Footsteps Different World Awards 2009
  spring 2009 edition
2009 Survey Results
The results of our annual customer survey are in!

Based on thousands of votes from returning guests, we reveal the very 'best of the best' hotels in Mexico in this special edition.

See if your favorite's listed!

 Overall winner: Casa que Canta
ver the past year, we've been asking our clients to rate their experience at our recommended properties by awarding them a score for each of five different attributes.

This month we're excited to reveal the results of the thousands of votes we've received from you in each category (room, food, service, quality, and value), and also to unveil this year's overall winners.

Check the individual category listings for exclusive special promotions announced by the hotels to celebrate their awards!

Overall Winners
1. Casa que Canta, Zihuatanejo
One of the most romantic hotels in Mexico, la Casa que Canta is a favorite with honeymooners. When choosing a hotel for such a special occasion expectations run high, but la Casa que Canta delivers outstanding results in all categories.
Overall rating: 98.9%
Casa que Canta
2. Majahuitas Resort, Puerto Vallarta
This rustic hideaway is accessible only by sea and has a real "desert island" ambiance. Guests love the quirky casitas, the friendly service and the wonderful food (outstanding for such a remote location).
Overall rating: 95.2%
Majahuitas Resort
3. Cabanas La Conchita, Tulum
The majority of visitors at this simple cabana hotel are repeat guests who know to book early to secure their room. Attentive but unobtrusive service, bountiful breakfasts and good rates make this property hard to beat for an idyllic beach vacation.
Overall rating: 94.9%
Cabanas la Conchita
4. Esencia, Riviera Maya
Chic, stylish, yet elegant, Esencia is one of the top properties on the Riviera Maya. It's also one of the few small luxury hotels to welcome children. Guests love the heavenly Caribbean beach, one of the finest on this stretch of coast, and enjoy serious pampering in the full-service spa.
Overall rating: 94.0%
Esencia
5. Brisas del Mar, Zihuatanejo
Brisas del Mar tops the "value" category and also scores highly for service, making it one of the best bargains for discerning travelers. It's a good choice for families and also for couples, and virtually every room has a wonderful sea view.
Overall rating: 93.9%
Brisas del Mar

Individual Category Winners
room
 
1 Esencia, Riviera Maya
2 Tamarindo, Costa Alegre
3 Casa que Canta, Zihuatanejo
4 Hacienda San Jose, Merida
5 Mezzanine, Tulum
6 Suenos Tulum, Tulum
7 Las Brisas, Acapulco
8 Las Mananitas, Cuernevaca
9 Majahuitas, Puerto Vallarta
10 Villa Montana, Morelia
The winners in the room category this year vary from simple beach cabanas to incredibly luxurious all-white suites with a host of top-end amenities. The votes show that stylish minimalism and Mexican charm win over glamour and glitz, and rooms with a breathtaking view are sure to delight.

Award Promotions

Tamarindo - enjoy free green fees and more with this great value package.

Las Brisas - free upgrade to the next room category when you book before March 16!

La Casa que Canta tops the "food" category with its exquisite terraced restaurant overlooking the bay of Zihuatanejo. Also voted in the top 10 are the Thai fusion cuisine at Mezzanine in Tulum, and the Mexican and vegetarian specialties at the Santa Fe in Puerto Escondido. Guests also love the intimate dining at Suenos Tulum and the near legendary breakfasts at la Conchita.

Award Promotions

La Casa que Canta - exclusive 5th night free and 20% off spa treatment from March to May!

