Today:

Hotels in Ixtapa

Wedding Reception – March 18, 2006
Las Brisas Ixtapa Resort & Hotel

http://www.brisas.com.mx (choose Ixtapa) Tel: 011 52 (755) 553 2121 Ext. 3590 Speak with: Claudia Montes or you can email her for reservations at: Rooms under: Benard & Caballero wedding Single/double occ. = $170.00 approx. Junior Suite = $280.00 approx. Master Suite = $450.00 approx. All rates with full brunch for 2 included.

Las Brisas sits above a private beach cove. 1/8th mile south of the Ixtapa main beach strip. We love it and highly recommend it!

This is the daily brunch that will be included with everyone's stay at the hotel.  They even have have a lady preparing eggs & hand made tortillas behind a grill at the end of the buffet line. It is almost as good as having your own personal chef!

There are numerous hotels along the Ixtapa beach strip.
These include the following (see Websites below for additional hotels):

Hotel Barceló Premium
Tel: 1.877.214.5154
All-inclusive beachfront hotel

Holiday Inn Ixtapa
Tel: 011.52.755.555.0500
Av. Paseo del Palmar s/n, Ixtapa.
Not on the beach, closer to the Marina

Hotel Villas Paraiso
http://www.villasparaisoixtapa.com
tel: 011.52.755.553.0134
Ixtapa, Mexico
Few minutes walk from beach

Hotels in Zihuatanejo

Within the Zihuatanejo Bay are the following two elite hotels (5-10 minute taxi ride from Ixtapa). Both are very luxurious and situated in amazing locations.

La Casa Que Canta
http://www.lacasaquecanta.com
Phone: 755/555-7000 or 888/523-5050
Fax: 755/554-7900
Playa la Ropa, Zihuatanejo, Mexico

Hotel Villa del Sol
http://www.hotelvilladelsol.com
Phone 1 888 389 2645
Fax: 755/554-2758
Playa la Ropa, Zihuatanejo, Mexico
Need to make special arrangements for children.

Travel Arrangements

***Update 1/29/06:  The right to travel with a birth certificate for US citizens between US and Mexico has been extended until the end of the year. So, if you do not have a passport, you can use either your original birth certificate along with picture id or a notarized copy of it.  You just need to inform the airline when you purchase your ticket. This will save US citizens who don't have passports $97.

***Update 1/5/06:  From what we're hearing from travel agents, etc. now is as good a time as any to buy flights as they aren't expected to get less expensive.  If you're thinking of booking through Alaska, make sure to call the 800 number and give them our group code to compare our group rate vs. internet fares.  Unfortunately, It does not appear that SunTrips will be offering any trips from Oakland by March.

Several airlines offer nonstop flights to Zihuatanejo/Ixtapa from major US cities. 

Flying to Zihuatanejo via Mexico City is only an additional 45-minute flight, and there are several daily non-stop flights.

Here are a few cities, where some of you may be coming from:

Alaska Air is providing a 10% discount to anyone traveling as part of our wedding on the dates between March 13th and March 23rd. The “contact code” to receive the discount is “CMR8027” and our Meeting Name is “Lou and Addy Wedding” http://www.alaskaairlines.com or 1 800 445 4435. The group code only works via the 800 number, not the internet.  Then compare the group pricing with whatever is available via the internet for the dates you're thinking.

Alaska Air also offers package deals (Air & Hotel) to Ixtapa. Check out what’s available and compare it to purchasing under our wedding rates. http://vacations.alaskaair.com/as/vacations/Mexico/Mexico_Specials.asp

We are currently researching information for other airlines and we will post any discounts on our website soon.

Airport Arrivals

Airport arrivals:When you arrive at the Zihuatanejo Airport, you will deplane on the tarmac and walk straight into a building. There you will stand in the customs line before claiming your luggage. The great news is that there is only ever one plane landing at a time…so you don’t have to wait in a long line. Make sure to have your forms filled out on the plane so you don’t have to step aside while others go ahead of you.

After you go through a fairly quick and painless customs line, you will go to the baggage claim area, there is only one area and it is just on the other side of the customs line you were just in.

Once you have your luggage, the Official Customs check is a push button on a traffic light for inspections. It's a random system; red lights will require a luggage revision. Families traveling together are considered as one.

REALLY IMPORTANT!

Make sure to keep your "Tourist Card" in a safe place; a new law states that if you loose it, you must pay approx. US$30.00 for a replacement card (it is no longer free). You need to present this card at the time you depart the country.

To get to the hotels:

There is an official Taxi stand inside the airport, they speak fluent English, so don’t worry about communication –they will charge you about $28 US (they accept Canadian & US $) to get "to hotels in Ixtapa". You can fit at least 4 people per taxi…as long as you can fit your luggage.

There are also suburban shuttles that you can likely negotiate a group rate for with a lot of people. Some hotels offer shuttle pickups by appointment.

Do not go with the people who offer you a free ride, they will be trying to sell you a time share and you will have to sit through a presentation before being taken to your hotel. At the end if you don’t stay with them, they will charge you a transportation fee.

Informational Websites:

http://www.ixtapamexicohotels.com
http://www.ixtapa-adventours.com
http://www.fodors.com/miniguides/mgresults.cfm?destination=ixtapa_zihuatanejo@213&cur_section=ove