In spite of alarmist news media, we had a delightful week in mazatlan. The hotel El Moro has a WARM swimming pool which we enjoyed even when the air was cool. We walked for miles on the endless sand beach, especially enjoying the tides highs and lows. The service is very good, with waiters and staff eager to do all they could to make our stay successful. La Concha restaurant serves an impressive breakfast buffet and their dinner rivals cruise line faire. This was our second stay here and we are looking forward to another visit.

All of the staff at El Cid El Moro made me feel special. I went with extended family without a spouse. I sat alone by the pool side most days and I was made to feel part of a group of people. I found everyone extremely friendly and they were great with people from young to special needs. In particular the activities staff were wonderful remembering people's names and if a new person joined the group made sure they were introduced. "Enrique from activities" in particular made me feel important and was great at rallying people to make the activities more fun.

The food was good with lots of options and the service was good too. If you are a single person travelling with family or friends join the activities and you will meet some great people.
Barbara T, Winnipeg, Manitoba Canada

We have a time share with El Cid and went this year for one week in January. We were offered 4 days all-inclusive but when we checked in they offered us 7 days all-inclusive so of course we were on board. We had a wonderful time and especially enjoyed the La Concha restaurant where we feasted on shrimp, shrimp,shrimp. L. Enrique was a wonderful waiter who took care of us very well. We know that people are afraid of the violence of the drug cartels, etc, but we felt perfectly safe, even going for massages, off-site, daily. The massage parlor was very professional and offered massages for $25. each but if you bought 3 it was $20. each. The salon is MYO Massage for Life and is a 4 minute walk from the hotel. It is right next door to Mary's restaurant and the El Rico coffee shop.

14 Top Things to Know about EL Cid Moro Beach Hotel & Mazatlan (FEB 2012): A Canadian Perspective based on our 2 week holiday

OVERALL: Mazatlan was a great experience. It is not like Cancun (hallelujah!) - much more souk like, cultural city that is only slightly commercialized (what a relief!). The hotel strip is in the golden zone; we felt very safe exploring this area by foot or bus day or night. Old town was excellent to: (a) tour, (b) buy fresh, good quality, cheap meat/fish, (c) buy the most amazing flower arrangements for $20 USA but leave Old Town before sunset to maximize your safety. We met many people who said it was their 15th or more trip back to Mazatlan – we know why! Great place to holiday – be sure to get a beach view.

1. Hotel & room: Excellent location. Good but tired looking décor (good quality tho). Clean; excellent daily housekeeping; water purified; kitchen very basic but used to cook for a family of 4 (all adults). Excellent balcony; Hear the roar of the ocean at night; Beds comfy/good. Internet (free) only available in lobby and seems to have low bandwidth – every second day seems internet very slow/hard to connect.

2. All inclusive at hotel: NO! There are so many tasty, close by places to eat that are cheap; food at El Cid is plain tasting, mass produced, and boring.

3. Hotel staff: Friendly, helpful, cheerful. Lots of smiles. We adored Louis (front desk) for his helpful attitude. Recreation staff upbeat (e.g., pool fitness - Aldo!). Excellent pool/beach service (e.g., server -Angel). Don’t get turned off by the sometimes rude reservation/booking staff.

4. Hotel Beach/Pools: Beach is excellent, clean and long but hotel portion (where chairs are) should be raked each morning to remove tiny debris such as bottle caps; All lounge chairs (except at Casitlla pool) are old and very uncomfortable - bring a neck pillow for a bit more comfort. Three pools – clean and big and 2 are heated. Need more hot tubs (just 1, 8 person, onsite). Lifeguards are attentive/ professional.

5. Hotel Gym: Costs $10USA per trip (or $40 USA for 7 days) unless you have all inclusive (which is not a good idea– see item #2). Very tired, run down looking décor; machines/ equipment need repair (oiled, retaped, cushions ripped, etc). Aerobics is on concrete floor covered in green grass mat, dangerous for shin splints. Not worth the money. Greatest disappointment.

6. Massage/Spa: At the hotel, very expensive; seemed disorganized; lack of pampering, and plain. We only had one service - instead went to Matuy (5 mins from hotel, turn right, pink signage) for excellent massages, esp. by Andrea (for 20 USA, at hotel 75 USA). Matuy is very basic in décor but excellent quality for manicures, pedicures, massages, etc. Lots of westerners come here.


7. Time Share Sales: Incentives: Do NOT get hotel coupons as very restrictive; hotel/time share city tour lousy -far too basic and bus uncomfortable. Instead, pay for a full, private city tour (e.g., double decker bus). Best incentive to get –hotel massage or golf. Don't budge on incentives. Presentation good (by Tony) and no insane pressure.

8. Best coffee: Social Café, next to Costo O’Hotel, about a 5 min walk from hotel (turn right leaving hotel). Run by Canadians! Poor coffee at hotel/other cafes on/near hotel.

9. Best juice/smoothie: 10 min walk from hotel (turn right leaving the hotel, 1.5-2 blocks up from Mutay, same side -see item #6, is shared space with a small grocery store, next to a laundry service store). Owned by a wonderful single Mexican mom who puts in about 5 pieces of whole fruit into a blender (along with 4-6 squeezed oranges) for a mere 30-40 pesos! She has been to Canada too! We visited her nearly 10 times, so good and healthy.

10. Best place to eat: Many cheap, wonderful, clean & safe places around the hotel. Our favorites were Minnesota (#1: 2 for 1 deals ...so good!), Fat Fish (2 for 1 deals), Ponchos (#2, by the beach location), tacos in the morning directly across from the hotel for 10 pesos, and of course “I love Lucy’s” in old town (best décor, excellent service, and incredible mushroom soup). Many more places to eat at!

11. Shrimp Market in Old Town: A must see. Fresh, cheap shrimp/prawns and lobster. Take fish across the street to Davons (?sp) and they will cook it for you on the spot (for pennies) – take back to hotel room for a feast.

12. Transportation: City bus – quick, easy, safe and very cheap to use. Pulmonias – golf cart taxis have a standard zone fair/ good to use. Taxi from airport – avoid all timeshares (it is possible!) and go outside to yellow taxi booth for taxi ticket to hotel ($31USA, set price).

13. Amazing place to shop is across the street from Ramada Hotel in a large beige building called “Designer Bazaar”. Clean, large (2 floors), very well organized, fair prices, amazing/interesting home décor, clothing, jewelry.

14. Mega store: Big, grocery store for all cooking needs– take bus for 9 pesos or Pulmonia for 50 pesos. Across the street from Mega are excellent/tasty taco stands... 10 pesos each! But get meat in Old Town (beef, pork, fish) for absolutely fresh, tasty and 75% cheaper.