I used points to stay there for free in January and was very pleased. Am only Starwood Gold, but was given a beautiful room on the second highest floor with a spectacular ocean view. The bathrooms are particularly nice.

The staff was very friendly and professional. Quite enjoyed our breakfasts on the terrace at El Palmar. If you don't do the buffet, try the French Toast, which is covered with fresh fruit, and is the best I've ever had.

An early morning (pre-breakfast) cup of coffee is a bit complicated. They charge (an exhorbitant amount) for use of the in-room coffee maker. The espresso cart in the lobby has odd and limited hours and served remarkably bad coffee. I found the best option was to walk to the little convenience store across the street, where I got a fresh and perfectly decent cup of coffee for about 65 cents.

We ate dinner on-site only the first night there -- at Garibaldi's. It was fine, but you'll want to explore the countless more interesting restaurants in town for dinner.

The fitness center was very good.

If you don't bring your own computer and want to go online, use one of the ubiquitous and dirt-cheap internet cafes in town rather than the hotel's Business Center, which charges 60 pesos (over $6) to use a computer.

Over all, I found this an excellent value for a Category II hotel.