Hotel Escondido - 71983 Puerto Escondido

I spent 4 nights there and it was disappointing. I was expecting much better service considering the price and that it is part of Grupo Habitat. - Rooms: We had a very big cockroach jump on our bed while we were sleeping. This can always be a risk because the rooms can't be fully closed, there are gaps on all doors. They get crazy hot, they are dark, the floors are squeaky, and the magnifying mirror was all rusted. If you are a light sleeper you might find it loud with the singing frogs. The bed was comfortable and the linens were nice. - Service: Poor management overall. I needed laundry service since day one and they couldn't provide it because they said that the machine was broken. In 4 days they couldn't figure out how to help with that. They were forgetful with reservations and an issue at the room. The waiters at the restaurant and pool are nice and efficient they just lack that extra that you would expect at this price point. - Food: Mostly good, the Saturday brunch is pretty amazing. They didn't have black tea and the quality of the coffee was not good. Their sister restaurant Omakase is a must. - Beach: It is great because it is quiet and private but it is not a beach for swimming or surfing (there is a photo on their website of a woman with a surfboard) it is very rough.

Hotel ambiance is great but not sure what the thought process was when they built it. Rooms have windows that open up to outside (even when blinds are closed) so all your AC air escapes the room. It was very hot! And fan doesn’t increase at all. Not too many choices for lunch/dinner. Same menu every night - should offer different varieties especially if you are sensitive to certain foods. Spa is not worth it - not relaxing- it’s just a room with a massage table. Could make it nicer and add some AC! We got sick and hotel wasn’t too accommodating- we switched hotels and they asked if we needed anything right away. Hotel is in the middle of nowhere - great for a 2 night stay - not any longer! Restaurant staff were great! - super sweet! Gave it 3 stars. Could use some improvements.

As apposed to the pic on the website there is no sea view from the suite. It's a long drive from the nearest village so dining options are limited. Restaurant was disappointing We booked 3 nights but left after 1.

This place is more like a 3 star hotel based on cleanliness and the quality but they are charging 5 star prices. If you don’t like roaches, lizards and bugs in your room then don’t stay here. The hotel rooms was dirty when I arrived - there was hair in the shower and on the floor. The sheets were not clean and I had to request to have them cleaned. There were Holes in the net which defeated the purpose. There was a bat in the room. The front desk was extremely rude and double charged my card the first night. Every time I asked for something they seemed instantly annoyed. They also overcharged in the spa and the prices they charged were not the same as the ones on the spa menu and refused to credit the difference. The pool area and the restaurant were amazing. Everything else was below par and the front desk staff were rude. I’ve asked multiple times for a folio from the hotel and they will not send it. If your looking for a five star experience and want to relax I wouldn’t recommend staying here.

Heaven on earth. Not sure what other people are moaning about, you are in nature more or less what do you expect? Service is top, people are top, food amazing, and one of the few places where I was happy to sit and do absolutely nothing, just be sure to be a guest and enjoy this splendid hotel.

