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What types of payment methods do you accept?
Certified checks and money orders are
accepted. We do not accept debit/credit cards at this time.
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What airlines fly to the airport of
Ixtapa-Zihuatanejo?
You can find a
list of airlines companies that
serve the airport of Ixtapa-Zihuatanejo: ZIH. Some of the companies may
have direct flights from you home town.
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How long is it from Ixtapa-Zihuatanejo Airport to
Villa Ixtapa?
It takes less than 20 minutes from
Ixtapa-Zihuatanejo Airport to
Villa Ixtapa.
There are only two traffic lights and a four lanes road all the way. If
you take a taxi from the airport to Villa Ixtapa, the fare is 280.00
pesos (prices as of May 2005). If you take a taxi from Villa Ixtapa to
the airport, the
fare is then 150.00 pesos (prices as of May 2005).
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Is Villa
Ixtapa fully equipped?
Villa Ixtapa
is fully furnished and equipped with window air conditioning units in
each room, TV in the living room. The kitchen is complete with stove,
refrigerator, conventional oven, microwave oven, coffee maker, blender,
pots, pans & utensils, dinnerware. We also provide bed linen (one change
per bed) and towels. Check our
photo-inventory for more
details.
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Is the pool heated?
No. We may need to low down the
temperature of the pool, not raise it! Even in the cold winter when the
air
temperature at night comes to
67 Fahrenheit, the water of the pool
remains at a minimum of 82.
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What do I need to bring?
You will need to bring your personal
belongings and toiletry items such as toothbrush, toothpaste, shampoo,
soap, sun cream for adequate protection, shower gel, hair conditioner,
body lotion, ... Amenities kits are not provided. Do not forget to
bring a first aid kit; you never know what may happen. Beach towels and
pool towels are provided. A pocket calculator is also useful to convert
currencies.
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What about laundry?
We provide fresh linens. Outside the
kitchen, small items can be washed out in a utility tub and hung to dry.
There is a modern laundry-mat ("La
Monarca") on "Paseo de los Pelicanos" in a small strip
mall called "La Moraleja" (less than 3 minutes drive). Open Monday
through Saturday from 7:30am to 9:30pm. The manager, Austreberto Gaitan
speaks some English: his phone is (755) 553-3191. The load of laundry
can be picked-up the following day.
Pick-up and delivery are available
for a small fee (2.00 pesos per kilo).
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What channels do I get on the TV set?
You get the local channels in
Spanish: TELEVISA, TVAZTECA, CANAL 5*, and CANAL 13.
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Is there a large supermarket near Villa Ixtapa?
There are two large supermarkets in
the nearby town of Zihuatanejo: "La Bodega de Aurera" on highway 200,
just behind the city hall (Ayuntamiento) + "La Comercial Mexicana" by
the canal. They are seven miles away from the house. Some of the
convenient stores in Plaza Ixpamar Mall on Ixtapa Boulevard are suitable
for last minute shopping; they are more expensive that the supermarkets
in Zihuatanejo. One of them is located just half a block up the street
at Villa Ixzi (located at Paseo de las Golondrinas #37) and is opened
Monday through Saturday from 8:00am to 8:00pm.
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Are there golf courses close to Villa Ixtapa?
Villa Ixtapa
is located in front of the hole #5 of
Palma Real golf course. Designed
by Robert Trent Jones Jr., and it was opened to the public in 1975. The
course (18 holes - 6,898 yards - PAR 72) is carved through the dense
jungle palms. This is as traditional of a course as you'll find in the
region. This course also doubles as a wildlife reserve.
The second golf course is located
five minutes drive north: Marina Ixtapa. Designed by Robert Von Hagge,
it was opened to the the public in 1994. That course (18 holes - 6,781
yards - PAR 72) features a series of saltwater inlets, challenging the
play on 13 of the 18 holes.
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How many
guests are allowed?
6 adults maximum: Visit our "rates"
page. We are flexible on the number of young children; discuss it in
advance with us.
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Is there a restriction on bringing pets?
No pets are allowed. On long term
lease, we may allow pets. Consult us on this matter before making any
reservations.
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Can I have a cook in your rental villa?
You
certainly can. This is a great way to sample authentic Mexican and
Guerrero cuisine. Cooks normally prepare 2 meals per day, including
breakfast and your choice of lunch or evening meal for 6 days during the
week. Rates start at $25.00 per day. This includes the cost of the
preparation, the service and the clean up. The price does not include
the food or the tip for the cook. This service is provided by the
property manager.
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Do I have to tip the maid or the caretaker?
It is
customary. Maids receive a salary, but of course, they are always
pleased when they are rewarded for their services. They take great pride
in their work. It's somewhat of a thankless job and any special
recognition may be very much appreciated. The same is true for the
caretaker, the gardener or the pool technician. A suggested guideline
for tipping is 5% of the total rental of the property. Just use your
discretion.
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Is
Ixtapa a safe and secure place?
