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
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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Working Gringos 17 years ago
UPDATE: We have been in contact with the owners of Hotel Marionetas, and they assure us that the breakfasts are still as delicious as we remember and there is no rule against lounging around the pool. Glad we cleared that up.
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Emily 17 years ago
Hey WG"s,
Once again I applaud you for the integrity and perspective you manage to uphold on this site. And delivered with such grace. That's all!
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Working Gringos 17 years ago
First, in the interests of full disclosure, Working Gringos produced the website for Hotel Marionetas several years ago and we also lived up the street from the hotel for several years, so we know the owners (we have met many of the hotel owners in Merida's Centro over the years).
The last time we were at Hotel Marionetas, which was over a year ago, the breakfast was about the most you can expect as part of the room rate in any small hotel in Merida. We'd call it a tropical-continental breakfast, with various breads and pasteries (not just toast), spreads, fresh tropical fruits, juices and coffee. But we admit, it has been awhile, and maybe things have changed.
Or maybe, like every other hotel in Merida, they simply have some bad days, like the day when a key employee doesn't show up, ants invade the pantry and the pastery isn't delivered, just as an irrate guest storms out, hurling invectives because the shower wasn't producing hot water fast enough.
After hearing quite a few of their stories, we certainly don't envy the hotel operators in Merida who struggle to consistantly satisfy modern travelers' world-class expectations. But for some reason, they do try.
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elizabeth ward 17 years ago
Just a thought on the small hotels from things I have experienced or heard. Hotel Mexilio certainly is the most interesting of the 5. I love wandering around it! If your guests want eccentric, this is the place! Luz en Yucatan: I have heard folks rave about this hotel for years. While it is under new ownership, the new owners vow to "keep things the same". Good decision! Hotel Marionetas, while a lovely property, seems to have 2 levels of customer care: great and awful, with many guests receiving the latter. Also, their "different delicious breakfast" consists of toast, spread and coffee. Nothing the matter with toast and coffee, it just shouldn't be over-hyped. Personally I would like to see the hotel adopt a more "guest friendly" attitude because it is very close to my house and I would like to send my out of town visitors there. It is hard to suggest a hotel where one of the many "rules" state you cannot lounge by the pool. Why have a pool, then? Hotel Mediomundo is also an interesting, attractive place that people can feel comfortable in their guests having a nice stay without worry. My friends who have stayed there all spoke highly of it. Personally I really like their gift shop!
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