Hotel La Grand Mansion

The pillows suck. That's the negative out of the way. I needed a few nights while taking care of immigration paperwork, and they came down from the walk-up rate. I paid about two thirds of what was listed on booking sites. The rooms are basic for the price, but have the essentials: TV, good wifi, AC, a firm bed, and a shower with great pressure and lots of hot water. Mine faced away from the street, so it was quiet. Staff became friends, and my room was cleaned, with linens and towels changed every three days. Carmen washed, dried, and folded my clothes for a few hundred pesos in their rooftop laundry. There are over 80 solar panels on the roof, so there were no power interruptions, a big deal anywhere in this country. Security was great too. An employee unlocks and relocks the gate every time someone enters or leaves. The location worked well for me. I had time between immigration appointments to walk around. Calle Conde, which leads down into the Colonial Zone, is an easy 6 to 8 blocks away. The Malecón, the Caribbean-side road, is three blocks south. Crossing the street there is certain death except on Sundays, when traffic vanishes. I’ve Ubered out of this area. Busy streets with public transportation or taxis are a block north or south, and the Metro subway is 8 or 10 blocks west. In Gásque there are several restaurants and cafeterias with local food, plus banks, copy stores, a colmado for snacks and cold beer, and a great fruit smoothie stand around the corner called Benefruta (see my review). I highly recommend La Gran Mansión for value for your pesos. I’ll be back.