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Hotel San Mateo – reviews, photos

Calle Caracas No. 20-H | Colonia San Mateo, San Salvador, El Salvador
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15% off room rate
Hotel San Mateo
4.5 of 5 stars 25 Reviews
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25 reviews from our community

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Manchester, United Kingdom
Senior Contributor
33 reviews 33 reviews
Reviews in 27 cities Reviews in 27 cities
46 helpful votes 46 helpful votes
“Perfect place to stay in San Salvador”
5 of 5 stars Reviewed 20 September 2010
2
people found this review helpful

To give an idea of context for this review, we were a group of 3 girls (aged 20, 31 & 32)spending 5 weeks travelling through Central America. We didn't fancy roughing it in hostels, but at the same time we were on a budget and couldnt afford to splurge.
We stayed at this B&B for 1 night on 23rd August 2010, as one of our group was flying home from San Salvador the next morning.

Staff: Florida, the owner is just wonderful! My friend and I were trying to find out times to get the bus to Honduras the next day and Florida spent 10-15 mins calling around different bus stations to get the information for us and wouldnt accept any money for the call charges.
Our friend had to leave for her flight at 430am, so Florida booked the taxi to the airport (US$25) and was up at 430am to see my friend off. My other friend and I turned out to be the guests from hell when we decided (completely on the last minute) that as our other friend had woken us to leave for her flight, we might as well get up and take the early bus to Honduras (we had planned to get one at lunchtime later that day). And so we got up, packed and had to wake Florida again so that she could call us a taxi and let us out. She did this without batting an eyelid and was all (tired) smiles. If she was irritated (as any normal person would be), she didn't show it for a second. She was the perfect host!

Location: The B&B is set in an upmarket residential area, which when I was looking through TA initially put me off. However when we arrived Florida showed us where we were on the map and I was glad we had chosen to stay there. It was just US $5 to get there in a taxi from the bus station, the Metro mall was just a short bus ride away (which only cost about 12p!), yet you were in a lot safer place than downtown.
I must say that in general San Salvador did not feel like a safe place to walk around and you will see that ALL the houses are completely fronted with steel doors or bars and razor wire. There was a guard patrolling the area with a shotgun at 3 in the afternoon! Compared to Guatemala (where we had travelled from) we felt very unsafe. However, behind the doors of Hotel San Mateo we DID feel safe and Florida gave us advice about safety (like not walking outside after 6pm- only taking taxis).

Room: The place was spotlessly clean. We had an air conditioned room with 4 beds. There was water on the bedside table and the sheets were clean and good quality. The beds were very comfy and we had a great nights sleep. The only thing that was a slight disappointment was the electric shower head in the shower- as these are generally regarded as unsafe I wasnt happy to use it.
Florida does own a very sweet little dog which is worth mentioning in case you have allergies or phobias.

Price: The price for a triple room was a total of US $67 per night including breakfast.

Tips: the Metro is a great place to spend the evening shopping and there is a cinema there, although there arent any nice restaurants there (mainly fast food places).

In all this is a great place to stay in San Salvador and Florida will go out of her way to make you feel at home. The photos on TA don't actually do the place justice as it was much better in real life.

  • Stayed August 2010, travelled with friends
    • 4 of 5 stars Value
    • 4 of 5 stars Location
    • 4 of 5 stars Sleep Quality
    • 4 of 5 stars Rooms
    • 5 of 5 stars Cleanliness
    • 5 of 5 stars Service
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Sapulpa, Oklahoma
2 reviews
Reviews in 2 cities Reviews in 2 cities
2 helpful votes 2 helpful votes
“We loved it! - It was like staying with family”
5 of 5 stars Reviewed 25 August 2010
1
person found this review helpful

Four of us (three teachers and and dentist from Oklahoma) really enjoyed our stay at the quiet and peaceful San Mateo Hotel (bed and breakfast). The owners treated just like family. They told us the best things to see. advice on how to travel, and supplied us with a terrific guild named Guilleermo. The motel was very clean, the meals were very good, The coffee and juice got us up and going every morning. All in all, it was an excellent experience.

  • Stayed July 2010, travelled with friends
    • 5 of 5 stars Value
    • 5 of 5 stars Location
    • 5 of 5 stars Sleep Quality
    • 4 of 5 stars Rooms
    • 5 of 5 stars Cleanliness
    • 5 of 5 stars Service
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Blairsville, Georgia
1 review
1 helpful vote 1 helpful vote
“BEST of the BEST...”
5 of 5 stars Reviewed 24 June 2010
1
person found this review helpful

in San Salvadore. The family atmosphere made my first trip out of the US an incredible experience. Flordia and Alfonso are extremely helpful and caring. When Florida says it was her pleasure, you truly feel that it is. No Spanish, no problem.
Another perk: this B & B is centrally located in a neighborhood which made navigation easy to all sites and tourist attractions.

  • Stayed June 2010, travelled as a couple
    • 5 of 5 stars Value
    • 5 of 5 stars Location
    • 5 of 5 stars Sleep Quality
    • 5 of 5 stars Rooms
    • 5 of 5 stars Cleanliness
    • 5 of 5 stars Service
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Swainsboro, Georgia
1 review
1 helpful vote 1 helpful vote
“Awesome Experience”
5 of 5 stars Reviewed 8 June 2010
1
person found this review helpful

This hotel was awesome. The service was amazing, the rooms were clean and cozy, the breakfasts were delicious, and the owners were super friendly and accomodating. Great Value. I highly recommend this hotel, especially if you are looking for a less "touristy" and more "local" place to stay.

  • Stayed May 2010, travelled with friends
    • 5 of 5 stars Value
    • 5 of 5 stars Sleep Quality
    • 5 of 5 stars Rooms
    • 5 of 5 stars Cleanliness
    • 5 of 5 stars Service
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Syracuse, New York
Contributor
11 reviews 11 reviews
Reviews in 5 cities Reviews in 5 cities
7 helpful votes 7 helpful votes
“BEST home away from home”
5 of 5 stars Reviewed 27 April 2010

My colleague and I were both looking for a little guest house to stay at with personality vs. a hotel chain. San Mateo was PERFECT! The owners are very friendly and warm. The environment is very clean and the breakfasts every morning are delicious - WAY better than anything you'd get at a larger chain. We are going to be back in San Salvador again and this is my #1 choice for where to stay! You won't feel like just a random hotel guest, you'll feel like family while you are there.

  • Stayed January 2010, travelled on business
    • 5 of 5 stars Value
    • 5 of 5 stars Location
    • 5 of 5 stars Sleep Quality
    • 5 of 5 stars Rooms
    • 5 of 5 stars Cleanliness
    • 5 of 5 stars Service
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Additional Information about Hotel San Mateo

Calle Caracas No. 20-H | Colonia San Mateo, San Salvador, El Salvador
Price range (per night):* INR1,890 - 3,390

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