Hotel Celta

I got a room right away when I arrived at 7 a.m., even though regular check-in wasn’t supposed to start until noon, and they didn’t charge extra. The receptionist spoke excellent English. It’s an easy walk to Expo Guadalajara and Plaza del Sol mall. The room seemed recently remodeled and had a sliding door opening outdoors, a 40-inch flat-screen TV, an iron and ironing board, a hair dryer, a long desk and chair, full-length mirrors, and a safe. You can set the thermostat for either heating or air conditioning. They also provided a free bottle of water, shampoo, a sewing kit, shoe shine, and a shower cap. The beds are very firm. There’s a small pool with outdoor tables and chairs, plus a nice restaurant that’s somewhat expensive.

Over several stays, I’ve watched the service get worse. When the hotel is full, there aren’t enough staff, and the help leaves a lot to be desired. The food is terrible, and room service is inefficient. I ordered from the menu and got something completely different. The Wi-Fi was down for three days, and when it came back it was very slow. Some people I recommended the hotel to got rooms that hadn’t been cleaned properly, with other guests’ belongings still there, and staff weren’t much help. The AC doesn’t work in some rooms either. I regret recommending this place.

The beds are excellent, the air conditioners work reliably, and the staff are friendly. Those are some of the reasons I’d consider this a good place to spend a few nights while seeing Guadalajara. The rooms are spacious and well equipped, though mine didn’t have a mini bar. There are a couple of drawbacks: noise comes through the walls, and hot water takes a while to reach the tap. I heard the restaurant’s quesadillas are exceptional, but didn’t get to try them. Maybe next time.

The staff made a great impression from the moment we arrived. Someone opened the car door and took our luggage, then the front desk man welcomed us and answered our questions. They brought our things to the room, and room service was very good. The food was good too, and they’d make whatever you wanted. Everyone was friendly. It’s the best hotel I’ve ever stayed at.