COTE DE TEXAS: Pretty in Pink

Pretty in Pink

Jeeps

Does the image of this Jeep (not again!) conjure up good memories?  If so, you’ve probably stayed at the Acapulco resort hotel Las Brisas!  I did!  These cute pink and white striped Jeeps drive you up the hills to your casita and back down again to the beach.   The view of Acapulco Bay from the hotel is phenomenal and strategic, as well.   Las Brisas was actually built on what was once a Mexican fort – and the ancient walls and cannons can be still be seen today.

 

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Built on a curving beach, in front of tall cliffs, Acapulco is today a resort town filled with modern hotels and condominiums.  Famous for it’s trendy night spots and cliff divers, this town was once THE place to vacation in Mexico.   But, stiff competition from newer resort towns and Mexico’s crime rate has taken it’s toll on Acapulco.   Things appear to be changing though.   During the 90’s Mexico tackled the problems of Acapulco’s  infrastructure and replaced all the sewers and undertook a massive cleanup of the beach, spending over $1 billion on the project.  Spring breakers started to come back in droves – after a decades long infatuation with Cancun Mexico on the Gulf of Mexico coast.   While Acapulco will never be the hot spot that it once was, it is still a place of remarkable natural beauty with a wonderful climate, year-round.

 

 

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One of the best known hotels in Acapulco is the Las Brisas.   Over 50 years old, Las Brisas has maintained its reputation for romance and charm.   Built into the cliffs, the hotel is famous for it’s pink casitas (rooms) that all have private (or semi private) pools.   These private pools have made Las Brisas world famous with honeymooners.   The property is  surrounded by lush landscaping and flowers are everywhere, especially hibiscus which are placed floating in the private pools each day by the attentive staff.    The Acapulco Las Brisas is the star of the Brisas hotel chain, which has recently completed a massive remodeling of the pink palace.  Over $2o billion was spent on the renovations, bringing the resort up to date.  The reviews have been very positive.

 

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With the major renovation completed, the emphasis is now on the pink!  If you don’t like pink – don’t come!   The hotel is utterly romantic – so  much so that it’s motto is “A place where children are rarely seen, but often created!”    The resort is often cited as the most romantic hotel in the world.   While that is probably stretching it, it IS a wonderful place.  The property is over 40 acres and there are just 251 casitas, allowing for much privacy and quiet relaxation.

 

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The line of pink and white striped Jeeps waits to take you up and down the hills.  Aren’t they the cutest?   The view of the Bay of Acapulco is the main attraction at Las Brisas.

 

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This picture was taken from a casita.  Since the Pacific faces west, the sunsets are spectacular.

 

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Even the gift shop is themed pink, although I do spy a blue and white striped t-shirt in there!  Everywhere are pink hibiscus – the Las Brisas logo. 

 

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The casitas are flat roofed and are reminiscent of  mid century modern design.  The flat roofs allow each casita a clear view of the Pacific.

 

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In this picture you can really see the ancient fort walls and the lookout posts on the top left.

 

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The amazing night view from a casita – taken by a guest.

 

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Each casita has it’s own swimming pool.  I love that banquette in the corner!

 

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 All the casitas were renovated to great reviews and each one is just a little different from the other.   This casita has a pink wall with a limestone floor.

 

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 This casita has a stone wall and onyx floor.  Look at that sunset!  On the table – Bienvenidos, or Welcome in Spanish is spelled out in flower petals, a Mexican tradition.

  

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This casita has a living room and dining room.  All rooms have a bar and a refrigerator filled with goodies.

 

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 The bathrooms are made of travertine and rock with rain showers and skylights.  The basket on the right stores pink and white striped towels.

  

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 This room is surprisingly free of pink!  Notice the lamps – the bases are made of wood, probably faux wood – but still very attractive.

  

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This suite  has an indoor pool that opens to the outdoor pool!  Perfect for honeymooners.

  

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Every morning you are greeted with two things:   first, your pool is filled with fresh hibiscus!

  

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And second, through a small door, your coffee and Continental breakfast is waiting.  This way, the staff doesn’t have to wake you up!

 

 

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This picture is from Flickr.com – a guest took it of their room, praising the 1000 thread count sheets!  This shot looks remarkably as good as the hotel’s press photographs, which is always a good thing.

 

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 The pools all overlook the Bay of Acapulco.  Well, I should say, ALMOST all pools overlook the bay – but I’ll save that story for last!

  

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There are lots of destination weddings at Las Brisas. 

