With 2013 around the corner it’s time to start thinking about what destination is on your bucket list but also what’s not on your bucket list and should be. How about washing away the winter blues in Acapulco, the queen of Mexico’s beach resorts? Acapulco, once the destination du jour for Hollywood’s biggest stars, like John Wayne, Rita Hayworth and Gregory Peck, is back with a vengeance and gaining more momentum thanks to visitors like Brad Pitt, Salma Hayek and Antonio Banderas. You might just call Acapulco “The Comeback Kid.”
Hollywood Haven
Acapulco once was the hottest vacation spot for Hollywood stars in the 40’s and ‘50’s. It’s where Rita Hayworth filmed “The Lady from Shanghai” with then husband Orson Welles, which helped to turn Acapulco and her hotel of choice, the Boca Chica, into an A-list spot.
John Wayne and Cary Grant were just 2 of the many owners of Los Flamingos, a spot frequented on a regular basis by the likes of Errol Flynn, Fred McMurray, Red Skeleton, Roy Rogers and Johnny Weissmuller. In fact, a group of about 15 male stars referred to as “The Hollywood Gang” joined resources and invested in the hotel together and Los Flamingos became their own personal paradise.
Acapulco is also a place of both beginnings and endings. The top two floors of the Fairmont Acapulco Princess is where Howard Hughes spent the last two weeks of his life and it’s also where Elizabeth Taylor married Mike Todd (the only one of seven husbands she didn’t divorce as he died a year after they wed). It was also the honeymoon destination of choice for both John and Jackie Kennedy and Bill and Hillary Clinton.
Where to Stay Today
Diamante is home to some of Acapulco’s most luxurious new properties. Its most glamorous hotel is the Banyan Tree Cabo Marqués, the perfect place for those seeking privacy. The resort sits on an isolated waterfront peninsula and offers secluded villas with private pools.
Another overnight spot for celebrities seeking seclusion is the Encanto, a $20 million boutique hotel in the Brisas Marques neighborhood designed by renowned architect Miguel Angel Aragones. Of the 44 rooms on the premises, 22 have private balconies and pools.
However, if you’re hoping for a Brad Pitt sighting, check-in to the popular Las Brisas, a romantic pink and white hilltop paradise that’s been going strong since the 1950’s. Other celebs that have stayed at this stunning retreat over the years include Denzel Washington, John Travolta, Madonna and Julio Iglesias.
What to Do
Acapulco is known as much for its nightlife as its beaches. However, instead of joining the crowds check out Pie de la Cuesta and Covuca lagoon, which can only be reached by boat.
For those who want to shop until they drop, take a two hour detour to the silver mining town of Taxco. This colonial village, located just northeast of Acapulco, is famous for its array of gleaming silver baubles.
But most importantly, remember to save some energy for the city’s booming nightlife scene. If you set foot in clubs like El Alebrije or the Palladium, don’t expect to leave before dawn. For those who balk at the thought of pulling an all-nighter or cringe in fear when they’re face to face with a throbbing techno beat, head to the upscale piano bar Siboney instead.
Modern Day Claims to Fame
Acapulco may still be prepping for its close-up, so to speak, when it comes to reclaiming its moniker as a celebrity power spot, but it’s definitely on the radar again as an A-list destination thanks to FICA, the Acapulco International Film Festival. This year, Salma Hayek, Antonio Banderas and Melanie Griffith all headed south for the festivities. Additionally, Placido Domingo will soon perform in Acapulco for the first time in almost 15 years at Playa Tamarindos.
In Hollywood terms, let’s just call this Acapulco’s comeback. As every actor or director in La-La Land knows, what’s hot one minute and cold the next can easily recover and even more what’s old is always becoming new again.
Chapter Two – Post Acapulco
Once you’ve had enough of hedonistic days and nights enjoying Acapulco’s miles of coastline and phenomenal nightlife, how about a few days combining the three R’s – rest, relaxation and romance? Head north along the Pacific coast to the sleepy fishing village of Zihuatanejo where you’ll find one of the world’s finest and Mexico’s most luxuriously special hotel, La Casa Que Canta. This very private hideaway perched on a cliff with breathtaking views of Zihuatanejo Bay is terraced into the terrain and looks like a Mayan temple, with its sultry rose hue, multi-tiered architecture built with palapas, and tropical woods and passionately decorated with real Mexican handicrafts.
With just 25 rooms and to-die-for private pool suites and a unique seawater pool and Jacuzzi on the ocean, this is a place to recharge your batteries and get closer to that special someone. You will be seduced by the over the top service and personalized Mexican touches and amenities, like the daily fresh flower tapestry decoration on bedspreads and Chef Antonio’s superb local seafood specialties.
La Casa Que Canta sits just above “La Ropa” beach, 5 minutes from Zihuatanejo and 20 minutes from the airport but trust me, you’re going to have a hard time pulling yourself away from here once you drop your bags.
*At this writing the hotel has announced a Christmas week special, called Magnificent Views, from December 24-29 with a stay of 5 nights minimum in a Pool Suite that includes a romantic dinner on your private terrace overlooking the ocean.
1 (888) 523-5050