Mezzanine - exclusive 10% discount when you book one of the lavish Master Suites!

food
 
1 Casa que Canta, Zihuatanejo
2 Suenos Tulum, Tulum
3 Mosquito Blue, Playa del Carmen
4 Cabanas la Conchita, Tulum
5 Majahuitas, Puerto Vallarta
6 Santa Fe, Puerto Escondido
7 Mezzanine, Tulum
8 Casa Sierra Nevada, San Miguel
9 Condesa DF, Mexico City
10 Posada Margherita, Tulum
service
 
1 Casa que Canta, Zihuatanejo
2 Brisas del Mar, Zihuatanejo
3 Azul Beach, Tulum
4 Majahuitas, Puerto Vallarta
5 Santa Fe, Puerto Escondido
6 Las Mananitas, Cuernevaca
7 Hacienda Puerta Campeche
8 Cabanas la Conchita, Tulum
9 Suenos Tulum, Tulum
10 Tides, Riviera Maya
Luxury resorts vie with simple beach hotels in this category, proving that hotels don't need to spend big dollars to give customer satisfaction. Guests at Suenos Tulum rate the service as "excellent; unobtrusive but very accommodating", and the manager at Las Mananitas is so good that another guest says "if I had a hotel of my own I would try to steal him".

Award Promotions

Majahuitas Resort - special romance packages with bonus amenities!

Las Mananitas - new spa "Orlane Paris" opening April 2009.

In this category, guests rate the hotels with the highest quality of facilities. The facilities don't have to be as extensive as a mega-resort, but they do need to be first class. Esencia scores highly for its fabulous spa and water sports as well as the luxurious in-room amenities, and the Quinta Real in Zacatecas is in a class of its own for the spectacular setting and architectural design.

Award Promotions

Quinta Real Zacatecas - complimentary continental breakfast, upgrade to next room category subject to availability, and 20% discount on a city tour.

quality
 
1 Casa que Canta, Zihuatanejo
2 Esencia, Riviera Maya
3 Hacienda Temozon, Uxmal
4 Ceiba del Mar, Riviera Maya
5 Quinta Real Zacatecas, Zac.
6 Hacienda San Jose, Merida
7 Suenos Tulum, Tulum
8 Tamarindo, Costa Alegre
9 Hacienda Puerta Campeche
10 Las Mananitas, Cuernevaca
value
 
1 Brisas del Mar, Zihuatanejo
2 Playa Maya, Playa del Carmen
3 Casa que Canta, Zihuatanejo
4 Santa Fe, Puerto Escondido
5 Majahuitas, Puerto Vallarta
6 Cabanas la Conchita, Tulum
7 Quinta Real Zacatecas, Zac.
8 Villa Montana, Morelia
9 Azul Beach, Tulum
10 Mansion Iturbe, Patzcuaro
Expectations run high in luxury properties, so less expensive hotels that surprise and delight will often score highest for value. The Brisas del Mar in Zihuatanejo pleases on all counts - "we rarely go back to the same place, however this may be an exception" and the Playa Maya in Playa del Carmen is small but consistently good "this is not a 5-star resort, but it is an outstanding, ocean front hotel in the middle of everything".

Award Promotions

Brisas del Mar - exclusive 10% discount on visits between June and October 2009!

Mansion Iturbe - Special rates when you stay in March!

Our favorite discoveries of 2008
Le Reve
#1 - Le Reve
This chic and stylish boutique hotel nestles on a pretty Caribbean beach close to Playa del Carmen. We love the Beachfront Bungalows, thatched-roof suites perched right on the sands, each with their own private plunge pool. Le Reve is a great choice for romantics.

Award promotion - 4th night free in March!

Cuixmala
#2 - Cuixmala
Ideal for escapists and families looking for a soft adventure vacation, this spectacularly secluded property lies between Puerto Vallarta and Manzanillo. Come here for organic breakfasts, horseback riding on deserted beaches, or nature tours where you can spot crocodiles, turtles and even zebra - without leaving the estate.
La Via Laktea
#3 - La Via Laktea
There are dozens of small hotels on Tulum's fabulous beaches, but la Via Laktea is one of our favorite newcomers. It has just seven cabana rooms with spacious interiors, most occupying a prime beachfront location. La Via Laktea is way down south towards the Biosphere reserve, so it's a good choice for a chilled-out, relaxing vacation far from the crowds.