Just returned from 8 days, 7 nights at Villa La Querencia [April 19 - 26, 2007], in Manzanillo, Mexico. After reading the reviews on Tripadvisor, and reviewing the Villa's website, [villalq.com] expectations were very high. The only caution was that the reviews were over a year old......alot can change in a year. Our group consisted of 5 - age 50ish couples.
As the title of this review suggests, the Villa was everything we expected and more. The photos of the Villa on their website actually understate the property and the views.
The Villa and the bedrooms are very clean and well maintained. The pool and hot tub are also very clean.
The bedrooms do not have TV sets, but there is a TV room on the main level [ never watched it once in 8 days]
Our group ate dinner out several nights, all our other meals were at the Villa. Juanita is a great cook. Breakfast, lunch and dinner were wonderful; and more than enough. Ricardo, the manager, and all the staff aim to please.
If you are a jogger or a walker, the hilly road that goes around the Villa will give you a good workout. Ricardo can show you the route.
We did not rent a car, the Villa's Surburban was available for trips into the town of Manzanillo, and the local area. [$80.00 per day, with driver] We reserved the car for 5 days only. If you plan on exploring the area outside the Manzanillo area, you will need to rent a car.
The Villa is obviously not a full fledged resort, so I would not recommend it for young children, since there are no activities, etc.
Ricardo arranged a fishing trip for us as well as on site massage and other spa type services. He can give you advice on horseback riding [which we did], restaurants, shopping.
I arranged the trip directly with the Villa. Susan, who is located in Texas answered all my questions.
The Villa is a great spot for a relaxing vacation.

We just returned from the most amazing week in Manzanillo. The staff at Villa La Querencia was amazing. Ricardo (the Manager of the Villa) and his team (Juanita, Shelly, Lourdes, and Enrique) offered superior service and outstanding meals.

You will have to stay there yourself to believe how wonderful a week in Mexico (or anywhere else for that matter) can be.

Want to take a little trip to the beach? Tell Ricardo; and they pack a cooler of your favorite beverages, make sandwiches and load up the spotless Suburban and drive you to your desired destination. Want to go shopping? Tell Ricardo; and they’ll take you to some of their favorite shops. Want to go snorkeling or have a massage or a pedicure? Maybe you would like your shirt washed and ironed? Tell Ricardo, and one of the remarkable staff members at the Villa will make arrangements for, or perform the task. I actually came back home with a suitcase full of clean and folded clothing. It’s like an all-inclusive vacation, but you have the run of the entire Manzanillo area. You do pay for your own drinks and meals, but you won’t find a meal superior to the feast Juanita will fix for you. Her guacamole is amazing!

This Villa is spotless and comfortable, and you couldn’t find a better view in the entire world. I actually took a book with me and didn’t read one page after arriving because the view is so amazing. I couldn’t pull my eyes away from the lush vegetation, and remarkable seascape that is framed by the pool, two palapa’s and my cold drink.

You’ll be a hit with the friends and family if you book a week or two at Villa Q!

Nothing can be said about the unbelievable views or the beautiful Spanish colonial architecture of Villa La Querencia - set high on the Av. Los Ricos, Santiago, Peninsula - that cannot be better stated in the images of the most fantastical of travel brochures. Although I know of no mailer that can adequately capture the intangible beauty of this Mexican hideaway.

The Villa itself boasts over 6,000 sq. ft. of living space, 7 large bedrooms-some with reading nooks, almost as many bathrooms, an eagle's nest quarters with 360 degree ocean views, a pool and jacuzzi, a indoor-outdoor living room/terrace/bar area, and a dining palapa. Perched on the edge of a several-hundred-foot cliff (though very near to golf, tennis and beaches) overlooking the Las Hadas Resort below, the gentle arc of Manzanillo Bay and the Mexican coastline sweeping to the south, the Villa is nothing if not enchanting. You might find that your biggest challenge each day is pulling yourself out of the house, away from these surreal surroundings.

However, the intangible element that undeniably distiguishes this slice of paradise from the rest is the service of the welcoming, thoughtful, and thorough staff. Besides bringing the spirit and warmth of the Mexican people and culture into the house, they leave nothing unattended. Living spaces and rooms are cleaned and linens are replaced every day. Clothes are washed and folded in record time. The Suburbans are available to carry guests to and fro throughout the day. And the indefatigable house manager is prepared to provide anything of necessity, from groceries, to reservations, to a joke or two.

But the number one reason to visit Villa La Querencia, if for no other: the food. Outstanding!! Amazing!! Enough cannot be said about this aspect of the stay. Especially because once you leave to eat elsewhere you realize how good you have it. I enjoyed the best 14 meals I've ever eaten in Mexico while staying at Villa LQ. The food is regional, fresh, and prepared with skill and love. And there is certainly no shortage of it.

I thought I might have died and gone to heaven when, on New Years' Eve, they brought out lobster tails, grilled shrimp, baked potato with sour cream and bacon, steamed vegetables, salsa verde infused rice, and salad. I soon realized that it was just Villa La Querencia, although, if I make it to Heaven, I may inquire about a room just in case.

For more info, go to: http://www.villalq.com/