El Cortez Hotel

The view is really something. It’s a beautiful, secure place, and while the rooms are simple, they’re comfortable.

I felt safe here, and it was very peaceful for the area. The price seemed fair compared with nearby places. The room was spacious and clean, with a comfortable bed and an extra twin bed we didn’t use. The mini split was quiet and powerful, for both heating and cooling. Staff were friendly and direct, and worked with my currency and limited Spanish. The restaurant on site was tasty, pleasant, and convenient. I took off a star because there was no mini fridge, which would have helped a lot. I brought my own kettle and instant coffee, since there was no tea or coffee in the room; adding that would be an easy improvement.

The location was the one good part for me. There’s no roof over the pool, so it gets scorching while you’re in it, and there were lots of ants in the room. The Wi-Fi didn’t reach the room, the TV signal was poor, and reception wasn’t staffed consistently. I wouldn’t recommend staying here.

It was fine for a one-night stop, but I’d look for somewhere else if I came back to the area. The hotel feels like it hasn’t been renovated since the 90s, despite the exterior photos, and $120 USD a night for a twin queen room seemed steep. We had no towels or internet, and most of the cable TV was in Spanish. The beachside location and the restaurant and bar on site were nice.