San Pedro Hotel 5ta Avenida

Being right on 5ta Avenida means you're in the middle of shops and nightlife. That's great if you want to be where things are happening, but music from different clubs and restaurants can drift up and disturb your sleep if you want a quiet getaway. The rooftop lounge was lovely, though the pools looked like they needed work. We'd return, especially with a big group of friends or family, since the suite would be a great place to gather. It was huge, with three rooms, two full bathrooms and one half-bath, and it was cleaned very thoroughly. The kitchen was bare bones, with few utensils and no coffee, tea, or spices. Furniture was usable and clean, but quite worn, with IKEA-like particle board showing some water damage. There was a stressful mix-up at arrival. Staff insisted we had no reservation without checking the computer. The manager arrived about 15 minutes later, explained they were housekeeping staff without computer access, and found the booking easily. Since we'd flown overnight, the manager also let us check in early at 10 AM so we could sleep, which was a big help.

I've been here for two months and have had a pleasant stay, so some of the low reviews surprised me. People may come with unrealistic expectations. The place is lovely, clean, comfortable, quiet, and feels very secure. Small issues with my suite have been sorted out almost right away. Ale, the manager, and the staff are friendly and very accommodating, though most don't speak much English. It's Mexico, and Google Translate helps. The location is excellent, at the edge of Centro, close to all sorts of conveniences, with a lovely jungle behind the property where you can spot local wildlife. The rooftop is a bit dated rather than shiny and new, but it's still nice and has great ocean and town views. If you want a pleasant stay at a decent price and don't need everything to look brand new, this works well.

The place is nicely set up, with a good location and views, but the pools weren't maintained. The wifi gave me trouble, and we had a day without water. I had to fix all the toilets myself, including one that was flooding the hallway. The stove was also awkward to use because its knobs were damaged. A bit of maintenance could make this place five-star material.

We got a huge three-bedroom, three-bathroom apartment, about 200 sqm or 2,500 sq feet, for what a regular three-star hotel room would cost. We stayed eight weeks, and it was great value. Ask the hotel managers about their long-stay offers, they may be a pleasant surprise. The apartment was clean and spacious, with good cooking facilities and decent beds. It can be noisy when it faces 5th Avenue. The apartments facing the jungle, or selva, are larger and quieter.