Cala de Mar Resort & Spa Ixtapa

Due to a death in my family, I chose to stay in a room with a private pool so I could just rest, heal, enjoy room service and some time alone. The hotel has great reviews so I felt confident that I would be well taken care of and would enjoy my stay. The first night I woke up to a very loud screeching noise but was able to fall back asleep so I didn’t mention it. The next morning I ordered room service as soon as the kitchen opened. After waiting 1.5 hours I texted guest services to check on my food. The front desk said the restaurant is quite busy at the moment. I found that comment confusing because food should be served in the order it’s received. I waited another hour and realized the chef was intentionally not serving me breakfast. Why not call and tell me they are not honoring room service requests so I don’t spend my entire morning waiting for breakfast? After waiting 2.5 hours and not receiving any apology or food I decided to leave and go get breakfast out. I stopped by the front desk to complain and they were very understanding and assured me the chef would be in touch to apologize as well as the manager. That evening I returned without any form of acknowledgement of my waiting 2.5 hours wait for breakfast. That evening the air conditioner started making loud noises as I was falling asleep. They sent a technician into my room to fix it. Unfortunately it wasn’t fixed, nor did the remote control work so I couldn’t turn it off or adjust the temp and barely slept. I canceled my tour that morning due to not sleeping. The next morning, I asked the front desk staff to have the manager and chef to reach out. I did not want to waste another morning. Neither of them reached out. The front desk offered to move me to a new room due to my AC issues however I declined because I thought the ac was fixed and they said the broken noisy elevate would not be used. At 11:00 that night the AC started chirping again so I asked for the key to the other room. The new room’s AC barely worked even though it was set as low as it could go. I spent another night not sleeping due to my ac noises and then lack of ac. I went to sit on the deck for morning tea and was overwhelmed by what seemed to be an exhaust vent from the restaurant kitchen. I went back to my old room and asked them to have the AC fixed. The AC folks came in again and did not fix it, it was an another evening with the AC noises again but he did fix the remote control so I could turn it off and on as I would get hot. I spent another night not sleeping properly. My last day I asked for the manager to get in touch so I could discuss getting a credit for the free breakfasts I never received and all the maintenance issues. Someone started texting me outside the public WhatsApp chat saying the manager was on vacation and why she had never responded. However I was told she was there every day but one from her staff. The last day, they tried to offer me a $200 credit. When I looked at the bill, they were NOT actually giving me a credit, they were calling my Fine Hotels $100 resort credit their credit. I am also offered free breakfast from my hotel club membership which would have been about $100. I had to argue with them even past when my taxi came to take me to the airport to get them to take $200 from the actual resort, which was not enough. They did offer for me to return for two nights for free at a later date, before offering the actual cash back. I did not want a credit to use later, I wanted money taken off my remaining bill of which there was $600 I still owed. I have never experienced such a lack accountability and professionalism from a hotel or restaurant management team. How could a manager be aware of all of my issues and not think it was her job to reach out for resolution? Everything was documented on a public WhatsApp chat by date and time including videos of the loud noises in my room. I understand maintenance issues are uncontrollable sometimes, but you still have to be accountable when they happen. The chef has no respect for the hotel let alone the customers. I was told I wasn’t the only one who did not get served breakfast. I never found out why or what happened so I cannot say if this is a regular occurrence or not. Apparently the chef decides who eats not the hotel policies that you are told upon check in. Outside of my issues: the hotel is located on a beautiful cliff and has a wonderful view but no beach access. The hotel is an older property, I was told it used to be another hotel. It definitely needs some maintenance and paint. There is no other restaurant in walking distance unless you get a day pass at the hotel next door. The gym stinks, did not have ac running or a window open and has one treadmill, one bike and some weights. I usually enjoy working out on vacation but I didn’t want to spend any time there. The hotel uses a very heavy spray all around the hotel that was not a natural fragrance and was so strong I had to have my massage with the door open and air out my room for an hour. I requested no fragrance and they honored my request. The non-management staff are genuine and seem to take great pride in their jobs and taking care of the guests. I was really impressed by the front desk team, the spa and the cleaning crew did a great job too. I ended up preferring the Playa La Ropa area in Zihua and would stay on that beach next time. Zihau is only 15 min away but the taxis charge 300-450 pesos each way. I was so relieved to go home and not have to stay in a hotel where management did not care for my well being. If management had taken accountability for the issues when they occurred I would have had a much more pleasant stay. The lack of accountability became a bigger issue than all the other things I experienced. It was a stressful stay but I still enjoyed my trip and would return to Zihua again.

From the moment I first arrived at this hotel in 2024, I knew it was something special. In 2026, we returned to renew our vows for our 12-year anniversary—and it was just as magical as we remembered. The space feels like raw luxury, offering a deep connection with nature. Waking up to the ocean breeze, the sound of the waves, and birds singing each morning was unforgettable. The hotel recommended local wedding planners, and we chose Jennifer, who was absolutely amazing. The events team, Citlali and Dinora, were phenomenal—always available via WhatsApp and incredibly accommodating, even when plans changed due to unforeseen circumstances. In addition, the personal assistant service via WhatsApp was available 24 hours a day, helping with any questions or requests that came up. The team is truly, truly incredible. One of the many highlights was a complimentary yoga class for our guests. This wasn’t just a basic session—it included infused mint water, a station with refreshing wet towels, and took place on a stunning oceanfront yoga deck with a truly exceptional instructor. The service throughout the hotel was simply outstanding. From poolside to room service, and especially during our cocktail hour and wedding, everything exceeded expectations. Neither I nor any of my guests had a single negative comment. The front desk staff were spectacular, and the spa team was superb. My daughter described her massage as “peaceful,” and that perfectly captured the experience. For turndown service, Antonio went above and beyond, making sure every detail was perfect and consistently checking in to see if we needed anything. Chef Oscar deserves special recognition—he went out of his way, through trial and error, to create a pavlova just for my celebration. Sergio Rios was also incredibly kind during breakfast service. Honestly, every single staff member we encountered exceeded expectations. The housekeeping team was warm, attentive, and always ready to help with anything we needed. I cannot recommend this hotel enough—for a peaceful weekend, a romantic getaway, or a meaningful celebration. It truly is a special place.

My husband and I went to the Cala March 5th - 12th. Talk about bliss! If you need peace and quiet this is the place for you. The staff take care of everything. The plunge pool right on your deck was so amazing. There are no close amenities, so if you need anything, its a taxi ride away ( $200 peso) each way. I think the only negative thing I have to say is; we signed up for the Ixtapa Bliss package, so breakfast was included in our stay and I noticed that the locals who stayed and received breakfast always was different( better) than what we received, I wish I took pics to show.

Simply the best hotel we have ever stayed at. Service, staff, physical layout, and location were all outstanding

Truly a luxury experience. We opted for the room with the larger plunge pool and patio and TOTALLY got our money’s worth. Great staff, good food. Nice bed and they leave surprise treats every day: little cookies, two cervasas with chips and guac, and so on. THE BEST