San Nicolas Hotel and Casino

The staff were welcoming and the service was good, and the rooms were very clean. But the AC barely worked, so it got hot during the night, and the beds were hard and uncomfortable. Those bird sounds playing outside by the pool were annoying too. The location was bad for us, with lots of potholes on the street and parking across the street.

This is my usual hotel when I’m in town, with a great pool and helpful, friendly people. It’s in a handy spot, just outside the busy area but close enough to walk to restaurants, bars, and the malecón for a Saturday night out. Coffee shops and breakfast places are only five minutes away on foot, along with most things you might need. The fenced parking area is secure and has plenty of room for whatever you bring. A perfect base for heading out.

I was shocked when the bathroom sink ran brown for about three minutes after I turned it on, before it finally cleared. Maybe it was rusted pipes, but either way, clear water is the least I’d expect. They recommend brushing your teeth with tap water, and I think that should be stated on the hotel website. I know this is common in Mexico, but my previous hotel had no water problems, and I assumed hotel water would be okay to brush with in 2025. The walls were extremely thin. Even with a brick wall in the room, I could hear everything happening in both neighboring rooms all night. I asked at the front desk about changing rooms, but Marco wasn’t helpful. He said it wasn’t possible and offered no real alternative, only that they would “check out the water issue when they get time.” He also got an attitude while I was explaining the problem, and there was no reason to behave that way at 7am. I’d strongly recommend the nearby Holiday Inn instead. I stayed there a month earlier and had none of these problems. The experience there was much better and more accommodating, and the staff were more positive minded.

I was really disappointed by the buffet. I looked through the food and couldn’t find anything worthwhile to eat. They offered us the menu, so I ordered rice with chicken strips, but it was the worst rice ever: dry, with dry beans, and the vegetables weren’t fresh. I regretted paying for it, and the juice was horrible too. On top of that, the staff didn’t understand English, which made trying to explain things frustrating. The whole experience was not good.