We just returned from our 9th trip to Cabo and 5th at the Mar de Cortez...We've NEVER had a bad experience at the Mar, and already have our room booked for October...we don't usually bother with sites like this and actually never heard of it until we were turned on to it by a waiter at Salvatores... after reading some of the reviews, you kind of wonder what people are expecting when they go to a foriegn country...someone complained about the prices of things while shopping...WAKE UP people...this is Mexico...NOTHING sells for the asking price... NOTHING!!!...you have to play their game...same goes for the time share hustle...someone boasted about getting $200 for not buying anything-doesn't that tell you something?...you just wasted a full day of your vacation getting hounded by a pack of con artists...that's putting it mildly...but this is suppose to be about the Mar, so here goes...we've stayed in the garden rooms and still prefer the original, downstairs rooms that were built when Cabo was a sleepy fishing village...they.re more easy to roll into after a crazy night out on the town...the clubs are pricey, but no different than the states...we tend to hang out at the little corner joints, like Cool Hippos, which is now Rips...fun crowd and we always meet great people there...honestly, we've never had a bad meal in Cabo until this last trip...Spencers, which just happens to be on the Mar's property and gets written up highly in the throw away papers, has really gone down the drain...it's sister restaurant, Mammas is far better...Salvatores, Romeo e Julietta and Crazzy Lobester are good but nothing beats a meal sitting at a table on the beach with your feet in the sand...Mango Deck is awesome and Paco will see to all of your needs...The Office isn't bad either...as for getting into town, don't pay a kings ransom for a taxi - join in on a shuttle for $15 USD per person and tell the driver, "CERVEZA POR FAVOR"...they will stop for brewskies and everyone will have a fun trip in...plus, you get to stop and check out other hotels on the way...the Mar isn't for everyone and hopefully, it won't be discovered anytime soon, but sure is a fun place to stay...HIGHLY RECOMENDED!!!

My wife and I stayed at Hotel Mar de Cortez and really liked it. They have a nice pool, the rooms are clean, and we were very comfortable. Fresh towels and sheets every day, a large room, great location, nice staff. And a great price. I'd much rather stay at Mar de Cortez, close to cheap tacos and a grocery store, than pay two, three, four or five times as much to stay at some fancy resort on the beach. It's a twenty minute walk to the beach but it's a pleasant walk along the harbor. If you don't want to walk it you can take a $6 taxi and still come out way ahead.

We were very happy and I would have rated Hotel Mar de Cortez a 5 for good value, except that as we were checking out I talked to a family at the check out desk who were quite agitated because they had just been burglarized the night before. Thieves broke into their kid's room and stole a bunch of things while the kids were asleep. Sadly that left me with a creepy feeling about the place. Up until that point, the whole week we were there, I felt very safe about the hotel and the neighborhood.

I would still stay there again but I think when I do I will take preventive measures against that sort of thing. Maybe booby-trap the door at night or bring an alarm, and check my passport at the hotel safe.

Be sure to request a garden room.. I tried to save some dinero and booked one of the older original rooms and they are dark and gloomy , also, Bathroom floor got wet each time I took a shower. I really felt like I was in a cave. At the end of my stay I viewed the garden rooms and they were so much nicer for the $10 extra dollars per night! Much more clean, bright and modern. The location is great. Persona's at the front desk are great. I have noticed the same people working there for years. Very nice service! I walked everwhere in town. Forget about the taxis unless you absolutely need to take one. Buses are plentyful and you never have to wait long. Only 5 pesos=50 cents compared to $10 for a short cab ride anywhere in town. Be sure to ask about Gordo Lee Lee's is for the best quick Taco in town...his carne asada tacos are killer (short walk from the hotel). Breakfast was always nice at the hotel and very reasonable (quick service also). Cabo Coffee has the best coffee I have ever tasted...(short walk from the hotel across from town square) Be sure to bring a bag of coffee home with you!
The show at Gigglin Marlin everynight are entertaining...make sure you view a show at least one night. Across from the Gigglin Marlin on the same side of the street is a local bar with great a LIVE rock band. These guys are from mexico and I have to tell you they were much better than the band a Cabo Wabo. Cabo Wabo is just OK..very touristy, and expenisive drinks. Squid Roe is for 20 yr olds only. Be sure to have a romantic dinner at De Georgio's (great view of the arches) you will feel like you have gone to heaven...a must for a perfect sunset. Shopping in Cabo is not good. I can buy the same items in Southern California for the same or less. I was really dissapointed on the prices. Times Shares are worth looking at. Very nice Time Shares in Cabo at great values. Cabo Villas, and Bonita Sunset are great Timeshares to view...also the new Casa Dorado Timeshare. If you don't want to do activities you can request dinero..I recieve $200 cash for viewing a Timeshare. They are not sharks. Either you want it or you don't. Be sure to take the day boat ride and view the Arches. I could go on...Have fun in Cabo!!...and don't forget to eat the Ice Cream next to the main super market in town...,yummy!!!

This joins all the other rave reviews. This is the place to stay if you want to experience Mexico and chill people. It is small and a bit rustic. My bed was perhaps a little soft.

The pool is great - big enough to hang out around it without feeling like you're laying next to a postage stamp. The other guests were down-to-earth and friendly. The bar next to the pool is small and the perfect complement to the place.

The rooms are totally clean. Nothing went missing from my room. The front desk people were friendly and helpful and spoke perfect English.

One suggestion - when you leave the hotel, go away from the tourist area. It is way more interesting, there are no time-share hawkers, and that's where the cool Mexican restaurants are.

And one more suggestion - if you go to the beach, go to the club that's part of a hotel that's to the right of Billygan's as you face the water. They have it roped off and you won't be hassled by the vendors all....day....long. (It gets really old.)

If you really want to stay at a fancy resort but just can't afford it, you probably won't enjoy this place.