Best Small Hotel in Merida Centro
Even though we have lived here for six years and have at least three places in Merida where we can hang a hammock, we occasionally have the need to recommend or put up a friend or family member at a hotel. Most of our friends don't like sleeping in hammocks, and the number of beds we have is limited.
So we find ourselves every few months in the position of having to recommend a place to stay for someone we care about. And of course, since we live here, they expect us to choose the best place for them, depending on their tastes. What we realize is there are a lot of charming small hotels that have sprung up over the last few years, just in the downtown area, and we haven't stayed in all of them... or many of them, for that matter!
So it's time to tap the collective wisdom on which is the best small hotel in Merida Centro.
The following are our first five nominations for Best Small Hotel in Merida Centro. To qualify, a hotel must have fifteen rooms or less and the nightly tarifa (rate) for at least some of the rooms must be under $100 USD. The hotel must be located within the confines of the Circuito Colonias in the Centro Historico of the city. That's about it. This isn't about price, though. It's about selecting from a distinctive style of hotel... we'll post Reader's Choice Polls for luxury, hostel and B&B hotels in the months ahead.
We think the things to keep in mind here are ambiance, service, location, and whether the bed is comfortable. Not to mention the all important consideration: If you book your best friend or mother-in-law a room at that hotel, will they be pleased and think you really know what you're talking about?
Here are our five nominations. As always, we hope that you will add your nominations (if you don't see your favorite on the initial list) by leaving a comment, and we will add the new name to the poll.
Nominations are open until September 15th and the voting will be open until midnight on December 31st, 2007. The winner of this and the other Reader's Choice Polls will be announced early in January 2008.
The initial nominees for Best Small Hotel in Merida Centro under $100 in alphabetical order are...
Casa Mexilio - The Grand Dame of small hotels here, Casa Mexilio has been in operation since before we came to Merida. Located in a multi-story colonial home, it is chock full of antiques and ambiance. We hear the rooftop bar is really lovely, but we've never been there. Casa Mexilio has --- unique rooms priced between $55 and $120 US.
Website: www.casamexilio.com
Casa Sacnicte - Located on Calle 62 just a short stroll south of the zocalo, Casa Sacnicte is one of the newest small hotels in Merida, but it is already enjoying favorable word-of-mouth. While it sometimes bills itself as a bed and breakfast, we think its eight rooms places it in the small hotel category. Room rates are priced between $40 and $65 US.
Website: www.casasacnicte.com
Luz En Yucatan - Located next to Santa Lucia Church in what is rumored to have once been a nunnery, Luz En Yucatan's room are each different, all with kitchenettes. There's a pool, a community dining room and kitchen and lots of nooks and crannies. One of the friendliest and quirkiest hotels in Merida... perhaps in the world. Luz en Yucatan has rooms priced between $30 and $85 US.
Website: www.luzenyucatan.com
Hotel Marionetas - We used to live across from this colonial jewel of a hotel and we watched them build it into the popular spot that it is today. All the rooms have beautiful tiled floors in a riot of Mexican color. Rooms also have modern amenities, they surround a pool and garden, and guests are treated to a different delicious breakfast every morning. Hotel Marionetas has 8 rooms priced between $80 and $100 US.
Website: www.hotelmarionetas.com
Hotel Mediomundo - The first place we ever stayed in Merida, and we aren't alone. The bright colors and lush garden continue to be a great initiation into the living experience of Merida for many people. Hotel Mediomundo has a gift shop, a pool and 12 rooms priced between $55 and $90 US.
Website: www.hotelmediomundo.com
Casa Álvarez Guest House - This is the first reader-nominated hotel (See Tito's comment, below). While it doesn't have a pool and they don't offer breakfast, this is a good choice if you want to experience authentic Merida Colonial ambiance and be only steps away from the zocalo. There are eight rooms, each with private bath and cable TV. Casa Álvarez Guest House is located at Calle 62 #448 between 53 and 51. The rooms cost between $30 and $35 US.
Website: www.casaalvarezguesthouse.com
Comments
Merry 17 years ago
casa alvarez es el mejor hotel en la cd que me ha impresionado por su contruccion colonial y la hospitalidad de sus anfitriones Miriam Y Enrique cuenta con sus habitaciones que te deja uff y con todas las comodidades que ellos nos proporcionan tour y renta car
les recomiendo ampliamente casa ALVAREZ
Merry
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Julie 17 years ago
Hotel Mediomundo has been a home away from home. The accommodations are second only to the wonderful attentive innkeepers! Whenever we are in Mérida, Hotel Mediomundo is our pick again and again. The rooms are spotless, bright and relaxing. The pool is placed so as to receive a good amount of sun through most of the day.
