Westin Brisas Resort

The breakfast and happy hour food were a letdown. We paid extra for the beach club room on floors 21 and 22, which included both, but the breakfast wasn't worth the extra $40 USD a night. Happy hour taquitos were dried out, the chips were stale, and I found eggshells in my scrambled eggs. There weren't many good fresh choices. On our last day we tried the Bella Vista breakfast buffet, and that wasn't worth $25 USD either. The lobby bar was a nice space, but had no food. The refrigerator in our room didn't get cold, and the air conditioning struggled during the hottest part of the day. The rooms were clean and comfortable, but the pools were too far away, so we mostly used the beach. Service was good, but getting great service seemed to require generous tipping, which felt like a bribe. We were lucky to make friends with another American who showed us how things worked. As first-time visitors to Ixtapa, we didn't find the staff very helpful. I wouldn't recommend this hotel unless you want to stay put and pay extra for everything. We stayed January 8-12, 2026.

The ocean views and starry skies from the patio were fabulous. Each room has a hammock, two wooden chairs and a stool outside, plus a sitting area with two more chairs just inside the patio door. Beds on floors 20 and above are better, though all the mattresses were solid and good. There's a ceiling fan and good air conditioning in every room. Bottled water is provided daily, and they'll bring more if you ask. You don't need a European plug adaptor, though an extension cord may come in handy. There are outlets by all the beds and in other parts of the room. There are plenty of loungers around the clean pools and on the beach. Be aware that the beach isn't great for swimming because the waves are strong and there's a strong undertow. The Solarium poolside lunch was below average. The guacamole is fantastic, but you have to order it; ask for pico de gallo and limes to mix in yourself. The fries are cooked in heavy oil that may upset some stomachs. Food ranges from average to above average, with a decent buffet and Italian, Mexican, and Mediterranean specialty restaurants. Around 60% of the all-inclusive choices are covered, and the rest cost extra. Staff were very attentive. The Italian and Mexican restaurants are down a few stairs, which makes them difficult for people with mobility issues. Both have nice decor and serve four courses: an appetizer, salad or soup, entree, and dessert. Wine and drinks are included. The red and rose wines were very good; the white wasn't. Las Brisas 2 Mediterranean restaurant is outside just above the beach, with the same kind of set meal as the other two. It's worth going for sunset views and kukamundi visits. Drinks are good, but you have to ask for the best liquor included in the plan every time you order. Beer is average. They have you sign for everything, so keep track of what's included and check your folio every few days. The lobby bar gets loud on Fridays and Saturdays, and during conventions. Sound bounces up the high rear walls to floors 19, 20, and 21. We had to change rooms. For quiet, get a room below floor 18. Lobby service winds down around 11:30 p.m.

There are a lot of stairs around the hotel, pool, and beach, so it may be a tough choice for anyone with mobility issues. Otherwise, staff were friendly and helpful, and there are many lounge chairs and shady spots at the beach. The spa offers plenty of options and is worth a visit, though the prices are about what you'd pay back home. The hotel sits on a hill in lush forest; all the rooms have ocean views and large balconies. There are several pools, including one for adults, with enough loungers that we didn't have to worry about finding a place to sit.

We'd been loyal guests at Las Brisas for four years, but we're done after this stay. We paid for all-inclusive and had approval for a late checkout because our baby was napping in the room. Still, after noon we ate lunch just 45 minutes later and were charged $120 USD, with no one telling us about it. Staff and management were rude and wouldn't help. It felt like the resort cared more about money than its guests. We won't return.