Hotel San Felipe Marina Resort

This was the last time our family spends any money on this ‘resort’. It’s a run down hotel. Originally booked through 3rd party and my reservation was cancelled. Called the hotel and they assured me my reservation was confirmed. Upon arriving they jacked up the price by $57! $120 a night for a studio was already unheard of but they ended up charging me $177 per night!! There are no staff anywhere to be found, the pool is in terrible condition my kids cut and scraped themselves but the worst part about the pool were the WATER FLEAS!! our mini fridge was not working properly and it smelled like rotting fish. We’ve been coming here for over a decade, originally the rooms were $80 a night. Inflation happens, but absolutely no money is being put back into the business and it shows. They gave me $50 voucher to use at their ‘restaurant’. It’s a beach side bar that opens from 9-5pm. Nothing kid friendly mostly tacos. Missed opportunity here, we were excited to hear they finally opened a food establishment on property but you’re better off hitting the Malecon. It’s sad really that we will not be returning to this crap hotel because of all the memories we have from coming to San Felipe for over 30 decades. They confirmed all their info on their website is not accurate. Literally argued with my family about booking a ‘two bedroom studio’ they clarified it meant ‘two bed studio’ not 2 rooms and did not take accountability for their error. I’m not exactly sure how this place still operates. Trying to reach the owner but he does not give two shrimps about his business. Hoping this will save anymore families coming here expecting a resort experience. $674 for 4 days?? This is not Cancun, Puerto Vallarta, or Mazatlan. I had to switch rooms 3 times because they weren’t fully equipped like described on their site. Before you accept a room ask them to let you see it first. Not all rooms have a fridge/ microwave/ stove/ coffee maker and absolutely no phones in any rooms. Bring Clorox wipes nothing is cleaned after anyone eats/ drinks on any of the beach or pool tables/ chairs. My kids stayed busy collecting broken tiles from the pool. I let them swim once and my 5 yr old cut her shins on the broken tiles on the steps. Be careful standing up under the palapas, rusty nails are not it.

This hotel SHOULD BE FIVE STARS. It is an architectural gem with the kind of generously proportioned outdoor spaces that newer hotels just don't offer. The lack of maintenance and care of this property is heart-breaking. For example the wood-and-glass dining area in the Tripadvisor photo is closed. So are the swimming pools. If cared for as designed, this resort would be a real beauty. As a place to stay it is fine for those accustomed to travel in Mexico. The rooms are not updated but are spacious with an interesting design and with large balconies or patios. Such features distinguish this hotel from the usual cramped, cookie-cutter lodgings in the area. Most of the rooms have a view of the sea, and some have uninhibited views. The hotel also is pet-friendly. The rooms have a basic, stocked kitchenette. All of it is out of date (except the coffeemaker) but perfectly serviceable. The bathrooms are OK, with ample space. The hotel offers several functioning electric or plug-in hybrid car chargers at no cost -- an interesting, modern twist on a property that otherwise is more in a classic mode. All hotel rooms in San Felipe, which is only a 2-hour drive from the nearest border crossing, seem to charge U.S.-like prices. San Felipe Mariona Resort charges between $100 and $200/night if you book in advance, which is not bad considering the large, beachfront property where the hotel is located. The fact that it is not "updated" is not a problem for me, because too often when owners "update" older properties they ruin the style and end up with a displeasing hodgepodge. I have never seen more than one or two other guests when staying at this hotel. Given its quiet, beachfront location it should be popular. This hotel does not need "updating" so much as it desperately needs someone with resources and a respect for its architecture to come in and restore it, indoors and out, and reopen the restaurant and bar and swimming pools, and maybe add concessions with small sailboats, windsurfers, SUPs or kayaks so guests can play in the adjacent sea. This place should be a true beachfront gem where fond memories are made.

