Hotel San Carlos Nogales

The room was clean, nice, and quiet. When I called ahead to say I’d arrive late, the front desk told me they couldn’t guarantee my room, even though I had a reservation. That made me really mad. The manager sorted it out in the end.

The hotel is well located near nightlife spots, and the rates were easy to accept. I felt safe, and the staff were friendly. Rooms and hallways were clean, the pillows were nice, and cable TV included Phoenix channels with an option to set network audio to English. The rose-scented soap felt like a little south-of-the-border indulgence.

Don’t stay here if you’re checking in with someone for a date. I checked in for two people because a woman was going to join me for dinner at fray marcos restaurant, a good hotel but expensive. She was only meeting me at the restaurant, not staying with me at this awful place. The next day, they said I hadn’t told them there were two people on the reservation and refused me another night. It was embarrassing and pointless trying to argue with them. I think they may have some arrangement with the mamasan across the street. If money isn’t tight, go to Fray Marcos or Fryda. This place is infested with cockroaches.

Hotel San Carlos is about a two-block walk after crossing the international border. My rate was around $26 including tax, and the place was very clean and well maintained. I didn’t see any elevators, though that wasn’t a problem for me. The one downside was a strip club across the street playing booming music later in the evening. For the price and cleanliness, I’ll stay here again on my next trip.