Hotel Aldea del Bazar

Getting restaurant service meant chasing down the server, who seemed more interested in long conversations than helping guests. Since a 10% tip is added automatically, that may explain the indifferent service. At the front desk, I asked for a pool towel at 9:15 pm and got a nasty attitude because the pool closes at 9. That spoiled our first evening. I'm not sure who's in charge here or what happened to this hotel.

The rooms are clean and housekeeping comes daily, though the style feels dated. There’s air conditioning, but not many outlets, and the WiFi can be unreliable. The pool is shallow all over, even though the pool area itself is well kept and the grounds are spacious. I liked the relaxed atmosphere with local families and children, much more than the visitors from La Punta. Nearby places to eat and Playa Bachoco are both around a 20-minute walk away. A comfortable spot for a quiet break, with a few inconveniences.

The place has the potential to be a four-star experience, but our stay was really disappointing. We booked scrubs in the mezcal and waited an hour without getting service, yet we were charged and couldn't get a refund when we asked. Menu items were often unavailable, and the toilets wouldn't flush. The beautiful space is let down by staff who seemed unhappy to be there and weren't accommodating. I hope things improve, but for now I'd go somewhere else.

The front desk was helpful about calling taxis and providing towels, though beach towels weren't always available. The hotel itself is beautiful, very clean, quiet, and well located. Probably the nicest in Bachocho. It's good for families, with a pool, parking, and huge rooms. I slept well: the bed was comfortable, the AC worked well, and the blackout curtains helped. Some rooms have a small ocean view. The pool was clean but lukewarm, and Wi-Fi worked well around the pool and restaurant but came and went in the rooms. The restaurant was solid, but at breakfast I gave them my room number and assumed I could charge the meal to the room. When I left, the waiter ran after me as if I were skipping the bill. That misunderstanding could have been handled much less aggressively. At a four-star hotel, I expected to be able to charge food to my room. There’s no free water beyond two small bottles a day, and you pay for more. I had to walk to the bodega at 11 pm and take a taxi back with more substantial drinking water. Really inconvenient.