John M.
Yelp
The reviews for Posada Real are pretty divisive - it seems to be either a homespun, all smiles treasure or an unfriendly, brokedown hole. I will agree that Posada is not a full glass of paradise, but for beachfront accommodations, I was grateful to enjoy what Posada Real offered us.
The only unfriendly experience we had was with one of the check-in clerks, who was more abrupt than unfriendly, not offering to store our bags when we arrived early and then giving us a garden view when we paid for partial-ocean. Our half-empty glass was immediately filled by our bellhop, who literally went room to room until he found a maid to open up a better option for us. Everyone else we encountered couldn't have been nicer, and because it's a smaller resort with a smaller staff, we had many of their names down by the end of the trip.
ROOMS: The partial-ocean view rooms are not these Hawaii-style "you have a sliver of ocean through binoculars" - they're the real deal, and considering that the garden views are of parking lots or construction, my first piece of advice: upgrade your view! I loved hearing the waves and looking down over the central landscaping, pool, and out to the beach from my room. That said, the rooms themselves were the only true downside for me. They do feel rundown, from the painted over, likely corroded metal to the clunky furniture, A/C unit, and brown and tan swirly bedcovers. I'm not a room guy, so this stuff doesn't usually bother me, but I definitely had to remind myself that this glass was still half-full.
FACILITIES: Yes, the facilities are dated (Western-themed, built 1982), but they're clean and well kept. Every morning I observed multiple employees working hard to get the resort up and running for everyone. To me it seems like they care, which is impressive for any job. The pool and spa on the beach, and the outdoor and indoor bars, all served their function. If you're hanging out anywhere around the outdoor bar or under a beach umbrella, a waiter regularly makes the rounds. Every night they had entertainment in the lounge, and the atmosphere was really fun, somewhat family-friendly, definitely not trashed Americans being rude. The little gym is sad, but good effort!
FOOD/DRINK: I intentionally chose the included breakfast buffet and cocktails, but not all-inclusive; I wanted to explore the eats around town and not be land-locked at the hotel. The breakfast buffet was solid and I was thankful to have it ready and waiting each morning. They serve cafe de olla (coffee from a clay pot) at the entrance, which I highly recommend, although the strength and sweetness can vary. I tried everything, from the omelet bar to the fresh fruit and juices, and nothing really tanked. I became a little too attached to the french toast nuggets of sugary, cinnamon-y goodness. If you can handle a 10 minute walk, there are plenty of local options for lunch/dinner, but based on breakfast I would guess the other meals are also okay.
At the bars, I would have liked better cocktails - they were neither strong nor particularly tasty - but they did the trick. I enjoyed bantering with the bartenders: we were politely ridiculed for ordering pina coladas initially, but they piped down when I switched to tequila drinks.
Every morning I woke up around sunrise, threw on my running shorts, skipped down the stairs and out to the beach, where I ran about a mile down the sand to the wetlands. It was absolutely beautiful, and an experience I could have had staying at any resort along this stretch of beach, since the wetlands are public. I'm glad to have saved more than double what it would have cost to stay elsewhere, and Posada Real has its own charms that go beyond the cost savings. I prefer the intimate setting to the beached cruiseliner resorts. If you want megaresort luxury at Holiday Inn prices, you're not going to get it here, and you should opt elsewhere. If you can hang and relax, take in the beauty of nature around you, and don't mind the rustic rooms and facilities, you'll be as happy as I was to have stayed at the Posada Real.