Hotel Review: South of the Border at the Rosarito Beach Hotel
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| This señorita welcomes visitors to the Rosarito Beach Hotel. |
In the past the Rosarito Beach Hotel was the only hotel choice in Rosarito. It’s been around since 1925 after all. When Rosarito was Hollywood’s playground the Rosarito Beach Hotel was frequented by the likes of Orson Wells, Gregory Peck, Spencer Tracy, and Rita Hayworth. In fact, just above the entrance is the statement, “Por esta puerta pasan las mujeres mas hermosas del mundo,” which means through this door pass the most beautiful women of the world. Smooth talker.
Of course a lot has changed since the 1920s. The most recent addition in 2008 of the 17-story, 271-suite oceanfront Pacifico Tower means the Rosarito Beach Hotel has 500 rooms to choose from, all with ocean views.
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| The Rosarito Beach Hotel's newest addition, the Pacifico Tower, and its really big balconies. |
The Rosarito Beach Hotel’s lobby evokes old-world Mexico with dark wood beams and murals on the walls. Above the door is a beautiful stained glass window illuminated by the sun. The Pacifico Tower, where our luxurious one-bedroom suite was located, is more modern Mexican.
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| The Rosarito Beach Hotel's lobby has colorful murals painted on the walls. |
I’m going to be completely honest. I didn’t know what to expect when we checked into the Rosarito Beach Hotel. Having lived in San Diego my entire life, I am used to seeing half completed buildings throughout northern Baja. I’ve stood on balconies that felt like they might pop off the building at any moment and walked through rooms that looked hastily thrown together. So I have to admit from the moment we entered our room I was looking for signs of poor construction. It turns out Rome was too, though it hadn’t been something we discussed. Neither of us could find anything. Our suite was absolutely beautiful. The bathroom was huge with a large tub and enclosed shower, the living room and kitchenette were spacious and open, and the balcony was massive, overlooking the pool, beach, and ocean beyond. I was pleasantly surprised by how grand the room was, and it could rival many high-end accommodations in the United States. My favorite thing was being able to leave the sliding glass door open at night and lie in bed listening to the sounds of the ocean.
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| Our expansive modern Mexican suite. |
The Rosarito Beach Hotel has a large blue pool with lounge chairs, an outdoor bar, and a view of the ocean. Atop the Pacifico Tower is a rooftop pool. There is also a full-service spa and salon, restaurants, bars, and cocktail lounges.
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| The Rosarito Beach Hotel's ground level pool. |
If you can tear yourself away from your balcony and ocean view, there are also a number of activities to be enjoyed at the Rosarito Beach Hotel. The beach in front of the hotel is long and wide, perfect for sunning and surfing. Guests can ride horses along the sand. On the property are shops and a wine tasting room. Tours can be booked through the hotel including ATV tours and trips to Baja’s wine country. Outside the resort are a number of restaurants in Rosarito and nearby towns and guests can shop and visit Rosarito’s only winery.
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| The Rosarito Beach Hotel's quarter-mile long pier. |
Even when it’s time to leave, the Rosarito Beach Hotel has one more thing to make your trip home easier. If you are crossing back into the United States by car the hotel provides guests with a Fast Pass which provides access to a special lane that gets you across the border exponentially faster.
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| The view of Rosarito Beach from our suite. |
I have to admit the Rosarito Beach Hotel far exceeded my expectations. I knew it would be nice, but the expansiveness and modern elegance of the Pacific Tower suites surprised me. And at such an affordable price for that luxury, I am sure we will be guests again at the Rosarito Beach Hotel.
Thank you to the Rosarito Convention and Visitors Bureau and the Rosarito Beach Hotel for hosting our trip to Rosarito Beach and making this post possible. As always, all opinions are my own.