We loved Casa Candiles. It was every thing we needed in a vacation. Senor Bob was willing to give us as much or as little as we needed. Miguel kept the casa shining. We felt very at home in the casa as it is a home with service included. We woke every morning to beverages and a dip in the pool. Senor Bob took us to out-of-the way places during the day and the once again into the pool followed by a great siesta. We dined anywhere from rice and beans to beautiful restaurants, all of which Bob was gracious enough to guide us. We highly recommend this Mexican inn with the personal touches of an on-site owner.

Two weeks at Casa Candiles while overseeing the remodel of our condo in Ixtapa; I just returned home and told my husband how extremely difficult it all was. What he doesn’t know won’t hurt him!

Truth be told, I had an elegant vacation during which breakfast was served in my room each morning, the jungle pool, butterflies, flowers and birds always beckoned, the free guest phone to the states let me keep my spouse informed as to my progress, yet the beach was but a few-minute walk from the inn, and, at the end of my “weary” day, the poolside bar was always open!

Roberto has created a delightful tropical oasis (is that possible?) and seems to have no limit on making his guests comfortable. He will prepare and serve dinner if that’s what you want; he’ll recommend or even take you to his own favorite happy hour, dining and shopping spots, honed to a delightful edge after 17 years of visiting the area; he’ll serve as your personal tour guide, such as a two-day visit to the mountains, searching for just the right copper soap dish for the bath, if that is what one needs (and I did!).

His attitude is like that encountered in the highest-end hotels around the world - those that take delight in having their guests ask for the stars – and then boxing them up and slipping them under their pillow. I am sure he has limits, but I didn’t notice them.

Casa Candiles is delightful, artistic and lovely. Your surroundings and his company will charm and soothe any soul. And if you are as lucky as I, you will see white butterflies with huge wings floating across the pool, not to mention the occasional monkey in the treetops. You need to visit him before he realizes his prices are much too low for the incredible hospitality and service he provides to each of his guests.

As the wife of a general manager of a 5 Star Resort, my standards for excellence for accommodations are extremely high. I was truly overwhelmed with the personal service, attention to detail, beauty, and quality of Casa Candiles. From the moment I arrived and was greeted by Roberto, I knew that this would be the vacation of a lifetime. After the tour of the inn and being shown my suite, I was treated to a "Welcome Luncheon". Speaking very little Spanish, I was nervous about arriving at my destination and a bit fatigued after my flight from the States. Innkeeper Roberto sensed this, and after freshening up, imagine my surprise when I was served a three course meal which consisted of shrimp salad, empanada and homemade guacamole, and an individually made carrot cake with a fresh cup of coffee. That perked me right up! And that type of service continued throughout the week. Coffee and a light breakfast were served either in our room or by the pool each morning. Evening appetizers or a full course meal miraculously appeared.

My sister had purchased real estate in Ixtapa, so our days were busy with contractors. Returning to Casa Candiles to Roberto's lovely inn relaxed us right away. A dip in the Inn's pool surrounded by the beauty of a variety of flowers, hummingbirds fluttering into the hibiscus, the fountain bubbling, and then being served a marvelous margarita, wine, vodka tonic, or any other beverage of our choice allowed us to unwind from the day.

One of the highlights of my vacation, was our road trip to Patzcuaro in the mountains. Roberto offered to drive my sister and me to this magical town. Can you believe it...we had our own guide who narrated the history and development of the area! Don't miss this opportunity! We were also shown a restaurant with a spectaular view the last evening of my stay. There were many other extra touches that were shown to us during our stay, too numerous to mention.

But I have been mentioning Casa Candiles to anyone and everyone. My hotelier husband was extremely impressed with all of the photographs and details of my experience. My friends and family have been looking at their calendars for their own excursion to Ixtapa. This inn is a true gem and I highly recommend these accommodations to anyone looking for a truly unique experience with a highly personal touch of quality.

Four of my friends and I wanted an affordable place that could serve as a home base for our spring break trip (business school students). We did not care for an all-inclusive, expensive hotel but rather a place that was relaxing and comfortable and something that didn't feel too "touristy".

Casa Candiles provided all of that. With fresh coffee in the morning and our private pool, we always felt very comfortable during our trip. Outside of sleeping, we would spend a few hours a day in the house and while we were there, the service was great. From fresh ice cream to beer on demand, Roberto was an excellent host. Our rooms were always clean and our dip in the pool was a great way to start our evenings (golfing during the day). Roberto gave us great insight into Zihua/Ixtapa as well as personally taking care of our golf reservations. I recommend Casa Candiles if you want to go somewhere that's relaxing and charming at the same time. For the price we paid, we got an amazing deal.

The only concern is if you're allergic to dogs, then this might not be the best place for you (two of them onsite although they're very cute).

-El Jefe