The El Cid Castilla is an economic hotel with a great pool with the beach a few steps away. I have never seen people bring Ice chests to the poolside since the hotel will supply everything you need. I certainly don't think they would care if you brought one to the beach. There are several hotels that will fill your needs and I'm sure that the rest will chime in with some of their favorites.

...further, AI is unpopular because there are so many great eateries within a few steps of the resort. Some people who drink way too much and people with children enjoy AI but other than that it's just not wise to limit yourself to the food at EL Cid which is just average.

I'm not so sure that Castilla has coffee makers and refigerators..but El Moro does.

Yes you can take a cooler to the beach anywhere in Maz. The actual beach is not hotel property anywhere.

Not so sure about having the cooler by the pool...

Just an additional comment about AI...depends what the price is...we often went AI but didnt stay at the resort for most of our meals and drinks. WAs worth it jsut for the Spanish coffees we had every nite and breakfast in the AM. Was much easier to have AI when there was a bigger group - all wanting breakfast at different times!

CHEAP busses will get you anywhere rather quickly and you can enjoy seemingly innumerable restaurants. There is really no reason for AI, since even good beer can be had for well under a buck at the big stores. Lots of places where you can eat and drink for $8 to $20 a person easily, or less, or more! At AI resorts like El Cid you would be limited even there, as their better restaurants are not part of the AI deal. I wouldn't even go to El Cid again unless it's the newer Marina resort. The older joint just doesn't cut it anymore for me save for their pools and an occasional bite to eat at La Concha (El Moro El Cid), which overlooks the ocean and beach. I think they need to find a way to rework that whole resort, maybe build new, or at least gut it and redo it all, from the elevators to the plumbing, right on down the line. Just my $0.02. El Cid happy hours are 12-1 and 4-5 BTW, and aside from some (only a few)of the timeshare crumbs, the staff is very cool and helpful.

I would suggest the Inn at Mazatlan. I recently met a fun couple who were staying there, and it seemed quite OK+. Grounds are beautifully kept, and the owners have kept the place up very, very well for decades. The Inn has the same two happy hours I belileve, at least 12-1 I know. I had a couple of Corona and a good ham & cheese for under $10. And that restaurant is not the cheapest by far.

Don't be shy about pool hopping and take your own stuff to the beach if you wish (the sand is public land in Mexico I'm told), or even to the pool. Maybe tip the help anyway? :)

Lar

Lar -

When we were there, they were in the middle of a big refurbishing of El Cid El Moro. They were painting and retiling the pools, and all of the rooms are getting redone; new beautiful cabinetry and kitchens .. the redone rooms are really quite lovely, but it will be awhile before all the rooms are finished, I am thinking.

Nesslar is right about the pool hopping but it IS best to spend some dough for a meal or at least snacks and drinks. I have never taken a cooler to a resort pool I was using when NOT staying there. On the beach your cooler will be fine!

Hotel help? Playa Mazatlan is wonderful with palapas on the private beach or stagger out beyond the private area........and have fun with the beach vendors.

Costa De Oro and the Inn are wonderful but no toes in the sand experience like at the Playa Mazatlan.

Have fun!

MBL

nesslar...the 2 El Cid restaurants that we tried INCLUDED on the AI option were VERY good...FYI

Thanks for pointing out that the Castilla doesn't have a fridge or kitchen Crazygolfer. I wouldn't want to mislead anyone. The rooms are nice but they are simply a room with a balcony. They do have free ice for the Castilla and you can keep an icechest in your room for drinks and water. The Morro side is about $200 to $400 more for a 7-8 night stay so it depends how much you want a 'fridge and kitchen. Hey Crazy Golfer,

I think I may have met you at LAX in the smoking atrium last October. Did you use to be a pitcher and do you have a crazy dog that follows you around the golf course in your cart? If it was you it was great chatting with you and I hope I get to run into you again sometime. I'll be heading back down your way from October 23-31 this year. Man I can't wait!

We brought our own cooler to the pool. I'm not paying $7.00 for a Margarita. Well, maybe once, but not repeatedly!

oh, and adding that I loved the kitchen because it was fun cooking there. When we just didn't want to leave, it was great to be able to cook up a meal. Then, sit on our balcony and watch the ocean. El Moro Tower is the only place to be for me :-)