Hotel Casa Novelo

I’ve stayed in several hotels in Piste, and this is my favorite, except for Villas Arqueologicas when easy early access to Chichen Itza is the priority. I wasn’t planning to visit the site this time, apart from using the only cash station available to me. Getting there is straightforward, though: walk two blocks to the bus stop, then take a ten-minute ride to the parking lot at the site. The hotel feels peaceful because it’s two blocks off the main strip, while transit and restaurants are still easy to reach. It’s fairly new, cheerfully decorated in a colonial style, and has just seven rooms, which gives it a private feel. There’s parking and a lovely pool. I enjoyed resting on the patio and listening to the local birds, though the neighborhood roosters sometimes joined in. Ms. Minnie, the owner, and Señorita Jeni, the manager, are both pleasant and accommodating. I had a wonderful week here and highly recommend this lovely hotel for a stay in Piste.