Catalina Beach Resort

Seriously great way to start the day. Breakfast was amazing! Stag are top Notch!! And rooms are clean ! No wifi this time but it was fine !

Wonderful older property. Showing its age but still absolutely wonderful.

This was our 4th staff @ Catalina. The staff was excellent and took great care of us during our visit. Alberto at the beach bar was great, Rosie gave us awesome massages and the morning breakfast staff was also terrific. Overall, we had a great vacation. Suggestion for improvement: Expand the breakfast included menu to include some pancakes or other option.

Too many stairs to go to the beach, the room was nice but there were blood stains and ants on the balcony. Tha stuff was nice!

This resort does a bait and switch with their pictures. The photos of this resort do not represent what the rooms truly look like. We have videos all of the rooms have plastic stapled around the windows with holes in the plastic. Black mold painted over on the walls, so it is a serious health concern. Everything is outdated and does not reflect the photos that they post online promoting the property.

Great location, views, access to beach and lovely gardens.

Although it is an older property, the first hotel to open in the area from what we are told, it was very clean and comfortable. Yes there are a lot of stairs but it wasnt so bad and you get used to it after a couple days. There are many trees and plants along the walkways and to the paths to the pool and beach. It has scenic views and the staff is very friendly and also helpful. We asked the beat and cheapest way to get into town and they offered us good recommendations. We would definitely come back here again and refer friends as well. Thank you Catalina Beach Resort!

Great stay for the price.

too many stairs , first room had no air conditioning had to pay for a upgrade. Second room you could hear the room next door. Dinning room was poor didn't even serve coffee

There are lots of steps but the views are all worth it. This is a quaint older place, most people we met there were repeat visitors. That speaks for itself!

Lovely staff

We have stayed a Catalina for many years. We love it.

Staff and service were great. Location and beach club on La Ropa is perfect. Old hotel but is kept clean and comfortable stay. Will likely stay again.

Haven’t been back for 15 years. Still charming and quiet. Would come back again but bring your hiking shoes-a lot of steps!

The property has that original charm but could definitely use some maintenance and subtle upgrades. Staff were very friendly but the restaurant service wasn’t that great. Rooms are a good size and the balcony’s also large with great views. Could use a bit better deep clean with regards to the dirt build up on the fans and cobwebs in corners. All in all I would stay here again as the location is great, price is good, and the food was quite good.

Overall it’s the most naturally beautiful property on La Ropa. Staff are helpful. Only drawback is lack of English of many staff members. Breakfast is great. Dinner is okay not great. Entertainment should do Mexican songs not terrible renditions of American music.

Amazing views! Endless uneven stairs. Older people or someone with any health problems be aware...you have to climb all day. The rooms are very dated. Furniture, linens, pillows all are in a bad shape. Even the beach furniture are in a terrible condition. A slow and little water at the shower. The breakfast is good but it takes 1 hour. La Ropa beach is heaven.

Great staff, best beach, awesome view. Older resort with lots of steps yet still the best.

Too many stairs

The hotel property is ideal for exploring Zihuatanejo and the staff are very personal and friendly. The hotel should acquaint themselves to the activities in the area and promote them as activities to do i.e. pickleball, tennis, etc.

Best bang for the buck on La Ropa. Beach front fantastic and a great pool. The gardens are everywhere with lots of colors and fragrances. This is an Older property with lots of steps. I’d come again.

Good things: I really liked it was on a hill with so many plants and the hotel is by the beach. Almost all the staff was very helpful and such hard workers. I had a problem with the front desk, but at the end they helped me. The view was beautiful and you can hear the ocean all the time from the room. The rooms have terraces and hamacs. Bad things: It was very challenging to have so many steps that were uneven,I don't mind having steps but those are unsafe and dangerous for walking. The room I originally booked was in very bad shape, no maintenance for years (broken tiles, toilet not working properly, broken walls, rusty fridge inside and outside, moldy tiles, etc) and the worst is that it was dirty! There is no bathroom by the beach, you have to walk 50 steps up and then down. The internet NEVER worked. The maintenance of the whole hotel is in poor condition.

Best shady beach area on La Ropa. Great breakfast and friendly staff. I’ll return next year.

Friendly staff. Nice breakfast with a beautiful view! Nice clean beach!

The resturant and stall were what made this place. The stairs and the WiFi were the downside.

