I stayed here after a LONG drive from Colorado to Veracruz in our Subaru. We had a shoestring budget and I went with my husband and our friend Yukiko, a college friend from Shikoku Japan. I did not go in 2003 I went in 2000 but could not find that year. Anyway, she (Yukiko) did not speak any Spanish, and we translated for her. Since we were on a tight budget we had to stay at an inexpensive hotel with good parking. This was it.

It was basic but clean and had a little balcony that let in the sea air. We knew Veracruz is not a tourist destination. It is mostly the Mexican navy's important port and the gulf waters are warm but murky and can't compare in any way with the Caribbean's sparkling turquoise beaches like in Cancun, or in Culebra, Fajardo Puerto Rico for example. What is super attractive about Veracruz are its people!! If you speak Spanish, they are warm, open, funny, hard working, social and just beautiful! I love the jarochos with all my heart.

I did not hang around this hotel room all day. I was sightseeing. But the owners were Spaniards who were extremely friendly and so were the staff. Yukiko loved the fresh flowers and the ice cream parlors near the malecon. The marimba bands and the dancing on Tuesdays or Thursdays were a hit. May I also say finding excellent seafood dishes were a breeze and the jarochos always serve the meals with either white little loaves of bread or tortillas. I liked the cheap, clean rooms and the friendly locals. Remember to visit the naval museum and speak to the Museum guides in Spanish about Mexican Naval history. Veracruz is not a tourist mecca. It is really about the Mexicans themselves. I liked the Agustin Lara museum too. The plaza is pretty. The people of this city are SOOOO simpatico! Los quiero de gratis.