There is one person we’d like to give special mention to before we go on to share our feedback: Yetsi - who stood in to give me a daily injection after I fell ill during our trip. Given this is way outside of her job scope and just by luck she knew how to do it, it was much appreciated and saved us a daily 1.5 hr round trip to a doctor. She is a very kind and special lady, so thank you Yetsi! The good: Beautiful, secluded location where you you can truly escape and unwind. The beach is so quiet, you will often find you have it to yourself. The not so good: Overall, the hotel lacks the luxurious feeling one would expect given the price point. This hotel is pricey, even by UK standards. There is a definite theme amongst past guests as to what could be done to improve the experience at Escondido, yet the hotel management don’t appear to be acting on that feedback - despite most suggestions being relatively inexpensive to implement. It’s a shame because the hotel has the potential to be extrordinary, but at the moment it feels like it’s relying on the incredible setting to make up for what it lacks in other areas. Service - There is no consistency to the service and it is clear the hotel does not invest heavily in staff training, nor did there appear to be a clear line of direction. Maybe it’s that a lot of the staff are new but even still, with the proper experience, training and oversight, it shouldn’t need to be a big problem. A few examples: on one occasion we sat with empty plates on our table for 10+ minutes, we were asked to keep hold of dirty cutlery for next course at dinner, we had a drinks order that took over 20 mins to arrive, part of a food order forgotten, food via room service took almost 1hr. Whilst we are all human and forget things from time to time, there were a catalogue of mishaps during our stay and never really an apology received. Also, after arriving to our room on the first day, we flagged that the in room phone wasn’t working and were told the phone lines were down. They gave us a number to communicate with the front desk via WhatsApp. Frustratingly though, it took them quite a while to read and respond to messages; by which point we had usually given up and gone down to the front desk to ask in person. Worth also mentioning that by the time we left, the phones had still not been fixed - so it does beg the question as to whether they were broken or had been turned off intentionally. Despite being advertised as an adults only hotel, we were sat next to a family with a small child in a pushchair on a couple of times. Whilst it wasn’t necessarily a problem to us, it should not be advertised as adults only if you do accept children into the hotel. It would be incredibly disappointing for anybody that had picked the hotel for this reason. Only a continental breakfast is included (yoghurt, bread and fruit) in the room rate. At this price point, you would not expect to have to pay extra to have something other than granola and fruit every day. It can get boring very quickly. There are no coffee making facilities in the room so you have to either go down to reception to pour your own or order via housekeeping (chargeable and only available after 8am). Not great if you’re an early riser. A simple nespresso machine in the room would do the job perfectly. The only supply of drinking water in the room is when they come by to fill a jug for you each evening. Otherwise, you have to go down to the restaurant to fetch it yourself. At this price point, you would expect bottled water to be supplied in the room/around the hotel. With the casitas not being completely closed off to the elements, it is easy for bugs to get in and we were both eaten alive during the first night due to the the lack of a mosquito net. It was only after asking the following morning that one was installed for us. It seems strange it is not made clear to guests upon check-in that they are available.

Hotel Escondido is truly a hidden gem and an amazing experience. The palapas are comfortable and spacious and having the private pool and outdoor area was lovely. Despite the palapa not being fully enclosed (ie there are screens on the sliding wood doors) they cool down quickly at night and we slept very comfortably with the AC. Reading previous reviews — little geckos crawling on the walls are part of the experience! Harmless. We weren’t bothered by any bugs either. The main pool area is stunning, and having basically a private beach is unbeatable. The surf isn’t “calm” but it was perfectly swimmable and enjoyable. Food and drinks were really delicious and the staff is so kind and helpful. It was great to see familiar faces each day and chat. Breakfast and lunch have plenty of variety, dinner is prix-fixe with two separate options that seemed to also accommodate vegetarians. They also offer activities in the area if you want to go off the property, but we were perfectly content not leaving for the duration of our stay. Wifi exists and works perfectly well for phone scrolling, FT-audio calls, and light computer chores (email), but I wouldn’t plan to be taking any video calls/presentations etc. while here. We definitely plan to come back as often as we can!

This is 5 stars for very specific reasons. Please understand what this hotel is and what it is not. It is beautiful. It is private and secluded. It is romantic. The service is minimalist yet sufficient. The staff is fantastic. The food was really really good. The rooms are in individual palapa style huts and are perfectly appointed. The private plunge pools with ocean views are phenomenal. The constant sound of wind and waves is divine. Come here if you want to get away from hustle, traffic and all the people. Come here if you want to be stuck in paradise for a while. You can stay connected enough to not feel completely shut off from the world. This hotel is not many things. This place is not big. It is not close and it takes a while go get to from Puerto. The last 3 miles is on a bumpy dirt road. It is not crowded. There isn't shopping. The restaurant choices are phenomenal but limited. The beach isn't for swimming, surfing or really anything other than to look at and listen to. Don't come here with kids. Don't come here if you want to be around kids. Don't come here expected every amenity. Don't come here if you want to go shopping or choose a different restaurant for every meal. Don't come here if you gain energy from people and crowds and the buzz of a city. Be certain about what you are looking for in your vacation. If what you want is a true getaway from it all type of vacation, this is the best I've ever been to and wholly recommend Hotel Escondido.