Beautiful and clean

I've been coming to the Catalina for over 20 years, I adore it and what it offers--best location on the beach, friendly service, and casual atmosphere...having said that I must also say that I miss the stewardship and staff that I've grown up with over the years. Change is hard, but it should not come at the cost of loyal employees.

What a fantastic place! Lots of stairs with quite a bit of age showing, but we come here for the history and romance of a traditional Mexican hotel!

Loved the beach view and access to town. There are a lot of steps to the beach depending on where your room is. We were fine but some older folks had trouble with the steps. They have a great infinity pool that wasn’t used that much so felt like your own. Nice big rooms, a little older but clean. Service was slow at the restaurants so often ate at the other ones for breakfast and other meals. Their bar had a great spot for sunset drinks and viewing. Staff was very friendly and accommodating. Helped us out with wifi issues. Would definitely stay again!

It's right on the beach, palapas for shade and wonderful staff providing food service there. The gorgeous pool was a nice alternative to beach swimming. This is a mid-century hotel with fantastic touches, grounds and history. There are LOTS of stairs, fyi. Go to an Ixtapa all-inclusive if you want sterile and impersonal staff! This place has charming character. A gem with great breakfasts, a sunset view bar and restaurant and friendly staff. Why ever leave?

If you are going there for a nice relaxing time you just need to know that there are a lot of stairs from the lobby to the beach (over 250)! I didn’t know but a lot of the people I talked to love it. I guess if you call the office they can drive you down but who wants to do that?! The hotel is very rustic and could definitely use a make over! It has been there for years and people keep coming back. It was recommended to me and I trusted the person that told me about it. Next time I will be sure to do my homework! Everyone that worked there were very nice!

The staff and ambiance are unparalleled, as is the location of the hotel. The property is a tropical paradise. If you like a challenge, there are 275 steps from the beach to the reception area, which I was able to navigate, daily, 90 days after a broken ankle... We called it "bootie" camp. Mind you, keep in mind, it is important to be a fit person, old or young, and not ideal for very small children. Overall, 5 stars.

The 270 step to the beach would be tough for anyone not in shape or with a physical disability

This hotel is old and in need of renovation. The rooms are nothing fancy. The water pressure is so low. I had to shampoo my hair at the pool showers. We could not see through the windows as they were covered with a dingy plastic, so we were unable to see the view of the ocean. You must run the shower for 15 minutes to get lukewarm water. There are lots of stairs and no elevators; this may be a problem for some. This hotel is overpriced for what it is. Your pay for location and beach access.

The property has a beautiful location on the beach the staff in some areas need more training but will do anything you ask. Very nice people. facility is tired in areas. What ruined my stay was EXPEDIA misrepresenting the room i was getting. What was advertised and what I got were totally different. I am sure all hotels have less desirable rooms and this is what Expedia got me. Staff showed me the room I thought I was getting and it was lovely and would have been a treat to stay in. My first and last time with Expedia.

This place is a classic old Mexican resort, right on the beach. Great convenient location. And pretty affordable for where it is. Lots of stairs to keep you in shape on your vacation. Staff was friendly and attentive. Watch the sunset from your deck, and go to sleep to the sound of waves.

This property has a fabulous view of La Ropa beach. It is quite old and charming and rustic. There are hundreds of stairs to anyplace on this resort, so it’s not ideal for anyone with mobility issues. The staff and location make this resort wonderful, but the stairs are EVERYWHERE….

The property overall was good. The only 2 things that could be improved upon was the way they handled the credit card info at check in. We had to give them the credit card times the day we checked in and they still did not have the information the day we checked out. Breakfast was not up to par. We ordered what we wanted and they gave us what they wanted us to have.

The hotel is in a lovely location on the beach but it has over 200 stairs to go up and down to get to the room, reception, restaurant and beach. The building is in disrepair and the rooms need upgrading. The fridge in the room was so noisy and got really hot. The ceiling fan was not properly attached to the ceiling. The majority of the staff were great. I would not stay there again. There are many hotels on that beach which are much nicer.

Liked the bottled water that was available in the lobby and in the dining room.

Ad says “pet friendly”, maybe so but you can’t take them anywhere and not supposed to leave alone in your room, and a 600 peso per day charge, not mentioned. Didn’t find out room had no AC until check in. Some of the cheapest TP we’ve seen anywhere. The view was great from room balcony. Short taxi ride to market and restaurant area. Overall, not worth the price we paid.

