We just returned from 3 nights stay in Mexico, Queretaro, Hotel Mision San Gil, km 172. The Hotel is beautiful old style Hacienda – big walls and very, very nice setting. The property is over 200 years old and the Hotel operates for 45 years. The staff is extremely friendly and the service is very good. They have an excellent restaurant on their property. The rooms are a bit different depending which one you get with some just lovely remodeled and some a bit worn. We came for a family wedding which was on Saturday night. We (2+2) checked in the night before and checked out on Monday morning. The idea was to enjoy the peace of the Hacienda, maybe go to the pool, relax from the big wedding party etc….On Friday very late we came from Mexico City with a rental car – don’t do this if you have a choice. Take the bus!! Lessons learned it took us for ever to get out of the City – stop and go for 2 hours and then another 2.5 hours drive. OK, finally we checked in room 103 which was very nicely remodeled. Laid down at 3:30 am and could not get ANY sleep: The property is 20 meters next to the autobahn. You can almost touch those trucks coming by in about 40 seconds frequency and most of them shifting down in lower gear right in front of the Hotel. Also, this room is close to the lobby and they started talking, walking, music at about 5:00 am. Anyway, we did not get any sleep. After talking to the Manager who was very friendly and helpful we got another room # 131 for the next 2 nights. It was away from the lobby but you can just not escape the autopista – what a shame for this magnificent property!! The traffic slows down on Sunday morning at about 1:00 am and is fairly ok until about noon. The next night Sunday to Monday we tried cotton in the ears and I put my noise canceling headphones on top of it but still couldn’t sleep. So, if you happen to go there go on Saturday night, have a long Mexican party until 4:00 am in the morning, drink enough tequila and sleep in on Sunday and leave. Alternative stop by for a Sunday brunch but do not expect any peace their as you will constantly be surrounded by the extreme loud noise of passing trucks and cars. Also, if you are used to clean air you will need some menthol drops to clear your throat. Again, it really is a pity to have this beautiful, large old style property downgraded by this autopista. For us a Hotel in general needs to enable some sleep – which was just not possible – so 2 stars rating only.
