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AKPablo

Mar 16, 2010, 7:41 PM

Post #1 of 15 (3405 views)

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Hotels dowtown Merida

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Looking for advise on 3 stars hotels downtown Merida. Planning a week long trip with my wife this summer, but she doesn't believe the pictures shown in the hotels web sites. Nothing fancy, basic A/C, TV, WiFi, decent bed and bathroom will do in the 60 to 100 USD/day and in the heart of downtown. We enjoy public markets and surroundings, and eat where locals eat. Montejo Palace, Caribe Hotel and El Castellano look good in pictures and within price range. Any advises will be much appreciated. Thanks

cookj5

Mar 16, 2010, 7:55 PM

Post #2 of 15 (3394 views)

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Re: [AKPablo] Hotels dowtown Merida

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Here is the TripAdvisor list of Merida hotels, including some in your price range and many with customer reviews.

http://www.tripadvisor.com/Hotels-g150811-Merida_Yucatan_Peninsula-Hotels.html

yucatandreamer

Mar 16, 2010, 7:59 PM

Post #3 of 15 (3391 views)

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Re: [AKPablo] Hotels dowtown Merida

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I always stayed at Dolores Alba and found it just fine. It is about 3 blocks to the Plaza Grande. As to your other, I have eaten often at El Castellano. The food is good and a lot of tour groups use it so it must be a decent place to stay. I know a tour operator who regularly has used The Caribe. Probably the most romanic and central of your selections. I am not familiar with Montejo Palace. I would think that for over 60 dollars a night you could go better than a 3 star and get a bit more atmosphere.
People seem very happy with a small place down the street call Media Mundo. There is free wifi in many of the parks if you don't get it in the hotel.

AKPablo

Mar 16, 2010, 8:17 PM

Post #4 of 15 (3385 views)

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Re: [yucatandreamer] Hotels dowtown Merida

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Thanks for such quick replies fellows. I'll keep doing my homework based on your comments. Question if I may: some travel sites show in the same page 1. Hotel Caribe and 2. Caribe Hotel. Same one perhaps?

yucatandreamer

Mar 16, 2010, 10:44 PM

Post #5 of 15 (3371 views)

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Re: [AKPablo] Hotels dowtown Merida

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There is another hotel in my area(pretty close to the middle of town) called the Maria Jose on Calle 64 at 53. It looks really nice and they have recently put in a bunch of new rooms and a large pool. You will need a pool as a summer visitor. I would check it out as it is the one I would recommend to visitors if they were to stay close to me. If I wanted to be closer to the mercado area I would stay at the Dolores Alba. Caribe is Caribe whether the hotel is in front or in back. My only comment is that it might be noisy and might be showing its age. Both it and its neighbor, The Gran Hotel,are charming to look at and are definitely in the center of the downtown action. In the Summer I think you should be able to book one night and then move if you are not happy.

AKPablo

Mar 16, 2010, 11:10 PM

Post #6 of 15 (3368 views)

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Re: [yucatandreamer] Hotels dowtown Merida

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Thanks Yucatandreamer, you seem to know your way around, and I appreciate you taking the time to go deeper on this. Even if I'm still fighting the corporate race NOB, and spending most of my working months up in the Bering Sea, Alaska, I've been married for over 20 years to my Mazatlan born wife, and we actually live down in Mazatlan, in the Mexican Pacific Northwest, so she's accustomed to the heat, unlike me that needs a/c even during winter nights. Today I've had a rather slow day, allowing me the time to check out the tripadvisor.com opinions from former guests, and even though there are some unhappy customers, Dolores de Alba ranks #9 altogether with mostly favorable comments.
When traveling with my wife pretty much use hotels to sleep at night, take a shower and a nice mid afternoon siesta, so we care more for confy beds and working a/c than for ammenities within the property.
I'll keep working on it, and it sure makes sense to make a reservation for a couple of nights at the beginning, just in case the Mrs. finds it in the uncomfortable side.
Look forward to enjoying real cochinita pibil this summer. Thanks again

yucatandreamer

Mar 17, 2010, 8:20 AM

Post #7 of 15 (3347 views)

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Re: [AKPablo] Hotels dowtown Merida

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The Dolores Alba may not be for you. I used to joke that Mrs. Sanchez kept her sheets and towels until you could read the newspaper through them. The beds are on concrete pedestals and are fine if you like a hard bed but not "comfy" per se. The air conditioning works (at least it did in the new annex eight or so years back). It is clean and well run. The Maria Jose, which I saw as their annex was being constructed, looks really nice and the beds would be new. It seems to cater toward Mexican tourists. Since I live here, I no longer stay here so hopefully someone who vacations here will chime in. I have found Trip Advisor to be pretty good in the past for other places where we have stayed( We usually stay in a mid range hotel as well).
Good hunting!

