Hotel Restaurant Quinta Karla Pie de la Cuesta

Quinta Karla opened in 1971 and is a low-key oceanfront hotel with sandy grounds that are filled with palm trees and tropical flowers. It’s a simple spot where the biggest draw is the amazing sunset over the water, which is best viewed from the beach. This isn't a fancy hotel -- and the interiors are all quite dated -- but it has its budget-basic appeal. Weekdays are mostly quiet, and you might even have the hotel to yourself, though weekends are a different story. The hotel sells day passes, and it’s usually hopping with travelers and day trippers enjoying the beach, freshwater pool, and open-air oceanfront restaurant. Hotel guests are mostly from Mexico, but it does attract a variety of Americans, Columbians, Brazilians, and Canadians. Many are families. It's worth noting that the air traffic from the nearby Mexican Air Force base can be disruptive. 

Quinta Karla sits along Pie De la Cuesta Beach, a long and sandy stretch of coast with great views of Pacific Ocean sunsets. It’s a tranquil beach -- especially when compared to downtown Acapulco’s hustle and bustle. There’s a convenience store a two-minute walk from the hotel and a full-size market a five-minute walk away. The nearest bank with an ATM is a four-minute walk from the hotel. Laguna de Coyuca -- a gorgeous, freshwater lake with mangroves, birds, and islands that's a popular boat trip excursion -- is a six-minute walk from the hotel. Otherwise, this isn't the liveliest part of the Acapulco region, and guests will want a car if they plan on exploring. Barra de Coyuca, an amazing beach on a thin strip of land between the Laguna de Coyuca and the ocean, is a 20-minute drive from Quinta Karla. Downtown Acapulco's restaurants, nightclubs, and shops are a 15- to 20-minute drive away. La Quebrada, the city's famous diving cliff, will take 25 minutes to reach by car. The bus station is a 20-minute drive away, and General Guan N. Alvarez International Airport is an hour's drive from the hotel, depending on traffic. 

The fan-cooled rooms at Quinta Karla Pie de la Cuesta are the definition of basic. The look varies between rooms, but in general, the dated decor includes bare off-white walls, bamboo details, tile floors with stone accents, cement platform beds (although a few are poster beds) with king, double, or twin beds. Mattresses are a mixed bag and if you end up with flimsy four-inch-thick ones, it’s worth requesting a different room -- these are extremely uncomfortable. The Cabana Room is slightly more spruced up, with its colorful hacienda-inspired decor. It also includes a king and double bed, and a private patio with a hammock and cafe seating. All rooms have small, built-in closets (although no hangers), luggage stands, beat up mini-fridges, free Wi-Fi, and framed mirrors. There are no TVs or air-conditioning units. Bathrooms are equally simple, with tile floors and walls, plus a wet-room style layout. They're not the most appealing, and we saw grubby tilework and peeling paints during our visit. The cold-water showers are a jolt in the morning and bar soap is provided (as are towels). All rooms share a thatch-roofed patio and have their own plastic table with two chairs and hammocks. Sites for tents are available for those who are really on a tight budget.

There’s no doubt Quinta Karla’s beachfront location is its best feature, as additional perks are slim. All of Acapulco's beaches are public, but the hotel has a private thatch-roofed cabana with plastic chairs and tables plus a few hammocks, and there are wooden lounge chairs on the beach. Some padding on the lounge chairs would be a nice addition. The hotel’s freshwater pool isn’t huge, but it's surrounded by chairs and lounge chairs. Restaurant Quinta Karla serves tasty Mexican fare and seafood, and has beautiful ocean views. It closes early, though, and late diners will have to eat elsewhere. Staff can assist in arranging tours, taxis, and airport transfers. There are also games like dominos, cards, and checkers to borrow. Parking and Wi-Fi are both free.