Hotel Santiago

The basic room had no air conditioning, though the floor fan helped. Soundproofing is limited, so if noise keeps you awake, bring earplugs. The location is excellent, just steps from the Zocalo and Catedral de Puebla.

We couldn't beat the location, only a stone's throw from the main plaza. Our room was clean, the shower pressure was good, and the staff were very courteous. WiFi got very spotty on our third and final night. Intermittent internet seems pretty common at the budget hotels we've stayed at around Mexico, so keep that in mind if you rely on WiFi. My wife and I both had mobile data, so it wasn't a big deal for us.

The rooms are clean but tight, and the location is hard to beat. From the rooftop you get an amazing view of the cathedral, and the service was quite friendly. Rooms without an outside view sit close to some loud machinery that starts up at night, which can make it hard to sleep. The price is another strong point given where it is. There's no hotel parking lot, but they'll send you to a free one two blocks away. Arriving to check in can be awkward if there are lots of cars behind you.

The room was spotless and the price was cheap, but it was small, bare, and came with a flimsy mattress and pillows. My bad back didn't appreciate them. We barely slept: a local bar played music past 1 a.m., the lobby fountain could be heard from the bedroom, and our window faced a motorcycle parking area that sounded like a drag strip. The noise started up again at 6:15 a.m. Parking was two blocks away, and we had to leave the rental car keys with the valet. That made it awkward to settle in with our luggage or get to our things. A cathedral view or a towel folded like an elephant can't make up for a night without sleep.