We arrived at 2:30 PM on a Monday, no entrance guard at all during our entire stay. Everybody could have just walked in. The Hotel with about 70 rooms was rather empty. The Manager was sitting in her office with view to the Reception that was not occupied. She told us in a careless way that there is no check in before 3pm. All other 6 check ins had to wait too and some of them have been waiting for hours! The keys and the papers where visible prepared on the back desk at the reception. At 3:05 pm a receptionist arrived with some other staff and she made the check ins one by one. I ask myself what they are doing on a weekend when the hotel is busy??? (they have around 70 rooms) We got the key and had to search our room. Of course, nobody did help us with our luggage. I expect at least an offer to do so when paying 120 USD a night. The room was soso. A stone hard mattress, old furniture, a teeny bathroom and a loud central A/C from the 1990. The hotel is around 35 years old and probably nothing got changed since then. We had thick black hairs on the floor and dirty glasses, I mean really dirty glasses. The bathroom was small and outdated. Only two bath towels, no small ones and no facials. The WC was the size for children and the shower had an old plastic curtain I tried to touch as little as possible. The A/C was so loud inside the room and the exhale on the patio even louder, so no way to relax when the A/C switched on. They did clean the coffee machine with chlorine and did not wash it out with water. The first coffee I made I had to spit out right away. The grounds are uncared, garbage laying around everywhere and the rubbish containers are full. We saw the same rubbish for three days, so nobody is cleaning. So was the pool (no pool towels nowhere, not even in the room): an oily film on the water and dirt in the corners. From there I brought a souvenir back home: an ear infection I had to treat with antibiotics. Restaurant or a bar? Nonexistent. You cannot even buy a beer, water or something to eat. The next 7/11 store is approximately 3 miles away. We tried anyway to enjoy our days but it was difficult. When I checked out, the receptionist told me that before I get my cash deposit back I had to make while check in, I have to bring all my belongings out of the room (It was about 35°Celsius/95F) that somebody can go and check the room. Are they worried that somebody is stealing an at least 10-year-old coffee machine or a towel from MGM Resort in Las Vegas? Yes, believe it or not, one of the two towels we had was from MGM Resort Las Vergas. I would give a 1-star review or less but Anais, one of the two Receptionists pushed it up with her kind and friendly way to a 2-star review. I am really sorry for her that she has to work at such a place, she deserves better. For me this hotel looks like a place they just let die and try to make as much money out of it without investing anything. Dear owners, I recommend you to exchange the manager

It is not a resort now after Covid and with the Restaurant closed, but a safe hotel, clean rooms, nice linens, little south out of town. We stay here every other month on our drive up and down Baja.

It's several years since we last stayed at the San Felipe Marina Resort, and nothing has changed for the better. Let me say at the outset that you won't mistake San Felipe for Cancun, nor feel that at the San Felipe Inn you've entered a Marriott in error. This resort has clearly decided what it wants to be for always (as long as it can make ends meet) : - a very basic low maintenance block of some 70 rooms, 35 each on ground and first level, minimally furnished & maintained, landscape ignored, facilities abandoned or let to go derelict ( guard gate, restaurant, gazebo, beach furniture, patio furniture, road paving). Other than a basic 4-piece set of dishes & cutlery, you won't find luxuries such as wine glasses /bottle opener, kettle, sink stop, paper towels or dish sponge. Redeeming features are the quietness of the location (3 to 4 miles outside of town), and the lovely sandy beach literally steps from your patio. A very restful & relaxing week , made all the better by a give-away number of RCI points.

Booked suite for a month with 50% off rate ($60/night). Good value but at check-in, I was told of extra fees: $20 (USD) each time we want room cleaned, and $20 to have linens changed. Supposed to have Wi-Fi in every room, and there was a Wi-Fi antenna in our room. We were given a hotel-wide login, but couldn’t get connection in our suite. When we asked staff at front desk, they said connection has problems in ground floor units and we’re welcome to use Wi-Fi in the lobby. Pools not heated.