 

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There are a few restaurants at the hotel – this one overlooks the bay, of course.

 

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Or, you can order a romantic dinner at your casita – gorgeous!!!

 

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Everyone hangs out at the bar at night, overlooking, the bay, of course!

 

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 During the day, the most fun is at the La Concha Private Beach Club which is  where the hotel’s swimming pools are.  There are three swimming pools, one freshwater and two saltwater tide pools that lead directly to the bay.  Everything is, of course, pink even at the beach club.    The club is just minutes from the grounds and the Jeeps take you there, down from the cliffs. 

 

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The saltwater tide pool at La Concha. 

 

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The tide pools are actually built around the bay.  Even the rocks are painted pink!

 

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The freshwater pool at the La Concha Beach Club is preferable if you don’t like fish in your swimming pool.

 

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One of the saltwater tide pools.

  

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The restaurant at the La Concha serves great grilled seafood. 

 

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And after you are tired of swimming and shopping and discotequeing – no trip to Acapulco is complete without seeing the famous cliff divers.  This is extreme diving – the water is shallow and  they dive into a small cove.    I saw these divers years and years ago when I was a little girl.  The first airplane trip I ever took was to Mexico City and Acapulco – where  we saw this famous stunt.  Hopefully, these are not the same men!

 

Alright, so how do I know that some casitas do NOT face the Bay of Acapulco?  Well, a looong time ago, before I was married, my best friend was a travel agent.  As an agent, she traveled the world for free on what was known then as Fam Trips - trips that travel agents took to familiarize them with the product.  She treated me a few times to some wonderful places, one of which was Acapulco.   The cute pink and white striped Jeep drove us up to our casita and we were thrilled!   We had our own swimming pool – the whole nine yards.  Except, our casita was facing the cliffs behind the hotel, NOT the bay – not even a hint of the bay!     We were  young and really didn’t care that much, in fact, I don’t think we cared at all!    I didn’t even realize what we were missing until right before we left for home, we went to the hotel’s restaurant and experienced the breathtakingly beautiful view of the bay.  Only then did we realize that the hotel had given us  probably the worst casita on the property, the one casita that faced the cliffs.   But of course, it was all free!   Well, almost free.   You see, unbeknownst to us, my older, single cousin was also in Acapulco.   I don’t remember how we met up with him, but somehow he ended up barging in on our free vacation.   Every night he would raid our room’s refrigerator and eat the expensive Toblerone chocolate candy and lots of other goodies from the bar.  We ended up having to pay for all that PLUS his La Concha Beach Club private membership that he joined on our expense tab!  Actually we had a great time and many laughs over the Toblerone candy, which whenever I see it today, I think of that vacation.    Seeing this romantic hotel, all fresh and remodeled, really makes me want to go back, not with my friend and cousin, but with my husband!

 

If you are interested in learning more about Las Brisas, their web site is here.    Also, reading tripadvisor.com is great advice before taking any vacation these days.  The reviews of Las Brisas are mostly outstanding.  The renovation is said to be wonderful, though of course the resort is over 50 years old, which is part of  its charm and history.  If you desire brand spanking new, this resort probably isn’t for you.   Also, a few reviewers do point out that driving around Acapulco in a rented car is not advisable and state that it’s best while vacationing anywhere in Mexico, to stay close to the resort. 

58 comments :

  1. I'll have what you're having.
    I've got my suitcase sitting right by the door that is now leeking with subzero drafts.

    Oh my, waht an amazing vacation creation

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  2. P.S. I would love to know how you get the pictures so big on your page.

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  3. unbelievable !
    i want to go !!!!

    first i have to find ' a love' .

    but i would be happy there all by my lonesome.

    thank you for the post, i feel better now.
    no more JONZ-ING

    big hug

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  4. It is pouring rain here in "sunny" Los Angeles today.
    These are perfect images for my day. Take me away!

    xo
    Brooke

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  5. You crack me up!

    I've never been there, but did go to Cabo San Lucas, which was marvelous.

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  6. I want to go there right now! What a fun tour on a cold, gray, rainy winter day. Thanks for bringing a little warmth into my day. :-)

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  7. Oh Joni, This is now on my dream list. Las Brisas, I have heard about for years, and now you have brought it to life!

    PS I am blogging again and will have another post up shortly.

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  8. I want to go RIGHT NOW and see those cliff divers!!!

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  9. I'd rather see some ICE in a glass in Mexico rather than all over my broken New Hampshire trees. Two tickets please.

