We are going to San Diego at the end of September on business and would like to relax for a week after we are done. Is Mexico a good choice at this time a year? Where exactly in Mexico? We've never been to Mexico's West Coast. We are looking for a nice beach, calm waters, relaxing environment. Something close to SD or convinient in terms of transportation.

Cabo, on the Baja. Mazatlan, Puerto Vallarta and Acapulco on the West Coast mainland. You'd need to fly from San Diego (or it would be a very long drive!)

September is still hurricane season so I'd try to schedule a trip like this last minute, with an eye on the weather. It's off-season so rates are lower and you can still book late.

We've been to each of the four places Suze mentions, twice to Acapulco, thrice to Mazatlan, four times to Vallarta and over a dozen times to Cabo. I'd skip Mazatlan and Acapulco for a first trip ... Cabo is best for golf and fishing and diving, and there is a very lively party scene there, but it feels very Americanized because the original town was so small that it's dominated by the tourist industry. Still, a week at a luxury resort in the corridor between Cabo and San Jose is a good bet, something like the Westin or (if it's not too expensive) Palmilla or similar.

Vallarta is probably a better all-around spot for a first-timer, especially if fishing and golf aren't high on your list of activities. It's a bit more classy than Cabo and the town and tourist area are better integrated, plus I feel the restaurants are better here than Cabo Also, because of the geography, in hurricane season you'll most likely get drenching rains but have some protection from the highest winds because of its location on a deep bay, while Cabo is pretty exposed.

Bill

I hesitate recommending PV in September as it is the rainiest month of the year.

Zihutaneo/Ixtapa area is different. Zihu. is a cool town with lots of shops, restaurants and lodging choices also calm, cove like beaches.

South about a 30 minute drive is the village of Troncones. We were married there.

It is dirt roads, wild burros, nice rental homes and a few small neat hotels, look at the inn at manzanillo bay. The surf there is too big for my taste for swimming, but there are pools everywhere you stay. Horseback rides along the beach available and the best massage (on the beach) i have ever had for $25 an hour!

Ixtapa we skipped, but could see the highrise type hotels from a distance. Way too far to drive, but somewhere different to check out.