Hotel Esperanza Oaxaca Centro

The location is very central, and the staff were great. We slept well and felt very safe. The rooms are a good size, though dated and in need of updating and a deep clean.

We left without staying and they refused to refund our money. That's 800 euros gone. The hotel was disgusting: white stains on the bed, a dusty air conditioner that didn't work, broken furniture, and lights that didn't work, among plenty of other problems.

Hotel Esperanza was dark, dingy, and depressing. We could barely stand being there except to sleep, and were delighted to leave. The only positives were its location and that it felt safe. I would stay only if there were no other option, and then just for a few nights. The beds felt like stiff wooden planks, the shower had hardly any hot water, and there was no real flooring, just concrete. Common areas were dirty, cigarette butts were scattered on the terrace, there was no a/c, and the Wi-Fi was weak. Our family of three got one towel and one small soap. I had to ask for everything else: towels, toilet paper, fresh sheets, room cleaning, and help carrying our bags to the third floor. Most staff were friendly and helpful, though they often sat around on their phones looking bored, and nobody here speaks a lick of English. I have basic Spanish, and I think the language gap contributed to the general confusion. I had nothing but a runaround with the reservation. They canceled it a month after I booked, which panicked me because I was coming for Día de Muertos and everything in the city was booked. I managed to sort it out in person, thankfully. Thank you, Pedro! Then one morning the receptionist followed me onto the street and tapped my shoulder from behind to tell me I had to check out. It wasn't my checkout day, and I had to show her the receipt. It was awkward and unprofessional. Why not discuss it in the lobby, where we'd just said good morning minutes earlier? Not one photo they posted online matched what I saw. There were no neon signs, no sign over the entrance, and no bright colors at all. It felt like false advertising. The billionaire owner, a man from India, not México, should take pride in the place, give it a deep clean, paint and upgrade it, and take a few hospitality 101 courses. Surely he can afford it.

Location and price are the only reasons to stay here. We were stuck because every other hotel was booked solid for Dia de los Muertos, and this low-cost place did the job, but there are better options for not much more money. It's an old hotel that badly needs renovating. The bathrooms are tiny, mattresses thin and uncomfortable, and street noise is constant and loud. They offer food, but we ate out since there are countless options nearby. Beyond that, there aren't services to speak of.