— Lee: “It’s actually been in the back of my head – a little bit of a dream for some time – to have a place like that. And, well, finally it seems to be coming true, so I’m very excited about the next years.”
Interview By: Welcome Beyond
— You have been in Mexico for a long time. What made you fall in love with the country?
Lee: “In 1971 I was traveling around Latin America for a bit more than a year. This first visit to Mexico was something like a seed that was planted. It was quite opposite to the way we lived, especially in those years in Germany. The mentality in Mexico was so much more open. In Germany we were always planning, always looking for security. Life here is a little bit of an adventure and people have a different attitude towards the future and are not worried about anything. Of course that turns them into masters of improvising.
And as anything else in life, it has an upside and a downside. I really like the upside of it because it makes people live life a lot more carefree and happier and that's something that I really like about Mexico, besides the climate, of course. And the country is just beautiful. Mexico has 10,000 kilometers of coastline with some incredible beaches. Those were some of the things that really attracted me, that made me come back at a later point.”
And as anything else in life, it has an upside and a downside. I really like the upside of it because it makes people live life a lot more carefree and happier and that's something that I really like about Mexico, besides the climate, of course. And the country is just beautiful. Mexico has 10,000 kilometers of coastline with some incredible beaches. Those were some of the things that really attracted me, that made me come back at a later point.”
— La Quinta Troppo
— And what was your motivation to buy a small boutique hotel then?
Lee: “Well, La Quinta Troppo is just a gem of a property, luxury in a very small hotel, a property I've always liked. Last december I was approached by the owner. David Ferguson is an Australian gentleman who built this place about thirteen years ago and is planning to leave because he recently got married again and wants to live with his wife in Mexico City. I just thought it was a wonderful opportunity, so I took over the hotel on February 1st.
It’s actually been in the back of my head – a little bit of a dream for some time – to have a place like that. And, well, finally it seems to be coming true, so I’m very excited about the next years.”
It’s actually been in the back of my head – a little bit of a dream for some time – to have a place like that. And, well, finally it seems to be coming true, so I’m very excited about the next years.”
— La Sirena suite
— What in particular made you think that this place is a good opportunity? Why La Quinta Troppo?
Lee: “It’s a marvellous little town on the Pacific coast and the hotel is perfectly located above one of the most beautiful beaches – La Ropa beach – with an incredible view over the bay of Zihuatenejo. I’ve traveled a lot in Mexico and I’ve always liked the Pacific coast – it has a much more stable climate than the Caribbean side. And the mountains, the Sierra Madre, they’re just majestic. They come right down to the coast. As a matter of fact, they continue into the ocean in the shape of little islands and it’s just a beautiful sight.
So I like this kind of place and Zihuatenejo is a jewel. It’s not very famous, so it maintains that flavor of a Mexican fishing town. In the morning you can still go to the main beach where they come in with the boats and bring in the fish. This whole set-up and the clientèle La Quinta Troppo attracts make it very attractive for me. Thanks to good air connections with Los Angeles we get our share of Hollywood celebrities here — they come here to hide away.”
So I like this kind of place and Zihuatenejo is a jewel. It’s not very famous, so it maintains that flavor of a Mexican fishing town. In the morning you can still go to the main beach where they come in with the boats and bring in the fish. This whole set-up and the clientèle La Quinta Troppo attracts make it very attractive for me. Thanks to good air connections with Los Angeles we get our share of Hollywood celebrities here — they come here to hide away.”
—
— How would you describe the hotel?
Lee: “There are two architects that I particularly like here in this area, Enrique Mueller and Enrique Zozaya. And they both have built some incredible properties. Their style has a Mediterranean flavor, very open and spacious, big volume walls, imposing views, doorways, natural materials combined with modern gadgets, a lot of palapa roofs. It’s difficult to describe, you have to see and feel it. La Quinta Troppo was built by Emrique Zozaya and is one of his jewels.
The suites and areas are decorated with a lot of Mexican arts and crafts. One of the guests once described it as ‘Every time I come to La Quinta Troppo I feel like I am going to the home of some rich uncle of mine and I feel absolutely at home.’ It's very private, the staff is discreet. They’re always there when you need them but it’s not like they’re trying to sell you something or being on top of you all the time. They’re a little bit more in the background and so people really feel at home.”
The suites and areas are decorated with a lot of Mexican arts and crafts. One of the guests once described it as ‘Every time I come to La Quinta Troppo I feel like I am going to the home of some rich uncle of mine and I feel absolutely at home.’ It's very private, the staff is discreet. They’re always there when you need them but it’s not like they’re trying to sell you something or being on top of you all the time. They’re a little bit more in the background and so people really feel at home.”
— Hammock at La Quinta Troppo
— Please tell me a bit about the facilities at La Quinta Troppo.
Lee: “There are two suites that don’t have air conditioning, because they are built in this open style. There are no windows. There’s no glass so you live inside/outside. During the winter and spring the climate is so pleasant that with the breeze you get from the ocean it’s very comfortable. All the other suites at La Quinta Troppo have the option to close terrace doors and windows in order to use air conditioning.
