My latest trip to Club Med Ixtapa (just northwest of Zihuatanejo) was a reeling adventure. With my best friend in tow, we boarded a direct flight on Alaska Air from LAX. After a quick flight we were met by Club Med's GO's (Gentils Organisateurs) who gave us a quick overview of the facilities, our passes, armbands and jumped into their private shuttle for a 20 minute drive to the resort.

Before we delve into the full experience... the highlight of my trip were Club Med's GO's. Hailing from all over the planet, everyone was amazingly friendly, knowledgeable and easy to talk to. Their job is to not only have local insight, but to instruct and build friendships with all the guests. Becoming fast friends with them was natural. Next thing I knew they were helping us discover new foods, answering any of our random tourist questions, and helping us set up an excursion to Ixtapa Island.

Arriving at Ixtapa

At the gates of the resort, a team of GO's escorted us through the facilities to the concierge building for a quick check in at the front desk before accompanying us to our Luxury Sol Suite. Accommodations for a family of four including a conjoined master bedroom, bathroom with a stand-up shower and bath, personal concierge service, free Wifi and a small deck leading to a private beach. Nothing beats waking up late and being able to stroll directly to the beach from our beds.

Beverages and the Beach

The beautiful part of staying at a Club Med Resort is everything being All-Inclusive. The sheer amount of food is overwhelming. Large buffets of endless edibles, available 8am to 8pm. Every night the theme changes... Traditional Mexican cuisine with homemade tortillas, fresh salsa bar, to dress up your carnita as you please! We also had delicious Brazilian fare, and a Pan-Asian dinner I wont be forgetting any time soon.

On top of that you can drink an endless stream of Cocktails with or without alcohol made from local or international brands, wines, hot drinks, soda, juice and water. It was surreal to climb out of the pool under the shade of the coconut trees and be met by your bartender with a freshly-squeezed margarita from their beach bar Miramar. Always within reach of the serene white sands. A perfect opportunity to relax on the beach, listen to the ambiance of the crashing waves to start your day.

Ixtapa Island Shore Excursion

The entire trip I kept focusing on a distant island visable from the beach. Although not affiliated with Club Med, Ixtapa Island is an optional shore excursion available to guests. We made an entire day of it. Exploring its coral reefs in the calm water, a variety of specialty restaurants offering daily caught prawns the size of my hand, and my first time snorkeling! Seeing all the fish and animal life makes you realize how insignificant your daily 9-5 back home is. All the colors and sensations made memories i'll surely never forget.

City Center - Zihuatanejo

During our last day, we decided on an adventure into Zihuatanejo to explore the city and do some shopping. We caught one of the buses running all day directly outside the resort and headed to a large shopping district built like an outdoor shopping mall. There was a huge variety of clothes, markets, artwork, and people doing their daily shopping or stopping by their favorite cafe to pick up some coffee. After spending a week in paradise, it was actually slightly comforting to see life in Mexico isn't that much different from anywhere else. They just have the luxury of doing it all in awesome weather!

After my trip, I can truly say that if you plan on visiting Mexico - a Club Med Resort should be at the top of your list. It is a luxurious and simple way to enjoy your friends and family in an easy to navigate climate built around magnificent landscapes, unmatched friendly service, private beaches and an array of food and drink that is ALL included!

If you would be interested in visiting Club Med Ixtapa or another of their all-inclusive resorts please give All-Travel a call!

Mason Brown