Where to Stay in San Salvador
Are you wondering where to stay in San Salvador, El Salvador?
El Salvador’s capital city is a good place to base yourself to explore more of the country.
I spent four days basing myself here and taking day trips to other destinations nearby. I also spent one day exploring the city itself. As far as Central American capitals go, it’s one of the better ones.
Many people would advise that you skip the Central American capital cities and for the most part, I agree. However, since El Salvador is such a small country, the capital actually makes a convenient base for taking day trips if you don’t want to move around the country a lot, which is why I stayed here.
These are the top day trips that I would recommend doing:
- Santa Ana Volcano Hiking and Lake Coatepeque Tour
- Suchitoto Colonial Town and San Salvador Combo Tour
- Ruta de Flores and Cafe Albania Tour
- Tamanique Waterfalls Trek and El Tunco Beach Tour
But where should you stay? It’s a large city so it can be hard to figure out the best area. I recommend the Zona Rosa, a modern area close to the business district with lots of hotels, restaurants, and shopping.
Nothing is really pedestrian-friendly in this city, but Uber is easy and affordable for getting around. Since it’s not a walkable city, I didn’t factor this into where I chose to stay since I knew I’d be driving a lot.
Now let’s get into the best places to stay, including where I stayed…
Best Hotels in San Salvador
I personally stayed at the Sheraton Presidente San Salvador for four nights on my recent trip. Overall, I enjoyed my stay at this hotel. This is a five-star hotel in a good location in the Zona Rosa.
However, I do have to say that the hotel was pretty dated and could have used a facelift. The WiFi was also really unreliable, which was disappointing for what is supposed to be a five-star business hotel.
Other than that, I liked the Sheraton Presidente. The pool area is really nice, and the included buffet breakfast was also great. Since I have Elite status with Marriott, I also got access to the Club Lounge on the fourth floor of the hotel, which offered an excellent array of complimentary food and drinks every day.
I was able to book the Sheraton Presidente San Salvador at a discounted rate, and I felt satisfied with the value I got for my money — however, I wouldn’t have wanted to pay any more than the $135 a night I paid.
Here are my top picks for where to stay in San Salvador:
- Best luxury hotel: Sheraton Presidente San Salvador
- Best mid-range hotel: Fairfield by Marriott San Salvador
- Best budget hotel: Las Magnolias Hotel Boutique
- Best hostel: La Zona Hostel
And here’s a full breakdown of where to stay in San Salvador.
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Best Luxury Hotels
Sheraton Presidente San Salvador
Like I mentioned above, the Sheraton Presidente San Salvador is where I stayed. This hotel is in a nice location and the grounds are beautiful and peaceful, with a swimming pool and free-roaming peacocks.
Although the rooms are fairly dated and could use some renovating, this is still a solid place to stay if you’re looking for a five-star hotel that is in a convenient location in the city for your visit. A lot of tours offer pickups from this hotel, which was good since I used it as a base for taking some day trips.
Real Intercontinental San Salvador
The Real Intercontinental San Salvador by IHG is another five-star hotel that is a good option if you’re looking for a luxurious place to stay. It’s located centrally downtown near the Metrocentro Mall.
This hotel looks like it has nicely updated rooms (my main critique about the Sheraton) with modern touches. The hotel also offers an outdoor swimming pool, a spa, and a fitness center for guests to use.
Hilton San Salvador
Hilton San Salvador is one more option if you’re looking for a five-star hotel in the city. This hotel is located near the city’s bustling World Trade Center, making it a popular choice for business travelers.
It also offers modern, bright guest rooms with excellent views of the forested volcano in El Boqueron National Park. Guests staying at the Hilton San Salvador also have access to the hotel’s outdoor swimming pool. Someone from one of the tours I did was staying at this hotel and they highly recommended it.
Barceló San Salvador
The Barceló San Salvador is a good option if you’re looking for a four-star hotel in a convenient location in the city. Situated in the Zona Rosa, this hotel is just steps away from the Bambu City Center shopping mall.
This hotel offers comfortable guest rooms and amenities including a fitness center and a swimming pool.
Hyatt Centric San Salvador
One more four-star hotel to take a look at is the Hyatt Centric San Salvador. This sleek and modern hotel is located in a great area right by the Las Cascadas shopping center, with lots of shopping and dining.
The rooms at this hotel look spacious and clean, with a nice design. Amenities at this hotel include a sprawling rooftop terrace with a swimming pool, as well as a fitness center for guests to enjoy.
Best Mid-Range Hotels
Fairfield by Marriott San Salvador
When it comes to mid-range hotels, Fairfield by Marriott San Salvador is a great choice. This three-star hotel is attached to La Gran Via shopping mall (a common theme you’ll notice with hotels here.)
This gives you easy access to plenty of shopping and dining options during your stay. The rooms at this hotel are clean and modern, and breakfast is included each morning during your stay here.
Courtyard by Marriott San Salvador
Another similarly good option for mid-range hotels is the Courtyard by Marriott San Salvador. This is located right near the Fairfield by Marriott, and it is also attached to La Gran Via shopping mall.
You can’t go wrong with either of these hotels — they’re both modern, comfortable, and affordable. I would take a look at the prices for the dates of your stay and just choose whichever one is cheaper.
Suites Las Palmas, Hotel & Apartments
One more mid-range hotel to consider is Suites Las Palmas, Hotel & Apartments. This comfortable three-star hotel is located in the Zona Rosa neighborhood, close to the Bambu City Center shopping mall.
Guests staying at this hotel will enjoy the spacious rooms and the outdoor swimming pool.
Best Budget Hotels
Las Magnolias Hotel Boutique
Las Magnolias Hotel Boutique is a great place to stay if you’re on a budget. This lovely three-star hotel is situated ideally in the Zona Rosa, where you have easy access to lots of shopping and dining.
The rooms at this hotel are basic but comfortable. Las Magnolias Hotel Boutique has a beautiful outdoor garden where you can relax, a swimming pool, and an included breakfast each morning.
Terra Bella Hotel Boutique
Another affordable hotel to consider is Terra Bella Hotel Boutique. This three-star hotel is also located in the Zona Rosa, right next door to the fascinating Dr. David J. Guzmán National Museum.
You’re also close to the Bambu City Center shopping mall. This hotel is very simple but clean and comfortable. Guests staying here will also enjoy a complimentary breakfast each morning during their stay.
La Zona Hostel
Finally, one of the best budget-friendly options in San Salvador is La Zona Hostel. This backpacker hostel offers both private rooms with private bathrooms and dorm rooms with shared bathrooms.
The dorms offer a lot of privacy, which is a nice perk. Other benefits of staying here include free breakfast, free parking, nice common areas and a shared workspace, and tours you can book at the hostel. There aren’t really any other hostels in San Salvador, so this is the place of choice for most backpackers.
Best Hotels in San Salvador
This guide showed you where to stay in San Salvador, El Salvador.
To recap, my top picks for where to stay are:
- Best luxury hotel: Sheraton Presidente San Salvador
- Best mid-range hotel: Fairfield by Marriott San Salvador
- Best budget hotel: Las Magnolias Hotel Boutique
- Best hostel: La Zona Hostel
Have a great trip and enjoy your stay in San Salvador!
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