Frequently Asked Questions about our Zihuatanejo Rental Services and Staying in Zihua

In order to find the most appropriate property for your needs, I suggest you browse http://www.zihuatanejo-rentals.com/roth50.htm. If you want a VILLA, CLICK HERE

AIRLINES: Fly into Zihuatanejo-Ixtapa international airport.

From West Coast fastest service is Alaska and American West, with Alaska having now one nonstop flight from SFO on Saturdays. On all other days and from destinations there is a one to two hour stop in LAX. PassengerS from SFO do not change planes. American West takes the same amount of time and departs around the same time, with changes of plane in Phoenix -- a long walk to the next boarding area! Forget using your frequent flier miles as Mexicana and Aero-Mexico tickets are cheaper than major airlines which only fly into Mexico City and then you have to transfer to Mexicana or Aero-Mexico, which between the two fly all day long to Zihuatanejo, a 35 minute flight but costing around 100-150 USD one way). Although Mexicana offers many flights and is famous for being safe and on time, it will take substantially longer, with stops (they may not tell you, ask!) and then transfer at Mexico City.

Northwest flies from Minneapolis, New York, Chicago, and have to connect with Continental in Houston.

Charter Services:

AIR TRANSAT

AIR VACANCIES

AMERICAN TRANSAT

APPLE VACATIONS

FUNJET VACATIONS

MAGNICHARTERS

MLT VACATIONS

RYAN INTERNATIONAL

SUNTRIPS

TOUR MONTROYAL

CHAMPION AIR

TRANSGLOBAL

WORLD OF VACATIONS

Buying tickets on the INTERNET. I have bought five tickets on line with Alaska's web site. It works great. Recently I tried a site called cheap-airfare.com. It was a disaster. 1. They tell you they are checking other sites, but they don't list them all, obviously, because I ended up buying from Microsoft's site, EXPEDIA, which wasn't on their list. WHY? AN AGENT CONFESSED EXPEDIA UNDERSELLS THEM!! 2. I signed an agreement that QIXO, as this site's company is called, got a fee OUT of the quoted price. Instead I got billed an additional 14.00 from their site and 20.00 charge from Expedia. 3. They say "you agree to accept paper ticket if your merchandiser designates that is necessary." (Of course, since I'm booking an Alaska ticket, I think I'm doing business with Alaska who does ticketless travel...) Well, that ticket defaults to the address where your credit card is billed to. Maybe you don't want your ticket delivered to Berkeley when you're up in Canada traveling in one day, right! BE CAREFUL with this site!!!! They underpriced Alaska for an Alaska ticket however, but they got it from Expedia, where it was cheaper yet.

AIRPORT TRANSFER: If you have absolutely no luggage, you can walk out the door and near the parking exit there is a jitney spot used by workers. Otherwise there is a monopoly airport taxi service. When you come out of the customs area you will be offered this service. It is about eight dollars per person on the collectivas, which deliver people like a U.S. airporter, more for a private taxi and more for a private van. These costs are the only reasons to bring small bills. Don't forget to bring dollars to tip the maletero who carries your luggage to the taxis and a tip for your driver. After you get settled in in your digs, go to the ATMs and get pesos.

Without exception, visitors fall in love with Zihuatanejo. Like Venice, being there is more important than where you sleep.

Q. IS THERE A DISCOUNT FOR A WEEK'S STAY?

A. Discounts are usually given if the stay is ten days or two weeks, with February being a black out date as well as Christmas.

Please note we have properties in all ranges so find one that suits your budget, although I am of course bound to transmit any offers for 'deal' to property owners and am perfectly willing to do so.

WE WANT A LONG TERM RENTAL, AND THUS EXPECT A DIFFERENT PRICE.

Zihuatanejo is solely supported by tourism. High season (Thanksgiving till end April, a total 4.5 months) is when property owners mostly cover costs and hope to make some profit, with popular places running 80-90% full during holidays, Jan 15-Semana Santa. Thus, said properties owner has no incentive to give a significant discount for a month's rental. The best way to TRY tp get a good deal in a property of this type is to offer to pay in full at time of booking -- terms vs price.

The "good deals" are almost always pre- booked year after year. This is NOT a time when you can show up and just hope to find something!!

Please send the uppermost $$ you can comfortably spend on tariff, not forgetting most often there will be added 17% tax and tip (8.0 in 1-2 bedrooms a day. Often in a monthly rent the maid service can be reduced to 3x a week.) This data will get sent out to a large number of property owners. If there are no successful conclusions and I have to get out and beat the streets, I will require my commission paid up front before I will commence performance.

