El Taj is a beautiful property located right on the beach. It’s well-maintained and clean. The front desk staff were helpful & friendly. Things I loved: the fresh bag of coffee and filters on the kitchen counter, the comfy bed, and the private patio, which even provided a view of the ocean.
What could have been better? El Taj’s ‘unique’ hotel-like set didn’t work for us. Most hotels offer restaurants, room service, gyms, and spas on site, and even simple things like ice machines. At El Taj though, all those services are more complicated.
Asi is the only restaurant on the property, and they close at 6PM. Too early for us. Most traditional hotel restaurants are open until 9-10PM. They also don’t have traditional room service. Getting ice was inconvenient. There are no ice machines like at traditional hotels. You have to go down to the front office if you want ice, and then a staff member will bring an entire bag, rather than a bucket. There is also no on-site gym or spa. Both are located a few blocks away.
Overall though, we liked El Taj. The property is a couple blocks from 5th Avenue, and despite being so close to all that activity, it is a relaxing and quiet place. That’s why the lack of on-site amenities wasn’t a big deal.
A note: The beach on the property is not suitable for swimming. Boats dock along the shore & the beach is narrow. Still, it’s a nice spot for relaxing on the loungers, and only a short walk to the larger main beach. All in all, it was a nice vacation.