I wasn´t sure where to stay when I went to Acapulco for a gay holiday. First, I went to Villa Roqueta, which I wouldn´t personally recommend unless you like isolation. This place used to be Gloria Gaynor's luxury pad, but it is now a sleepy luxury boutique retreat, some 40 minutes from all the gay action. Okay if you want to write a book, but not ideal for people who want to enjoy Acapulco's hot gay life.

I checked out some other gay guesthouses, but, boy was I glad when I found Casa Condesa (www.casacondesa.com). It´s a gay-owned guesthouse for gay men. It caters for all age ranges.

It is ideally located, being only 10 minutes walk from Betos gay beach and all the gay bars.

What´s more, the noise of traffic from the main Costera dies away when you enter through the front door. Casa Condesa consists of 8 private rooms individualy and richly decorated in a Bohemian style, set across several levels of dense tropical foliage.

There are several communal areas, the swimming pool where you can swim naked if you desire, sun bathing areas (nude permitted), the kitchen area and an upstair rooftop terrace, shaded by palapas, where you can read many good books, enjoy a meal, or watch the best sunsets in the world, as the sun sets over Acapulco Bay.

I found James, the owner, and his small team of staff to be incredibly warm and attentive.

There is a sign upon entry that simply says Mi casa es su casa, meaning My house is your house. There is another sign, saying Familia. I can genuinely say that I felt like part of a small and friendly family.

A unique feature of Casa Condesa is absolutely free of charge phone calls to anywhere in the world. Phone your mother in Finland or your boyfriend in Canada to let them know what a good time you´re having in Acapulco.

10 minutes away is Betos beach, situated below the huge monolith of Fiesta Americana Hotel. It´s a narrow beach, of breadcrumb, yellow sand and a tempestuous ocean which is often, but not always, safe for swimming.

There are some palapas above the shoreline with tables and red tablecloths. It is here that all the gay guys - from USA, Canada, England, France, Holland, Germany, Argentina, Brazil congregate.

Best of all are the Mexican guys - forget ´Northern´ countries´ sang froid (cold blood), we found the Mexican guys to be unreservedly warm and friendly and very open and approachable about homosexuality.

There are a number of gay discos nearby to Casa Condes, Betos and Boy´s Club and some other newer ones. You can ask for addresses at Casa Condesa.

Casa Condesa also has a guy called Aldo who gives very good, professional and therapeutic massages, to relieve all those aching muscles are partying.

Breakfast, lunch and dinner were excellent here.

I would not fail to recommend the guesthouse to anyone intending to visit Acapulco.

I´ve visited Cancun and Key West for gay holidays, and whilst Cancun was okay, and Key West was expensive and busy, I prefer Acapulco any day. It´s a true Mexican experience, where gay life is easily accessible.