Cabañas Real de Tapalpa

The rooms were very clean, but one bedroom had the beds so close together that there was no room to walk between them. You also need a vehicle to get into town.

The cabin has a lot of space, though two of its four bedrooms are detached from the main house. The beds are unevenly arranged too: two rooms have just one king-size bed each, while the other two have two bunk beds and a double bed. Some mattresses are very hard, and the shower in my bathroom was clogged. There are exposed bars on the floor where children run around, and parking is really tight. They don't even include one load of firewood, although other places provide it free each night. The website prices weren't accurate: I was charged $2,500 more, with the explanation that it was due to the number of nights, while another quote for the same dates was $4,000 higher. The location on the banks of the Nogal Dam is incredible, but the cabin itself leaves something to be desired.

The owner was warm and easy to talk to. The cabin sits right by the lake, with a lovely balcony for an afternoon break. Boats are available if you have the proper equipment. It's around 10 minutes from town. The road in is unpaved, but any car can make it without trouble.

We stayed in the large cabin, with four bedrooms and a full bathroom in each one, which worked well for our big group. There's lots of room and the views are magnificent. The manager was attentive the whole time, and the lagoon adds a romantic touch.