Oaxaca hotels?

November 30, 2005 1:37 PM

Would like to ask for first-hand experience with hotels in Oaxaca (City). In city, near Zocalo, quiet, pretty, clean, etc. The Camino Real is around $200 a night (with taxes). Is it worth it? Most of the really cool b&b's are booked solid. The other two choices appear to be Hostal de la Noria and ...the Holiday Inn (which surprisingly has some good reviews but the photos look like every other Holiday Inn in the world) We'll be there late Jan.-earlly Feb. Hablamos Espanol
posted by lois1950 to Travel & Transportation around Oaxaca, Mexico (5 answers total)

We stayed at La Casa de Mis Recuerdos, and it was awesome - clean, fun and interesting guests, tranquil gardens, quiet nights, comfy beds, nice hosts, lots of space. I don't know about the Hostal de la Noria or the Holiday Inn, but if you have the cash, I know the Casa de las Bugambilias is the really nice and posh one. Casa Oaxaca looked cool too - didn't see the rooms, but I know it's stylish and gorgeous. I didn't see the Camino Real, but it gets good reviews on Fodors and, if you want more Oaxacan ambiance than a Holiday Inn, splurge for a few days. Oaxaca's the place to do it. When are you going?

You have to eat at El Naranjo, including the zucchini blossom stuffed pepper. Also, eat the mole and huitlacoche wherever you get the chance. And take a cooking class! Your hotel or B&B will be able to arrange it - try to get one that takes you to the market first.
posted by fionab at 1:58 PM on November 30, 2005

I'd recommend the Parador San Miguel. It's very close to the Zocalo and super clean. That said, try to get room as far away from the street as possible or bring some earplugs because the noise from the street can be quite loud. I suspect that will be true with most hotels in the city though. There are some others' reviews on tripadvisor.
posted by xulu at 2:00 PM on November 30, 2005

I can second La Casa de Mis Recuerdos and Casa de las Bugambilias as two B&Bs that are good. And they are actually owned by families that are related.

The Camino Real is probably not worth it. On the plus side it is located up one of the hills adjacent to the Oaxaca Valley and has an amazing view. It is posh by Oaxaca standards, but by US standards it is a little dated and seems more like a country club than a US resort hotel. And because it is away from downtown it feels a little remote and isolated. It does have a pool if you are into that kind of thing.

My recommendation is to stay in the historic downtown. If you want you can always take a taxi up to the Camio Real and enjoy a nice dinner at their bar/restaurant and soak in the view.
posted by Tallguy at 4:17 PM on November 30, 2005

If you're looking for quiet I would recommend one of the half dozen hotels a block away from the Zocalo. The hotel I stayed at is not there anymore (or more likely operating under a new name), but it was very peaceful and the front door was only about fifty yards from the Zocalo. The Zocalo can get very loud up until about three in the morning, and Oaxacan hotel rooms don't seem to be very soundproof. Friends of ours that were staying right on the Zocalo said it was very loud in their room when they were trying to sleep. But the view was terrific.

We looked at other hotels while there for future visits and didn't see any around the Zocalo that stood out as being extra nice or definite ones to avoid. You can spend a whole week traveling by foot from the Zocalo (especially if you're willing to walk to the outer markets), but I'd recomend hiring a driver for day to see the area around Oaxaca.
posted by Slack-a-gogo at 4:33 PM on November 30, 2005

The New York Times did a travel piece on Oaxaca about a week ago. Hope it helps.

Click fast before it gets archived!
posted by Ian A.T. at 10:57 AM on December 1, 2005