Hotel Review: Hotel La Siesta in Mazatlan, Mexico

It occurs to me that I have yet to tell you about my many adventures in Mexico. Let me right that wrong with a review of the Hotel La Siesta in Mazatlan...

So I woke up one morning and realized I was bored to death and in a rut. How to solve that..hmm.. why, I think I'll go to Mexico! By the next morning I was in Monterrey, and after two days decided to go explore a bit. I walked into the bus station and just started scanning the boards for places that sounded interesting... Mazatlan! Oh yes, that will work... 30 minutes later I'm on Del Norte and wondering what have I done??

You see, this is like a whole continent away kinda bus ride. That's a slight exaggeration, but it was quite far indeed... with a driver who's goal was to get there asap and if the passengers don't survive, oh well! Truth be told, I enjoyed the majority of the ride. There was much to see. Unless you've traveled the interior of Mexico you have no idea of the poverty level here... and how happy they are over all. Smiles were on faces everywhere even as you saw the ruined excuses for shelter they lived in. A great lesson in human nature, that.

So, after all the cool scenery and whatnot we hit this mountain...fast. I decided it was time to take a nap! That was some scary stuff. Anyway, this is about the hotel, not the trip itself, but will tell you why I was so harried and tired that I allowed myself to get duped that first night in Mazatlan.

We pulled into the Mazatlan bus depot and I grabbed a cab. The cab driver did speak some English so I told him to just take me to a bed. I didn't care about room service and I did not want in the touristy area at all, I wanted the real Mazatlan.... about 30 minutes later we pulled up at the Hotel La Siesta.

The lobby was spacious and very inviting with a tropical feel to it, potted palm trees in the corners and whatnot. I liked the place and it was very within reason at 10 US dollars per night. I took it.

The room wasn't huge but was absolutely adequate and full of ambiance. Southwestern type bedspread, low dresser.. no TV (I see they now have satellite TV) or anything like that but I had asked for outside the Tourist area so I didn't get all the touristy extras. That was perfectly fine with me. The bathroom was clean and very small but did actually have hot water... although there were signs asking you to conserve as much water as possible. Turn off the faucet while you brush your teeth and stuff. Not a problem.

Here is the problem: I had Checked in at about 6am and had fallen in to a most wonderful exhausted sleep when the phone rang at 8am. It was the front desk informing me that check out was at noon and asking if I was staying today also...!!! Say what? They should have said that at check in. I would have napped on the damn couch awaiting their check in time if they were going to be jerks about it. In my mind, I had merely checked in early. Well ok so it was only 10 bucks. No big deal. It's just the principal of the thing, yanno? So I stayed one more night and likely would have stayed much longer if not for that crap. It just smelled of rip off tactic to me.

Aside from that though I did like the room and it had a very nice balcony which faced the Pacific Ocean across the street. The breeze coming off the water was marvelous and it was so relaxing to sit there in the evening enjoying the view. I never did eat at the hotel restaurant as I was busy tripping around the city most of the time (and scouting other hotels). This is an easy walk to the old downtown area in one direction, or to the tourist traps the other direction...so the location is great.

Actually, it wasn't just the weird phone call that had me checking out.. you remember that 30 minute cab ride? Well after I rested I stepped outside and headed down the back block and lo & behold, the bus station was right there within 2 blocks of the hotel. I now knew what they had been snickering about at the front desk. I don't like planned rip offs like that. They were making a business out of it. Too bad because, like I said, I would have been happy to stay there otherwise and I did end up staying in Mazatlan 3 months that trip. By acting all stupid they lost a lot of business.

That was a long time ago. I do recommend them in spite of all that. It really was partially my own fault. I was too tired to nail things down like I normally do when down there. There are certain tenets when tripping through Mexico: Always get the cab fair set before you even get in, always ask the particulars on a hotel room. I blew it on both counts. Live and learn. Over all a cheap lesson, really.

So do stay here. It's really quite nice and centrally located...I paid 10 bucks back then, but I see they are advertising $70 now. I'm thinking that rate is very negotiable though. Call them direct and haggle.

Olas Altas Blvd #11
Mazatlan, Sinaloa Mexico, 82000
Tel: (669) 913-4477
Fax: (669) 913-7476
Email: lasiesta@mazatlan.com.mx