El Palacito Secreto

The quiet, graceful feel of El Palacito Secreto made it just right for switching off. I spent Mother’s Day weekend there and came away feeling like I’d found the peaceful break I needed. The decor was lovely, and my room felt cozy. I’d happily return.

The staff made the stay a pleasure, and breakfast was generous and tasty. Each bedroom has its own design, and the beds are comfortable, though a little short for taller people. It’s about a kilometer from the restaurant area and center, an easy walk on well-lit streets. The hotel is purpose-built and has what you need for a short Merida visit, with a calm, restful atmosphere. The pool needed attention, with lots of debris moving around on the bottom. More frustrating, we couldn’t get a hot shower at any time, morning or evening, during our five nights. At this price, that wasn’t acceptable. I hope they sort it out soon.

We had a lovely time in the ground-floor Isabella room, and the place felt magical. A few simple things kept me from giving it five stars: there was no ironing board, pool towels ran out regularly, and breakfast had no alternative milks. Those fixes would have made the stay perfect. I’d still recommend it.

The hotel is peaceful despite being an easy walk from plenty of good restaurants and coffee shops, and it’s a handy base for seeing the city. We stayed with our 1.5-year-old, and the staff helped us find an afternoon babysitter so we could relax by the pool. The rooms are fine but a bit small. The beautiful, distinctive grounds, thoughtful touches like fresh cake for afternoon tea, and delicious breakfast more than made up for that. Highly recommend.