RIU Santa Fe
Hey folks, it's time for a weekend trip to Cabo next week. It'll only be the wife (40) and myself (48). Last time we stayed at the Hampton Inn that sits right between SJDC and CSL and really liked it. It was nothing special but had a rooftop pool with an ocean view. We have a refundable reservation for that now but have been eyeing AI resorts as well.
We are kinda in between the RIU Palace CSL and the RIU Santa Fe. We know that these are not super nice AI resorts and have no really high expectations for food and drinks. We are only looking at them because, for just a little more money, we would be in walking distance to downtown CSL (vs. having to take Ubers everywhere), and basically break even by only having breakfast and a few drinks at the resort every day.
As it stands right now the prices are as follows (for 3 nights, including taxes):
Hampton Inn $490
RIU Santa Fe $595 (+$105, or $35 per day)
RIU Palace CSL $835 (+$345, or $115 per day)
The number cruncher in me tells me to stay at Santa Fe because it seems impossible to not break even with only 2-3 drinks every day and otherwise eat off-property. That said, I read some horror stories about Santa Fe being "ratchet", loud, nasty etc. even though they have newly remodeled rooms vs. the dated ones at Palace CSL. Palace CSL seems a little tougher to break even without eating on property and knowing that food is just meh over there.
So my question to you is, is Santa Fe really that horrible to stay at if you only use it as a hotel to have breakfast and a few drinks at?
Thanks!