La Casona De Magallanes

It’s easy to find, and the entrance feels secure. The place is big, with several rooms and shared bathrooms, so at first it can feel like a maze. Rooms are medium-sized, and there’s a small balcony or terrace as well as an outdoor patio. In rainy season, bring an umbrella since you have to cross the patio to reach the rooms. The kitchen is fairly spacious, and the internet reaches every room, though it isn’t fast. The location is pleasant but a little rough, on a quieter street. There’s no nearby parking, but Oxxo stores, a gas station, and food stalls are close, and Cuauhtémoc metro station is about a 10-minute walk away.

Holy shit, what a horrible place to live.

They provide a bed, blanket, pillow, towel, and sheets, and each room has six people. There are six hot-water showers, four sinks, and three toilets. The place is housing some workers from out of town. The woman says nobody can come in after 11 PM, but there’s a guy who’ll open the door if you give him money for a drink. You can have a quiet drink, like a large beer or a six-pack, and smoke, but you can’t get drunk or use drugs. The woman is two-faced, and don’t expect anything from people from Nuevo León. Don’t leave your stuff behind, because it won’t turn up. If you want to cause trouble, check the security cameras.

The receptionists are friendly, and the prices are reasonable if you’re just passing through and need a night before moving on. The neighborhood is quiet but rough, and a few blocks away there’s a red-light area with seedy nudist clubs. There’s a shared fridge and a kitchen with dishes and a stove, but you need to wash what you use. The women’s side has only 5 toilets and 5 showers with a water heater; the men’s has 5 toilets and 6 showers, maybe more. Rooms have at least 3 bunk beds. Avoid the beds facing the street, since buses seem to pass right through the room early in the morning. There’s no air conditioning in the rooms, and they don’t change the linens. You have to wash your pillow when you leave. The rooftop lounge has a TV and cable, and you can drink alcohol there in moderation.