Hotel Mar de Cortez

Here at Oyster we are no stranger to budget digs -- in fact, we've seen plenty of them in our time on the road. Many budget hotels are charming and some are downright nice. Unfortunately, this is not one of them. It's true, though, that the guests in the lovely courtyard pool or enjoying a drink in the popular restaurant all seem content -- perhaps because of the hotel's rock-bottom rates. And upon first glance, things are nice enough: exteriors have been given a cheerful coat of paint, there are free water coolers all around, and the courtyard is bursting with pretty flowers, shrubs, and topiary. The charms end there, though, as rooms here are a dismal affair. Couple that with the generally seedy atmosphere in the immediate area outside the hotel, and the vibe here is decidedly downmarket. The vibe is relatively quiet, which is a surprise given its location in the middle of one of the rowdier areas of the city. Guests vary -- we saw young couples, families, and older retirees from the United States and Europe during our visit. 

Aside from the bargain rates, one of the better assets of this hotel is its location within walking distance of nearly all of Cabo San Lucas' attractions. Yes, the area right outside is packed with parlors offering "massages," as well as dozens of trinket vendors. But there are popular taquerias in nearly every direction, as well as plenty of bars and restaurants. Squid Roe, one of the city's legendary nightclubs, is a five-minute walk down the block, as is the marina -- popular for strolling day and night. Everything from sport fishing to Land's End trips and party boats can be booked in the marina. A two-minute walk away from the marina, up to Calle Hidalgo, leads to a charming square that's ringed with quaint cafes and restaurants, for a glimpse at the softer side of Cabo. The beach is at least a 15-minute hike from here, though it can be reached in five minutes by taxi. Expect a 40-minute drive to Los Cabos International Airport.

While there are a fairly large number of rooms to choose from at this hotel -- and style does vary from room to room -- for the most part everything is drab and dated. The worst rooms -- the Terrace Rooms -- don't actually have a terrace. Instead, a plastic table-and-chairs set is set on the motel-style walkway outside. Interiors in this category are outdated in the extreme, with old patterned bedspreads, cracked tile flooring, peeling pink linoleum surfaces, and metal headboards tenuously bolted into the wall. Other rooms are marginally more pleasant. The Standard Room, for instance, has wood-beam ceilings and solid wood furniture that helps it look somewhat more quaint. Again, though, a lack of upkeep included bizarre stains on the floors, shoddy masonry, and unappealing fabrics and surfaces when we visited. In other rooms we saw torn up wooden electrical panels, warped pressboard furniture, and shoddy aluminum doors. Amenities are limited to air-conditioning, free Wi-Fi, and en-suite bathrooms -- there are no televisions or mini-fridges. The air-conditioning, thankfully, worked well during our visit, though the Wi-Fi was spotty. Bathrooms -- most with the sink separate from the toilet and walk-in shower -- are worn and dirty. Expect threadbare towels with tears and stains and moldy grout around drains. Soap and shampoo are provided. Despite the hotel's city-center location, we heard little street noise, which was a welcome surprise.

As a hotel that wholeheartedly embraces its budget status, features here are slim. However, some are a bit nicer than the rooms might suggest. The pool, in particular, is a gem, with shallow and deep ends, plenty of lounge chairs, a wide terrace, and flowering trees, shrubs, and topiary all around. Umbrellas are available for shade. It's worth noting that guests must present a card given upon check-in for their pool towel, and then must physically return the towel upon check-out, or are subject to hefty fees.The hotel's restaurant -- which is open for breakfast and lunch only -- is next door to the pool. It has a popular happy hour and is buzzing throughout the day, serving decent plates of food including Mexican and international dishes. Wristbands are given to every guest, and only those wearing them are permitted on the hotel's grounds in the evening. Parking is limited, but there is a secure gated lot behind the hotel. Wi-Fi is free throughout the property, but spotty. Filtered spring water is available in large jugs throughout the property.