Plaza Chapala Hotel

The hotel looks pretty, but the fees and hospitality rules felt out of hand. At check-in, we were charged an extra $92 usd. I had booked online for 3 people in a room listed as sleeping “3 ppl,” and showed the email confirmation with three selected, but the staff said the reservation was for two. The receptionist said he was giving me a discount. 👀🙄 Housekeeping still came into the room when I put up the “do not disturb” sign, which defeats its purpose. You also can’t bring in outside food, even snacks or drinks, without an extra fee for violating the rules. It felt like a place where employees follow and cater to you for every need and want. They may justify it as the best “customer services,” but that wasn’t my experience.

El Malecón is incredibly close, and local stores, restaurants, and shops are just a short walk away. That location made it easy to enjoy the area. My family and I were thoroughly impressed by this charming hotel. The staff were friendly, attentive, and clearly wanted us to be comfortable from the moment we arrived. The free breakfast was amazing. I recommend the chilaquiles and pancakes. The hotel has a warm, inviting feel, with thoughtful touches that make it special. Muchas gracias to Santiago, who treated us like family. Highly recommend it for comfort, convenience, and charm.

The location is good and the hotel is pretty, but I didn’t think the penthouse was worth $7,500 for one night. We wanted to be comfortable and close to the water, but several things fell short of what we expected for that price. The main room toilet wouldn’t flush because it had no pressure. I had to pour water in from the sink, and even after someone came to look, it still wasn’t fixed. We spent the whole stay with only one working toilet. The power also went out three times while we were watching a movie. In the morning, my shower had only about 30 seconds of hot water before turning cold. An employee came and fixed it, so hopefully the next guest can enjoy it. Some lights didn’t work either, especially the one over the dining table, so we ate dinner in the dark. The pancakes tasted good, but about a third were raw in the middle. I told the person at the desk about these problems. They apologized, but nothing else was done to make up for them. I wish management had responded more to the complaints.

The main plaza is right across the street, so it can get a little noisy sometimes, but the location is great and the boardwalk is just steps away. The hot tub was a nice perk, and I’d definitely come back. Rooms had AC and fans, the bathrooms were very large, and the beds were comfortable. Breakfast was great, and the cook was very friendly. The other staff were helpful too. One thing to know, if you grew up visiting family in Mexico back in the day, you may remember not flushing toilet paper. It was common in buildings with older pipes or sewage systems. It didn’t bother me, but I know it might bother some people.