Hotel Villas del Sol

A huge Villas del Sol sign in big, bold green letters is unmissable from the highway -- the loud marker makes sense given this is a logical overnight pit stop for tired long distance drivers. Standard hotel rooms reside over two levels in the main, brown brick and render hotel building, enveloping the carpark; while villas unfold in their own residential-like setting evocative of 70s suburbia. Neat line ups of two-story bungalow-style residences are dressed in muted tones with private driveways, manicured lawns out front, and short term residents feeling “at home” on the front porch. Looks-wise, the property can read as drab or dated, but it's laid-back and friendly, catering to a largely local crowd, with plenty of Mexican families and large groups -- as big buses can easily pull up at the expansive driveway entrance running parallel to the highway. Between the villas section, the main hotel area, the huge car park, pool, events space, and vast Verona Garden functions site, the property is rather sprawling so it doesn’t generally feel crammed with travelers. However, mealtimes in the restaurant can go from near empty to jam packed in a flash -- particularly at breakfast (which might have something to do with the giant “Desayuno (Breakfast) Buffet” billboard plastered to the property rooftop. 

Villas del Sol is located in the Brenamiel area on the far northern edge of Oaxaca City, right next to the main highway that travels to Mexico City. The property is about a 20-minute drive from Oaxaca Centro (the center of town), and 35 minutes from Oaxaca International Airport. The surrounding area is nothing special, although for tennis players, Brenamiel tennis courts are located next door to the property. But on the whole there’s not much to see or do, so the hotel offers a free downtown shuttle daily with service three times a day. Cabs can also be arranged with the front desk, and there’s a local (cheap) bus service that travels in and out of town. Famous archaeological site, Monte Alban, is 23 minutes by car from the Villa del Sol, and there’s plenty of free on-site parking for self-drivers. 

Accommodations at the Hotel Villas del Sol are humble but not unpleasant, dressed up with some colorful details. Standard hotel rooms offer spacious interiors dressed in deep earthy tones with terra-cotta-style flooring and dark wooden furniture. They feature twin beds; work desks; flat-screen TVs; and large closets containing safes, irons, and ironing boards. The parking lot is right outside so it’s convenient to move luggage in and out, but windows look out onto common walkways, so it’s hard to maintain privacy with the curtains open. Bathrooms are dated and showing signs of wear like stained grout, but they're functional, featuring shower stalls with metal-framed sliding doors, and a couple of free individual toiletries. Bungalow-style villas enter via spacious patios into sunken living areas gazing outside through huge corner picture windows. Kitchens are old school with breakfast bars and fixed steel swivel stools. They’re equipped with large refrigerators, and a cooking and dining implements “kit” is obtained from the front desk upon check in. The beige and mixed greens palette with terra-cotta floors and dark wooden furniture seem faded from time, but some villas have undergone modern updates and now include flat-screen TVs (tube TVs remain in older villas). Bedrooms with huge walk-in closets are located upstairs and some open onto private balconies with views of the grounds. Rooms towards the back of the property are recommended as they’re farther away from the highway, entrance, and reception -- although on our stay we were toward the front in the Standard Rooms section and remained unbothered by any traffic. 

Villas del Sol is home to a restaurant chain with various Oaxacan sites, Tito’s. It’s nothing fancy, but serves all meals, and provides room service. Some guests are impressed by the quality while others are disappointed -- but this place is more or less the equivalent of an American highway pit stop -- so travelers shouldn’t expect a fine-dining experience. The smallish pool is a hit with the kids and offers poolside dining and sun lounging beneath shade umbrellas. Inside the lobby, guests have access to a business center and a snack machine. The fitness center is a contemporary contrast to the rest of the property with relatively modern cardio- and weight-training equipment, plus a boxing bag. (Independently owned tennis courts are also next door.) Laundry service is available (there’s a huge laundromat attached to the hotel). Free Wi-Fi is provided and while we had no problem connecting, some guests find it unreliable. A huge function room and massive “Verona Garden” events tent and garden are on offer, and there’s a lineup of colorful play equipment in the shade for the kids. The hotel's free downtown shuttle departs several times a day, and plenty of free on-site parking is available.