PRICE:
Frommer's Very Highly Recommended

An Acapulco classic, the Elcano is another personal favorite. It offers exceptional service and a prime location -- on a broad stretch of beach (on the bay) in the heart of the hotel zone. The retro-style, turquoise-and-white lobby, and beachside pool area are the closest you can get to a South Beach, Miami, atmosphere in Acapulco, and its popular open-air restaurant adds to the lively waterfront scene. On the whole, the Elcano reminds me of a set from a classic Elvis-in-Acapulco movie. Rooms are continually upgraded, bright, and very comfortable. They feature classic navy-and-white tile accents, white wicker furniture, and tub/shower combinations. The large junior suites, all on corners, have two queen-size beds and huge closets. Studios are small but adequate, with king-size beds and small sinks outside the bathroom area. In the studios, a small portion of the TV armoire serves as a closet, and there are no balconies, only large sliding windows. All rooms have purified tap water. Avoid the noisy rooms near the ice machines.

Copyright: Excerpted from Frommer's Mexico 2009, (c) 2008, Wiley Publishing, Inc.

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