WE WANT TO BE BEACH FRONT

Due to the small size of Zihuatanejo, there are limited beach front properties, here is an inventory for properties that I have that are BEACHFRONT (THE REST OF WALKING DISTANCE OR OCEAN VIEW

WE WANT A HOUSE

Yes, you have these awful images of huge condo complexes..
On the contrary, in Zihuatanejo COMPLEXES ARE VERY SMALL (2-9 units). The biggest complex is Residencias Villas del Sol, then Cascada (20 units?)

There are VERY few rental houses in Zihuatanejo. As properties have to be paid for in full in cash, and one with good rental potential would be at least $150.000, investors buying vacation rentals thus buy a one or two bedroom condominium. These will be rented much more as groups aren't nearly as common as a group or large family. Casa Rigoletti, Villa Luz, (and other true spectacular, expensive villas by email only, Villa Lalo, Villa Del Mar, Casa Pajaritos, and Jade House are some of the houses I represent.

SHOULD WE RENT A CAR?
There are tons of taxis in Zihuatanejo-Ixtapa. Fit four people usually. Rides are now two dollars average around Zihua and four over to Ixtapa. Buses going everywhere are cheaper yet. Renting a car is really really not necessay and I wouldn't recommend it for the following reasons: a. zihua is so tiny ( and is confusing to drive around it -- i still get lost walking around looking for places I know perfectly well!) b. why take risks driving and looking for places when the taxi drivers can do the driving and know everything and everyplace? c. For a trustable driver works 3Pm-3AM call Arturo Perez. Cell: 044 755 55 64754, or Sr. Mario Valdovinos Martinez , 044 755 55 90331. They can take you on any kind of excursions or just a short trip into town. Ask about the secret hot springs. Their TAXI HAS AIR CONDITIONING. Can takes people on all the tours cheaper than your car rental would be (OR A OFFICAL "TOUR" Otherwise taxis are all over the place and the number for having a taxi come within minutes is 554-3311 FOR UTAZ, 554-4583. PRIVATE TAXIS, appear to be excellent drivers: English speaking: 1. Felipe Arrerra Artono 044 755 5491233 cellular phone 5 AM-5PM

Taxi drivers can take you by the hour and take you to outlying beaches, returning later to pick you up. By using a taxi you put money into the small business man's pocket, one there is one less car taking up space and polluting the atmosphere. A car could be useful for people wishing to move around frequently do a lot of exploring, who plan to hit a lot of night spots.

 
WHAT ARE THE WEATHER CONDITIONS?

Usually 85-88 F all year round. PERFECT BLUE SKIES IN HIGH SEASON.
Starting May until November, the humidity arrives, as does the raining season, with light rains, usually at night, getting more rainy with overcast skies...August and SEPTEMBER especially is the big rain month.


AVOIDING STOMACH AILMENTs

Everywhere you will be given bottled water. Restaurants are extremely cautious to wash all vegies in iodine water. REST before you travel so when you are exposed to your new environment your immune system can function. WASH your hands before you eat. I hear about people getting sick about twice a year.

The budget travelers in Mexico's "Bible" (the name of which escapes me----it started as a hippy backpackers guide) and the National Institues of Health recommends that you a day before you start taking 2 Peptobismol ( or generic equivalent) tablets 4 times a day. My wife and I do this every time we go to Mexico and haven't ever gotten sick. We do usually "tail off" once we've been there several days. We also don't eat raw vegetables, only well cooked ones(verduras--bien cocido.)

There is a great Mexican medicine for this Mexican problem that is inexpensive and really works. It is called Kaomycin and is a kaopectate base with an antibiotic. Two tablespoons (slugs from the bottle)at once and one every 4 hours and no margaritas or beer for the time being. By the next day you will be fit to boogie again!! I have friends who buy this stuff to take with them to travel to India and other 3rd World countries because it is so good. Just don't wait until you are already down for the count. At the first sign of the problem (stomach pains as soon as you eat) take Kaomycin.

Take 2 or 3 acidophilus capsules every morning along with a product called nutribiotic also in capsule form. These items can both be found in health food stores. Be sure to try to get
acidophilus that doesn't have to be refrigerated.

MEDICAL SITUATIONS:

I use Rogelio Grayeb. Call 5543334 day or night. He is one of the best M.D.s I have ever met.

There is ambulance service to Acapulco or emergency air transport to Mexico City, Guadaljara, or your home town.

 WE NEED TO GET OUR EMAIL:

EMERGENCIES:

U.S., Consular Agency
Hotel Fontan, Circular Drive, Ixtapa Guerrero 40880, 1-5PM
Phones, Home: n/a Work: 553 2100 Cell: 044 755 71106 Fax: 554 6276
Email: lizwilliams@diplomats.com
Home page: http://travel.state.gov
Other: Office hours: 10:00 to 2:00, Monday thru Friday