Double Standard
from $58
Dolphin Cove Inn
3.0 out of 5.0
83% based on 244 reviews
Recent guest reviews
The Dolphin Cove Inn is a nice spot for a short getaway. The rooms are comfortable and the views are great. It can be good for a family trip but there are a few drawbacks. The hotel is somewhat isolated on the peninsula which in some respects is very nice but getting to restaurants and other spots takes a little effort. There is access to a small beach that is somewhat protected. The pool was OK in the mornings but got very hot and crowded by afternoon. The restaurant was just OK. We did have access to the Tesoro Hotel next door which had a much nicer beach and pools but the cost was exorbitant at mx$900 per person! I would recommend it for a family with young kids who want to be away from the main strip for a reasonable price.
I have stayed at the Dolphin Cove a few times in past years and have always enjoyed the setting, the food and the rooms but on this recent March vacation I was treated to truly exceptional guest service from Kayla, Katia, Juan Pablo, Lorena and others. I spent a good deal of time on site and seemed to have questions about everything and was always greeted with a smile and an understanding manner, and the answers I needed. The room, weather, setting and food were still fantastic but this trip the Staff really convinced me that there is no other hotel in the Manzanillo area that I am interested in staying at during my trips. Thank you all sincerely for making my away time such a wonderful time!!
A dated property which could use some upgrading yet fairly well maintained & very clean. And each room has a balcony facing the bay &/or pool. The 'beach' is very unimpressive - small, possibly polluted from the marina next door, but there are some beauties only 15 minutes away in Santiago! Staff, at the front desk & in the restaurant, were all very pleasant & helpful but not once during our 2 wk. stay were we able to connect with the 'concierge', or anyone else, to find out about golf, entertainment, etc in the area. Seeing as there are a lot more English speaking people coming to this resort I think having someone available to assist with these things could go a long way! The 2nd week I was informed, by another guest, of the free vonage phone in the lobby & on our last days another guest informed us we can get wrist bands from the front desk to allow us through the security gate into Las Hadas (although we always were let through without them). It would be helpful if both of these things were listed in the information book that is in each room. The number of stairs at DC were not a problem for us but could be for others - 49 steps up to reception, 58 steps from pool to center walkway, 100 steps from here to main malecon along the water, etc. Golf carts will transport you from A to B but one has to be able to manage the steps between! Having rm. kitchen facilites & the (Paradise) restaurant on site is definitely a bonus since everything else is a fair distance away. The food was always great but the w\e b'fast buffet could be improved upon for the price. We encountered very slow service a couple of times - one eve waiting an hr for a pasta dish, & one aft over an hr for a poolside hamburger - even though there were very few patrons at the time. And one night on ordering a drink was given just OJ without being informed they had run out of vodka! There was a problem with the pool one day, water became cloudy due to a broken pump & guests were informing others to stay out of it - there was no signage or staff alerting people it was not safe to go in. But overall we really enjoyed our stay, got used to the steps, & loved the beautifully lush grounds. Got used to hopping on the #8 bus to go into the main area of town, taxis are of abundance & cheap, & getting around is not a problem. Waking to the sound of the ocean & the birds, having coffee on the balcony, enjoying the view & morning sun to start every day - priceless!
This is the 10th year we have been travelling to Manzanillo Mexico and staying at the Dolphin Cove. Our experience has always been positive and so I guess that is why we keep returning. If you want a 4 or 5 star all inclusive resort.. this is not the place for you. It is a boutique hotel, the rooms being a bit dated but they are clean and if you need something fixed - it is DONE pronto! I cannot say enough good things about the staff and all how they "go above and beyond their call of duty", Special recognition goes to: - the Manager, Cynthia - Reservations, Lorenne OUTSTANDING CUSTOMER SERVICE! For my partner and I, these two individuals always give us a "few extras" and it just makes us feel special and just want to return to a place that remembers us and is just too kind!!! The restaurant (Paradise) onsite is GREAT.. Very good food, affordable and huge portions. The wait staff - Hugo, Zinny & Marie - work so hard and again, during our stay - always "gave us just a little extra attention". One thing that still needs some attention to is the pool area on weekends. It is so crazy with the Mexican families coming. They bring their coolers of food, beer/drinks and just whoop it up. They are eating in the pool, drinking and just having a good time. The children are still running through the restaurant dripping wet and their parents seem unconcerned. They also bring their music systems and it seems like a competition of who has the loudest system. The children become unruly/screaming from morning to night. In Canada, we just don't behave this way so I think most of us Canadians/Amercans find weekends a challenge. My partner and I tend to leave the resort and go some place quieter. All in all, we love the Manzanillo area and we really enjoy staying at the Dolphin Cove.. the views, the staff.. are second to none.. Thank you Dolphin Cove
Checked in with another couple for a planned 2 week stay. Stayed one night and left next day. DC was recommended by friends who stay here every winter. There are a number of buildings with rooms of different options. We had chosen a Junior Suite. My wife and I had room next to our friends. First impressions were bad. Room condition run down. Dirty pillows and furniture. Bath towels so frayed and thin as to make poor dish cloths. Missing items [microwave in one but nothing in the other]. Sewer smell from bathroom and did not even try the shower. Toilet seat broken off. Refrigerator filthy. Found out that the hotel is for sale and apparently no takers and no $ going into upkeep. Avoid!
