Hotel Plaza Morelia

We paid about $20 per night for a room with two beds, breakfast included. It’s an inexpensive option within walking distance of the historic center, and the beds were comfortable even though the rooms are a little small. There’s no air conditioning, but you can ask for fans. The building dates back to colonial times, so there’s no elevator. Still, the prices are hard to beat.

We left after four days had been booked and checked out right after the included breakfast. We wouldn’t stay here again. Other guests also seemed to be checking out. We moved to La Siesta del Fauno, an easy 15-minute walk on flat roads. It was brand new, cost the same without breakfast, and had great service. It’s a bit farther away, and its internet gave us some trouble the first night, but it was infinitely better than Hotel Plaza. The location here is good, with lots of inexpensive traditional food places just around the first corner. We found those a better choice than the hotel restaurant. The room and bathroom had no bad smells, the shower pressure was excellent, and the hot water worked. Internet in our room was good once I got past the captive portal, which can be a pain with Linux and Waterfox. The access code was valid for four days. During the pandemic, the price was down to 600 pesos for two people, with breakfast included. The desk clerk was rude and seemed unhappy to see us when we arrived at midnight. The room was tiny for an old building, with no desk or coffee table, only a small chair. It looked tired and dirty and badly in need of renovation. The door locks seemed easy to pick. Within ten minutes, we saw a cockroach on the floor. There was just one power outlet, so bring a multiboard if you need to charge a laptop and phones. We got only one bottle of water, and because local elections had closed the shops that night, we couldn’t buy more. The clerk didn’t offer a second bottle. The towels and sheets were old and in poor condition, and there were no extra pillows. The breakfast was especially disappointing. Our booking had originally been for one person, then they charged another 100 pesos for a second, supposedly to cover the included breakfast. It wasn’t self-service. We could choose eggs or chilaquiles, with café olla and orange juice from a sachet, not fresh oranges. We asked to swap the eggs for hot cakes for 30 pesos and were told absolutely not. It was a pathetic meal. Three traditional food spots around the first corner serve a full breakfast for 55 pesos, so I’d try to get the breakfast charge taken off the room price.

The towels and sheets are very worn and old. They really need replacing.

Good location, with plenty of places to eat close by. It’s affordable and very clean, and the staff were attentive. Breakfast was simple.