We stayed for 1 night here and it is nothing to write home about. We can't complain though, it was clean with bare rooms and private bathrooms. If you wan't to stay close to the beach this place isn't for you. Breakfast is included and is your typical Nica meal. Coffee and bread with fruit. We knew staying there wasn't the highlight of our trip and we were neither surprised or disappointed.

Try to get a room on the top floor, they have the best view of San Juan. We didn't interact with staff much but we had no problems during our stay. There is probably better value out there but we didn't book in advance so we stayed at the first place that had availability.

I didn't book far in advance, but I did book from Canada. When we arrived, the rate suddenly went up from what was promised - but they agreed to the original rate.
The room was tiny as was the bed, and we were not given an option - considering we were planning to stay 5 nights. Our room was where the laundry tubs are, so it was noisy in the morning. Although clean, the room was dark and depressing and the shower had a live, exposed electrical wire on the shower head that shocked my husband. Definitely not to code. The front desk staff - especially in the evening was not helpful or friendly. However, I did see guests in other rooms who seemed happy, so perhaps it was just the room we were given.
We checked out after one night a found something much better for seven dollars more.

I love this hotel. I have stayed here at least 20 times in the last five years. The rooms are large and most have air conditioning if it's one of those really hot Nicaraguan days. The staff are warm and friendly. The hotel is about 4 blocks from the beach which is fine with me and the parking area is secure and safe for your car or motorcycles. A great place to stay in San Juan del Sur !

Even though we had seen this place on TA and looked at all the photos and reviews before booking, I felt (for the first time) completely let down by TA. The hotel was nothing like I had been lead to believe. When we arrived I had to ask the taxi driver twice if it was the right place and I even went in with the print-out of my emails from them and asked them if i was in the right place.
The photos I had seen gave the impression that the hotel was a little out of town and that the front of it was large, open and with the sweeping staircase that you can see in the photos. Wrong! The hotel is right in the centre of town- a 5 min walk to the seafront (ok, thats a plus) but the front of the hotel is small and on a street corner- you walk into the back and then you see the sweeping staircase that is in fact only small. It was a much smaller hotel than I had imagined.
The first room we saw smelled horrible and musty and so we looked at one on the 1st floor. This didnt smell so bad, but it was gloomy, dated and I wasnt happy about sleeping in the sheets (luckily we had brought sleeping bag liners and so had to sleep in those).

It just wasnt the kind of place that you feel happy to relax and chill-out in...at all! For US $53 per night including taxes and breakfast, it isnt hugely expensive, but given the prices we paid for other much more superior accommodation in Nicaragua and Costa Rica, this was such a rip off.
In fact, San juan Del Sur was a huge disappointment to us (really dirty, polluted sea and generally a bit of a run down place) that we checked out the next day and got the bus over to Costa Rica.

Of course, take my review in context- we are both in our early 30s and like a bit of luxury in our accommodation. If you are like us, you will not like this hotel or even the resort at all. However, if you are in your teens or early twenties and dont mind roughing it, then this place will be perfect. It comes down to what you want from a holiday.