SJ Grand Hotel Monterrey

The rooftop pool wasn't fully usable, and there was no bar staff up there. The website photos gave me a very different idea of what to expect. They have signs about renovation and rebranding at the property, but I think guests should be told before booking. It seems ownership may have changed, and they're still making updates. My room was very warm when I arrived because they don't turn on the cooling until a guest checks in. It took about an hour to become comfortable. I also found one of the complimentary water bottles already opened and completely empty. When I needed help with the room climate or tried to order food, the language gap made things difficult. I don't speak Spanish, and there wasn't any English-speaking staff. The lobby, bar, and dining space are all together, which felt awkward. People kept coming and going while I was trying to eat. On arrival and again each morning, the main lobby and dining area had a slight sewage smell. The restaurant food was very average. I had steak tacos one evening, and they were bland, basically just meat and tortillas. The guacamole was really tasty, though. I spent three days at this hotel in August 2025 and came away pretty disappointed. On the way to my room, I also saw a vacuum cleaner stored in the hallway, a pretty strange touch.