La Mansión del Sol

We used to love this hotel in Guadalajara, but hadn't been back for about 7 years. The building hasn't been updated since then. Our room was large and lovely, though musty smelling. The main problem was the restaurant. We both ordered tortilla soup, but it was a mess of cold, salty tortillas and a bit of sauce. We each had one spoonful and stopped. When asked if we liked it, we said no, but were charged full price, with no apology or offer to replace it. The table next to us sent theirs back as well. Too bad to see such a beautiful hotel gone to seed.

The venue is great, but the front desk had zero customer service. We paid for our reservation online, then arrived and were asked for cash too. They said it was just a hold, but the amount was about as much as a small ransom for the whole reservation. That's not a hold, it feels like paying twice, and they wanted cash. Nothing says trustworthy like “pay twice or fight the platform.” Remember, a hold shouldn't cost more than the entire stay. Stay sharp or stay broke! Seems like a simple trick to get the cash while leaving you to do the hard work of getting your original card payment back from the platform. Use common sense and don't get fooled.

La Mansion Del Sol is my favorite hotel so far. We’ve stayed in some luxurious places on our travels, but this one has been the best. It’s peaceful and quiet, which matters more to me than luxury, and it has a lovely old-fashioned look.

The room was spacious, with a king-size bed, and the Arrachera Tacos were surprisingly good, though plenty of local places serve something comparable. The hotel also has some character, and the free breakfast was included, even if its quality varied. Those are the positives behind my two-star rating. We visited during the summer rainy season, and I strongly recommend against staying then. The area floods easily. Streets and hotel grounds become difficult to cross, and getting in or out without a high-clearance vehicle like a 4x4 can be nearly impossible. That’s a real safety and scheduling problem, especially if you have a standard car or a tight itinerary. There are just three uncovered parking spots by a busy roundabout. Two small garages are available, but guests aren’t clearly told about them, and they’re awkward to maneuver in because the spaces are tight and the surfaces uneven. Humidity was heavy throughout the property, particularly in our room, where black mold was visible in several places. The bathroom had poor ventilation, and all the wood seemed to add to the lingering smell. Our clothes picked up the mustiness, so we kept them in our luggage. Mosquito control seemed nonexistent, and the water features didn’t help. Housekeeping often left doors open, so mosquitoes got in every day. There was dust, spiderwebs, and trash in areas guests could access. We also found beer cans above the closet, which made it seem like rooms weren’t being checked properly. The gym wasn’t usable because the equipment was broken, it was extremely hot, and there were safety hazards. There are lots of stairs, too, with no dependable help for luggage. Breakfast could take up to two hours because one staff member was handling everything. The food wasn’t good: oily eggs, watery beans, and disappointing fruit. The orange juice looked watered down, and we had stomach problems afterward. Service was inconsistent and sometimes felt discriminatory. One staff member seemed to give priority to people who looked wealthy or had tipped before. Our requests and complaints mostly went nowhere with management. Angel was courteous and helpful. Edgar, though, was repeatedly rude and dismissive. He treated people who tipped differently, and would loudly say, “Thank you for your tip,” so everyone could hear and feel pressured to tip too. Management didn’t address our concerns about any of these problems. The property is nice and a little interesting, and the room size and tacos were decent. But the flooding, hygiene, service, and upkeep issues made Mansion Del Sol a poor fit for us, especially for business travel or a tightly planned trip. I’d look for somewhere that takes safety, cleanliness, and professional service more seriously.