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  10. We went to Las Brisas in the mid 70's for our honeymoon. Luckily, our travel agent had booked the room and paid for only one night. We were given a room with TWIN beds and an unwilling management to change our rooms! The beds couldn't be moved together because they were bolted down...we tried! The casita we had had a beautiful view of the bay and a private pool (looked just like the one in your picture), just beautiful but we didn't want TWIN beds!! We found two other newly wed couples in the lobby who, just like us, had booked a honeymoon package. One bride was sobbing. They had paid for their stay entirely and they had TWIN beds and the management wouldn't refund their room so they could go elsewhere. We took a pink jeep ride over to the wonderful Acapulco Princess, booked a room, and then drove back, checked out, and had the Princess pick us up at Las Brisas. I still laugh about it but my husband still shudders because, obviously, he didn't want TWIN beds on his honeymoon!!! These pictures make me want to go back and try again!

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  11. beautiful! my kind of place. I love that pool. I have always wanted to visit Acapulco, these pictures have definitely renewed my interest WOW!

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  12. What a great post... . so good to see how the Grande Dame has aged well!
    I've never seen that little breakfast delivery system - it makes perfect sense and no one has to run put on a robe when room service knocks.
    Judith

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  13. p.s.
    I'll second the previous p.s. on
    "how do you get these pics" so wonderfully LARGE??
    J de SFe

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  14. Joni thank you for bringing me with you on vacation. This was the perfect start for my chilly Monday morning! xo

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  15. i'm now in love with this pink jeep and..oh the fresh hibiscus in the pool !

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  16. I want to go...right this second actually! With all the awful weather and power outages here in the Northeast a vacation here is much needed, that place is beyond beautiful!!

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  17. This makes me want to hop on a plane. It's a fabulous property. Just give me a mattress in that bathroom!! It's so beautifully retro that i can just imagine Sammy, Frank and the gang hanging out at the bar.

    Thanks for the wonderful story and pictures.

    - Suzanne, the Farmer's Wife

    P.S. I got the tag and I'm giving it thought before writing.

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  18. Ahhhh...yes the pepto bismol jeeps! My parents vacationed there, spinning around the countryside in one of those. Beautiful place...beautiful post!

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  19. Las Brisas is my favorite local restaurant for chimichangas...unfortunately not the same Las Brisas, hahaha!

    This was just too much fun, so cute, and the views...the views...*sigh*


    I'm going to be coming back to this post whenever I need a mini-vacay from all this holiday & medical madness going on in my house.

    Wonderful post, as always!

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  20. Ah, thanks for the memories, Joni! I remember Las Brisas well and fondly from a trip to Mexico as a kid with my parents that changed the rest of my life forever in many ways - including the introductory scuba lesson in the pool at La Concha that started us all scuba diving, which became the focus of our family and individual vacations for many years thereafter. I remember those views as if they were yesterday. I don't know about now, but back then, the Jeeps came with the casitas - and they were all pink. You drove them yourself, and could take them all over town, so you didn't have to rent a car or take cabs. I remember the locals laughing at us when we pulled up to park at the bullring. It was really an idyllic place.

    Wendy

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  21. Aah, you always have the most divine posts.

    Ingela

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  22. Great post, Joni! (Have I hit my quota on saying that yet?!) I loved the story about your cousin and the Toblerone chocolates.

    I have to agree with your dad, however. These resorts should be giving you a complimentary stay for these great endorsements you give. I'm ready to take off to every place you've ever showcased!

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  23. Joni - a great and detailed post, as always! What a darling hotel complex - I adore pink! David has been wanting to go to Mexico, but I will not be caught dead in a bathing suit. But I think it's time to start my diet because this hotel is adorable and the cachet of Acapulco is still alluring after all these years. :)

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  24. Pinktastic!
    Love the rose petals!
    Maybe I'll do that at the Tango B & B ha ha
    xo xo

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  25. Oh yes I remember the jeeps. I use to work for airlines and would go Acapulco all the times. You brought back good memories! Thanks for sharing.

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  26. It reminds me of a movie set. One in which David Niven would sneek into rooms at night and steal jewels!

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  27. Joni- you're killing me. All this cold, rain and gloom here in the northeast and then these STUNNING images of a pink heaven in Mexico?!?!? What I wouldn't do to go there right now- I love the renovation, the exposed rock walls in the rooms and all the PINK. And those Jeeps remind me of my pink PowerWheels Jeep I had when I was little... :)

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  28. Mid Century Mod Heaven in Mexico! Gorgeous. I would love to be sippin' something cold and catchin' that view from the bar one evening...SOON!

