Hotel del Norte

The restaurant food was bland, so I’d avoid eating there unless you have to. There are somewhat better places within walking distance. The hotel itself is basic, though everything in my room worked and it had no frills. It’s reasonably safe, but I wouldn’t walk around the neighborhood late at night. Weekends get loud at night, too. I used to stay here in the 1970s when my brother and I partied in Mexicali, and it was a dump back then. On a recent stay it had improved and been upgraded, though you still get what you pay for.

The customer service was great, and the staff were friendly. There’s no pool, which was a letdown since that’s why we chose the place for the kids. The food wasn’t the best either. Breakfast was only free for one person in the room, so the next day we went down the street to a place recommended by the next door Pharmacy.

The restaurant food was really good, though a bit expensive. The room was pricey for what you got: $65 for two beds on a Sunday night. It’s next to the border crossing. The rooms are run-down, and in the first room the sheets on both beds hadn’t been changed from the night before. The TV wouldn’t connect to wifi, so we had no TV for the day. Everything else felt crummy.

The hallway smelled like sewer, and the room itself was awful. The mattress was bulky and uncomfortable. My sheets had hairs on them, the carpet and towels were very dirty, and so was the bathroom mirror. There was no hot water, and it was so loud I could hear traffic and the people next door. Worst hotel I’ve stayed in. Can’t give it zero stars, but I definitely don’t recommend it.