Hotel Krystal in Ixtapa is a family style resort on one of the most beautiful beaches anywhere in the world. The sand is clean and white, and the water clear and warm. The hotel features three different swimming pools for those leery, like me, of sharks, which everyone assured me do not visit these placid waters. I ain´t buying it, but thanks to the pools I was able to get wet. The hotel is simple and elegant, and the staff are positively brilliant. They smile when there is no reason to do so. I felt they really care we were having a good time and had everything we needed. The hotel also has a restaurant or two, both of which are bland and everything seems to come frozen from Walmart or some other big box, and the service was less than stellar, seemed a bit confused at times. None of the restaurants offer espresso coffee, a shocking thing for me, a true coffee aficionado. The rooms were comfortable, although, like most Mexican resorts of this class, the bathroom fixtures were loose and shaky and the light system confusing. Even the shower rod, one of those things that supposedly fit every size that you install if you can´t afford a permanent one nearly fell down twice under the weight of the towel, which, by the way, was thick and luxurious. I would have been happier if the sheets had been cotton instead of some polyester blend. Don´t hotels get it? Polyester is uncomfortable, it makes you sweat when the air conditioning is running, it does not breathe, for heaven´s sake. I was with my family, and they were happy with everything. As a single gay man in the place it was pretty dull. The only other gay people I saw were the four male dancers in the silly Saturday night extravaganza on the hotel grounds. They were cute and smiley, but if you are looking for any sort of gay experience, even encounters of the boring kind, forget it. Go to Puerto Vallarta. Ixtapa is unrelentingly family style. I even asked a taxi driver if there were any gay clubs, and he said the cops closed all of them down. Whoa!

The Krystal in Ixtapa is directly across the street from shopping and eating areas. It's a very easy walk to everything. The hotel is a bit dated but the rooms were comfortable. The pool area has been updated and is very nice, however it gets very slippery when wet so you do have to watch your step. There is no swim up bar so you do have to wait for pool servcie if you want drinks at the pool. Food is not allowed at the pool but the restaurant isn't that far away and is still looking over the beach.

This was the first time we stayed at the Krystal after staying at the Sunscape Dorado for 12 years as it is now all inclusive.. The Krystal hotel can be all Inclusive or not - its your choice- We did not do all inclusive as we love to go out to the different restaurants we have come to know through the years-the pool was very very nice - much better than the Dorado's and the staff was great -

We will defintely go back there

I have traveled to many parts of Mexico including several resort towns. This hotel I booked on the spur of the moment when I decided to visit with my wife and two kids. This was probably a 2-3 star hotel despite what any other ratings gave it. First the Positives: The location was great, close to town, so you can walk there and explore. The staff seemed accomadating, except when I decided to bring in a pizza for the kids from Dominos- it cost me a 40 peso tip to the waiter to agree to let my kids eat it by the pool without having to go back to the room. The service was great- yeah Jesus the bartender is a pretty nice guy at the pool bar. They serve you at the beach and the beach seemed clean and maintained. I had dinner at Bogarts- doesn't look that nice from the outside but inside is pretty cool- with the whole Casablanca look and a pianist playing a grand piano. Food was pretty good, a little expensive about $120 for dinner for 2 with drinks. The Negatives: Try to visit during the middle of the week, when few people are around. Once Friday comes along- bus loads of visitors (primarily Mexican Nationals) flood the hotel for the weekend. No lifeguard on duty, meant that I had to save a drowning little girl in the pool by the slide- this is not funny- and I was terribly upset that if I was not there she might have drowned. The hotel needs to hire lifeguards instead of hiring two groupies to conduct aqua aerobics in the water. Lastly it appears that a certain caliber of people appear to stay here- I saw a kid on the side of the kiddy pool peeing into it as the mom helped him. My wife let her have it in Spanish. More strict enforcement of conduct needs to be present- and less emphasis on my kid eating pizza by the pool, since I purchased food and drink every day I was there from the hotel. I will probably not be back.