We'll be in Cuernavaca for 5 days at beginning of October. Is Las Mananitas worth it? See Casa Colonial as #1 on Trip Advisor. Would love advice on where to stay and eat and do etc etc. Any help much appreciated. Thanks very much.

Cuernavaca is a small town. I visited there a few years ago, and saw all the main sights in a single day. The Brady house museum was wonderful, a highlight of my trips to Mexico. Also worth visiting are the former palace of Cortez, and the Cathedral grounds.

For your other 4 days, I suggest visiting nearby towns, and also a daytrip into Mexico City. I vaguely recall the bus ride there taking about an hour, maybe 90 minutes.

We had drinks at Las Mananitas - really pretty hotel and grounds. Peacocks were wandering around which made me a little nervous (I'm afraid of birds), but it was fun to see.

We had dinner one night at a place called Gaia. It was gorgeous - apparently it's the former home of a Mexican movie star (from the 50's, I think) and the pool has a wonderful mural. Food was good, and I remember the blackberry daquiri. We also had good pizza at an Italian restaurant - I can't remember the name, but it was across from a church (that probably doesn't help much!). It was on the second floor and quite a popular restaurant with a balcony with tables.

We made a day trip to Topotzlan one day and another day to Taxco. Both easy day trips.

You know, I wasn't keen on Cuernavaca when I arrived - it seemed so much bigger than I was expecting and the trip in on the bus was not attractive, but it grew on me. We spent 4 nights there and I'm glad I saw it. As mentioned in the previous post, the Robert Brady house is amazing.

Yes, I think Las Mananitas is worth it. The rooms are VERY beautiful and comfortable, and the service great (only place my dirty laundry on the closet floor was ever folded). We like the rooms overlooking the pool, although the ones with their own enclosed patio with fountain are nice too--we just preferred having the view of the guests-only garden and being nearer the pool.

The restaurant is also a luxurious experience. The food is pretty traditional, but the setting and service are great. Only open to guests for breakfast.

I have been to Cuernavaca many times. It is NOT a small town, but the tourist sights are not plentiful. Rather this is a place to come and unwind at one of the small intimate hotels. Many people go to Las Mananitas for 4 or 5 days and don't even bother to leave the premises.

I can't comment on Las Mananitas other than to say that it looked very attractive when we passed by. We stayed at Casa Colonial and were pleased with it. There is a pleasant pool and garden and a convenient bar. Breakfast is excellent, and the staff was very helpful. Possible downside -- it is near the downtown bus terminal, and could be noisy if you stay in the front rooms. We stayed in a bungalow in the back and heard nothing.

The same people own the restaurant Gaia mentioned above. The pizza place was probably Marco Polo. It's pretty good. If you eat there at night, bring a camera. It is across from the cathedral compound and the gate is old and lovely, well-lighted, and close. We enjoyed a meal at 1521, just across from the Palace of Cortes. Their specialty is molcajete style food, meat, sauce and veggies presented in a heated pumice mortar. If you like a drink after dinner, try Los Arcos. Offers live music which sometimes fills the place up.

Another day trip which has not been mentioned is a visit to Xochicalco, an ancient Mayan ruin -- the furthest north I believe -- with a wonderful view over the valley. You can learn about it if you visit the National Anthropology Museum in Mexico City.

If you are a fan of Malcolm Lowry's novel Under the Volcano, you might search out the model for Laruelle's house, and stroll through the Borda Gardens.

You're right - it was Marco Polo!

Las Mananitas is really good, but famous for being overpriced and catering to tourists. The only problem with it is that it's in a really busy part of town and traffic can almost resemble that of Mexico City at times. You might want to take a look at Hosteria Las Quintas. The grounds are beautiful (it has many giant trees and states the origin of all of its interesting-looking plants) and it has a really nice spa. It's in a much more peaceful part of town, but still close to all the attractions. The food is not as good as Las Mananitas, but you could always eat out. Hope that helps.

How unusual, a hotel that caters to tourists! I would say that Las Mananitas is in a much more convenient part of town than Las Quintas, and has plenty of Mexican (as well as American and other nationalities) tourists. Within its walls, there is no need to worry about traffic!