We love the ambience of Playsol Manzanillo/Dolphin Cove Inn. As mentioned by lots of other reviews there are a lot of stairs, we didn't find them a problem, but some might. The outside of the complex is stunning and the view of the pool and ocean amazing. We loved to sit on the balcony both day and evening enjoying our "perfect view." Housekeeping is wonderful and the units are cleaned daily! Front desk staff are knowledgeable and speak English. It's a nice walk to Starbucks about 45 minutes, which is a perfect early morning walk. The only thing I would urge the owners to do is to update, the units are quite tired looking and some in need of repairs.
We have been going to Dolphin Cove for 9 years. The staff are all so kind & giving. Some rooms needed to be updated with improvement. They are working on improvement. Yes, there's lots of stairs, but, it's so easy to overlook them, when everything else is so beautiful. Try booking a lower floor less stairs. The restaurant staff are also very friendly & very accommodating they go out of their way to make you happy. Food is good. Every year there are so many retired Canadians returning. We are so grateful for their service. This is an Inn not a High End Hotel, it's all your expectations.
My wife and I spent a couple of weeks at this beautiful resort in February 2017 and although there are many good things to say, we will not be returning for reasons I will get into. First, the good. The rooms are somewhat dated but they are clean and the room had a spectacular view overlooking a bay.The staff is very friendly and most seem quite sincere. The management has done a great job of presenting a resort that has great eye appeal as well obvious attention cleanliness of not just the rooms but also to the grounds as well. The onsite restaurant is staffed with very capable and friendly people although it sometimes seems to be understaffed. The food is excellent and consistent. Prices are reasonable but I wouldn't The restaurant is a pleasant place to dine and thankfully does not blast music in your ear like so many other Mexican restaurants do. Now for the downside. If you are looking for a quiet vacation and looking to spend time by the pool, this is NOT the place to go! The pool is small and normally filled with children that do what children do best which is yelling at the top of their lungs! Between children, floating toys, balls being thrown around and people eating their lunch while standing in the pool, a venture into the pool is like getting into a free for all. There doesn't seem to be any rules whatsoever nor did we ever see anyone patrolling the pool area to keep things under control. The weekends were particularly bad. Anther issue is the fact that there are a lot stairs and ramps to navigate but it should be pointed out that there is a cart service that will take one to anywhere they want to go on the grounds. Most people seem to be able to handle the stairs after a few days of acclimation. Also, be aware that there is no internet in the rooms although it is available (free) in the lobby and the in the restaurant and pool area although it did have a nasty habit of quitting there for hours at a time. To summarize, if you are just looking for a place to stay while going out on daytime tours, this place is perfect! However, if you are retired (or not) and () just want to flop by a pool and read, (or whatever), do not consider the Dolphin Cove. Look elsewhere. We will not be returning.
The hotel is really has a beautiful view overlooking the ocean. Going to the pool and restaurant is all steps. If you have a problem with knees, this is not the place to be. My husband booked 3 junior suites middle of the year last year. My daughter's room was a suite but my son's room and my room are just the standard rooms, I guess. The shower drain in my bathroom sucks! There will be a pool of water while taking your shower so with my son's shower room. We got no hot water for 2 days. Kitchen gadgets need upgrades. Rooms are clean. Just do something with shower drains. No face towels.
In January 2009 I visited this facility in Manzanillo. Went back to it yesterday and obviously the facility has not been maintained to the standards that I would expect. Maintenance has not been done to keep the rooms clean and to not show wear. It still has fabulous views and a great pool, but I think it dropped from a 3 star to 2 star!
Hotel highlights
- Free WiFi in public areas
- Free parking
- Onsite dining
- Outdoor pool
Located in Peninsulas de Santiago within a short walk of Las Hadas Golf Course, Dolphin Cove Inn is within a mile (2 km) of Playa La Audiencia. This 47-room, 3-star hotel welcomes guests with a restaurant, an outdoor pool, and free self parking. In central Manzanillo, the hotel is also close to Riviera Casino and Playa Olas Altas.
Dining
Enjoy a leisurely bite to eat at Paradise, the hotel's onsite restaurant. Savor a meal from the comfort of your room with room service. Start your day off right with continental breakfast, which is served for a fee from 8:30 AM to 11:30 AM.
Rooms
The 47 air-conditioned rooms feature kitchenettes and balconies. 21-inch TVs come with cable channels and DVD players. Beds are dressed in premium bedding and bathrooms offer rainfall showers and hair dryers. Coffee makers, free local calls, and ceiling fans are other standard amenities.
Property features
At Dolphin Cove Inn, guests enjoy an outdoor pool, a children's pool, and free WiFi in public areas. There's free parking, and an airport shuttle (available on request) for MXN 650 per person roundtrip. The 24-hour front desk has staff standing by to help with dry cleaning/laundry, concierge services, and luggage storage. Other amenities at this beach hotel include a terrace, a porter/bellhop, and a TV in a common area.
Reviews from Trip Advisor
83% of guests recommend this hotel
Total of 244 reviews
