Thompson Zihuatanejo, By Hyatt

Customer Ratings & Reviews

TripAdvisor Traveler Rating

807 reviews

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  You can do a lot worse

  It's a very nice place, dated in many ways, but staff does its best to keep it functional and cozy. The beach is hard to beat, lots of palapas and lounge chairs with additional tables and chairs to sit and eat, which is a very nice touch. Pools don't have chairs, it feels as if they want everyone on the sand. Overall, staff is fantastic, Ana at the front desk was fabulous, very helpful. Our room had high ceilings, AC worked great and was very quiet. One night the power went out, so it got a bit hot, but eventually electricity came back and we made it. Housekeeping is also great, they make the rooms late in the afternoon, so you don't have to worry about someone knocking on your door early. They will respect the "do not disturb" door hangar. Place is about 20 minutes from the airport, costs 500 pesos each way. We walked a short distance from the terminal, outside airport property, and found a cab for 400 pesos for a relatively small savings. Taxis from hotel to downtown were 100 pesos, reasonable. It's standard fare honored by all cabbies. We walked it once just for exercise, it took us about 25 minutes, lots of up and downs. Meals and drinks were very expensive at hotel so we didn't eat there at all. For breakfast, we went to a place called Loot close by. Simply exit hotel, make a right, go up the hill to main drag and turn right. Loot is on your left about 100 yards down. Great food, Zen atmosphere, fans keep you cool. Ate here every day, much better deal than hotel. We also saw a lot of people come by for the coffee. If we ever went back to Zihuatanejo, we wouldn't mind staying here again. If you like walking mercados like we do, the one in downtown Zihua is worth a look. Also, it's been mentioned here already, Thursdays are pozole days in town. You have to go to Santa Prisca, but get there no later than 12:45 to get in line. All the cab drivers know where it is. From the Thompson, it costs 120 pesos because it's a bit further than downtown. Place opens at 1 and quickly, and I mean quickly fills up. If you don't get to be part of the first sitting, you're going to be in line for a while. The atmosphere is what makes the experience, the live band is very good. Most people simply hang out to drink and sing along. Nobody wants to leave. That's why seats become tough to get later. It's just something you have to while visiting. And it only opens on Thursdays from 1 to 6 p.m. Zihua, as the locals call it, is very laid back, lots of retired folks from Canada and U.S. If you're into clubbing and bars, the Thompson is not for you, neither is this part of Mexico. Ixtapa is about 15 miles further up the road. Another thing, if you don't like humidity, this place is not for you. We went early January, and it was humid! We were told by the locals that this is as good as it gets with temps rising into spring and summer. Sorry about typos.

  Jan 12, 2026
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  Beautiful beachfront property!

  The hotel property and location were fantastic! We were there for New Year's Eve and the Thompson threw a great party! Staff was always around and willing to help with any need. After our stay, I realized that there are several room types to choose from, so be sure to choose the one that fits the experience you would like. I requested a room with a plunge pool, but the water in the pool was too cool for me, so not needed. However, the room was large and lovely. There were swim up pool rooms, that were smaller, but would have been more to our liking. There were also rooms on a 2nd floor, which wouldn't work for those with mobility issues.

  Jan 09, 2026
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  Plunge Pool Missing Tiles, Resort Needs Better Maintenance

  My daughter and I cut ourselves in the plunge pool, which was missing quite a few tiles. It was awful to have to deal with injuries during our vacation. This wouldn't have happened if the plunge pool was property maintained. The gym lacked consistent AC making it really difficult to work out since it's 80+ degrees Fahrenheit even during the cooler months of the year. The food is incredibly expensive, but for me it might be worth the view you get when you dine in one of the restaurants. We usually only had breakfast there. I recommend you venture into Zihuatanejo for better tacos and Mexican food in general. The beach and staff are the best parts of this resort!

  Jan 08, 2026
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  Incredible experience

  Fantastic swim up pool and breathtaking ocean view beyond. Room was spectacular and the staff went above and beyond . Front counter staff professional and courteous.

  Jan 08, 2026
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  A Disappointing Return to a Once-Spectacular Property

  I stayed at this property years ago when it operated as a Viceroy, and it was exceptional. I was thrilled to return with my husband and son, but unfortunately, the experience fell far short of what I remembered. Check-in and Room Upgrade Issues Check-in was smooth, and our initial room was pleasant. When we inquired about upgrading, the staff showed us two options. We loved one room and were told we could move into it the next day for an additional $200 per night, which we accepted. However, when I arrived the following morning to complete the transfer, I was informed the upgraded room was only available for part of our stay—we'd need to move back to our original room for the final night. This critical detail hadn't been mentioned during the initial discussion. Rather than pack and unpack twice, we declined the upgrade. Beach and Restaurant Service The beach service was disappointingly slow and inconsistent—surprising for Mexico, where hospitality is typically outstanding. At the restaurant, we were often seated without menus, food arrived cold, and requests for water or additional items were frequently ignored. Room service arrived with uncovered dishes, resulting in cold fries every time. I do have to say the restaurant and beach staff are lovely and amazing but the execution needs lots of improvement. We did love all the staff on the beach. Additional Concerns When my son and I requested tennis racquets and water for the courts on an 85-degree day, we were told water was available courtside. Instead, we found plastic bottles that had been sitting in the sun—likely for days—making them unsafe to drink. On our last day, I requested a late checkout and was immediately denied with the suggestion to "shower in the gym" instead. Only after expressing my accumulated frustrations was I suddenly granted the late checkout. It was disheartening that I needed to complain to receive two additional hours in our room. Finally, the property's maintenance has declined. Decorative water features throughout the grounds contained murky, brown, still water filled with floating debris. Final Thoughts This property no longer reflects the excellence I experienced years ago. I would not return or recommend it to others.

  Jan 01, 2026