Rodolfo Gomez 111, Col. Emiliano Zapata, Puerto Vallarta, Mexico | (888) 635-3814
Seafront, all-inclusive, budget, conveniently located hotel on Los Muertos Beach
Colorful rooms and suites with flat-screen TVs and balconies; some have ocean views
Private access to a sandy beach with sun chairs and an artistic pier
Buffet style restaurant with pool views and high marks for breakfast
Two outdoor swimming pools (one for adults) and an adjacent kids' pool
Poolside bar with open bar (for all-inclusive guests)
On-site spa for massages and beauty treatments
Romantic Zone location within walking distance of popular beaches and restaurants
Activities include volleyball, water aerobics, and kayaks
Older property could use a refresh and update throughout
Adult pool is small and often packed with kids
Complaints about quality of food and well liquor
Non-existent Wi-Fi
No parking available on-site
Some rooms overlook the street
The 163-room San Marino Hotel is a budget beach option popular with locals and tourists alike. The low rates include lackluster (except for a quality breakfast) buffet meals and unlimited liquor and beer. Access to the beach is super convenient, and there are three outdoor pools, including a kids' pool. Rooms are pleasant and bright with nice balconies, but decor could use a refresh. Everything downtown Puerto Vallarta has to offer is within walking distance of the San Marino. Overall, this is a clean and convenient option for a low-frills beach vacation.
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Scene
Value hotel on the beach
The San Marino Hotel is a popular spot for Mexican and international families looking for low rates on the beach. The hotel's location in the Romantic Zone of Puerto Vallarta also draws gay and lesbian tourists. The building's exterior of white balconies looks freshly painted. Guests are greeted in the lobby by a green parrot in a cage. Inside the lobby, glass walls overlook the street. The tiled floors include an anchor design. Black wicker furniture is topped with brown cushions. There's an entrance to an adjacent drug store. Outside, rooms center around the ocean-facing courtyard and swimming pools. A patio holds tables and chairs. Overall, the property is kept clean but shows its age and could use a refresh.
Location
On the beach in the Romantic Zone
Hotel San Marino has a great, central location in the Romantic Zone of Puerto Vallarta. The streets are bustling with tourists and locals checking out the plethora of shops, restaurants, and bars. The Romantic Zone is known for being especially gay-friendly. One caveat, there isn't any parking on-site (a commonality among hotels in downtown Puerto Vallarta) so guests have to vie for street parking or find a paid lot. It's about a 20-minute drive from Cancun International Airport. The back of the hotel includes quick access to the popular wooden boardwalk leading up and down the sand. The hotel lobby shares an entrance with a drug store that sells toiletries, beach gear, and cold drinks.
Rooms
Clean rooms with balconies and few frills
There are 163 rooms and suites at San Marino Hotel. Choose from Standard and Superior Rooms or Master and Junior Suites. Decor doesn't really vary between the room types. Expect tile floors, white walls with one cheery yellow accent wall, green curtains, and dark wood furniture. All options have private furnished balconies and flat-screen TVs. Closets have hanging rods with plastic hangers and ancient-looking safes. Bathrooms include showers, single sinks, and minimal toiletries. Towels are thin and toilets are of the kick-flush variety.An upgrade to a Junior Suite means bigger bathrooms and an ocean view (which can include the swimming pool). Master Suites are the largest and have a minibar and the best ocean views. Rooms are clean and mostly spacious, but bathrooms look a little tired.
Features
Buffet restaurant, three outdoor pools, and beach access
There are few features at this all-inclusive property, and none of them are fancy, but they get the job done for sun and food. El Galeón buffet restaurant has set hours for breakfast (which gets the highest marks), lunch, and dinner. It looks more like a cafeteria (plastic patio chairs and flat-screen TVs on the walls), but views of the pool and distant ocean are a nice touch. There's a small poolside bar serving unlimited well liquor and local beer, but closes on the early side.Outdoors, the adult pool is tiny and often overrun with kids. The main pool faces the ocean and has an adjacent shallow kids' pool. Plastic sun loungers and a large patio set with tables and chairs offer spaces to relax. The beach is a great feature. Guests can relax on plastic loungers or borrow a kayak to paddle in the water. A winding and popular pier is easy accessible, but it's a better spot for photos than swimming. The staff organizes entertainment such as volleyball, bingo, and water aerobics.