A charming old hotel. Great location and excellent service. A bit shabby but that gives it character. Great views of La Ropa from our deck, the bar and the restaurant. Good breakfast included in room rate. Lots of stairs up and down from the beach so might be difficult for those with mobility issues.

This is a great place to stay. Its safe, convenient and beautiful! Staff were very good and helpful. Team leader Alfredth was friendly, competent and always willing to help!

I loved the people working there, they were so kind and helpful. I appreciated the work they did and the help they assisted with. However the rooms are different than what’s being advertised. Outside of the rooms is a lot nicer but the room itself was disappointing.

The view of Playa LaRopa and the bay from our king bed terrace room was amazing! The terrace was large with lounge chairs and a hammock. Nice for relaxing in the evening! Our room was very clean and the AC kept us cool. We selected breakfast included for our 7 day stay and were glad we did! I particularly liked the Huevos Rancheros! All breakfasts included fresh fruit, orange juice and bread with jam. The staff at the restaurant are excellent as well! Some things to keep in mind if planning to stay here. To get around the resort and down to the beach there are many steps to negotiate. For us it was ok after a few days we were comfortable with the steps. If you have problems with mobility you may find it difficult staying here. Also this is an older resort (I believe one of the first in the area )so there are some issues with maintenance for example missing railings on some walkways. Over all I didn't find this a big issue the age of the resort after all is part of its charm! Over all we really enjoyed our stay at the Catalina Beach Resort and would stay here again! Safe Travels! Aaron

Comfortable and well located on La Ropa

Hard mattresses Too many stairs Not close to anything Very old fixtures Only 1 way to acquire Ice

Really old and run down. Staff was friendly.

Catalina provides an authentic Mexico experience…

We absolutely loved the grounds of this property, they were so beautiful and lush and green. Lots of flowers and trees and shrubbs. The views from the rooms and from the bar and restaurant are unmatched and gorgeously stunning! As beautiful as the stairs are on the grounds, they were tiresome to climb everyday, but somehow with the stunning views they were worth it I guess! The property could use some maintenance of the buildings. All in all, we truly loved this property and the staff was so friendly and always went above and beyond their job. We would definately come back!!

The hotel location is great. However, the beds are like bricks, the bathroom fixtures in dire need of an update, the air conditioner barely kept the room comfortable and the refrigerator is on it's last leg (VERY noisy when going on and off, difficult to sleep thru). Also, did not appreciate the loud leaf blower going on throughout the day, starting fairly early in the a.m. (9:00). The staff was great!

Property has a lot of potential but needs more maintenance and upgrades. Great views. Pool needs more chairs and drink service and less massage space. Stairs need edge painting to better identify them since there are so many of them. Found ants in bed upon arrival.

Check in was great and the views from the lobby are outstanding. Overall, the property had too much deferred maintenance and the electrical outlets in the room were extremely outdated.

The best and only good feature of Catalina Beach resort is their location on La Ropa Beach. Great frontage and the pool was nice too. Too many stairs and the resort is in serious need of updates and maintenance. Restaurant breakfast staff were awesome, but other staff not very friendly or welcoming. Beach chair games were annoying and caused unnecessary disputes.

This property is very old and not well kept. Some rooms have no AC, no lamps, lightbulbs are burned out, outlets do not work, sink in bathroom is falling off the wall. The problems are all repairable but there is no maintenance crew. Even the beach towels are very old and have holes in them. The restaurant service and bar is very slow even for Mexico. The good points are the beds are very comfortable, the staff is fantastic, the breakfast adequate, the bar drinks were also good. The location to Zihua is nice and the view is perfection. We will return to the area but possibly not to this place due to the above mentioned things.

Beach bar staff, especially head guy, not friendly

Our room was booked at least 6 months ahead. It was old. Shower took long time to heat up. AC went and we had to switch 2 rooms later. Husband was sick and had no breakfast. I asked for a credit and they said no. Finally after much discussion with manager we got another breakfast. Beautiful location. Nice pool. Lounge chairs on beach hard to get

rooms need a major overhaul

Friendly staff. Great food.

I booked a terrace room with a king bed and great view months in advance (paying the higher rate for it in advance) and when we arrived they said it was unavailable. Our parents dropped by for 2 hours one day to play a board game with us at our table and they charged them a day rate. At the pool there is a bar but no one is there to serve drinks and the actual bar does not exist. We were aware of the stairs but they are very difficult for most. We paid an upper end rate to stay at Catalina but needed up eating at the restaurants around us instead. For its rates and location, it could be so much better. They just don’t try to make you feel welcome.

