Pros

  • Five-minute walk to many shops, restaurants, and other resorts
  • All-inclusive rates
  • Wide, soft sand beach with swimmable water
  • Clean pool with a dedicated kiddy pool
  • Rooms feature mini-fridges, kitchenettes, and private balconies
  • Room service available from breakfast through dinner
  • Free bottled water and soft drinks in-room (limited)
  • Free self-parking in a secure, staffed lot
  • Free Wi-Fi in lobby
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Cons

  • Rooms are dated and many include tube TVs
  • Moderately-sized pool overcrowds quickly
  • Limited dining options with mediocre food
  • Paid in-room Wi-Fi doesn't function well
  • Mini-fridge refreshments only stocked once per stay
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Bottom Line

Compared to the area’s larger, more full-featured resorts, the all-inclusive Tesoro Ixtapa feels decisively mid-range, though it's seen better days. On paper, the hotel offers many of the amenities guests expect in a mid-range beachfront all-inclusive. That being said, everything from the underwhelming pool and the bland main restaurant with mediocre food screams “average.” Room decor and amenities range from passable to dilapidated, with aging fixtures, tube televisions, and a general lack of attention to detail. Guests looking for a cheaper, better-appointed all-inclusive alternative may wish to check rates at the nearby three-and-a-half-pearl Emporio Ixtapa.

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Oyster Hotel Review

Tesoro Ixtapa

Scene

Mediocre beachfront all-inclusive with a decent pool and beach

Like many area hotels, Tesoro Ixtapa was built in the early 1980s and it’s seen few updates since. Aside from the vivid orange roofs (which guests could only see from a fly-over), the architecture is bland and institutional. Copious, unadorned concrete and stucco cover most of the structure’s walls and ceilings. The little interior design that's present gestures at Spanish villa -- wrought iron chandeliers and a few sparingly deployed pieces of carved-wood furniture are mixed in with some generically contemporary seating seating and accents. However, nearly everything is worn and even dirty. A moderately sized pool and beach area serve as the hotel’s social hub. Both areas are inadequate to accommodate the more than 200 rooms worth of guests, and quickly overcrowd when the hotel is at or near capacity. With loud dance music hammering away from mid-morning to dinner time, the entire space is frenetic, bordering on obnoxious. The atmosphere is more “raucous spring break party” than “relaxed tropical getaway.” Curiously, guests are just as likely to find couples as families with small children.

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Location

On a wide, soft sand beach in the heart of Ixtapa’s tourist district

As with most area resorts, Tesoro Ixtapa is situated on Boulevard Paseo -- Ixtapa’s busiest and most popular tourist road. Dozens of restaurants, bars, shops, and markets are within a five- to 10-minute walk of the property. The area’s popular Marina Ixtapa Nautica golf course is likewise within a short walk. The small town of Zihuatanejo provides additional local attractions, just 15 minutes away by car.

Much of Ixtapa’s downtown core is within a short walk of the hotel, making a rental car essentially unnecessary. Ixtapa-Zihuatanejo International Airport is 30 minutes away by car and easily reachable via the area’s ubiquitous and affordable taxi services. For a cheaper alternative, shuttle vans and buses can be arranged through the hotel’s concierge. The hotel does not provide guests with dedicated airport transportation.

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Rooms

Dated rooms with mini-fridges and private balconies, some with ocean views

The quality of room decor varies widely depending on the category. The furnishings, appliances, and fixtures in many entry-level rooms are dated and, in many cases, in dire need of an upgrade. During our stay, we noted electrical outlets falling off the walls, filthy air-conditioning filters, and dingy lamp shades. The furniture is likewise aging -- expect to see wicker and rattan pieces in white-washed finishes plus floral-print bedspreads -- and the faded pink-on-gray color scheme is reminiscent of ‘90s-era tropical resorts. 

Floor space in all five room categories is average relative to comparable three-pearl accommodations in the area. Entry-level Deluxe Garden View and Deluxe Partial Ocean View rooms are identical except for the view. Suites afford slightly upgraded decor and furnishings plus additional floor space divided among separate living and sleeping areas, as well as private ocean-view balconies. Junior Suites offer a pull-out sofa bed to accommodate a total of four guests, while Master Suites feature an additional full bedroom and bathroom. The hotel’s Villas are situated on the ground level adjacent to the pool. Each unit offers a spacious tri-level floor plan with three full bedrooms and two-and-a-half bathrooms. All room categories offer king-bed or multiple double-bed configurations.

Amenities include only the essentials -- air-conditioning, a TV (some flat-screen, some tube-style), mini-fridge, and a private balcony -- and little else. Keep in mind that the handful of refreshments in mini-fridges is only stocked once per stay. Free Wi-Fi is notably absent as well, and we found the paid service to be essentially unusable. Beds in all categories garner mostly positive reviews, and mattress pads are available for guests who find them too firm.

