Hotel Castillos del Mar

The breakfast turned out to be much more than I expected from a “free breakfast” listing. I thought it would be a modest continental spread, but there was hot, freshly made Mexican and American food, excellent service, and open-air ocean views from the restaurant. The coffee was rich and flavorful, just right for starting the day. Our room was very basic, but it did what we needed. The bed was comfortable, we slept really well, and the smart TV was a nice size for winding down. The ocean views and sunsets from the room were breathtaking. From the moment we arrived, the staff at Castillos Del Mar were kind, gracious, and willing to accommodate us. The room smelled strongly of bug spray, so we had to leave the doors open to air it out on both days. Getting to the restaurant at ocean level also means taking a long, steep three-story staircase with staggered handrails. With arthritis in my back and knees and a crippling fear of heights, I found that difficult. That’s my cross to bear, and not the hotel’s fault, but breakfast does take a little light mountain climbing. All the same, Castillos Del Mar made for a relaxing, memorable stay.

The stay was quiet and comfortable. The room was clean, and the staff were polite. I was there for a short visit.

The room was perfect, with a lovely ocean view, and having the beach club right there was amazing. Breakfast was included and great. We had a great time, and the hotel was extremely accommodating.

The place itself was magical, and our clean room had a nice view. It’s sad that a property with what seems like such a promising foundation from the owners is being held back by poor service. People come on vacation to relax and enjoy themselves, not feel awkward over a misunderstanding. Charging extra for something is fine, but staff should explain it respectfully. I hope others don’t have the same experience, which is why I’m sharing ours. At check-in we were told breakfast was included in the room price and when it started, but nobody mentioned that only specific options were covered. The next morning, we went to the restaurant. Staff saw us, said buen dia, but didn’t explain anything or even ask for our room number. There was a table of food choices, and since other guests were serving themselves, we did too. Only after we had put food on our plates did they tell us it wasn’t part of the breakfast we’d paid for. The restaurant wasn’t busy, we were the third table early in the morning, so there was time to explain this either at check-in or during breakfast. I understand that we’re vacationing in another country, and we tried speaking a little Spanish. Still, in tourism, a shared language helps people communicate, especially when Americans support this place so much. When we tried to explain that we didn’t mind paying, but would have appreciated being told beforehand, one employee claimed to speak English but didn’t, and acted ironically. A simple matter turned into a big scene in front of everyone and left us really uncomfortable.