HOTEL AURELIA

The hotel was easy to find (driving) and a block from the bus terminal. It is beachfront and also has a very clean pool. The pool isn’t huge but easily accommodated a few guests at a time. Staff were super friendly, attentive and helpful. They were quite willing to translate with a phone into English and tolerant of my feeble Spanish; also Great with my kids. Drinking/ cooking water was provided in big bottles. The kitchenette had just enough equipment. Wifi was free and the signal was steady. My husband’s phone didn’t like the signal in the living room but mine was fine. Plenty of restaurants and shops within walking distance. It’s easy to buy eggs fresh every day. Pharmacy and Oxxo are close. Locals are quite pleasant. Traffic is not rushed. Access to the highway is easy if you want to check out Barra de Navidad and it’s less than 30 minutes to the airport. It’s worth noting that there are strong waves along much of this beach with some riptide areas where water circles from the steeper beach (ex. next hotel to either side) into the gentler slope. Teens and adults swam and boogie boarded nearby. Little kids should swim further north as the slope is gentler and extends into the water a little further. People fish from the beach at twilight. A review of Google Earth views and depth charts estimates 80+ meters of “shallow-ish” water from high tide mark. I am 5’11” and was over waist deep at ~40m from the high tide mark on a steeper slope. Strong undertow.

My room was very clean. Fridge, microwave and coffee pot. Staff was very friendly and helpful.

The only small problem was that the A/C would turn off every 30 minutes. I think there was a problem with the sensors in the room.