay here, just go with the flow and have a good time and say "hola"

Pacifica has breathtaking views and thousands of stairs. We were first placed in the Club condos with 4 flights of stairs and a very tiny room for 4 people. We had to play hard ball with them in order to get a nicer room in the Sands which we own. They did end up setting us up in a 2 bedbroom beautiful room but it took lots of negiotiation on our part. The food in the buffet was horrible and the guacamole tasted like oatmeal with green food coloring. Thankfully we're owners and did not have to buy into the all inclusive. Saved us from a weeks worth of nasty food. Instead we stocked up our condo with groceries and ate breakfast and lunch there. They tried selling us an upgrade in the Aqua but after about 15 minutes they finally gave up on us. For the most part it was a nice vacation just lots of stairs to climb..

We just returned, my wife and I went with 2 other couples. This resort is dated, if you are looking for upscale this is not it. The resort is geared toward Latino visitor's not Americans. We went on a RCI exchange with that exchange you must purchase the all inclusive plan upon arrival. That will set you back $65 pp/pd. Not really an all inclusive, they have 3 places to eat. You must eat all meals except 2 at the beach buffet. The other 2 meals you can use 1 each at the other more fancy sit down places.

The Good:

Breathtaking views from the rooms, get an ocean view.
The most friendly staff I have ever seen, on the Beach they treat you like kings and queens. Very attentive.
A true Mexico experience as the resort is geared towards the local Mexico City population.

The Bad:

Buffet, will good gets tired after a week
This is not for you if you don't like mixing in with locals.
Rooms were very dated, more like a 2 star Day's Inn
The cable car was not working, but transportation was not an issue as they quickly shuttled you between your room and the Beach. Just call and they are at your door.

The Ugly:

While our room was fine, one couple had an issue with biting bugs. Don't know what they were but our friends asked to have the room sprayed. I would have asked for a different room. We never knew if they sprayed as the bugs continued to be a problem throughout the week. It is the tropics and there are bugs. Our friends said these were not bed bugs but some other thing.

Overall:

We had a wonderful time on Vacation, but I would not recommend this resort until it gets a big upgrade.