Soho Playa Hotel

What really put us off was how management brushed aside our concerns as if “it’s busy” explained everything. Then we were ambushed in the lobby with a “dirty towel” charge. We won’t come back, and I wouldn’t recommend giving them business. There were problems all over the hotel: the elevator, locks, safe, beds, and televisions were broken, the showers were cold, and the toilets only worked about half the time. Basic hospitality was missing. My sister-in-law’s room smelled strongly of mildew. The air conditioners didn’t follow the temperature settings and made things really cold at night. When we asked for a blanket, they gave us a fitted sheet. I work in cyber security, and the wireless network kept detecting my personal VPN and trying to collect data through breach attacks. I could have forgiven some of the maintenance problems, since I know repairs can be difficult in Mexico. The place seemed nice apart from honking all night, but the managers acted like they didn’t care.

The staff mostly brushed us off when we brought up problems, especially the man at the front desk. A woman named Jessica, I think that was her name, did try to help, but management had her hands tied. I’ve never felt a need to complain about a hotel before, but this stay was unacceptable. I strongly recommend staying somewhere else. There was no hot water, just lukewarm, and management said that was normal. The toilet clogged every single time we flushed it. They said not to flush toilet paper, but it still clogged even when we didn’t. There wasn’t a plunger. The bed only had a sheet. We asked for a blanket and got a fitted sheet that smelled moldy instead. They said they had no blankets. The TV worked about half the time, and the elevator was just as unreliable. They also aggressively pushed us to pay $30 for “dirty towels.” We were only given two towels for four people, and the little bit of dirt on them should have washed out easily.

I’ve stayed here twice, and the location is spot on. The room is bright and nice, with a balcony, and the staff were friendly and helpful. There’s construction on both sides, so daytime noise is possible, though hopefully you’ll be at the beach then. I had trouble with the shower head, and Jessica got it fixed very quickly. She was a pleasure to deal with, as was the night gentleman whose name I didn’t get. All in all, a great place to stay.

The rooms are pretty tired, the internet lagged, and nearby construction made daytime noisy. Still, it’s a nice hotel for a short stay, with a great location and very friendly staff.