Solmar Resort

Everything from the food and drinks to the poolside view made our vacation special. The staff were caring and wonderful, and made us feel welcome. Thank you to Carlos, Ivonne, Raynia, Amy, and everyone else. Thanks as well to the front desk for sorting out transportation, the drivers for getting us where we needed to go, and housekeeping for all the little details. Just GRACIAS EVERYONE!

My sister and I came for a day pass and were so impressed that we're planning to return for a week next year. The resort was super clean, and the staff attentive. Omar went out of his way to help us, and the pool bar bartender made delicious drinks. At Tejaban, Isiar gave me excellent service. The fish tacos were superb, and I had the best Cerviche on the planet. His English was excellent and his fine dining service was spot on. There was a generosity to this lovely resort that can't be faked. Next time I'll know more Spanish so I can take part more in this beautiful country.

The location is the resort's big strength. The marina is a six-minute walk, the Mont Solmar trailhead is two minutes away, and Playa Coral Negro is about five minutes away. It's one of the few nearby beaches where you can actually swim. You can't swim at the resort beach, but it's beautiful, long, and lovely for sitting and watching the ocean. I saw both sunrise and sunset there and could spend hours taking it in. We spotted whales, dolphins, seals, pelicans, stingrays, and other wildlife. The property itself is lovely, and our room was charming, clean, and comfortable. Service was the most disappointing part. It felt like the service you got depended heavily on how much you tipped. The hotel also seemed extremely greedy, charging extra for almost everything at prices that were unbelievable. A medium drip coffee cost $5 USD with no refill, and two ice cream cost 20 IS dollars, which is crazy. We had the American breakfast plan, and as vegetarians we asked to swap bacon or ham for avocado or tomatoes. They said absolutely not unless we paid extra. Nothing was complimentary, not even a water station. They offered only bottled water, and charged for it. The hot tub wasn't working during our stay, and neither was the room safe. For seven days, we were told someone would fix the safe, but each time they came they said they couldn't. The hotel still didn't move us to another room. For a clean room and a perfect location, this resort delivers. Just be prepared for weak service, extra charges, and food that wasn't very good.

The staff were so warm and welcoming, and having the beach right there was nice, even though the strong currents meant we couldn't swim in the ocean. The pool gets shade from the main building early in the morning. The hotel itself feels dated and could use renovation. We also got almost no direction for parking or finding our room. A few clear signs would fix that easily.