I spent 2 nites in San Salvador, one nite a few blocks from Metro Center, and the other time in Centro.
I learned from my trip to El Salvador to all but ignore U.S. Consular's Reports, scaring people away from going to particular countries, with a reputation as being dangerous/unsafe.
As for gangs, let's face it, they're killing one another, not tourists, just like the Mexican border cities some time ago, like Juarez/Tijuana, perfectly safe for tourists!
It really saddened me to stay at this outstanding motel in La Palma (20 miles from the Honduran border), as I was given the best room in the motel, for $10, in 2009. Had the pool all to myself! I was the only one staying in the motel that night! Yes, 2009, and 8 years later, I would not hesitate to return there!
Sad, because so many tourists take these media reports of danger to heart, and miss out on some great bargains, great people.
So many of the people I encountered on my bus trips I'd call stupidly honest. It blew me away, time after time, taking a bus or chicken bus in El Salvador, no matter what denomination of $ gave them, no matter how crowded the bus, they stupidly gave me the exact change back.
Hey! I live in Rip-off Las Vegas where they'd find some way of taking the last nickel out of your pocket before you returned to the Airport, and? Not so much as a thank-you!
And I love all the motels I stayed in all over Central America, all built so solidly, with concrete, no wooden motels like here in the U.S.!