Hotel Boutique Catedral Vallarta

Everything else was great, but one staff member spoke to me in a condescending way.

There was a serious shortage of hot water for the shower.

The ants and nighttime bites were what made this stay unbearable. I ended up staying outside the accommodation until late at night just to get some rest. There were signs of neglect from the first apartment: mold on the bathroom curtains, faucets that wouldn't regulate temperature properly, standing water in the bathroom, visibly worn floor tiles, and obvious cracks in the hallway. These didn't affect my comfort, so I was prepared to overlook them, even though other reviews had mentioned them. The ant problem was the point where I couldn't. The host never replied to messages on the platform, and the staff member didn't answer my calls. I only had any contact by chance, when I met a staff member, Lucio, at reception. That was the first and only time. There was no follow-up, communication, or real effort to deal with the issue. They offered to move me, but only on the last night. The supposed "upgrade" just had air conditioning, which wasn't useful to me. It was a smaller room, and it was cleaner, but cleanliness is a basic part of the service I paid for, not an extra benefit. I saw foreign guests say they got good service and regular attention from the hosts, while I felt ignored as a domestic tourist. I'm not saying there was outright discrimination, but the difference in treatment was noticeable and left me feeling very disregarded. Beyond the physical problems, the host's lack of attention, empathy, and responsibility in response to a serious issue is what leaves the worst impression. I wouldn't repeat or recommend this experience.

The location is very good for the price: three blocks from the boardwalk, near the pretty Isla Cuale, and in a decent area. The place seemed safe, with convenience stores and local shops close by, and several buses passing one block away. The beds looked clean. For an affordable price, you get a room to rest in, so the value is fair, but there's plenty that needs work. When we arrived before the 3 pm check-in, they kindly let us leave our luggage. The problem was that reception was almost always empty. I waited more than an hour for someone to help. I called the numbers they'd given me and was told someone would come, but nobody showed up to take the bags. After that call I waited another half hour until a different contact finally helped. Other guests were also waiting for someone to hand over their rooms. Luckily we didn't have other problems, since getting help could have taken hours. The rooms are quite old and need basic repairs. The bathroom drains were loose and rusty, and some furniture needs paint. The blinds didn't fully close, so people could see through the gaps, and they were very dirty. The patio also didn't have the lights and tables shown in the photos :( It's okay if you're looking for a good location at a good price, but expect poor service.