City Express by Marriott Tijuana Otay

I suspect a lot of the bad reviews are meant for City Express Junior next door. The name really should be clearer, because those complaints don’t fit City Express by Marriott, which I found very nice. The staff were warm and professional, especially Srta Atenas (??) at the front desk. My room was quiet, clean, modern, and well kept, with a plush bed, good shower fixtures, and plenty of towels. Wi-Fi and air conditioning worked well, outlets were thoughtfully placed, and the TV had a good mix of bilingual programming. There are several places to eat in the complex, along with a couple of other hotels, and the airport is a short hop away. Highly recommended.

The room I was first assigned hadn’t been cleaned, so I had to go back to reception and wait for another one. I’d already waited over an hour after arriving at 3:40 PM, which was frustrating. Once I finally got into a room, the AC smelled bad and there was hair in the bathroom. Not what I expected.

There was a lot of noise from people sitting or lying in the hallways talking on their phones, and the hotel had constant traffic coming and going. Breakfast was another problem: get there early, or the crowd may finish the food. The front desk staff seemed like unprofessional kids, and the place needs someone to bring order to it. I regret spending seven days here and wouldn’t recommend it to anyone coming to Tijuana.

I only booked here because my usual places were full, and I wouldn’t choose it again unless I had to. The rooms are tiny, and the very young crowd gives the place a hostel feel. It’s a new, clean hotel near a strip mall with decent food and bars, but the area isn’t great, it’s noisy from the airport, and the neighborhood isn’t very clean. I’m in TJ every other week.