Facility is in dire need of updating - everything about it is old and tired, from the food thru the fixtures/appliances in the rooms. The so caleed busniess center and gym were a joke! And as far as golf is concerned, its golf course has the potential to be great but is so poorly maintained that it's a shame. And don't rely on club rentals either; they're at least 20 years old and mismatched.

We stayed at Las Hadas with friends, four rooms, for three nights. Our standard rooms on the 16th floor, farthest from the beach, had fantastic views and we all thought we had the best rooms in the place. The beach and pool are a short walk downhill, not far at all, and there are rides back to the top if you don't do stairs. The beach is small and calm, but lovely for swimming, and the pool is huge and very pleasant, even when the hotel is full. Rooms are large, white, stylish, and very clean. You can tell the hotel is 30 years old by the faucets and some details, but it is extremely well maintained. Amazing bougainvillias. We never left the area and going to the airport was like re-entering the real world. We ate at three of the restaurants and all three had wonderful atmosphere and good service. Huge white towels, nice big soaps, more blankets than we could figure anyone would want. A big green iguana swam across the pool and we were fascinated watching it on the rocks. We also enjoyed watching the two weddings during our stay. The clientele were primarily Mexicans, with a few Canadians and no spring breakers. And you can watch "10" continuously on the hotel tv station.

This was our 15th trip to Mexico but first to Manzanillo.
Las Hadas is a rather 'tired" hotel that really needs an overhaul if they are to live up to the 4.5 star rating.
The rooms were nice and clean. Plumbing was good. There was a Minibar but only water, beer and soft drinks were included.
Beach...A rather small beach with dark course sand. The water was very clam but few people swam in the sea. The water was cloudy with about 4-6 feet of visibity. There were lot's of fish around but you could not see enough to make snorkelling worthwhile. There was pratically no one using the kayaks or any other beach toys.
Food....Big disappointment. Yoy get 3 visits to A la Carte but all the people we spoke to could only get in twice unless they wanted a 9:30 pm reservation. The other option at night was les Delphines which was a disappointment. The menu never changed for lunch to dinner. You get fed up quickly there. For the last 3 lunches, we, and 4 other couples we met, left the resort and went to las Hadas condo's for lunch. Yes, we paid for lunch and our own drinks. That should tell you something!
The theme nights were good. Beach Party was the only night where there was entertainment past about 9pm.
I got very sick after Mexican night and called a doctor. He was excellent and after a shot of anti- biotics and gravol....I was much better the next day. If you get sick...don't wait, call the doctor ASAP....I am sure this saved my vacation.
Las Hadas is not the place to go if you want any entertainment at night. The lobby lounge is dead. We did go to the restaruant next door on 2 evenings as they had live entertainment. (blues/jazz one night, a trio that played a variety the next).
We checked out the Barcelo Karmina. This hotel is rated the same as LAs Hadas but there is no comparison...Barcelo is a lot nicer, newer and has a lot more going on. There is no way that these properties are equal.

Just back from a week long stay at the Las Hadas, just before the March Break rush. While there were a few misses, it was a fantastic experience and convinced me of a sure return visit ASAP.

GROUNDS/ROOMS:
The grounds were absolutely stunning. Las Hadas is built into the cliffside, overlooking Manzanillo Bay. Lush tropical flowers and palms everywhere. Resort was clean and always being tended to. Note: We tend to tip the gardeners and maintenance workers, because no one ever gives them gratuities for the excellent work they do. If you agree, show them your appreciation.

Balcony rooms afforded fantastic views of the marina, the mountains and the resorts nearby. Every room, is outfitted in marble flooring, all white decor (the entire hotel is all white), stand up shower, and king or double beds. Beds were rockhard, though toppers were available on request. While our minibar was an old rusty fridge, we saw maintenance transporting a truckload of new fridges, so upgrading is in effect.

Rooms on the ground level, especially in the 200s were much less spectacular, in our opinion, when we toured them. A balcony is what makes your stay special.

FOOD:

All waiters, food staff were excellent, very freindly and lots of help. The only strange thing was that they give you a check after every meal that you must sign, even if you are all-inclusive...

Theme nights include the Beach Party on the beach, Mexican Fiesta in the plaza and Italian night at El Palmar. We didn't make it to any of them, and may have missed out on some great food.

Legazpi, the 'international' a la carte was one of the most fantastic restaurants we've ever eaten at. Amazing shrimp, desserts (creme brulee was divine) and the lobster bisque was a fave among our group. El Terral (the Mexican) was less of a hit with us, though the cajeta pudding was the best dessert we had on our stay.

