Hotel Colonial

This modest, budget hotel is housed in a colonial-style building in a prime location close to many of Merida’s top sights. Interiors are simple; guests are greeted in a cream-hued lobby furnished with several brown armchairs clustered around glass coffee tables and a sleek, marble front desk. There’s not much in the form of decor -- walls are left bare, but interior architecture includes many lovely archways and columns. There aren’t too many common areas, but the property has a beautiful terrace overlooking the rooftops and church spires of the city. Wrought-iron patio furniture provides seating and there are lots of potted plants and flowers about. The hotel’s restaurant is similarly styled with simple furnishings including wooden tables and chairs, but lush jungle murals on some of the walls provide colorful accents. Overall, this is a basic property that's in need of some renovations and updates, but it offers a great location that attracts budget travelers seeking to explore the city on foot. 

The hotel occupies a central location that’s just two blocks from the Merida Cathedral and Zocalo Square, Merida’s main square, which is also where guests can find the Montejo House Museum, the MACAY Museum, City Hall, and the State Capital Building. There are many shops, restaurants, and bars in the surrounding area. The hotel is a 12-minute walk to the beginning of Paseo Montejo, the city’s main avenue which was modeled after the Champs Elysees and is lined with shopping and dining options, as well as mansions and museums. Several ancient Mayan ruins can be reached in about an hour’s drive, such as Uxmal, while Mayapan and Chichen Itza are about an hour and a half away. The Merida International Airport is about a 20-minute drive. 

Rooms feature simple, contemporary decor that’s a bit bland and dated, though the spaces are clean. Cream-colored walls and white tiled floors are coupled with black furnishings (some of which show signs of wear and tear), including rectangular headboards framing beds topped in colorful, orange-hued bedspreads (a few with geometric patterns), as well as nightstands and work desks. All rooms have air-conditioning (though the units can be loud), flat-screen TVs with cable channels, telephones, electronic safes, bottled water, and free Wi-Fi, plus some also have private balconies. Bathrooms are fairly basic as well, with walk-in showers that are showing a bit of rust. Guests should note that streetside rooms can get noise.

The Colonial's grounds include a small outdoor pool with a lovely stone wall wreathed in greenery and lush plants, though there’s not much seating provided besides a handful of chairs and tables on a sundeck that’s partially covered. There’s also a lovely terrace on the fourth floor that's furnished with tables, chairs, and sun loungers and decorated with an array of potted plants, providing an inviting space to relax overlooking the rooftops of the city. The hotel's restaurant, El Colonial, serves Mexican fare and is popular with guests and locals alike. A breakfast buffet is available for an added charge. Wi-Fi is free throughout, as is parking.