Bathrooms in all categories are a step above what guests expect in a mid-range hotel. Liberal use of marble tile on the walls, countertop, and shower stall adds a more upmarket feel to the space. Fixtures are all clean, modern, and functional.

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Features

A decent pool and lovely beach, but limited dining options

Tesoro Ixtapa promises many of the same amenities as the area’s larger, more upscale resorts. However, an overall lack of attention to detail and an attempt to squeeze more than 200 rooms worth of guests into the cramped pool and beach areas can prove frustrating.

The hotel’s only pool serves as the centerpiece of its outdoor social space. While clean and moderately sized, it quickly becomes overcrowded when the hotel is even partially filled. The ring of lounge chairs surrounding the pool is so tightly packed together that, in many cases, the chairs are touching one another. Fortunately, a large number of umbrellas provides adequate shaded space. The large number of guests traveling with children, combined with loud dance and DJ music playing throughout the day, creates a frenetic atmosphere. An adjacent snack shack adds additional basic food and drink options.

Adjacent to the pool, the hotel’s beach is a wide, clean strip of soft sand that’s part of Ixtapa’s famous Palmar Beach. Rows of palapas plus plastic and canvas lounge chairs create plenty of shaded space away from the low tide line. However, like the pool, the seating is tight, bordering on cramped. Throughout the year, the water is mostly safe and swimmable, even for children, but the currents are dramatically affected by the weather and riptides can be a concern.

In addition to the poolside snack shack, Tesoro Ixtapa is serviced by just two restaurants that are part of the all-inclusive plan. The main restaurant, La Mar, serves a buffet-style breakfast, lunch, and dinner. The menu is typical of other resorts in the area and includes a mix of mostly Western fare, as well as some Mexican-inspired delicacies. El Meson Restaurant offers dinner-only service in a slightly more formal atmosphere with reservations required. The a la carte menu is a blend of Mexican and Italian dishes. Reviews of both restaurants are mixed, with many guests criticizing the food quality and selection.

The hotel offers a fitness center and spa. The former is a small, basic room with free weights and a handful of dated, rusty cardio- and strength-training machines. The on-site spa is likewise tiny and feels like an afterthought. With little floor space, services are limited to basic treatments including massages and facials. Additional in-room services are available, including couple’s massage. Keep in mind that there is only free Wi-Fi in the hotel's lobby and that paid Wi-Fi isn't great. Laundry services are available, as is babysitting, but these will incur extra fees.

See More Features

Oyster Hotel Review

Tesoro Ixtapa

Scene

Mediocre beachfront all-inclusive with a decent pool and beach

Like many area hotels, Tesoro Ixtapa was built in the early 1980s and it’s seen few updates since. Aside from the vivid orange roofs (which guests could only see from a fly-over), the architecture is bland and institutional. Copious, unadorned concrete and stucco cover most of the structure’s walls and ceilings. The little interior design that's present gestures at Spanish villa -- wrought iron chandeliers and a few sparingly deployed pieces of carved-wood furniture are mixed in with some generically contemporary seating seating and accents. However, nearly everything is worn and even dirty. A moderately sized pool and beach area serve as the hotel’s social hub. Both areas are inadequate to accommodate the more than 200 rooms worth of guests, and quickly overcrowd when the hotel is at or near capacity. With loud dance music hammering away from mid-morning to dinner time, the entire space is frenetic, bordering on obnoxious. The atmosphere is more “raucous spring break party” than “relaxed tropical getaway.” Curiously, guests are just as likely to find couples as families with small children.

See More Scene

Location

On a wide, soft sand beach in the heart of Ixtapa’s tourist district

As with most area resorts, Tesoro Ixtapa is situated on Boulevard Paseo -- Ixtapa’s busiest and most popular tourist road. Dozens of restaurants, bars, shops, and markets are within a five- to 10-minute walk of the property. The area’s popular Marina Ixtapa Nautica golf course is likewise within a short walk. The small town of Zihuatanejo provides additional local attractions, just 15 minutes away by car.

Much of Ixtapa’s downtown core is within a short walk of the hotel, making a rental car essentially unnecessary. Ixtapa-Zihuatanejo International Airport is 30 minutes away by car and easily reachable via the area’s ubiquitous and affordable taxi services. For a cheaper alternative, shuttle vans and buses can be arranged through the hotel’s concierge. The hotel does not provide guests with dedicated airport transportation.

