Hotel El Manglar

We had a really bad experience and wouldn't recommend staying here. Our room was extremely moldy, to the point that it seemed unhealthy, and it smelled bad too. We asked to move but weren't given another room. It was also very noisy: staff talking loudly in the hallway, music, and furniture being moved woke us several times.

It's peaceful despite being just off a main street, and the location is excellent: four blocks from the historic center and two from the lagoon. Randy at reception and the rest of the staff were very friendly, and Randy was especially helpful. The room was simply furnished but comfortable, with plenty of hot water and good shower pressure. Wi-Fi was weak in the room but worked well in the nice courtyard just outside the door. Breakfast was vegan, simple and filling. Very good value for a stay in Bacalar.

The hotel is well located, central but away from the bustle of the main street. But our room smelled bad and had mold everywhere. There was no warm water, and at first no water came from the tap at all. They fixed it, but it took a day. It was also noisy, and breakfast was the same every day.

I didn't end up staying. The rooms were basic. At reception, a woman showed me the 700-peso room with no view. I considered paying 800 for a second-floor room, but the cleaning lady said those rooms had two or three beds. I was alone and didn't want to pay extra for space I wouldn't use. They let me use the internet at reception for five minutes to look for somewhere else. Then a woman came over and kept asking what was going on. I had to explain twice in my bad Spanish. When I confirmed I was alone, she stormed off. I thought maybe she was going to find a solution, but she never came back. I'm glad I didn't stay after being treated that way, it felt discriminatory.