San Nicolas Hotel & Casino — Hotel in Ensenada

Hotel San Nicolás Hotel & Casino in Ensenada is a clean, centrally-located mid‑range property—rated around 9/10 by guests—for its friendly staff, relaxing pool area, and great value. Situated just a short walk from First Street, the marina, shops, and restaurants, it offers easy access to downtown without being right in the noisy hub .

Guests praise the large courtyard pool with three hot tubs, wooden sun decks, and a poolside bar/restaurant—perfect for winding down in Baja’s sunshine . Rooms are clean and comfortable, featuring balconies, flat‑screen TVs, coffeemakers, reliable Wi‑Fi, and strong water pressure . Security is also a plus: gated parking and wristbands contribute to a safe, family‑friendly vibe .

That said, the hotel is showing its age. The décor and furnishings are dated—burgundy carpets, floral bedspreads, hollow‑core doors—and some rooms are smaller than expected . Noise from the pool or ongoing renovation can be an issue, particularly in pool‑facing rooms . A few users were disappointed when promised “updated” rooms faced A/C units instead of views .

Summing up: San Nicolás is a solid 3-star choice for travelers seeking a safe, enjoyable stay with attractive pool amenities, convenience, and warm service—despite some signs of wear. Choose a balcony room facing the pool (away from A/C units) and expect ongoing refurbishments around the property. If your priority is new, luxury interiors, you may prefer more recently remodeled options—though you’ll likely pay more .

Overall rating: very good for value‑seeking travelers who like to explore Ensenada by foot, enjoy a pool scene, and don’t mind a few...

I'm super bummed I have to leave this review because I know how much Ensenada and establishments like Hotel San Nicolas depend on tourism, but the service we received here was UNACCEPTABLE and so were the rooms. Dont be fooled by the shiny lobby floors and if you do insist on staying here BYOTP (bring your own toilet paper).||||On our way up to the room the Elevator elevator door slammed closed on my arm, that door would've done some major damage on a small childs head. It hurt!||||The hall leading to our room felt like a scene from a scary movie, it was old and dingy. Freddy Kruger vibes! We stayed in room 352 and most of the rooms in that area were under construction, maybe that's why it was so dusty and dirty. Same goes for the room.I had to use my phone's flashlight to find stuff in my suite case, with all the room lights on!||||At around 7:15AM on Saturday we were woken up by hammering and construction going on in what had to be the nearby rooms. When we complained about it to reception the lady offered us 15% off breakfast, this is the same breakfast discount the front desk lady offered us at check in just for being hotel guest. ||||The beds were so uncomfortable that a few of us staying at the hotel ended up staying elsewhere on sofas and an air mattress.||||I GUESS IF I HAD TO CHOOSE THE WORST PART OF OUR STAY, IT WAS ON THE SECOND DAY WHEN WE WERE TOLD THERE WAS NO TOILET PAPER AVAILABLE UNTILL 7AM THE FOLOWING MORNING. THIS WAS AROUND 9PM...

When I first checked in and got to my room, I turned on the bathroom sink to wash my hands, and the water came out completely brown for about three minutes before clearing up. I’m not sure if this was due to rusted pipes, but it’s unacceptable. While brushing teeth, they recommend using tapwater which I believe is something they need to list on their hotel website. I’m aware this is common in Mexico however, at my previous hotel there were no water issues I would’ve assumed in 2025 hotel water would be okay to brush with. The least I’d expect is clear water and not brown.

The walls are also extremely thin—despite a brick wall in the room, I could hear everything going on in both neighbors rooms all night.

Because of the issues, I went to the front desk to ask about moving to another room. Marco was not helpful at all, saying it wasn’t possible and offering no real alternatives besides assuring me they would “check out the water issue when they get time.” I had just stayed at a Holiday Inn nearby a month ago and did not encounter any of these problems. Furthermore, Marco caught an attitude with me when I was trying to explain the issue. No reason to act the way he did at 7am.

If you’re deciding between hotels, I strongly recommend choosing the Holiday Inn. The experience there was far better and much more accommodating than San Nicolas. The staff is also much more...