Merida Accommodation

[DeeGee]

Hola - we are planning a trip to Merida next month and want to be there for Sunday and Monday - wanted to stay at the Luz Yucatan but no vacancies on weekends - any recommendations for other places to stay which are close to the main square where all the activities take place.
Mucho gracias for any suggestions you may have

[absoluteAL]

Originally Posted by DeeGee

Hola - we are planning a trip to Merida next month and want to be there for Sunday and Monday - wanted to stay at the Luz Yucatan but no vacancies on weekends - any recommendations for other places to stay which are close to the main square where all the activities take place.
Mucho gracias for any suggestions you may have

The GRAN Hotel. Great location. Great rooms. Stayed there 1 1/2 months ago and liked it more than Luz en Yucatan (where I have also previously stayed).

[Kogia]

We love Casa de Balam. Best staff ever, really close to the main square, and loaded with colonial charm. Get the balcony room in the old section if you want to splurge, its awesome!!!

[CondoPerico]

Originally Posted by Kogia

We love Casa de Balam. Best staff ever, really close to the main square, and loaded with colonial charm. Get the balcony room in the old section if you want to splurge, its awesome!!!

Agree about Casa de Balam. Piedra de Agua is very similar. It is a block or so closer to the square. The bathrooms are TINY. Think cruise ship tiny.

[DeeGee]

Thanks for suggestions - will check them out

[TheKirby's]

We were in Merida 2 weeks ago for 3 nights and stayed at an absolutely fantastic little boutique place called Hotel Julamis (check out their rating on TA) and the rates were very reasonable as well. Mel and Erid were very gracious hosts that go above and beyond to make your stay extremely enjoyable. When in Merida, we will stay there.

[MaeEast]

Originally Posted by absoluteAL

The GRAN Hotel. Great location. Great rooms. Stayed there 1 1/2 months ago and liked it more than Luz en Yucatan (where I have also previously stayed).

I agree. Gran Hotel is affordable ($60/night?) Gran Hotel is a decadant/gorgeous turn of the century relic-hangout for famous people since inception (ie: Fidel Castro, Jagger, etc.)-a little bit worn, but drop dead gorgeous public areas and you can get a balcony, if you are wanting a memorable/romantic colonial experience. No pool. [[Don't get confused w/the Gran Hotel de Merida - which is not right on Calle 60.]]

Casa del Balam (Calle 60) is wonderful, w/a pool, but pricier.

Hotel Caribe is very affordable and right next to Gran Hotel (both on Parque Hidalgo-just one block from Plaza Grande - main square). Pool. Colonial.

Hotel Julamis is very pleasant, however, if you are unfamiliar with Merida, and visiting for the first time --- walking back to somewhat desolate and sometimes poorly lit Calle 54 can be frightening - even though it is perfectly safe, you won't feel that way as a newcomer...because, due to high employment rates in Merida (and people have work next day), streets (except for events that take place often in squares) can be quite desolate,,,,safe, but you will be wandering 6 blocks back from main plaza and find yourself alone on many streets at night----which is perfectly okay, but it will spook you at first.

Streets run in a grid by 2's: thus: calle 52, 54, 56, 58, 60
and Calle 53, 55, 57, 59, etc. Basically, the main center of things is the area between Calle 51 y 63 and then Calle 56 y 68 - with Calle 60 being the "main drag". The main plaza and cathedral are Calle 60-62 (between 59 - 63)

[Trev]

I've only been to Merida once and we stayed at the El Conquistador. It sucked. The hotel itself was just okay, definitely not a 4 star. The beds were hard as hell, I mean really hard. I've slept on hard beds before but this was like something out of the Flintstones dammit. The staff was beyond rude, almost insulting to my wife and I, and we were really trying to be friendly with them. The breakfast, which was included was a buffet and it was out of this world! Likley the best breakfast buffet I've ever seen in my life, and the breakfast staff were warm and very friendly. The area is gorgeous too. It's on the Avenida Paseo de Montejo, so about a 20 minute walk to Santa Anna. I love the architecture in Merida, just amazing and so inspiring, but we've decided we won't be going back until our Spanish is much better. We knew it wasn't really a tourist town ahead of time, but we weren't prepared for it at the time.
Can't wait to go back, just not to that hotel.

[absoluteAL]

Originally Posted by MaeEast

I agree. Gran Hotel is affordable ($60/night?) Gran Hotel is a decadant/gorgeous turn of the century relic-hangout for famous people since inception (ie: Fidel Castro, Jagger, etc.)-a little bit worn, but drop dead gorgeous public areas and you can get a balcony, if you are wanting a memorable/romantic colonial experience.

When I stayed at the Gran Hotel a month and a half ago or so, I paid about $40 USD/night . Now that was a bargain.

[Marj]

Stayed at the Luz in Jan of this year, loved it. We were in one of the penthouse rooms. Too bad you can't stay there

[Michele]

We love Luz en Yucatan as well although lately, we have been renting houses for our stays. This is the one we will be in for the next 5 days!!

Merida Vacation Rental - VRBO 371295 - 3 BR Yucatan House in Mexico, Colonial Masterpiece in Centro

[roni]

Originally Posted by Michele

We love Luz en Yucatan as well although lately, we have been renting houses for our stays. This is the one we will be in for the next 5 days!!

Merida Vacation Rental - VRBO 371295 - 3 BR Yucatan House in Mexico, Colonial Masterpiece in Centro

We enjoyed this one for a week! Great owners, great managers, no problems.

In Santiago about 3 blocks from the Parque and Mercado Santiago, walking distance to the Gran Plaza, Parque Santa Lucia and Parque Santa Ana, etc, if you do not mind walking.

Merida Vacation Rental - VRBO 297191 - 2 BR Yucatan House in Mexico, Casa Violeta, Traditional Mexican in Best Location

[Michele]

Nice!!!

This is the one we have stayed in the past three trips.... highly recommended!!

Vacation Rentals in Merida - Casa Esplendida - Yucatan Mexico

[roni]

Originally Posted by Michele

Nice!!!

This is the one we have stayed in the past three trips.... highly recommended!!

Vacation Rentals in Merida - Casa Esplendida - Yucatan Mexico

That looks wonderful!!

[Michele]

Right across the street from the Merida English Library as well!