See More Location

Rooms

Dated rooms with mini-fridges and private balconies, some with ocean views

The quality of room decor varies widely depending on the category. The furnishings, appliances, and fixtures in many entry-level rooms are dated and, in many cases, in dire need of an upgrade. During our stay, we noted electrical outlets falling off the walls, filthy air-conditioning filters, and dingy lamp shades. The furniture is likewise aging -- expect to see wicker and rattan pieces in white-washed finishes plus floral-print bedspreads -- and the faded pink-on-gray color scheme is reminiscent of ‘90s-era tropical resorts. 

Floor space in all five room categories is average relative to comparable three-pearl accommodations in the area. Entry-level Deluxe Garden View and Deluxe Partial Ocean View rooms are identical except for the view. Suites afford slightly upgraded decor and furnishings plus additional floor space divided among separate living and sleeping areas, as well as private ocean-view balconies. Junior Suites offer a pull-out sofa bed to accommodate a total of four guests, while Master Suites feature an additional full bedroom and bathroom. The hotel’s Villas are situated on the ground level adjacent to the pool. Each unit offers a spacious tri-level floor plan with three full bedrooms and two-and-a-half bathrooms. All room categories offer king-bed or multiple double-bed configurations.

Amenities include only the essentials -- air-conditioning, a TV (some flat-screen, some tube-style), mini-fridge, and a private balcony -- and little else. Keep in mind that the handful of refreshments in mini-fridges is only stocked once per stay. Free Wi-Fi is notably absent as well, and we found the paid service to be essentially unusable. Beds in all categories garner mostly positive reviews, and mattress pads are available for guests who find them too firm.

Bathrooms in all categories are a step above what guests expect in a mid-range hotel. Liberal use of marble tile on the walls, countertop, and shower stall adds a more upmarket feel to the space. Fixtures are all clean, modern, and functional.

See More Rooms

Features

A decent pool and lovely beach, but limited dining options

Tesoro Ixtapa promises many of the same amenities as the area’s larger, more upscale resorts. However, an overall lack of attention to detail and an attempt to squeeze more than 200 rooms worth of guests into the cramped pool and beach areas can prove frustrating.

The hotel’s only pool serves as the centerpiece of its outdoor social space. While clean and moderately sized, it quickly becomes overcrowded when the hotel is even partially filled. The ring of lounge chairs surrounding the pool is so tightly packed together that, in many cases, the chairs are touching one another. Fortunately, a large number of umbrellas provides adequate shaded space. The large number of guests traveling with children, combined with loud dance and DJ music playing throughout the day, creates a frenetic atmosphere. An adjacent snack shack adds additional basic food and drink options.

Adjacent to the pool, the hotel’s beach is a wide, clean strip of soft sand that’s part of Ixtapa’s famous Palmar Beach. Rows of palapas plus plastic and canvas lounge chairs create plenty of shaded space away from the low tide line. However, like the pool, the seating is tight, bordering on cramped. Throughout the year, the water is mostly safe and swimmable, even for children, but the currents are dramatically affected by the weather and riptides can be a concern.

In addition to the poolside snack shack, Tesoro Ixtapa is serviced by just two restaurants that are part of the all-inclusive plan. The main restaurant, La Mar, serves a buffet-style breakfast, lunch, and dinner. The menu is typical of other resorts in the area and includes a mix of mostly Western fare, as well as some Mexican-inspired delicacies. El Meson Restaurant offers dinner-only service in a slightly more formal atmosphere with reservations required. The a la carte menu is a blend of Mexican and Italian dishes. Reviews of both restaurants are mixed, with many guests criticizing the food quality and selection.

The hotel offers a fitness center and spa. The former is a small, basic room with free weights and a handful of dated, rusty cardio- and strength-training machines. The on-site spa is likewise tiny and feels like an afterthought. With little floor space, services are limited to basic treatments including massages and facials. Additional in-room services are available, including couple’s massage. Keep in mind that there is only free Wi-Fi in the hotel's lobby and that paid Wi-Fi isn't great. Laundry services are available, as is babysitting, but these will incur extra fees.

See More Features

Best Rates

Amenities

  • Air Conditioner

  • Babysitting Services

  • Balcony / Terrace / Patio

  • Basic Television

  • Beach

  • Beauty / Hair Salon

  • Business Center

  • Cabanas

  • Cable

  • Children's Pool

  • Concierge

  • Dry Cleaning

  • Fitness Center

  • Free Breakfast

  • Full Kitchen

  • Internet

  • Kids Allowed

  • Laundry

  • Mini Bar (with liquor)

  • Pool

  • Poolside Drink Service

  • Rental Car Service Desk Onsite

  • Room Service

  • Separate Bedroom / Living Room Space

  • Spa

  • Swim-Up Bar

Disclaimer: This content was accurate at the time the hotel was reviewed. Please check our partner sites when booking to verify that details are still correct.