There is a real sense of safety when
you walk the streets of Ixtapa. We know some locals that do not lock the
doors of their cars when parked in the neighborhood of
Villa Ixtapa.
You'll notice that most of the properties around
Villa Ixtapa
do not have huge fences nor barbed wires. Anyway, use common sense and
be security conscious; lock the doors and windows of the villa, and your
car at all times. If you still feel unsafe, be assured that the property
has window guards at all windows, and security gates at all doors.
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Is it safe
to drink the water?
It is said to be safe; however, we
personally do not trust the quality of the water. You'll find two 5
gallon bottles of water upon arrival: one on the dispenser, one as a
back up. The drinkable water truck stops by (Monday through Saturday)
between 10:00am and 1:00pm. The cost of the 5 gallon refill is 13.00
pesos (as of January 2006). If you need an extra bottle, it will cost
you 60.00 pesos (as of January 2006).
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Are there doctors & hospitals close by?
A military hospital is located less
than five minutes away.
Our family doctor has his medical
center in the hotel Krystal in Ixtapa: Dr Radilla Barrientos Cornelio.
He speaks English and has many non Mexican clients; his mobile phone is
(755) 55 701 80, and he resides in Ixtapa.
Most of the practitioners and clinics are
located in Zihuatanejo.
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Are there people around who speak English?
Two blocks up the street, the
receptionists at Villas Ixzi (located at Paseo de las Golondrinas #37)
are bilingual. The property manager is also bilingual.
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Where can we worship God?
In ixtapa, catholic services are
provided in some hotels: in hotel Krystal on
Saturday's at 6pm, in hotel Presidente on Sunday's at 11am and in Hotel
Las Brisas on Sunday's at 12:15pm. A list of
churches and
religious services
is also available.
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Where is
the closest embassy?
Most of
the embassies are located in Mexico city. However a US consular agency
happens to be in Ixtapa, in the Hotel Fontan: the phone number is 755
553-2100.
The phone
number of the US embassy located in Mexico city is: 900 849-4949. The
Canadian authorities have an Honorary Consul in Acapulco: 744 484-1305
and 744 484-1349.
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What about taxis?
Taxis are available on call. "Ines"
speaks some English and can be located 24/7 on his mobile phone: (755)
559-7736. His unit number is #490. There is pay-phone one block up the
street, on the left hand side of the intersection; it takes coins or
pay-phone cards.
The fares are the following (as of
January 2006):
| From |
the airport
|
to |
Villa Ixtapa |
285.00 pesos |
| From |
Villa Ixtapa |
to |
the airport |
170.00 pesos |
| From |
Villa Ixtapa |
to |
"La Ropa" beach
in Zihuatanejo |
70.00 pesos |
| From |
Villa Ixtapa |
to |
"Bodega de
Aurera" supermarket in Zihuatanejo |
45.00 pesos |
| From |
Villa Ixtapa |
to |
"Club Med" at
"Playa Quieta" beach in Ixtapa |
50.00 pesos |
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What about phones and internet access?
A pay-phone is located one block up
the street on the left hand side of the intersection: "Paseo de las
Golondrinas" and "Colina de las Mariposas". You may want to
receive calls on this pay-phone; the number is 553-2334. Coins and pay
phone cards can be used. Pay phone cards can be purchased in any
convenient stores or at the main office of the phone provider, "Telmex",
in ixtapa. Local, long distance and international calls can be done from
the pay-phone. If you prefer the convenience of an operator, Villa Ixzi
(located at Paseo de las Golondrinas #37) is able to help you with an
English speaking operator. Be aware that phone communications are
expensive in Mexico.
Access to internet can be provided in
many ways:
- Villa Ixzi (2 bocks away) can
provide you with a DSL connection,
- any internet cafes or lobbies of
hotels in Ixtapa,
- you can go the "Telmex" office in
Zihuatanejo and use a high speed connection. Telmex is the nationwide
phone provider in Mexico:
www.telmex.com.mx
A mobile phone is available; the
number of the line is communicated offline upon reservation. The phone
has to be credited with some phone cards bought in a convenient store,
or you can recharged it with your credit card from some ATMs and banks.
Ixtapa and Zihuatanejo benefit from a good coverage with the local
mobile phone provider: Telcel. For more information on the mobile phone
provider, you may visit
www.telcel.com
.
You may want to bring your own mobile
phone with the following restrictions:
- it has to be GSM 1,900 mhz
technology compatible,
- make sure
your operator has signed a roaming agreement with the local wireless
provider: Telcel.
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What is
the time zone in Ixtapa?
GMT-06:00 : this is the central time
(US and Canada). Mexico city is on the same time zone. Mexico has
Daylight Saving Time that starts in the first Sunday of April and
finishes on the last Sunday of October.
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What is
the weather in Ixtapa?
The Weather Channel will answer that
question. Click on the link below and get the forecast, the average
temperatures,
the rain accumulations, ...
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