Collection O Hotel Mocambo, Boca del Río

The staff were very friendly, but the hotel really needs to be rebuilt from the ground up. After three days there, I regretted staying and won't return. They charge you upfront at check-in, which felt very rude, the mattresses are rock hard, the Wi-Fi is awful, and air conditioning is only in the rooms.

The staff are all really nice, and the pool is decent, especially for little kids. From the balcony, the view at night is beautiful, and Mocambo beach is just across the street. For the price, it was somehow worth it. Still, the hotel has gone downhill. The restaurant food isn't what it used to be, and I was told the restaurants are now run by an independent company. The breakfast buffet is no longer included. Pool drinks are poor in both quality and quantity, and they're expensive, not a good mix for regular customers. I saw at least 10 kittens and two or three adult cats around the hotel. They aren't fed, and there isn't drinking water for them in Veracruz's heat. After the pool closes, the kittens have to drink from it, despite the chlorine and other chemicals. The rooms are cleaned well enough, but the sheets, pillows, and towels all look very old.

We went back just a few days ago, and the hotel looks really nice after the work they've been doing. It's a very clean place, as clean as any hotel I've stayed in. I love the old colonial style, and we're already looking forward to another visit soon.

The breakfast was really good, and the service there was great. We also liked the sauna, whatever it was called, and the large pools. Our room had a balcony and was comfortable, though the rooms were only okay and one had better air conditioning than the other. There are loads of stairs, and the single elevator only goes half a story up to the front desk. It felt very rickety, so I would skip it. Everything is dated, and I expected a fancy hotel, so the worn-down condition was a letdown. Still, it has a more traditional Mexican feel than a modern hotel, and I suppose it grows on you. Don't expect much in the way of modern conveniences. It probably was a super awesome place years ago.