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  29. Ah, this post is right on time! As I sit and read this dreaming of warmer weather, I stare outside to my snowcovered yard. It is -2 here and friggin freezing!! This warmed me up, Thank you Joni!!!

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  30. I love the pink. I love the style of the buildings. The whole thing is incredible. I'm speechless.

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  31. Oh I would be tickled PINK to be there right now!

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  32. I have a photo of my grandmother - and I think she must have been there.

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  33. Just can't get enough of them jeeps, can you Joni? Hahaha

    They have used pink jeeps in Sedona for years and years to tour the beautiful countryside. Your kind of place I think.

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  34. Today could use a vacation, sunshine and a very large cocktail! Thanks for this getaway in pink.

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  35. Ahhh! Thanks for such a sunny post--it's the perfect escape from cold, wet New York!

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  36. Wow! I'm ready, Joni! Let's roll! This is incredible, and the pink sets me free! :-)

    XO,

    Sheila

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  37. What a wonderful get away this was from the cold weather we are having. I felt like I was enjoying the sunshine and those lovely rooms, pools, and flowers. Thanks for such a wonderful escape. laurie

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  38. Makes me wanna go there, Joni!!
    Spectacular!

    And I am lovin' the PINK too!

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  39. This is FAB! We're calling our travel agent! By the way...we have a little gift for you for the holidays at http://www.designtherapy.com It's great musical mix with a modern twist. Enjoy and Happy Holidays!!!

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  40. This pink paradise is looking very enticing - so is the thought of tequila in anything, xv.

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  41. Flipping amazing, Joni! I was vicariously living through that post.
    xx
    Kara

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  42. Ok, I'm ready! When's the next blogger's trip?

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  43. Wow this is great, do get me a ticket from cold Germany to over there.

    http://www.ginanews05.blogspot.com/

    Gina from germany

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  44. This would be the ultimate holiday for me right now! All that pink - how fabulous! I have my three boys at home for 6 weeks of school holidays at the moment so I'm feeling the need for some pink in my life. Well I'm off to bake some Christmas cookies now - I'm definately using pink icing on mine! Tracey x

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  45. Thank you so much...how your fabulous photos take me back to the days...and, yes, those were the days, my friend...The most beautiful people, awesome parties, breathtaking scenery, and all of the homes in Las Brisas, including the amazing villa "Arabesque" owned by the Baron Enrique de Portanova, & where one of the 007 films was made...so many wonderful fun-filled holidays, the last one on Valentine's weekend 2002. I will never ever forget Acapulco and the many many many wonderful moments we've had there. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR SHARING.

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  46. this is funny , this morning I needed to see Mexico and to remind me good souvenirs . I open your blog and here it is. You have made my day.
    I used to go there. It is a wonderful place but Acapalco is not my favorite place in Mexico

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  47. Now this is what I call pink perfection! I would love to stay here.

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  48. What a perfect post this would make for PINK Saturday!
    I have always wanted to go and stay there... many of my friends have stayed their... sigh... never moi!

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  49. I am a total sucker for pink, so this place really grabbed me, Joni. Thanks for the intro!

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  50. Joni, I read about this place a few years ago and was totally intruiged. Now I REALLY want to go and leave this Pennsylvania weather. xoxo Ali

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  51. Thanks for the memories. We went to Las Brisas on our honeymoon and did have a double bed. I remember being amazed that the room service was delivered with the jeeps, holding the tray with one hand and driving with the other. What bellmen they were. Had my first vichysoisse there. Amazed that cold soup could taste so good. Ah, that was a fun trip. The Pemex guards with machine guns did sort of put me off though. I still remember that too.

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  52. Joni, I loved the story of your trip (and discovering that you didn't have the best view!) This place looks amazing- yet another to add to the dream vacation list!

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  53. Thanks so much for sharing!!! I still haven't stopped smiling from reading your post- I JUST went to Las Brisas January 2008 for MY honeymoon. It was SO romantic and wonderful... It is totally worth going back, it's in fabulous shape, great service, the best sunsets I've ever seen. I've got some pictures on my blog www.CharisaNicole.blogspot.com! The only thing is that I'm of the opinion that Acapulco (the city) is not very nice at all. My husband and I ventured out once in ten days and regretted it! The resort is world class, but the city is not. aaaah I wish I was at Las Brisas now! What a wonderful memory!!!

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  54. What a fun experience! You leave me guys breathless! And I've noticed that almost everything is nothing but PINK! Expect me to go there soon!

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