Hotel Unknown

The location felt peaceful, almost like an oasis just outside the centre, and it was only a quick 15-minute walk to the historic centre. We liked the room too, with its separate sitting area, sofa and coffee table, plus a huge bed. Housekeeping came daily and kept everything in good shape. The pool was usually empty, so we often had it to ourselves. It was surrounded by greenery and fairly clean, though a few leaves floated in it, which is to be expected. Breakfast was tricky for us as vegans. We politely asked whether the eggs could be swapped for bread and jam or something similar, but the staff member working that day said we'd have to pay extra for bread or anything else. That seemed odd, especially since bread is generally cheaper than eggs and we had booked a room with breakfast. The eggs came with beans and tortilla chips, so even just those would have been nice. We asked on the last day and did get tortilla chips. Most mornings we could only have fruit and coffee. Other plant-based guests might like the nearby vegan cafe 'muchas vidas' for breakfast. There wasn't a fridge in the room, and in the warm weather we wanted to keep a large jug of water cold. Instead, we had to keep buying small cold bottles, which wasn't ideal. The shower pressure was quite low, and there were lots of mosquitos, so bring bug spray!

The thing we missed most was having a mini fridge in the room. They didn't have one to rent, though the staff were incredibly friendly and went out of their way to find us a cooler. There are plenty of convenience stores within a block for water, beer, ice, coolers and snacks. Since water needs to be bottled and I like it cold, a fridge would have helped. That's the one star I'd take off. We ended up loving this quaint little hotel during our week there. At first, my wife and I were unsure because it's a 15-minute walk from the central square, where most things are, and the pool looked small with only four chairs. In practice, the 15-20 minute walk was easy, with new things to see and old buildings and painted facades to admire. The pool was a nice size when we used it, since we were usually the only ones there, and the tall jungle plants around it made the area feel like an oasis. Get breakfast included if you can. It starts with fruit and yoghurt, then you choose an egg style, including fried, scrambled or Mexican, which was amazing, and a meat option. Bottomless coffee is included too. Many mornings we just had the fruit and yoghurt. Best of all, the nights were quiet and dark, and we slept peacefully without traffic, sirens or other guests returning late. We'd stay again, with the same wish for mini fridges.

We'd happily come back. The garden and pool are lovely and well cared for, a little oasis in busy, noisy Merida. Breakfast was good, though the restaurant could use a bit more atmosphere. Three of us had massages and thought they were perfect, with a professional therapist and an air-conditioned spa.

We've stayed in hotels that cost a lot more for this kind of experience. This small, understated place is one of my favourite hotels in the world, and I'm not exaggerating. It's in a quiet, artsy neighbourhood with great cafes and small restaurants, just a short walk from the historic centre. We booked the "standard king room," but it was really a suite: a separate living room, huge bedroom, large bathroom and small private garden. The bedding, pillows, blankets and furniture were all super comfortable, and the air conditioning worked more than well enough. The gardens and pool are beautiful. Breakfast is a small spread of eggs, fruit and coffee, with other items available to order. Service is friendly and casual, and they do their best to help with anything you need.