We were driving from Vancouver to PV and needed an ocean break after driving from Nogales. We chose the Hotel Playa de Cortes because of its unique position on The Sea of Cortes. We got one of their premium rooms as you will see in in our photos.

We loved the old Mexican charm of the hotel. Our room had a wrap- around balcony with views to the west and the north. Although there was AC, the breezes made it unecessary. There was no need to use the real wood-burning fireplace in our room.

This is an old hotel and it shows. The bathroom was roomy but from another era. There is no Internet service at all. The room was in need of some maintenance although it was clean. There is no microwave or coffee perc in the room. For ice, we had to call the bar and then tip the waiter. Then we stored the ice in the freezer. Like I said, it was like being transported back to another era in a hotel.

The common grounds were nice as we would expect in such a grand old hacienda. The entrance is cobble-stoned and treed. We found a spot for our car under an enormous tree that provided shade all day long. Because our car was loaded with household goods, we were pleased that the hotel is off the beaten track and does not invite casual drivers to enter the premises.

Although there is no elevator, the bellman dutifully lugged our stuff up to the second floor. There was a business convention underway while we stayed there so it was busy in the morning until 930 and then we had the place to ourselves until their sessions were over for the day. Our balcony had only 2 chairs and a small table but we enjoyed the views and the breezes from inside the room where the chairs were wingbacks.

The bar and restaurant is quaint and old. Nothing special. The food was OK but not particularly notable. On balance, we enjoyed the old Mexico experience for one stop along our journey. For a short stay to experience this, I recommend trying it. For a longer stay, you might want to try a more modern hotel.

I enjoyed this hotel, but only by taking it in stride. The wife did not so much enjoy it. This is a 30+ or 50+ year old hotel that has had little maintenance in recent years. This should be considered a hotel catering to the Mexican clientelle, with their standards, not American standards like you will find in neighboring San Carlos. Cars driven into the complex. Guests grilling next to their rooms, loud music, loud voices. Hard beds, ill-fitting windows and doors may allow bugs (roaches) and mosquitos in. The place is so original the rooms still have rotary phones. Bathrooms showed no sign of mold, but plenty of rust. Water heaters are questionable. The beach is for sunning only, rocky with murky water.

On the other hand, this was an experience. I like travel and can sleep on a beach. There was a great, loud (live band) Mexican wedding the night we were there. The guests were barbequing some great smelling carne asada, and offered it to us (we politely declined, don't know why). If you want to mix with the locals and can stand to rough it a bit, go here. If you want something a bit more like an upscale hotel, try Los Jitos in San Carlos. By far the best hotel in the area is the San Carlos Plaza, but be prepared to fork over your $$$'s.

We were dissatisfied with several things. We feel that potential guests have the right to know so they don't feel the way we did after having arrived. We did our research prior to reserving, and we felt very comfortable about our hotel choice. However, upon arrival we realized that this was nowhere close to the descriptions we had read about. Pros: rooms are spacious, grounds are clean, the view of the bay is beautiful, most of the staff was helpful.
Cons: a couple of dead roaches scattered by the sink, the telephone did not work and they were not able to fix it during our three night stay. The bedding was not very clean (cracker crumbs which I discovered only after climbing into bed and tucking my feet in) Even after all this, we thought well, we should go for a swim...as we approached their private beach we realized why no one was getting in...sewage and a dead pelican floating on the water's edge. This really ruined our stay as we were traveling with children and they really had nothing to do. On the second day our two-year old got sick and we decided to cut our vacation short. However, when we approached the front desk with our concern they were not very helpful and said that we could cancel our last night, but we would still be charged for it as that was part of their cancellation policy.
We definitely don't feel that we got our money's worth and we would not recommend this place to anyone.

I have been spending a week at the Playa de Cortez almost every month since I bought property in San Carlos to build a house. My favorite room is #304 which overlooks the Sea of Cortez. The first sounds of dawn are chirping birds and the sound of water calling to the beach. I have found the rooms always clean.

The personnel are always courteous and anxious to please. I'm widowed and travel alone but always feel safe at the Cortez.

The Cortez depicts Mexico the way it used to be. The front desk & lobby with it's old fashioned wall slots to hold keys and messages is so charming, sometimes I just sit to enjoy the ambiance, view the water and great courtyard that has seen so many weddings, social gatherings, meetings, etc. The grounds have glorious blooming bougainvilla bushes, huge shade trees and native cactus to remind you of where you are.

The wonderful little bar still stands ready to host the governors, movie stars and dignitaries that once crowded the premises.

Sometimes it is so quiet, one can hear the grass grow. When I have been there, I've seen mostly the older crowd but there are also families with children whose laughter and splashes in the crystal clear pool is very pleasant.

Breakfast is a delight in the huge dining room that has a large round table, always decorated with an urn of flowers. Large windows line one side of the room with a breathtaking view of the Sea of Cortez and mountains in the distance.

Rafael, my favorite waiter is always soft spoken and so helpful with suggestions and information about what's on the menu today. He's anxious to please and never forgets to smile. A tall glass of freshly squeezed orange juice appears almostly instantly after it's ordered and service is excellent.

The Cortez is like the most beautiful movie star who has aged with dignity and grace and is still charming and lovely.