Acapulco is traditionally a vacation spot for Mexicans and the Malibu held true to this tradition. It seemed as if we were the only Norte Americanos in the hotel, although there were some Germans, so I know there weren't only Mexican families.
The hotel was very family-oriented. The pool was full of children at all times, which was perfect for my 7 and 8 year old. The Mexican kids taught my children some Spanish and got to practice their English skills with my family. Guests and staff alike were nice and helpful.
The hotel offers poolside food service which we used quite a bit. It costs what a restaurant costs and can get pricey if you're just sitting around the pool drinking and snacking all day. There are refrigerators in the rooms which was handy for snacks and beverages for when the pool was closed or we needed a break from the sun. We were also able to keep breakfast in the room as well.
The hotel is directly on the beach. Guests can have a cabana set up on the beach . We never had trouble with getting a seat by the pool or a cabana in the three days we were there.
The water at this beach is not for "swimming." My family had a great time body surfing and letting the waves smack us around, but it is not like a pool. The ocean can be rough. If we wanted swimming and playing underwater, we used the hotel pool.
The hotel was perfect logistically for what we wanted. We had just spent five busy days in D.F. and all we wanted out of Acapulco was sun and water. The hotel was perfect for this. It was basically in the middle to eastern part of the bay. We could reach shopping, restaurants, or a grocery store by walking, although we did use the bus (cheap!) during the day when it was hot.
The hotel is a small structure. It looks like it must have been one of the first ones on the beach before high-rise hotels and condos became the norm. This is not to say it out-dated. It simply isn't tall. My family did not have problems with that and because traditionally lobbies and hallways are not air conditioned here, it was nice to be able to easily walk up to our room. The room itself was nothing fancy. Travelers with experience outside of the U.S. will not be surprised by the simplicity of the room. Our room had a balcony with a small view of the bay and a small view of the mountains--we liked it. The bathroom did not air condition well, so we just kept the door closed. We had no trouble with the air conditioning and in fact, sometimes we turned it down, it worked so well. Beds were comfortable, towels were big. The maids had our room cleaned so quickly each day; I was truly impressed.
Although I think I would try to experience a less-touristy coastal city the next time I visit Mexico, I would definately stay at the Malibu again if I visit Acapulco.
- Malibu Hotel Acapulco
