El Cid Marina Beach Hotel

The pools were a hit: there are big hot tubs, cold pools with waterfalls, caves, and rocks you can jump from, plus a 94 degree warm pool for older folks and kids. The staff were great, and they’d sometimes give the kids candy. The beach the hotel uses is semi-private and mostly free of vendors, though a few determined ones still make it over. There’s a rocky patch that forms tide pools at low tide, which is great for kids. If you want seafood, this is a good place to stay. The hotel has a sport fishing charter, and the kitchen usually gets fish caught by guests on those trips. During my stay, at least two big marlin were caught and given to the kitchen. I made a beeline for seafood at every meal, and the weekend ceviche was amazing. Walking along the marina edge feels like visiting an aquarium, with beautiful fish everywhere. I even saw a Pacific Eagle ray jump out of the water while I was walking down the canal by the hotel. It was almost as big as a manta ray. The wifi can be spotty, but as an IT guy I know it’s hard to get perfect coverage across a resort this large.

Even though we visited in mid-December during peak tourist season, the resort didn’t feel packed. Our suite looked out toward the ocean and marina, and the sunset was incredible every night. Everyone on staff was friendly and helpful. When I thought I’d lost an earring outside the hotel, the gentlemen at the transportation desk spent quite a while searching with me. We really liked the sister resort privileges and the frequent shuttle between the properties, which made it easy to try different restaurants. The Japanese restaurant wasn’t good, but the Argentinean and Mexican restaurants were fantastic. We’d stay here again in a heartbeat!

We’ve used the day pass a couple of times while visiting on a cruise ship, and it’s been enjoyable. The food is decent and the drinks are pretty good if you look after your bartender. The kids especially love the pool area, which is always a great time.

The staff are friendly and cooperative, and the food and drinks are high quality. Katia ( concierge manager ) and Alfensu ( millioners club concierge) gave us a lot of support and help. The customer service and the care they put into guests’ experience really changed my mind about how much they want people to enjoy their vacation.