Cadillac Hotel Boutique

The hotel itself was nice, and the bed was comfortable and clean. The shower was hot and clean too. It’s in a cool area with street vendors and good food, though not the ‘nice’ part of town. The nicer shops and restaurants are about a 20-minute Uber ride away. I’d researched that before coming, as an American. We got a room with a hot tub, but only used it once because there was a lot of other guests’ hair in it and it didn’t feel clean. The room cleaning happened at such odd times that ours never got cleaned. Only one person at the front desk spoke some English, so be ready to use a translator app. We were shocked that there was no AC at all. It was extremely inconvenient while getting ready for a wedding and sitting around at the same time. It was an affordable, decent stay, but I don’t think we’ll return.

The private jacuzzi was the one thing I really enjoyed, in the suite with a pool. But the rest didn’t match what I expected for 4,500 pesos, or $250. The mattress was very hard and uncomfortable, and the breakfast was disappointing: watery coffee that tasted like it came from a Keurig machine, watered-down milk, and a couple pieces of pineapple and papaya. When I asked if there was anything else, staff said that was the breakfast. For that price, I expected a good breakfast when the hotel advertises a continental one. I arrived around 2 pm and was told there was no way I could check in early. I’m not sure I understood that, since checkout is at 11 AM and strictly enforced. The card stops working right at 11. I’d read other reviews and was surprised after arriving. Maybe people don’t know how to review, or perhaps their standards are just very low. The hotel was okay overall.

The lack of air conditioning left the rooms humid and uncomfortable, and the condition of the rooms needs a lot of work. The pillows were worn and discolored, towels were frayed and coming apart, and housekeeping left us with just one roll of toilet paper and no extras. There was a strong moldy smell in our first room, and it was still an issue after we moved to a second. Mold was visible on the bathroom windows. I wiped the surfaces with Clorox wipes myself, and they came away black, which alarmed me. Water also leaked from the bathroom floor into the room. The sink was awkward to use, with the faucet less than an inch from the basin, so it was hard to get my hands underneath. The front desk staff member we dealt with was helpful, and I did like that the rooms had flooring instead of carpet. Still, we stayed for a week and found the experience very disappointing.

The junior suite was a really good deal, with a nice amount of space and decor I liked. Breakfast came with fruit, a large mug of strong black coffee, and a glass of juice, and you can order from the menu too. It’s about a 15-minute walk to the historic centre. My only complaint was the shower. There was no hot water, and the shower gel and shampoo containers were empty when I stepped in, which was annoying.