We have iPod stations in each room, so you can bring a little bit of your own music. There’s, of course, slippers and a bathrobe. We change towels twice a day since you take a bath more often coming from the beach. Each room is different. They're all very spacious and each one has different art and things that the owner has been collecting over the years, so they’re very beautifully decorated. In our two more expensive suites we provide some extras for comfort and entertainment, such as binoculars for bird- and boatwatching, exclusive bed linen and other amenities.”
We have iPod stations in each room, so you can bring a little bit of your own music. There’s, of course, slippers and a bathrobe. We change towels twice a day since you take a bath more often coming from the beach. Each room is different. They're all very spacious and each one has different art and things that the owner has been collecting over the years, so they’re very beautifully decorated. In our two more expensive suites we provide some extras for comfort and entertainment, such as binoculars for bird- and boatwatching, exclusive bed linen and other amenities.”
— Los Tucanes balcony
— How would you describe the atmosphere of the hotel and the region?
Lee: “La Quinta Troppo is a very romantic place, you walk through the old town in the evening, have dinner somewhere. Just the ambiance of the ocean, the breeze, the bay, everything. So the romance segment I think works very well with Zihuatenejo. We get a lot of people coming for their honeymoon or a big anniversary here. And we also organize weddings, everything from the legal part to the celebration on the beach at sunset or on the terrace of the hotel, the dinner, the flowers, everything.
And the people here are incredibly nice. I've traveled a lot and I’ve done a lot of stuff in the Caribbean as well, and I really am proud of my Mexican friends, of the way they treat other people here - it doesn’t matter if they’re rich or poor or in the middle, whatever. They just get along with each other, they love to joke and don’t take things to seriously — it's just really, really pleasant.”
And the people here are incredibly nice. I've traveled a lot and I’ve done a lot of stuff in the Caribbean as well, and I really am proud of my Mexican friends, of the way they treat other people here - it doesn’t matter if they’re rich or poor or in the middle, whatever. They just get along with each other, they love to joke and don’t take things to seriously — it's just really, really pleasant.”
—
Lee's favourites:
La Quinta Troppo
Transportation
Eat & Drink
Activities
SightsInterview By: Welcome Beyond
— There is a boat available for day trips. I guess that is quite popular with the guests?
Lee: “Yes, that’s right. It’s not a very big boat, it’s a 28 feet twin hull with twin engines. It is very comfortable for eight to ten people to cruise around on the ocean. There are some very interesting spots for snorkeling, for example. And it’s just so beautiful to see the land from the ocean. We do a sunset trip, of course, where we have some drinks, some cocktails and some finger food.
Zihuatenejo is also very famous for deep sea fishing. We offer deep sea fishing on our boat, but for people who are really into it we recommend some better equipped deep sea fishing boats. Zihuatenejo has been elected as the second best deep sea fishing spot in the world. It’s really incredible. We have a lot of marlin and dorado, which in the US they call mahi mahi. People just about always catch something. And, of course, we promote the catch and release system.”
Zihuatenejo is also very famous for deep sea fishing. We offer deep sea fishing on our boat, but for people who are really into it we recommend some better equipped deep sea fishing boats. Zihuatenejo has been elected as the second best deep sea fishing spot in the world. It’s really incredible. We have a lot of marlin and dorado, which in the US they call mahi mahi. People just about always catch something. And, of course, we promote the catch and release system.”
— Lo Ropa suite
— Please tell me a bit about the region and what there is to see and do.
Lee: “Of course a lot of what people do here is related to the sea, like deep sea fishing, snorkeling, diving, sailing, kayaking, etc. The diving here is not as spectacular as on the Caribbean side, because the ocean doesn't have those greenish and turquoise colors, but we do have a bigger variety of creatures in the sea so expert divers like to come here especially in the summertime. A lot of people also come for surfing about 25 minutes north of here. We’re not talking about wind surfing. We’re talking about catching the waves. They come all the way from Australia and the USA because it’s pretty famous with the surfers.
We have a fifteen mile bicycle path to an ecological reserve that’s interesting to do. There's mountain biking. You can go horseback riding on the beach to some of the coconut plantations. There are also two very good 18-hole golf courses nearby. But it is also great to just relax, sit on the beach or on the pool and read a book. And of course, shopping and Mexican food.”
We have a fifteen mile bicycle path to an ecological reserve that’s interesting to do. There's mountain biking. You can go horseback riding on the beach to some of the coconut plantations. There are also two very good 18-hole golf courses nearby. But it is also great to just relax, sit on the beach or on the pool and read a book. And of course, shopping and Mexican food.”
— La Quinta Troppo lobby
— What would your ideal trip to Mexico look like? What would you recommend?
Lee: “I would do a combination. For example if you’re flying into Mexico City, I would definitely recommend to spend a few days there. Go to the Teotihuacan pyramids, for example. The archaeological museum in Mexico City is incredible and there are a lot of other attractions in and around the city. And then drive to the state of Michoacan, to the city of Morelia. You can find most of the Mexican arts and crafts there. It is a really beautiful and rich place to visit with lots of tradition. It’s the real Mexico. One of the famous things there is the lake of Patzcuaro, where they clebrate the Day of the Dead, which is something very Mexican, very folkloric. Then continue by road to Zihuatenejo. That’s an experience I can really recommend. And then you can just hang out and relax with us on the beach or include a trip to Acapulco and Taxco, the famous silver city.”
