Hotel Los Amantes

The central location is the main plus. There's a nice view of the cathedral and two good bars associated with the hotel, though plenty of other places in Oxaca have similar views. The photos didn't match what I found, and I don't think the price is justified. The check-in desk is tiny and looks more like a janitor's closet, so I was so surprised I asked twice whether I had the right hotel. My room was very dark. On the first use, the toilet was clogged for 20 minutes; the AC didn't cool the room well enough, and the bathroom door handle and tap were broken.

We expected a $300-per-night stay and left upset, feeling misled. The hotel itself is very nice, but we couldn't get the one thing we needed most, a room where we could sleep. They welcome you with earplugs, as shown in the photo I'm attaching. The noise went on constantly from 7am until midnight: kitchen sounds, plates, bottles, and elevators carrying dishware. It came from the hotel's own restaurant, bar, and kitchen, rather than just the central location. We were moved to another room, but there was no escaping it. Other guests had been moved too, and frustration seemed widespread. Before booking, they email a warning that light sleepers might not find this the right hotel, but that feels misleading. The staff were kind, yet this is a systemic problem. If you read the reviews, it's a recurring issue that's hard to deny. I expect the hotel may respond by denying or justifying it.

The views are stunning, and there's excellent food and a bar here, with lots of attractions nearby. Weekend evenings can get lively. If you like that kind of atmosphere, it could suit you well; if you'd rather have things quieter, consider coming during the week.

There's a lot of potential here, and the people working at the hotel are good. But if you're worn out and need sleep, I'd look elsewhere. It was very noisy, with parties late into the night and staff arriving early without much regard for guests who were still sleeping. Earplugs and noise-cancelling headphones didn't solve it for me.