Staff excellent and room was nice and clean. Grounds are ok but not manicured which was ok. Right on the beach.

Out dated , cockroaches and ants in the room

The location above the accessible beach and views of the bay and sunsets are superlative. The staff was uniformly warm and gracious. The hotel is comfortable, one of the oldest in Zihuatanejo.

Property was as expected. Service in most areas was excellent. Beach service could have had added staff. Many stairs but again, as expected. Unfortunate that two dogs in different rooms weren't very quiet. View is phenomenal in the Linde room.

The staff at the Catalina are very friendly and helpful making our stay quite enjoyable. The hotel itself is well located with large rooms, great ocean views and beach palapas.

It was great! Love a traditional mexican rustic place.

wonderful friendly staff. best beachfront on la Ropa

Very tired. Location is great. Needs a refresh.

This is a great hotel. The staff was really friendly and helpful. The facilities are very good: great pool and beach areas, and nice restaurant and bar with panoramic views. Our room had a terrace with ocean view which was just breathtaking. It's calm and has nature all around. Probably not an option for people with reduced mobility for there are a lot of stairs between reception, rooms, pool and beach areas. Otherwise, definitely a must. Looking forward to returning!

Best location on La Ropa beach. This resort has old Mexican charm and beautiful gardens. With that there is some much needed maintenance around the property. Expect little critters running around in your room at night. We have spent enough time in Mexico that this didn’t bother us. We would return due to the location.

On the beach, free breakfast, friendly staff. It’s great for the price. It’s a 3 star place.

Wonderful beach location very tropical and quiet

The hotel is older and built on the mountain, So there is a lot of steps going to & from the beach. Also because of the rain there was a mosquito problem. The staff was very responsive and always made sure we were comfortable. The on site restaurant food was good and price was very reasonable. Overall really enjoyed our stay.

A classic old hotel which tries hard and it needs rejuvenation. The room was clean and functional. Most interesting was the daily designs on the bed by the housekeeper---Fanny. She's a real artist. Lots of stairs, each day we walked up and down eight floors for breakfast and going to the street or to the beach. No need for a gym here. Breakfast food was splendid. Management failed to prepare the room for our first night. They made it right the next day. The main negatives are a lack of bottled water in the room necessitating the above mentioned stair climb daily, like walking to a river for daily water. Also, need coffee in the room since the restaurant is open at 8 am and two floors up. Friendly and agreeable staff all around.

Catalina Beach Resort has been my secret heart spot for nearly 20 years...it's not fancy, but it's delightful! Location on Playa Ropa is ideal and the beach bar anchors it. What makes the Catalina special is the people--some have grown up here and their pride of place is palpable. The hotel cascades down a hill so if you don't like stairs think long and hard--makes one earn those margies in the sand!

The service is amazing I just keep coming back!

Great views. Not crowded. Plenty of lounge chairs at pool and on beach. Very friendly staff. Rooms could use a little TLC but looked to be the nicest place on this stretch of beach in this price range. Would definitely stay again. We stayed in LindaVista room and had great view and plenty of room. We were going to switch to a beachside suite mid- way thru our stay to be closer to beach and pool but decided to stay in LindaVista. Yes there are stairs but nothing to worry about unless you have mobility issues. You'll be a little winded once or twice a day when you walk up. This place is worth it!

Great bang for the buck! On the beach, sunset view.

Stairs, stairs, stairs. Literally on the side of a cliff with thousands of staircases to reach the beach. If you are abled-bodied, its just a bit annoying. If you are older or less-able, it will be difficult. No lifts or ramps, come ready to climb. Room was dated but clean. The beach is okay, one day it was smelly and foamy, the other days it was ok. I wished I had known about the actual location before I booked. Okay for the price, with an asterisk.

Beach front with shade to relax, perfect!!

We loved the room (#21) with a/c, fan, and beautiful patio. Breakfast was good. The stairs are a challenge, but part of the charm. The phone was out of service, so there was no easy way to communicate with reception over 100 steps uphill. Bedside lamp was not working—probably needed new bulb. But no way to tell management. No water in the room or instructions where to get it. The beachfront seating area was fantastic and beach access also. Pool super clean and refreshing. Very funky but charming layout of the rooms.

