My wife and I visited the HI Express in Guanajuato in June of 2006. The hotel is pretty new and very well maintained. It's shaped like a sideways "H" where you would have the breakfast courtyard on the right and the pool on the left (as you come from the lobby) inside four story atriums. There was also a small children's play area off the pool area outside.

We were lucky to receive a room with a small patio that overlooked a chapel on the backside of the hotel.

The room was well appointed with illuminated niches with vases and the obligatory electronic safe.

The free breakfast was excellent with chilaquiles, refried beans, cold cuts, scrambled eggs and ham, yogurt, cereal, pastries, etc...We were there during the World Cup so it was neat to see all the servers wearing the jerseys of the Mexican National Team while soccer played on two big screen TV's.

The hotel is about a 25-30 minute ride from the airport (BJX) and runs about $25 (250 pesos). They take the cuota (toll road) so they move pretty quick. We didn't use the shuttle service to go downtown (Jardin de La Union) but taxis were about $3 and they show up pretty quickly after the front desk calls them for you. There was a kiosk in the lobby with a computer that had internet access if you want to check your mail. It's not conducive to surfing the 'net (by design to minimize hoggers) but helps it's available.

It's a bummer the hotel is 10 minutes from downtown but once you go to Gto., you'll understand space is at a premium. Overall, a very nice place to stay.

Hotel itself was good with its offering of amenities, but its location was not. The hotel does not provide airport shuttle, paid or unpaid. The hotel is quite a distance from the downtown area and the hotel downtown shuttle has to be scheduled and shuts down early evening so one has to take a cab from downtown. Outside the hotel there really is nothing to do within walking distance. I had intended to stay there 7 nights but left after the second night. Another problem was that an AARP rate was quoted at $77 and I ended up paying approximately $125 per night.

Couldn't believe this was a Holiday Inn Express. This is a large and beautiful hotel, with great rooms, great service and excellent breakfast. Only negatives are that it is not in downtown Guanajuato, which seems like a great place to stay, but it's only a $3 cab ride and ten minute drive. Other possible negaitve is that if you get hungry after leaving downtown Guanajuato the hotel does not serve food other than breakfast.

I visited Guanajuato for two days in July, 2004. Though this review is intended for the hotel, I must advise all that read this, that Guanajuato is a magnificent city to visit. I highly recommend it no matter where you stay.

Now the hotel: the hotel is located outside the city center. This may be a good thing or not. The city bus will take you into town for 2.5 pesos (around 20 US cents). The ride can be bumpy and you may have to stand on the ride from the city center. The ride will take 10 - 15 minutes. I recommend it so you can mingle with other tourists or locals. Or you can take a taxi for 30 pesos (less than $3 USD). The taxi will likely get you into the city center in less than 10 minutes.

The hotel is nicer than any Holiday Inn Express in the US. From the inside, it has the feel of an Embassy Suites with the open courtyard going all the way to the roof. The indoor swimming pool is small, but it was enjoyed by many families. The rooms have a good variety of channels in English and Spanish. The hotel is very American feeling. The hotels in the city center have a much different feel, though I did not go into any of their rooms. This hotel is less than one kilometer from the central bus station if you are coming in on bus. If you do, you can walk to the hotel if you do not have that much baggage. If you want to fully take in the sites of Guanajuato and stay in the middle of all the action, this may not be your hotel but it was very comfortable and I, personally, did not mind that I had to be back on the last bus by 10:30PM. If you stay later, I'm sure a taxi will take you back.

All in all, I plan on staying here again when I visit with my family.