Embassy Suites by Hilton Dorado del Mar Beach Resort

I didn't feel heard or supported. The on-site managers and Hilton customer service were unhelpful and showed no urgency about fixing anything. For the price and the Hilton name, I expected professionalism, cleanliness, and comfort, but got none of those. I have photos and documentation of the problems. The first room was right by the elevator, and the constant noise made it impossible to sleep, so I had to ask to move. In the second room, the shower head was damaged and poorly maintained, the bathroom fixtures looked worn and not properly cleaned, and there were visible cleanliness problems, including dusty, neglected areas. The room's condition made me uncomfortable even sleeping there. This is advertised as a high-end Hilton hotel, but my stay was nowhere near that standard. Completely unacceptable.

The pools were super clean and well kept, and we loved the iguanas. Be sure to try Kikita Beach Club Restaurant. Cerro Gurodo beach is a 15-minute drive, and we went several times. For breakfast, omelette chef Jorge was friendly, quick, and an excellent cook. He made our stay special, and we really missed him during our last two days when he was off. It's also a great base if you rent a car, with lots to see a short drive away and good restaurants. We really enjoyed our stay.

The beach is amazing, though there's lots of rocks. Someone rakes it in the morning, and I'd suggest having the towel attendant put out chairs there too. The room was huge and very clean, but the property could use some touch-ups, like paint, especially when it's not busy. Breakfast was free every day and delicious, with eggs, omelets, Farina, and more. Guests also get two drinks of their choice during afternoon happy hour. Everyone was so nice. The steak restaurant wasn't open, but the oriental food was decent and affordable. We only realized on our last night that the breakfast place becomes The Calypso restaurant, which has nightly specials. This town isn't for foodies, but it is beautiful. We bowled for my birthday and had fun, though they charge by the hour instead of per game. All in all, we had a great time.

There were far too few chairs for a property this size, so getting one by the pool was hard. You can rent one for another $10 a day, on top of the $35 daily resort fee. The room was in rough shape too. A piece of the sofa comes off when you sit on it, and the vinyl is torn with stuffing showing. The beach was nothing like a pristine, powder-sand beach. It had debris, sticks, rocks, seaweed, and palm branches, making it hard to walk barefoot. I'd choose Air BnB or VRBO. I wish I could make that decision over.