Calle Marbella # 7, Playa Azul, Manzanillo, Mexico | (888) 399-9863
Beachfront location in a quiet area
Two small pools overlooking the ocean
Clean guest rooms with flat-screen TVs and air-conditioning
Two on-site restaurants, one more upscale
Free Wi-Fi and parking
Event and meeting spaces
Water is too rough for swimming
Some wear and tear throughout
Complaints of hard beds, though common in Mexico
Some rooms have old tube-style TVs
The 98-room Hotel Marbella is a mid-range property offering a good value. The hotel has a large beach, a main pool and adjacent smaller one, two restaurants, and event spaces in a neighboring building. The guest rooms are basic but clean, with flat-screen TVs (in most rooms), air-conditioning, and balconies. Despite some wear and tear, hard beds, and water too strong for swimming, the hotel's central location and free Wi-Fi make it a fine choice for low-key, budget-minded guests.
Disclaimer: This content was accurate at the time the hotel was reviewed. Please check our partner sites when booking to verify that details are still correct.
Scene
Beachfront budget hotel with a family-friendly atmosphere
Hotel Marbella is a budget hotel spread among two buildings and surrounded by palm trees. The buildings are well past their prime, the hallways have stained tropical-print couches, and rooms are basic, but it has some of the cheapest rates in Manzanillo for a property along the water. It sees about an even number of families and couples, though the vibe is more playful than romantic. The hotel does have a neighboring event center with several spaces, bringing a fair amount of business travelers. Note that most staff members only speak Spanish.
Location
Beachfront property on the southern end of the hotel zone
Hotel Marbella is situated on Playa Azul Salagua, a less tourist-frequented beach because of the strong waters here. Although most guests stay out of the water, there's plenty of beachfront for lounging on chairs or playing in the sand. The hotel is located on the southern end of the hotel zone, with cargo ships and hillsides in the distance. Across the street is a Home Depot, and the Walmart and Starbucks are both about a 15-minute walk away. The historic center is about a 15-minute drive away, as is the famous Las Hadas Golf Resort and Marina. The Playa de Oro International Airport is approximately 45 minutes away by car. There's free parking at the hotel, or there are plenty of inexpensive cabs in the city.
Rooms
Simple rooms with TVs, showers, air-conditioning, and Wi-Fi
The 98 rooms at Hotel Marbella are decorated in three different styles -- Miramar, Executive, and Torresol. Miramar rooms have brown tile floors, patterned bedspreads, and white molded concrete furniture. Some have pretty painted headboards and Mexican art on the walls. The Torresol rooms have white tiling, and either wooden or wicker furniture. The Executive, which are the newest rooms, have dark wooden furniture, white tile floors, and colorful bed runners. Across the board, rooms have air-conditioning, TVs (either flat-screen or old tube-style), free Wi-Fi, and unfurnished balconies. Bathrooms have showers and basic toiletries. There's some minor wear and some past guests have complained of hard beds.
Features
Two outdoor pools, two restaurants, and an events center
Overlooking the beach are two pools, a main one and adjacent smaller one. The main pool has mosaic-tiled chairs built in and one edge that separates it from the sand. The other pool is primarily for kids, though we saw a family using it during our stay since it has both a deep and shallow end. There are several plastic loungers, tables, and chairs, and umbrellas scattered about. There's also a covered deck in the middle that families use as an area to keep snacks.
There are two restaurants at the hotel. Las Redes is the casual, window-filled restaurant open for all three meals; it serves both a buffet and a la carte options. Guests must walk through Las Redes to get to the more upscale restaurant, El Marinero. This small restaurant has indoor seating with stone walls and more formal decor, as well as a patio section overlooking the water. It's open for lunch and dinner, and the most popular dish is paella.
The hotel also has a large events center with several spaces for meetings or celebrations.
