Star Palace Beach Hotel
Star Palace Beach Hotel earns its audience through location and energy rather than luxury. It sits on the beach in the Golden Zone, Mazatlan's tourist strip along the Pacific, and belongs to the local Hoteles Palace group alongside Oceano Palace, Luna Palace and Pacific Palace. Step out the front and the Malecon promenade, seafood restaurants and the Golden Zone's bars are all within walking distance. The all-inclusive plan covers food and drink from 7am to 1am, with the open bar running from 10am, plus nightly shows and an animation team that guests say keeps things fun without forcing anyone to join in.
Traveler Insights
Pros
- +Beachfront in Mazatlan's Golden Zone on Avenida Camarón Sábalo, so the Malecon, seafood restaurants and the area's bars are right outside the door and most evenings out need no taxi
- +Nightly entertainment is included in the all-inclusive plan, with live shows plus daytime activities like yoga, foam parties, contests, table games and beach volleyball, and the animation team gets credit for keeping energy up without being pushy
- +Bar Oceana by the pool turns out wood-fired pizza and grilled food alongside the drinks, so you can eat and drink without leaving your lounger
- +Rooms are spacious with large balconies, and the standard ocean-view rooms get genuinely impressive Pacific views and lots of light
- +Solo travelers report feeling safe and welcome, since the walkable Golden Zone location and social pool scene make it easy to have company when you want it
- +The all-inclusive plan runs food and drink from 7:00am to 1:00am, with the open bar from 10:00am to 1:00am, a long window that covers early breakfasts and late returns from the Malecon
- +More dining than its size suggests: the Pelican buffet with ocean views, Sushi Market for Asian dishes, Pacifica Terraza for beachfront seafood and Bar Oceana, with the specialty spots bookable in advance
Cons
- −Street and nightlife noise from the Golden Zone carries into the hotel at night, and guests in city-view rooms report disruption well past midnight, especially on weekends
- −A la carte portions are often called too small, and with only two specialty restaurants the menus start to feel repetitive over a week-long stay
- −Juices and mixed drinks lean on artificial fruit flavorings, so anyone expecting fresh-squeezed options will be disappointed
- −There is no swim-up bar: the pool bar is a walk-up spot, so do not book expecting to drink from the water
- −The property is modest in scale, and anyone comparing it to the big Cancun or Los Cabos resorts will find smaller grounds and fewer pools
- −The beach in front is part of Mazatlan's public shoreline, so vendors and non-guests share the sand, which some visitors find intrusive
- −Wi-Fi is advertised hotel-wide but guests still report dead zones in some rooms, which frustrates anyone who needs to work
The practical side is better than the hotel's size suggests, with some caveats. There are four places to eat: the ocean-view Pelican buffet for all three meals, Sushi Market, Pacifica Terraza for beachfront seafood and seasonal local fish, and Bar Oceana by the pool for wood-fired pizza and grill. Despite what some listings imply, there is no swim-up bar. Guests still find a la carte portions small and the menus thin by the end of a week, and the artificially flavored juices and cocktails come up again and again. Ocean-view rooms get the views; city-view rooms get the Golden Zone's street noise, so ask for the ocean side or pack earplugs. Note too that the hotel sells a cheaper room-with-breakfast plan where restaurants and bars cost extra, so check which rate you are looking at.
Star Palace is best for budget-minded travelers and solo visitors who want a working all-inclusive base with real access to a Mexican city rather than a walled-off compound. Oceano Palace is a sister hotel, not a rival, so compare the two on room type and price; guests who want bigger resort infrastructure usually look at the larger chain properties further north along the beach. Off property, the Centro Historico, the cathedral and the Pino Suarez market are about six miles south, a 15 to 20 minute pulmonia or bus ride along the Malecon.
Common Questions
How bad is the noise at night from the street and nearby clubs?
What exactly does the all-inclusive plan include?
Is there a swim-up bar?
Is the beach good, and is it private?
Can I walk to the historic center from the hotel?
Restaurants (5)
| Type | Restaurants |
|---|---|
| Buffet | Pelican Restaurant, La Terraza Restaurant (at Oceano Palace), Sunset restaurant (at Pacific Palace) |
| Japanese & sushi | Sushi market |
| Seafood | Restaurante Pacifica Terraza |
From the resort's own dining pages. Only restaurants the resort lists are shown. All are covered by the all-inclusive rate, per the resort.
What's nearby
Playa Norte9 min drive · 3.2 mi
Cliff Divers (El Clavadista)14 min drive · 5.7 mi
Gran Acuario Mazatlán9 min drive · 3.5 mi
Mazatlán Malecón11 min drive · 4.3 mi
Playa Cerritos13 min drive · 5.5 mi
Mazatlán Cathedral13 min drive · 5.3 mi
More things to do (24)
- Whale watching cruise (December to March) · excursion2 min drive · 0.8 mi
- El Cid Marina · marina2 min drive · 0.8 mi
- Playa Brujas · beach13 min drive · 5.3 mi
- Sunset cruise · excursion2 min drive · 0.8 mi
- Playa Sábalo · beach2 min drive · 0.7 mi
- Deer Island (Isla de Venados) boat and snorkel trip · excursion2 min drive · 0.8 mi
- Bird-watching boat tour of the marina · excursion2 min drive · 0.8 mi
- Sea Shell City · museum4 min drive · 1.6 mi
- Playa Gaviotas · beach4 min drive · 1.7 mi
- El Cid Golf & Country Club · golf6 min drive · 1.6 mi
- Marina Mazatlán · marina6 min drive · 2.2 mi
- Fuerte 31 de Marzo · historic site13 min drive · 5.2 mi
- Mazagua Water Park · water park13 min drive · 5.8 mi
- Olas Altas Beach · beach14 min drive · 6.0 mi
- Old Mazatlán (Plazuela Machado) · town14 min drive · 5.6 mi
- Museo de Arte de Mazatlán · museum15 min drive · 5.7 mi
- Museo Arqueológico de Mazatlán · museum15 min drive · 5.7 mi
- Teatro Ángela Peralta · historic site15 min drive · 5.7 mi
- Observatorio 1873 · museum20 min drive · 6.8 mi
- Museo Nacional de la Ballena (MUNBA) · museum20 min drive · 6.8 mi
- El Faro Lighthouse · viewpoint20 min drive · 7.7 mi
- Mirador Puente de Cristal · viewpoint20 min drive · 7.7 mi
- El Verde Camacho Turtle Sanctuary · wildlife40 min drive · 22 mi
- Estrella del Mar Golf Course · golf50 min drive · 27 mi
Amenities
Style & Rooms
Atmosphere
Seaweed & sargassum
Mazatlán is not a sargassum destination.See the month-by-month guide →Google Reviews★ 4.3 · 2,952 reviews
“Had an amazing time. Very nice and friendly staff..wonderful meals at the sunset with the chef making themed 5 course meals. Management very approachable to rectify any concern and working hard to make each guest feel appreciated. Local hot spots wit...”
“The room was clean, the pool was gorgeous, it was right next to the ocean, and the location was fantastic. However, at night the music outside was so loud and the beds were uncomfortable so my husband and I could not sleep very well. Also, found some...”