Vichil

Mar 17, 2010, 9:23 AM

Post #8 of 15 (3339 views)

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Re: [AKPablo] Hotels dowtown Merida

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After trying many hotels we decided that Maison Lafitte was it. It is in the center, quiet with a nice patio around the pool to rela, internet downstairs, has good breakfasts and the people there are very helpful. Google it and judge for yourself.

AKPablo

Mar 17, 2010, 2:45 PM

Post #9 of 15 (3319 views)

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Re: [Vichil] Hotels dowtown Merida

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Thanks again to y'all for bringing in your dos centavos. It really makes a difference to hear from the locals and former guests. Maison Laffite Hotel, and Casa de Balam have very good reviews in tripadvisor.com, but Luz en Yucatan Hotel has raving reviews from most of their former guests, and their rates are pretty much within range. Is this place close enough to downtown, perhaps within walking distance? Having over the years the opportunity to stay sometimes by choice and some other times by need in all kinds of hotels, I'm rather easy myself, but when traveling with my wife who runs our household for long months while I'm out at sea, I try to make her feel comfortable without going over-budget. She rather uses the extra money for shopping, so she says.

Vichil

Mar 17, 2010, 4:09 PM

Post #10 of 15 (3310 views)

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Re: [AKPablo] Hotels dowtown Merida

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When we stayed at Casa Balam there was a terrible racket from some nightclub. It was a few years ago but the noise was very bad. If you make reservations ask if there is a club around there.

By the way some hotels will give you discounts if you pay cash so always ask if there is a discount from their listed price.

(This post was edited by Vichil on Mar 17, 2010, 4:13 PM)

raferguson

Mar 17, 2010, 5:52 PM

Post #11 of 15 (3294 views)

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Re: [AKPablo] Hotels dowtown Merida

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We were in Dolores Alba a few years ago for Christmas. It is a little far to walk to the center of town, but not that bad. It has parking, which many hotels do not. I judge it as a legitimate choice, neither great nor bad. If you don't have a car, there may be better choices. I think that we did not pay for parking, but saw some references that suggested that they might charge for parking.

Richard

http://www.fergusonsculpture.com

yucatandreamer

Mar 18, 2010, 9:06 AM

Post #12 of 15 (3258 views)

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Re: [AKPablo] Hotels dowtown Merida

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Luz en Yucatan is on Calle 55 just beyond the Santa Lucia Church. In other words it is around the corner from Maison Lafitte in one direction and Casa Baalam in the other. It is near the nightclub on the corner but I have never heard complaints about noise or anything else for that matter. It has been very popular with tourists. It has an excellent location on a street that is not as busy as Calle 60. I have no idea about it's comfort or cleanliness level. I suspect that its clientele are not as picky as those that would stay at the Hyatt for example. The popular Cafe Club restaurant is across the street. I used to eat there quite often but can no longer recommend it. It seems to be falling apart.

AKPablo

Mar 18, 2010, 10:53 AM

Post #13 of 15 (3245 views)

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Re: [yucatandreamer] Hotels dowtown Merida

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Well, I have gone through several dozen reviews from former Luz en Yucatan guests trying to find complaints, and boy raving reviews every where, from the quietness, the comfort, the decor, the complimentary welcoming beer and the free tequila bar, to the excellent customer service from owners and staff, as early as March 15th of this year. In checking their web site I'm finding out a credit card is no required for reservations which I kind of like, but by the same token they don't accept credit cards, which can be worked out with traveler's checks I guess or good ol' cash. Excellent location also. I think I might have a winner here. Hope they have some vacancies in the summer and that we won't be disappointed.
I'd like to thank all of you that have provided input and advise. It sure greatly helps not to go out in the blind.

roni_smith

Mar 18, 2010, 7:42 PM

Post #14 of 15 (3221 views)

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Re: [yucatandreamer] Hotels dowtown Merida

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We stay at the Luz en Yucatan when in Merida, always in a unit with a kitchenette.

We like it a lot, and its location is ideal for us, between the main Plaza and the Santa Ana park and Paseo de Montejo.
------
Planning for Mexico Move Blog

pickledtrout

Mar 19, 2010, 3:35 PM

Post #15 of 15 (3193 views)

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Re: [AKPablo] Hotels dowtown Merida

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go on hotwire and book a four star
We did this and got a great deal at a great price
I get emails for 49 dollars a night

you might get lucky we got Piedra DE Agua Boutique Hotel 1/4 block to the centro it was great
Dave