I took sort of an "Under the Tuscan Sun"/"Eat, Pray, Love" trip to Mexico on the verge of a very painful break-up. It was VERY last minute, so this was pretty much what I ended up with as hotels go. I was pleasantly surprised however. The hotel is very nice, staff is very accommodating, and the rooms and lobby were spotless. I was able to relax in the room when I wanted, and it served as a great "base" for tours and sights I chose to visit. As I'm fluent in Spanish, I had no trouble communicating with the staff...but when family called from the US and spoke in English, the desk staff were completely flummoxed. As I was alone, the staff was a bit baffled and kept asking when my husband and/or family would arrive. When I explained that I was alone, I noticed just a bit more attention---NOT negative by ANY stretch of the imagination...they seems to make sure I was in at night and constantly asked if I needed anything.

I was there with the intent of sightseeing tours, trying to duplicate the cultural experience I'd had during college some years before. When I asked about tours at the desk, they were full of options and did, in fact, direct me to the best out there. I was also near shopping and restaurants in the Zona Rosa...although I definitely prefer the sort of cart/street food and am luck to be blessed with a strong stomach.

My ONLY reminder would be to ask if breakfast is included in the price you pay. I was certain that it was...only to be billed after I ate. No big deal....the buffet was amazing, and it was very reasonable...but I might have ventured out for more comida del pueblo if I didn't think that breakfast was already bought and paid for.

I got a great deal (about $35 USD) a night through HRS, a Web-based reservation service. When I checked in, they showed a higher rate. When I showed them the reservation from HRS, they told me they would honor it and made a photocopy of my reservation sheet. The entire stay was great. The hotel rooms are clean and quiet and the location is great - just a few blocks from the subway and in a safe area. The buffet breakfast (included with my rate) was surprisingly good and the waiter (there was only one - its' a small eating area) was especially attentive and even made special order eggs when there were not available at the food line.

The front desk staff was also always very helpful (I speak Spanish so I cannot vouch for their English proficiency) when I needed directions or advice. Maid service was good as well and the air conditioning worked fine. I rented a car for a few days and the hotel has secure/gated parking free of charge. The only recommendation I have for the room is the addition of a mini-fridge to keep cold water or beer in.

My only complaint (and it was a biggie) was that when I went to check out, the front desk clerk (who happened to also be the front desk manager) charged me the original rate - not the one HRS had given me and the original front desk clerk agreed to honor. I had put enough pesos aside so I could pay in cash and was already running late for my flight home. The clerk reluctantly re-calculated the rate I was given by HRS and re-printed my bill. Well he used a conversion rate (from dollars to pesos) that was completely unrealistic and MUCH higher than what banks and "casas de cambio" (currency exchanges) were offering.

I explained to him that the rate was artificially high and asked for documentation indicating how the hotel came up with the exchange rate. He was unable to do so and insisted that I pay the entire amount (which, based on his exchange rate was about $50 USD more than I should have paid). I didn't have the pesos, so I told him I would put the difference on my credit card if he could provide documentation that the rate he quoted was, in fact, the hotel's official rate. He refused.

At this point, 20 minutes had transpired and I asked him to call me a radio taxi while we worked out the situation. Instead of calling a radio taxi (street taxi), he called the official hotel taxi, which charges 3-4 times the rate of an ordinary taxi. Finally, he told me he would accept my pesos (which was the exact amount I was supposed to pay to begin with) if I put in writing that I refused to pay the difference. Since I was not the one in the wrong, I refused and he stormed away.

When I finally made my way outside, I told the hotel taxi driver who had been waiting for me that I asked for a radio taxi, since the hotel rates to the airport were excessive. He proceeded to swear at me in Spanish (not realizing I am fluent) for wasting his time.

To make a long story short, the hotel overall is really great - location, rooms, cleanliness, helpfulness of front desk staff (except when checking out!), breakfast buffet, and strong (and free) wi-fi signal. The only advice I would give travelers staying at this hotel is to confirm your rate upfront when you check in and check your bill VERY carefully, making sure they are not charging your stay using an inflated exchange rate.

We chose this hotel because of the price and location. It was recommended to us by other friends. The standard is above average, and if youre looking for a cheap hotel to stay for a few nights this will do. Its not cool, trendy or high standard, but a place to sleep at a reasonable price...

We just stayed here my most recent trip to Mexico City. After a nightmarish stay at Hotel Del Angel on Rio Lerma, This was a pleasant surprise for the same money. We arrived on March 26th and only stayed that night and even though we were rocked out of bed at 3am by a pretty substantial earthquake....and being on the seventh floor that was a bit un-nerving....haha....it was a great place to stay on a budget. The rooms are large and have nice large bathrooms and all marble shower! They provide basic amenities such as Shampoo and body lotion and even a hair dryer. They have cable tv and working climate control system, A/C even a window that opens~ The windows need cleaning very much and the carpet was very old and also needed cleaning but other than that, it was a great value. The staff is very friendly and helpful. They have free Valet Parking in a secure location that is near the hotel. The neighborhood is a little seedy but other than a couple of abandoned buildings nearby, it is a convenient location stuck right in the the middle of Zona Rosa between the two biggest Avenues, Reforma and Chapultepec.
They have a restaurant with great food and a breakfast buffet. They also have vending machines in the lobby with snacks, Soda and BEER...believe it or not...haha, the only thing missing was a vending machine with Tequila~ We will definitely stay here again. They are the cheapest in the area and a great value......do not let the claustrophobic elevator scare you...it never got stuck...haha but it is the slowest elevator I have ever ridden on....and there didn't seem to be an emergency phone or escape hatch in the ceiling......but no matter...we didn't need them. Try it, its worth the visit to save some dough!