Villas La Lupita Hotel

Hotel Villas La Lupita opened in 2004 and the yellow, paint-washed four-story hotel is a straightforward spot that’ll get the job done for sleeping and swimming, but not much more. The hotel’s open-air lobby is a simple affair with a small reception desk, plush black leather couches, faux sunflowers, and posters of sea-life hung on the canary-yellow walls. The first thing arriving guests see are the bright computer screens the hotel uses to advertise and sell lottery tickets. It's an unfussy hotel for sure, and while there are plastic lounge chairs near the pool and a seating area with built-in couches and tables and chairs, they’re empty most of the time. Upper floor rooms are only accessible via the open-air stairway and hallways can feel like a trek during sweltering Acapulco afternoons. La Lupita seems to pick up in the evenings though as guests, mostly Mexican families with children and business travelers, huddle in the common spaces for access to the slow Wi-Fi.  

La Lupita’s located in the heart of Acapulco and a two-minute walk from its bustling commercial strip and more importantly -- a four-minute walk to the beach. Within a five-minute walk of the hotel are restaurants serving Mexican, Argentinian, international, fast-food chicken, and a Starbucks. There’s a convenience store and a bank a two-minute walk away, and a first-run movie theater a four-minute walk from the hotel. The closest grocery store is a 10-minute walk away. Papagayo Park, a lush park with walking trails, games for children, a small amusement park, and a small zoo is a five-minute walk from the hotel. The Acapulco Historical Museum, located in the 18-century San Diego Fort, is in downtown Acapulco, and a 14-minute drive. La Quebrada, Acapulco’s famous cliff-diving location where travelers can watch divers plunge 80-feet into the Pacific Ocean is a 16-minute drive from the hotel. The bus station is a 10-minute walk (or a five-minute drive away). General Guan N. Alvarez International Airport is about a 38-minute drive. 

The 34 rooms at Villas La Lupita have a mix of double or twin beds with concrete platforms, neutral-toned comforters, and clam shell (or peacock plumage, depending on how you see it) headboards. The mattress will suffice, but the pillows are stiff and rubbery. Interior-wise, expect roughly textured, paint-washed tan walls and some rooms are embellished with paintings of nature scenes. All rooms are air-conditioned and also have ceiling fans; a few rooms feature balconies.  Units all have built-in closets and night stands, and a nice touch are the waist-high, doorless cabinets that double as desks (when coupled with the stiff, wood stool). Other room amenities include flat-screen TVs with cable channels (the channels are mostly in Spanish), phones (to call the lobby), and safes. There's also include a free liter bottle of water. Irons and hairdryers are available to borrow from the front desk. Rooms on the lower floors have Wi-Fi, although we were able to get a frustratingly weak signal in an upper floor room during our visit. Bathrooms feature marble counters, tile floors, stand-up showers, and bar soap and shampoo are included.

Amenities at La Lupita are limited. The saltwater pool is located in a trapezoidal-shaped courtyard and depending on the time of day, is partly shaded for a minimally sunny swim. There's a handful of plastic lounge chairs next to the pool. In the mornings, the hotel has free instant coffee in the lobby. There’s also a vending machine that sells candy, snacks, juices, and sodas. Lottery tickets can be purchased in the lobby. There’s free secure parking behind the hotel but the number of spots is limited and it’s a first-come, first serve lot. The hotel staff can call taxis, babysitters, and arrange activities like fishing trips and city tours.  La Lupita offers free Wi-Fi throughout the hotel, but the signal is strongest near the lobby and overall, it’s a painfully slow and unstable connection.