Suites & Hotel Punta Esmeralda

The pool is nice, and the rooms are big enough to fit a whole family if needed. But I checked out after one night. As a light sleeper, I could hear everyone shutting their room doors, though thankfully it quieted down around midnight. The place is fairly clean and tidy, but things don’t quite work right: the door and knobs, the shower with barely any water pressure, and a squeaky ceiling fan that kept me awake. Nothing was completely broken, but nothing in the room worked properly either. I’d call it a nice “dump.”

I’d happily stay here again for a longer visit in low season. The pool was lovely to come back to and cool off in, though it gets hot after sitting in the sun all day. The beach is just a few minutes away on foot, and from a higher-floor balcony you can catch the sunset over the ocean. My room was spacious, with a kitchenette and fridge. The decor is starting to look a little dated, but everything worked and the room was clean. The staff were all so lovely and helpful during my week here.

A lot of guests seem to stay for quite a while, often four to eight weeks. I wouldn’t describe this place as a resort.

The rooms are large and clean, and the staff were sweet and very helpful. The pool is pleasant and works well for families. It’s a quiet hotel close to punta zicatela, and a good choice if you want decent service without spending too much. The main drawbacks were the internet, which was extremely slow in the rooms, so I had to send emails from by the pool or restaurant, and breakfast. The “continental” option was just toast, coffee, and either juice or fruit depending on what was available. We could order more food, but I usually expect a bit more from a continental breakfast. punta de zicatela is a 15-minute walk away, or a 3-5 minute drive. zicatela is about 15 minutes by car, or a 30-35 minute walk.