—
— Your guests can also have a go at cooking real Mexican food. Please tell me a bit about the cooking class.
Lee: “We don’t only do the cooking, we take the people to the market and that’s part of the folklore of Mexico. There are hidden markets that people don’t easily find and you have to be a local to know where the Indian women are still sitting with their herbs and spices. So, we take people there to look around, show them the products, teach them some of the Spanish words, depending on the interests in each case. They get a little dictionary especially for this cooking course and we take them to a beautiful home and set up everything and start cooking the meal.
And of course we finish off with a margarita. I’s one of the things that everybody wants at La Quinta Troppo, because we do a very good one here. There are so many different tequilas. Tequila used to be a cheap drink, nowadays tequila has become very expensive because there’s not enough agave. We use a very good tequila and our bartender has become famous for his margaritas…”
And of course we finish off with a margarita. I’s one of the things that everybody wants at La Quinta Troppo, because we do a very good one here. There are so many different tequilas. Tequila used to be a cheap drink, nowadays tequila has become very expensive because there’s not enough agave. We use a very good tequila and our bartender has become famous for his margaritas…”
—
— And you also run a foundation with the hotel?
Lee: “Rene, who provided much of the style and drive that became La Quinta Troppo, died in January 2004 after a twelve year struggle with breast cancer. Many of our guests have asked about a way to foster the memory of that wonderful, courageous and enthusiastic person which lead to the creation of The Rene Ferguson Foundation.
So, each year the Foundation grants a Scholarship to an outstanding female student in her last year at one of the three state funded high schools operating in Zihuatanejo, with the objective of providing support through a full course of University study.”
So, each year the Foundation grants a Scholarship to an outstanding female student in her last year at one of the three state funded high schools operating in Zihuatanejo, with the objective of providing support through a full course of University study.”
—
— What are you looking forward to most taking over La Quinta Troppo?
Lee: “Well, I look forward to our guests who appreciate this place. For me it’s very important not to confuse people before they come, to get the right message out. I think there are a lot of people who feel absolutely comfortable at our hotel. There might be some who don’t, who are looking for something different, maybe for more action, or for something more modern or fancy. We don’t have televisions in the rooms and we don’t have phones in the rooms. It’s more like a retreat, a retreat to privacy. A retreat to being pampered but without a lot of show around. It’s just very natural.”
—
— Thank you, Lee!
Prices are an indication only. The final quote will be the same low price as booking your vacation directly.
There are no fees to book. Please check directly with the owner for special arrangements or information not listed here.
Service
Catered
Accommodation type
Boutique hotel
Location
Beach / Coast
Special requirements
Not suitable for children
No pets allowed
Not suitable for wheelchairs
No smoking, please
Transport
Car not required
Private parking
Limited public transport
Prices are an indication only. The final quote will be the same low price as booking your vacation directly.
There are no fees to book. Please check directly with the owner for special arrangements or information not listed here.
Bedrooms
0 Single bedroom
1 Double bedroom
0 Twin bedroom
0 Room w. multiple beds
Additional:
0 Sofabed
0 Extra bed (on request)
0 Air mattress (on req.)
0 Baby cot/crib (on req.)
Bath/shower rooms
1 Bathroom (ensuite)
0 Bathroom (shared)
0 Shower room (ensuite)
0 Shower room (shared)
0 Toilet (ensuite)
Additional:
0 Toilet (shared)
Other rooms
-
0 Kitchen
0 Kitchenette
0 Cooking area
0 Living room
0 Dining room
0 Other rooms
Prices for 2 sharingperson
Lowest price
Highest price
May 1st to November 14th
$ 230
$ 230
November 15th to April 30th
$ 310
$ 310
Christmas & New Year
$ 340
$ 340
Size: 35 square meters. 3 units available.
Each room is individually styled with furnishings and collected artifacts celebrating the vitality of Mexico’s artisans and their culture. All rooms have private baths, king beds, a terrace, a sitting area inside or outside or both. The views from our premium ocean view rooms are spectacular.
All our rates include our tropical breakfast of fresh fruits, juices, bread, pastries, and tea or coffee; as well as our complimentary airport pick-up for stays of 4 days or longer. Rates are in USD and Tax of 19% is not included. We ask for a minimum stay of 4 nights, but may accept shorter stays on request.
Best rates
You pay the same rate as booking with the property directly. There are no booking fees or extra costs to you. That’s guaranteed!
Direct owner contact
Use the ‘Contact’ button on the left to get information about availability and rates from the owner directly — and also receive the link to the property website with further details.
Our helpline
If you need help, call us on +49 163 737 2509 (Mo-Fr, 10am-10pm CET)
Outside these times leave us a message and we’ll call right back.
Outside these times leave us a message and we’ll call right back.