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Abigahil e 17 years ago
Casa Alvarez :
Es una verdadera joya escondida en el centro de Merida ,el que conoce esta maravilla de hospedaje queda invitado para regresar, Miriam y Enrique son muy buenos anfitriones a nosotros nos hicieron sentir como si estuvieramos en nuestra casa y con nuestra propia familia. Les recomendamos sinceramente este maravilloso Hotel
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Mercedes Sanchez, from Brussels 17 years ago
We spent three days in Merida at Casa Alvarez with our two kids. We parked our rented car close to the old Dodge and enjoyed the cosyness of a large room for the 4 of us. As it was very hot those days back in July, Miriam put a small swimming pool outside in the small terrace and kids had a big fun there, while we were chatting with other guests ! Enrique and Miriam were indeed very charming and friendly. So we vote for them !! Good luck !
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Margaret Testarmata & Geneva 17 years ago
Casa Alvarez is in my opinion the best kept secret in Merida. The outer wall gives no clue to the friendly haven and nice rooms within, which are very reasonably priced. Although there is no official breakfast, the common kitchen was well stocked with breakfast food when we were there.
The owners treated us like family, we stayed longer than we planned, and had trouble tearing ourselves away. Adrian, the Mayan craftsman, patiently let me practice my Spanish with him and told me about the nicest cenote outside the tourist circuit and how to get there with public transportation. Mr. Alvarez flagged down a police car to bring us to the bus station when the taxi was late and it looked like we would miss our bus to Palenque. His sister took us (me and my 8 year old) to the zoo with her daughter. And yes, we also left some things behind, which they kindly mailed to us.
The owners went out of the way to keep us completely satisfied. They bought a small inflatable pool so my Eskimo girl could cool off in the heat of the day, hung a hammock in the room for her to sleep in, and stored our belonging when we left for a few days.
I can't say enough about the integrity, helpfulness, and local knowledge of these wonderful hosts. Someday we hope to see them again.
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Working Gringos 17 years ago
Grant, we think we're gonna save Hotel Santa Ana for our "Colonial Hotels" poll.
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Grant 17 years ago
We like Hotel Santa Ana quite a bit. We stayed there during some construction at our house. About $30 per night. Clean, pretty, pleasant, good breakfast, a/c and convenient. Located on C. 45, just north of C. 60, at the corner of Santa Ana parish church. They have a website: http://www.hotelsantaana.com.mx
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Iliana Vargas 17 years ago
I'm headed to Merida as of November 5th and I will be staying at Luz en Yucatan.
I have contacted them to make a reservation and my experience so far is a welcome one!
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Merissa 17 years ago
I lean towards Luz en Yucatan, but maybe because I adore their little yoga room where I used to teach! Very eclectic and fun though.
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Working Gringos 17 years ago
Tito,
Your nomination is duly noted. We're checking it out to see if they belong in the Small Hotel poll or perhaps a B&B or Guesthouse poll. We'll know by the end of the day.
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Tito 17 years ago
Those are excellent reviews that match the quality tones of your Website.
To add a cute little guest house, Casa Ãlvarez Guest House (simple details at www.casaalvarezguesthouse.com) is another wonderful little place.
The owners are from an oldtime Mérida business family, and are a true delight. There are very large rooms with air conditioning, and small rooms with ceiling fans. Also a very nice eat in kitchen where you can prepare your own meals. They do not do breakfast. Parking is available next door for 50 pesos, where Mr. Ãlvarez parks his own 1950 Dodge, with a Have You Hugged Your Kids Today? license plate on the front.
It is Gay, Senior Citizen and family friendly, within four blocks of the main Plaza de Armas, two blocks from Santa LucÃa, and a little longer hike to Paseo de Montejo. Mr. Ãlvarez is into history and antiques, repairs antique clocks and victrolas, and has original late 1800 Belgian roof tiles on the roof.
It also has something like 28 cable stations on the televisions, tasteful decor and nicely tiled bathrooms, and they will loan you a little portable fridge.
I lost a new watch and a week later the assistant, Adrián, found it where it had fallen behind one of the beds, and returned it. We left two laptops, cel phones, I-pods, a DVD and passports in the room and washed and hung clothes on the roof, and had no problems. That is not to recommend that you do the same, just to give an idea of their integrity.
Up the street about three blocks is a great cocina económica, El Cubano, with cheap and delicious Yucatecan and Caribbean food.
The only negative vibes were from obviously well-heeled European and American tourists who would drop in and haggle over the already reasonable 300 to 500 peso prices, depending on the room and group size. Tsk-tsk.
After we tired of the cold showers at the Hotel Caribe, we went there for a couple of days in June with an entourage of three adults, two teenagers and a heat sensitive disabled tot of two years. We liked it so much that we canceled other regional plans and ended up staying for three weeks.
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