Attention Vegetarians/Vegans: This place is not for you, meal-wise. Veggie options were few and far between, and being that many of our friends did not eat meat, many a lunch consisted of pineapple and coleslaw. (!!!) El Oasis, the beach has only burgers, hot dogs, fries and a cold salad bar which had quite a bit of flies as the time passed.

Los Delfines, while many raved about the food, we thought was not the greatest in selection, particularly since there was no buffet any night we were there and had very little variety in terms of seafood. There were seafood options, but all the fish were essentially the same (varieties of tuna or 'meaty' fish) with the exception of the red snapper, which we ate everyday for lack of other options. I think, as it was off-season, they quit the buffet and are likely starting it up again March Break and after... We found that there were a few items available not on the menu, and special orders were done up for us, still all inclusive of course.

El Palmar for breakfast also afforded little variety compared to the other resorts we've visited. Every morning was exactly this: Assorted fruits, a few yogurt cups, some juices, hot table consisting of beans, two types of special meats (shredded pork, some roasted chicken thing, or some kind of beef dish), scrambled eggs, a boiled potato dish passed off as hashbrowns, pnackes, sausage, french toast and occasionally (3 days) they served empanadas. There is an omelet/egg station as well, and some sweet rolls and croissants. Whole wheat bread is available when you ask for your toast (there is no self-serve toast station as per many other resorts. The waiters will bring your toast to you).

If you're a meat-eater or a 'I eat everything' type of person, you'll love the variety and the food. The rest of us don't have much of a choice, but there are certainly bright moments in between. We will still return, but maybe with a few more snacks and a trip or two to the town.

BEACH:
Great beach, never crowded at the time we were there. Gorgeous golden and black sand that just sparkles. Sand gets scorching hot, so around noon don't walk without your flipflops. As we left, jellyfish were in the area, both babies in the water and big 'uns on the beach. No one reported to get stung. Lots of fish around your ankles, crabs on the rocks and strange little critters that walk the beach in the early mornings. Great view of the yachts, very close to the resort.... The beach isn't all that big compared to the endless stretches of sand and water in say Cuba or Jamaica, but it's large enough and very well maintained. No palapas, but instead cute white huts to match the resort decor. The beach does not have a lifeguard so look after your kids if you bring them.

DAYTRIPS:
Tlaloc Tours is on site as well as another tour company in the main square/plaza. The Colima Tour with Tlaloc was not worth the 65$ and we wouldn't recommend it, waste of money. (It is worth only half the price.) Colima (1.5 hour away) is definitely worth visiting, but not through this tour company. Comala (where the volcanoes are) is a smaller town, better to be explored on your own. The ruins included in the tour are small potatoes compared to the Yucatan, but beautiful and interesting all the same.

Other tours we did not engage in, looking only to relax, but friends went to town by taxi and had a great time and better shopping. It's safe, affordable and good to do in groups to split the taxi-fare. The bellboys will call up a taxi for you. Walking is far as LH is uphill and inside, away from the town. Walking out toward the Karmina (passing Dolphin Cove Inn) takes about 20 minutes and you can catch public transport from there, or continue the walk for another 30 minutes roughly to get to town. Seeing the Karmina and it's grounds, Las Hadas is far superior in terms of quiet, quality and looks.

One last note: There are vendors on the hotel grounds everyday from morning until 5:00. The proprietor is Vincente and his father (his father is normally there in the day time, I didn't catch his name). They are a lovely family and have lots of wonderful handmade shawls, blankets, bracelets and necklaces. The prices are great and they are willing to bargain, so if you don't make it out of town, go visit them and support a hardworking friendly family. They are right near El Palmer (Breakfast), steps away from the beach.

THIS HOTEL IS NOT FOR:
-families with kids
(while the staff is friendly and the resort is not 'adult's only' there aren't amenities/clubs/equipment for children. Other resorts have waterslides and special activities for the little ones. This one does not.)

-teens/spring breakers/clubbers/younger crowd
(this is a quiet classy resort aimed at the older crowd for relaxation. There is zilch in terms of nightlife -- no nightly entertainment, no discotheque, nothing.)

-impaired mobility
(Now this isn't to say that it can't be done. Many mobility-impaired guests that were staying on the resort just had to dial up the bellboys and they'd arrive outside the room ready to shuttle you off to any destination. It takes some waiting but service was always provided with a smile.
Walking around this resort, even for the fit, is a test of will as there are stairs and stairs and oh yeah, more stairs. The highrise parts of the resort have an elevator to get you to your floor, but when you are heading anywhere else, there are the stairs again. It really just takes a little extra time to get from here to there, and we didn't mind after we got into the routine.

But beware that all the roads in this resort are cobblestone. A gentleman was severely injured, just from tripping on the stones and taking a spill. (Doctor is on site) Good walking shoes/sandals are required. This is not the place for stillettos, ladies.