Calypso Beach

I've been coming to the Calypso for about five years, and figured I'd finally leave a review after reading the others. For $50, the rooms are decent, not great, and each one has its own flaws. You do get a mini fridge and great A/C in every room, plus a free breakfast that's not bad. The pool is always well maintained, which is a real plus with my two young kids. It's about four blocks from the beach, too. At this price, the other places I've stayed around Boca Chica are much the same. This is a typical three-star place with a pool and breakfast, decent for families with young kids if you don't expect the Four Seasons. Service is mediocre at best, though this isn't the United States, and you can't compare service here to what you'd get there. People are paid very little, so a 100 peso tip goes a long way with the desk staff. That's only about $2.00 US.

Mr. Wilson, the administrator, is respectful and dedicated. He made our days pleasant and enjoyable, and we were very pleased with our stay at Calypso Hotel.

Calypso wasn't part of my original plans. I was on a solo birthday trip in December 2022, and after canceling my first booking because the hotel wasn't fit to stay in, I needed somewhere for the rest of my three-night visit. A local man suggested Calypso, though it wouldn't be my first choice if I returned to Boca Chica. The front desk first quoted $90 a night, then $70. I felt desperate and had no cell service without WiFi, so I agreed. After settling in, I checked online and saw it was $40 a night. The hotel has "beach" in its name, but it's not beachfront. It's about half a mile from the water, up a steep hill. There's water, but no sandy spot to spread out a towel, just restaurant tables and chairs by the water. My standard room was spacious, with tile floors, but had no place to set anything except the bed or mini fridge. A small table and chairs would have fit, and given me a chair for the balcony. When I asked for a pool-facing room, I was told it would cost double. The property looked clean and was laid out well, and the staff were friendly. Breakfast was included each morning and made fresh when you arrived. The dining area was dusty, though, and the pool could have used a quick scoop to remove bits of debris. It's a lively, fun area, but not quiet. A corner liquor store plays music in the afternoon and evening, followed by a nightclub across the street when the store turns its music off. I enjoyed the noise, but others might not. There's a grocery store within a mile, plus several souvenir shops. Not bad.

We had planned to stay one day with the family, but ended up extending our visit. The staff were really helpful and arranged a trip to San Domingo. The rooms were clean and had WiFi, and the kids loved the pool. There's a nearby beach with calm water, ideal for little ones. Our room also had an LCD TV with Netflix. We enjoyed the Dominican breakfast and omelette. Some staff don't speak English, but they make a big effort to help.