Lots of stairs, hotel is on hill so you will be walking to beach to bar to restaurant etc. Standard rooms are dated upgraded to suite. Suites are in better condition and we were happy with. No WiFi in any of the rooms, only at the pool and bar. Beach and palapa's are very nice and peaceful. Bar has an amazing view of the bay and plays great Mexican music. Staff is awesome.

Great location on the beach. There are no restrooms on the beach level requiring climbing a flight of stairs, walking past everyone at the pool to access the restrooms. Towel checkout and in and out at the beach is difficult because you cannot find anyone to do it. Bar does not open until 6pm. What happened to 5 oclock somewhere? All the waiters and servers were great and helpful

TOO MANY STAIRS!! Im not a senior citizen but they were a challenge after 2 days! Great free breakfast. Great margaritas. Rooms are old , shower is awful. Updated rooms start with the number 5, anything else is inadequate. I paid $540 usd for 4 nights. I thought that was fair.

Wonderful staff! Had a great stay as usual.

Great location and ocean views.

First night there had dinner in restaurant. Didnt know it but waiter didnt speak English and brought us all the wrong food. No "I'll get you something else". That was it! No compensation! Just a brief "waiter doesn't speak English". Our receipt from expedia said "Breakfast included" which was EXCELLENT. The receipt also said $50 in beverages. Which we found out at checkout was 50 pesos. There again a "Too bad" explaination.

This was the first cliffside resort built in 1951 in Zihua, note there's no elevators and huge set of staircases. So, not the best choice for anyone with body aches, poor knees, or ankles, etc. However, the views are gorgeous, the beach bar and palapas offer shade with old growth of plants and trees. It's more of Mexican quality and style of hotel, which I love the ambiance of. Food is more bland but very well prepared and prices are extremely reasonable. Some rooms do not have AC and the bathrooms are very old/dingy. The views and hammock on our deck made up for it. You get cliffside restaurant view, pool options and fabulous beach access in one for a very affordable price. Just beware of those stairs! I had to take 3 rests to make it up to the reception. We found a taxi could get us up/down a steep side road as our room was pool level.

It is run down and had lots of issues with no hot water. There were way to many steps and can be quite dangerous at night. The food was mediocre.

Nice place for short stay, many stairs but I like the exercise, some may not so be aware. Great location on the beach. Staff was so nice and yummy food.

The Catalina is an older hotel--long on charm and service, but lacking more modern amenities. Strengths: Best beach on Playa La Ropa, excellent food, friendly and helpful staff, spectacular views. Weaknesses: unreliable plumbing, many steps (roughly 270 from the top to the bottom) and furnishings/fixtures that are a bit past their prime.

The staff is fantastic. We stayed in room 18 which was nice. Updates are needed badly to the pool area, step, railings, light fixtures and entire resort. We learned half way through our stay, they would deliver ice, water, breakfast to your room We paid for breakfast but only went 4 times due to the amount of stairs to the restaurant. Which is also where you get ice and water. View is gorgeous.

Amazing!! Staff was excellent-everyone 😊 Most staff has good English and very kind. The views from our room was like looking like a picture!! There are lots of steps from the beach to the lobby - but after a day or two they become easier and the view is worth it!!

Catalina Beach Resort is a comfort spot for me--I love it and have for decades...the warm smiles, great food, and beautiful location keep me returning year after year!

Xavier at the front desk was amazing and went above and beyond!

Hotel facilities were very good...excellent views, wonderful staff. For us, it was all about the beach and with it's own private palapa's and necessary shade, this place can't be beat. There's no elevators of course, so many stairs, but not really a problem unless guess is very frail. Only downside was the restaurant and bar was so so. Food and drinks ordered at the beach seemed better than those in the restaurant? Again, not a problem as there are dozens of eating and drinking opportunities within walking distance. All and all, a great place and I intend to go back soon!

Wonderful colonial resit, one of the original on La Ropa beach. Great people always ready to help.Awesome views from anywhere at the resort.

the views were spectacular, right on beach. Breakfast was always good . Our overall stay was good experience.

Great location, amazing views, great staff, good beach service

Enjoyed a week here. On a sloping hillside, so lots of steps from upper rooms to beach. So if steps are an issue for you, don’t stay here. Great service, and friendly and accommodating staff. La Ropa beach very nice. Views are great!