Porfavor, I have reviewed some of the comments in this section and felt compelled to submit our own considerations about Las Brisas and Ixtapa / Zihuatanejo.

We have travelled inumerable times to Ixtapa and specifically to this hotel. Notwithstanding the varied opinions about the layout of the hotel you would be hard pressed to find many hotels to rival Las Brisas in terms of its location and construction. The hotel is best described as rustic, it isn't a five star hotel on most current international standards though it offers five star facilities (restaurants, pools, tennis, beach accessible only to hotel guests, gym, service). The hotel was built quite some time ago and as such the rooms are somewhat dated in their decor but comfortable, clean, and more than adequate for a complete beach holiday.

Understanding the hotel setting in hill you can see why you need to walk to the pools, which have intelligently been placed away from the rooms to ensure mutual privacy to guests in their rooms or the pool. The beach is a bit of stroll down a winding path though the elevator works perfectly well and has never stalled in my memory (if you worry about getting around my parents in their 70s have no problem negotiating the hotel). The vegetation is thick and inevitably leads to geckos lurking around, but that is nature, and more so in this part of Mexico. The breakfast buffet is excellent and the service is impeccable and friendly.

Prices for mini bar and restaurant service are holiday prices. If you were to go to Puerto Vallarta or Cancun the Brisas prices would look like a gift; keep it in perspective --- any tourist destination is bound to trap you somewhat but to claim shock is to be either poorly travelled or unreasonable.

As to the ocean, the Ixtapa beach is actually very clean (you can verify this on the environmental offices in Mexico) though for some maybe to wavey (though we love it). And if you are looking for stuff to do you should take a day and go to Barra de Potosi and arrange to have a pescado a la talla cooked on a beach palapa OR you should go to Zihuatanejo and meander the streets, get a traditional mexican meal which would include pozole (Guerrero has its own specialty pozole though it isn't made every night) or some tamales. For a fancy dinner go to La Casa Que Canta or Villa del Sol. For a good dinner in Ixtapa, try the Marina (though if you find the Brisas experience expensive, you will probably find this expensive). Remember Ixtapa suffers from what so many holiday destinations have suffered, they hav overbuilt the commercial area in Ixtapa but there should be some deal a comfortable beachwear.

That said, it is a great holiday hotel, think rustic, think somewhat dated, think spectacular views and comfortable (the upscale hotels in Ixtapa are in Zihuatanejo --- La Casa Que Canta and Villa del Sol --- though much more expensive)

We spent nine days at Las Brisas and had chosen it from the reveiws on Trip Advisor. The stay was very relaxing and regenerating.
Check In was courteous and quick. We arrived early and had a half hour wait for the room to be ready, we had a cold beer and absorbed the view and the warmth by the time we ordered the second round the room was ready.
The room size seems an issue for some people.The inside housed a king size bed; 2 chairs; built in dresser; minibar & coffeemaker (both a charge) and the bath had all the basics including hair dryer & heated mirror. The outdoor portion of the room is not a balcony but more a walled terrace with table and chairs; hammock; chaise and bench/daybed. The terrace provided a great view and we spent much time there with the sliders pushed all the way back.
Housekeeping did a tremendous job each day the floors (tile) were swept & washed each day(including the terrace). Flowers arranged on the bed, in the bath room towels & flowers were arranged as well as our toilettries so that I thought I was on a cruise . At no time did the room smell and we never saw a critter.
The beach & pools are a distance. You can reach the beach by elevator or follow a winding stone walkway through lush landscape and observe the native widlife. During our stay we saw several varied birds including a huge vulture; iguanas; a porcupine; and dolphins 20 - 30 yards off the beach. The beach is private with no one selling their wares or services as we incountered one day on La Ropa. The service on the beach was outstanding ,cold beer in buckets of ice and lunch did not disappoint. The surf is strong, large waves with shallow breaks gave an amusement park thrill ride effect. Many palapas to read under. We were there two weekends that the hotel was booked with conferences and we never had issues with space.
Food we ate lunch on the beach and were not dissapointed and had breakfast a few days at Bella Vista . Dinner we went out.
Service & staff all we in countered were friendly and efficient.
The hotel itself is interesting ,it impressed me to be a modern interpretation of Chitzen Itza a stucture rising in lush jungle ;pools were off to the side like the playing fields at Chitzen Itza, however it is showing its age and would be amazing again with some interior redesign. If you require perfection; state of the art gym & spa;blasting dance music with highly caffienated staff members screaming "water arobics at 1, beach vollyball in ten minutes" Las Brisas is not for you. If you want to escape todays pressure; walk real stairs; observe nature up close; sit undisturbed on a private beach; be lulled by the sound of waves breaking and be taken care of by well trained friendly people, then pay the price and enjoy each second, we did.
Dining out: Villa de la Selva; walking distance next to the hotel the best sunset and excellent food be sure to reserve a table at the edge. Kau Kan hovering over Zihuatanejo, the best meal, friendly professional service; beautiful view & outstanding food. I had a shimp salad with ginger sesame & mango, yum. Beccofino; Casa Morelos; Chimichanga; Coconuts; El Faro and Laguana all were good. We spent an evening at a festival down by the pier in Zihua and all our time there and in Ixtapa we felt safe.
We recommend Las Brisa; Ixtapa & Zihua for those that want to unwind and aren't high maintanence. We speak little spanish but had no troubles. People need to remember that you are a guest in a foreign country be polite and repectful and you will be treated well. Do not expect what is standard at home and have an attitude because things are not available...this is the real Mexico not Disney's Epcot version.

I'm sure this hotel was beautiful in it's prime, however, that must have been 20 years ago. The place is in desparate need of renovation. Rooms and patios are old and not well kept. Beach view is deceiving, you have to be sitting all the way at the end of the patio in order to see the beach. Patio was also covered in bat droppings- not cool. Highlights include the beach which is beautful and secluded, however beach chairs are old and rusty and it is quite a hike from the rooms. Other highlights are the view from the bar and happy hour specials. I would not advise staying at this hotel if you have high standards...

I was just in Las Brisas, Ixtapa the week of April 20-25, 2006. This is the second time coming here after 6 years. It used to be the Westin. Now Las Brisas. I was in Ixtapa for a wedding and decided to give it another chance after 6 years. I though that things would be different. I thought that it would be a safe bet being a 5 star and all. It was everything but a 5 star again. Las Brisas was definetely priced as a 5 star resort but did not feel nor look like one. still. Perhaps it was rated a 5 star by the restaurants. Yes. the restaurants were nice; However, the entire resort was more like a 3 star but priced as a 5.
The rooms were old and outdated. The beach location was a hike to go down not easily accessible. They had an elevator, but I wouldn't recommend using it -- old, hot, musty smell, and very small. The pools are so far away. They even offer a car ride to get there. The pools were just that. Pools. There was no entertainment. This resort is more suited for senior citizens. quiet and peaceful, no entertainment, or any attractions whatsoever. There's nothing to do on the property. It's secluded from the town.
Even if it's a great package for your money, look elsewhere. The Barcelo might be a better alternative. I would never return to this property.