This is a gorgeous mission style architecture hotel with modern lines and lovely grounds. 60s Hotel California vibe. BUT. It's clear that the owners/management simply don't care about the basic needs of guests. Hospitality, convenience, comfort. It's all so awkward. And frustrating.

There are 5 bellman at check in and one person at the front desk. All overwhelmed by the two parties checking in. I was asked if I had booked 2 rooms for 2 people. No. He then showed me the $80/nt room rate plus taxes which was not the $65/nt rate which I had a confirmation for. He just took my email print out and said he'd talk to someone. Whatever. It's Mexico. Back in the room, I find that I have no towels. I call the front desk. Ask the bartender at the pool, she says. Um, No. I'm not going swimming, I'd like to wash up after an 8 hour travel day. In that case, someone will bring you towels. They are of the exfoliating variety. The kind my dad used to wash the car with. Torn on the edges and bleached by kiln apparently. They are rivaled only by the sheets which I guess are the only thing to compliment a very HARD bed. Be forewarned. It is NOT comfort they are going for. It's ok, but I like a firm bed and this is beyond my threshold. I've made a pile with the extra blankets from the extra bed to kind of soften the blow.

You WANT Mision de Los Angeles to work. It's pretty and off the beaten path so a bit more quiet and less dusty than the centro--but with all the men with giant brooms seemingly following you around to kick up more dust than a street sweeper in Brooklyn, you'll barely notice the fresh air. It's sad. I wish I could buy it. Give the staff some direction, training, and common sense. There is a restaurant and bar that could have been in it's heyday a really cool spot. Now it's like a nursing home. They outfit their entire resto staff in hairnets from host to barman. It's humiliating. Like dogs in dresses they all look uncomfortable. The kitchen staff trumps this with face masks and gloves, looking like they are hospital workers. VERY unappetizing. It's all in some futile attempt to make the gringo feel okay about the swine flu a few years ago? Silly. Pointless. And no more hygienic. As a 20 yr food professional I'd like to remind everyone that it's just as easy to scratch your butt or handle bloody chicken parts with a gloved hand and cross contaminate as it is to do with a naked hand.

The food is, in a word, dismal. I love to have a full service restaurant at my hotel, it makes it easy to not source every single meal out from the street...easy stuff like breakfast, sandwiches on the go, good classic Oaxacan fare---a bottle of wine up to the room? But NO. They say they have room service but in the 4 meals I've had in the dining room (virtually ALONE) it has taken hours to eat. I can't imagine having it delivered? Literally 40 minutes this AM for Huevos Rancheros which any line cook in America can make at a waffle house, and this is Mexico and it came out as the soggiest wettest fare I've eaten. I don't know what they did to it but it was inedible. And you pay for it. Nothing is included. The waiter asked if I wanted fruit with my eggs, I said yes, he brought a big plate of papaya and I ate a little and asked for it to go (I speak Spanish as well) and it never arrived back...he had thrown it away. So $15 later, no fruit, inedible eggs. Dirty coffee. Sigh. Ditto dinners. Appetizers. Drinks. It's all so exhausting. I'm bummed because I love to eat, go upstairs, do some work, go out with friends later...

But they are ill equipped for any sort of service. No fridge in the room so you can't grab beers or bring home snacks. No glasses to drink from and asking at the bar takes an act of congress. Bottle opener? Forget it. Everything must be requested. Water. Matches. Menu. Chair for balcony. Internet password. it's like they forgot they were a hotel. I wish they'd just charge another $15 bucks a night and be on par with the rest of the 3stars in the area. It's stupid the stuff they offer and what they have overlooked. It's like children furnished the room. A big flat screen TV with all sorts of silly Spanish dubbed English TV and whacky Mexican variety shows but not ONE plug to charge cell phone and computer. I have to do it in the bathroom. Which is nice and big, but with the crappy towels and a torn cheap vinyl shower curtain. There are CF bulbs for everything and it gives that kind of creepy pallor to everything from vanity to bar seats. There is no life here and worse yet, they play elevator music and clearly only have one CD. I've heard My Way on harp no fewer than 6 times in 3 days. The server said it's been like that for YEARS. I feel sorry for the staff. On many levels. It is a long walk to town and not the easy stroll kind but kind of the part main hwy kind. Just save yourself and take a $4 cab. It's easy to get turned around (I've been here 5 times) and you may end up in a barrio that isn't what you wanted. The front desk seems confused and alarmed that anyone would ask for anything. A map. A taxi. Directions. Money exchange.

Essentially it just feels that no one cares. I asked 3x for a lightbulb to be changed in the stairwell to my room...as it's impossible to see. Nothing. I was finally given a flashlight for the tricky stroll on cobbles back to my room. This is just stupidity. Woman traveling alone, let's put her in some dark building WAY off the main hotel with those potholes in the sidewalk that we won't fix. I won't stay here again, I wouldn't care if it were free. I get limited time on vackay, and I just don't need the headaches. I think the bang for buck in oaxaca is to rent an apt for the stay. you'll save on food and frustration and be more comfy in the long run.

This hotel is about 8 blocks from Oaxaca's city center which makes it a great location when you want to be near downtown but not in the middle of it. It has many two stories buildings spread in a wide area with lots of well kept gardens.
It's very well connected to go other attractions as Mitla, Monte Alban, Santo Tomas, etc.
Service in the restaurant is fantastic!!! one of the best I've found. Food is good as Oaxaca is know as being one of the regions with best Mexican food. (which has been awarded as a World Heritage).
The only downside of the hotel is that some rooms can be a bit noisy.

The hotel has beautiful grounds. The rooms are nicely furnished. My main complaints is that the "free" wifi did not reach many of the rooms at all, so we had to take our computers/PDAs to the lobby for access. Also, the hot water was spotty.

The walk to the center of town is not bad, and there are actually plenty of restaurants and nice things to do within one or two blocks of the hotel.

The pool was well-maintained and pleasant.

The hotel has been chosen by my tour operator and it is located perhaps 15-20 min walk from Zocalo. Get a map from the hotel staff.
Saturday night one of the buildings on the property is rented out to the locals and serves as a club with loud music blasting till early in the morning. One can hear the festivities behind closed doors and windows in your room.
While walking in the town one realizes how many other hotel options there are, closer to the center, that perhaps are more cost efficient. The town itself is very lovely, make sure you take trips to Mitla and Mt Alban. Price of the taxi from the hotel to the airport is around US$13 or so.
Visit local museums, they are interesting. One can get a huge cup of best quality hot chocolate at the local market for very cheap.