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During my most recent visit to Mazatlan to cover the Tianguis Turistico, Mexico’s annual tourism conference, for TravelAge West, I spent four nights at El Cid Castilla Beach Hotel, a beachfront property in Mazatlan’s sun-soaked Zona Dorada (Golden Zone). This is a review of my experience.
THE STYLE: I’d actually stayed at this Mexico beach hotel several years ago, and upon arrival this year, I immediately noticed changes and improvement. An extensive renovation, redecorating and upgrade to all four El Cid hotel properties in Mazatlan has resulted in fresh style, with lovely decor touches and pleasing colors that don’t distract from the spectacular ocean and beach views. The hotel sports new features, new decor and a design sense that’s especially appropriate for one of Mazatlan’s top beach hotels.
The hotel’s fresh look is complemented by a wonderfully friendly and attentive style of service; indeed, everyone from the reception staff to the bellhops were extremely pleasant and made my stay even more welcoming.
THE HOTEL ROOM: The El Cid Castilla Beach Hotel consists of several beachfront low-rise buildings and one tall tower, where I stayed. The first thing you notice when you enter a 15th-floor tower hotel room like mine is the ocean and beach view, which is simply spectacular (and the large balcony makes it even easier to enjoy).
The room itself was quite spacious, with an extra-comfortable king-size bed, a large-screen TV, and lots of extras like name-brand Bulgari bath amenities and a bathrobe and slippers. The white walls and bedding were stylishly complemented by lovely accent pillows in shades of blue and turquoise. The free WiFi in the room and around the property was also much appreciated.
One thing you shouldn’t miss when you stay in a beachfront room at El Cid Castilla Beach: The sunset. There’s nothing like standing on your balcony and admiring the brilliant colors as the sun sinks behind one of the offshore islands. So whatever your schedule, make sure you plan to be on your balcony at least one day when the sun goes down.
HOTEL FEATURES: El Cid Castilla Beach Hotel has a lot of special features and amenities. You can choose from an all-inclusive plan or else a European plan (that means you pay for your food and extras) — so there’s great flexibility in creating the Mexico vacation that you want.
A big selling point, of course, is the hotel’s prized beachfront location, as well as the big, beautiful swimming pools, which are perfect for relaxing, enjoying the warm temperature and sipping on a cocktail.
The El Cid hotels in Mazatlan work together to provide a large array of options for guests. You can take a shuttle to any other property (El Faro is actually right next door, and you can easily walk, while the Granada hotel is just across the street and can be reached via a sky bridge), and dine at any of eight restaurants among the four properties. I especially loved dining right by the beach, enjoying the postcard-perfect view while savoring some tasty cuisine (Mazatlan is a major fishing and shrimping port, so you can expect especially good seafood at this hotel).
Families can make use of free babysitting as well as a Kids Club for children age four to 12, and a Teens Club for ages 13 to 17. I made good use of the large fitness center, which is located at El Cid Granada Hotel & Country Club, just across the sky bridge. The proximity to the country club, meanwhile, also makes El Cid Castilla Beach a great choice for golfers who want to stay on the beach.
If you sign up for the most upscale all-inclusive vacation package here, you’ll also be treated to a brand-new feature: the Club Elite lounge, a stylish venue at the El Moro tower that includes comfortable seating, free food and drinks and even work stations. It was a great place to get some work done during my visit.
The hotel’s location in the Zona Dorada (Golden Zone) is another plus — you can walk to some nightlife, shopping and dining, and everything else is within minutes by taxi, Uber or pulmonia (the unique, only-in-Mazatlan form of transportation that’s the funnest way to get around).
BEST FOR: Travelers looking for a reasonably priced Mexico beach vacation, at a full-service resort hotel that offers the option of all-inclusive and European plan packages. (Business travelers can also make use of the extensive meeting facilities, as well.)
Source: latinflyer.com