I'm looking for a tranquil, comfortable (slightly luxurious) place in the historic center of Oaxaca for a romantic trip in June.

I'm open to any suggestions, but am especially interested in Camino Real (pricey but specials are running now), Hotel Provincia, Casa de los Siete Balcones, and Las Bugambillias.

I've only found a few review of Siete Balcones, but it looks great. I'm especially interested in hearing from folks who might have stayed there.

Thanks for any help you can provide!
melissa

Never stayed there, usually stay down the street a few blocks for $20.00 a night at the la Casa de la Tia, but I have been in Camino Real many times. It is very, very nice and in a great location. I keep think about stying there one of these days. There are lots of nice places in OAX and occupancy has been down the last couple of summers you can probably get a great deal.

Thanks, Dude! Last trip to Oaxaca I was in a homestay, which is a totally different experience, but I'm looking forward to a different approach this time. I'll check out Casa de la Tia, too!
Thanks for weighing in,
melissa

Have not seen the rooms at the Camino Real, but the location is unbeatable and to me the pool would be the real decider--it looks great, and nowhere else that I know of in the historic center has a pool.

Have stayed at Las Bugambilias and it is nice, but to me not especially romantic, and not luxurious (though clean and pleasant, with a nice garden, and the restaurant in front La Olla has great food).

Thanks so much. I have a question about Las Bugambilias: did your room have sliding glass doors on a central garden? It looks like that's the set-up for all/most of the rooms, and that feels a little less private (even with curtains) than we'd like. If your room was like that, what did you think of it?

I ate at La Olla the last time I was in Oaxaca and definitely plan to return for the big delicious breakfast this time!
Thanks,
Melissa

We were traveling with another couple and had two first-floor rooms that opened into a small separate garden area. However, the maids used it to dry towels, etc. I think the upstairs rooms give onto a porch/balcony, but I may be wrong.

Alas, that aspect of staying in a converted hacienda, which so many of the small hotels are, is one that has to be dealt with: privacy or air!

I stayed at Hotel de la Parra, a beautiful hotel, practically on the Zocolo and has a small pool.

enjoyed the camino real. great breakfast and atmosphere. if there is a wedding reception in the courtyard u won't sleep until they do tho

AndrewDavid

We spent Christmas and New year's in Oaxaca. I checked out all the hotels, etc. I thought Camino Real was SO overpriced and not worth it. though they do have several very nice courtyards, the food was really so-so,and the service almost non-existent. You would get a much better value at Los Bugambillias, but for a romantic place, though not in the center, Hacienda Los laureles is much better. La Provincia was not quite up to a "Leading Hotels of the World" Place, but much quieter and just as nice a location as Camino Real.

We stayed at Parador San Miguel, which was just perfect for location, and ambience, not very touristy, some rooms maybe a bit small, but if you got room 206, I think it is, billed as a suite, but basically a very large room, but with nice doors which open on to a courtyard, I would find that very romantic. Some rooms there are very dark, so be careful. If it appeals to you, I'll check out the room numbers for you. Let me also check Siete Balcones, and post again.

Thanks to both of you for your feedback! Taconic, I'd love more info if you have it. AndrewDavid, your comment made me realize that my rule when traveling in Latin America and staying at homestays--bring earplugs--might also apply when staying in a hotel!
melissa

either that or just gracefully crash the reception as we did!

AndrewDavid

We stayed at Parador San Miguel in Feb. 2007 and liked it . However, the previous poster is right- our room's windows faced an interior hallway although an open courtyard was just a few feet to the side. The room was large and comfortable and the restaurant is extremely nice with excellent meals.We thought the room rate was a great bargain and the location is perfect.

Thanks for sharing your Parador experience; that sounds like a good option, too.

Keep 'em coming if anyone else has more suggestions; I'm still gathering info and will let you all know what we decide.
Thanks!
Melissa

We stayed at the Hotel Azucenas and really enjoyed it. Authentic colonial building with a rooftop patio. Lovely breakfast and helpful staff. I'd stay there again. www.hotelazucenas.com/

We did go to Camino Real several times--for the Oaxacan breakfast buffet and for drinks. The grounds are absolutely gorgeous. If you can afford it and are up for a splurge, I would certainly recommend a stay there.

mmb23: OK here is my information on Rooms at Parador San Miguel:
1. Room 206 is a large "suite" (really just a much larger room, with a larger bathroom, with jacuzzi bath) but a big couch and chairs, its windows face the sunny second floor inner courtyard, so there is plenty of light.I might try it next time, more luxurious space.
2. We moved to Room 208, smaller but facing that sunny inner courtyard, and just a few steps from the two chaises and umbrella table and chairs out front - a fairly private place to "expand" - take an afternoon nap etc.
3. We had started in Room 209, also facing that sunny second floor courtyard space, but that room's bathroom had not been updated as much as the others. It had a very large nice shower, as did 208.
4. Room 210 was the one our friends had, and they loved it, though it was small. They too had to use of that chaises and table area.
In fact anyone staying on that floor actually had use of the area, but the occupants of those rooms right next to it tend to hang out there, and it seemed private.
Room 207 wouldn't be bad either, but most of the other rooms face an inner courtyard as another poster has suggested.
We got to love the place, the restaurant was very handy, their margaritas were super, and the breakfasts were also very good (Not included)

All in all, after all my research around town, (my travel writing "hobby" allows me to justify being "nosy.&quot it was by far the best location for the rooms, service and the price.

(By the way, looking through other small hotels, I found that many of the rooms face inner corridors, which tend to be dark. I guess the style would have been to keep corridors dark and COOL.)

By the way, if you hang out for your afternoon siestas long enough, you will get to realize what a lot of beautiful wrought iron work there is in this place, and you will also get to know the staff, who seem to spend a lot of time polishing, waxing and dusting. The place is spotless.

Also did I mention that there is a very nice large rooftop terrace, also, for sunsets, and sunbaths if you like.

Good luck in your search. You will love Oaxaca.

Thanks for all the details! If you're not a travel writer now, I think you could be. I appreciate benefiting from all your legwork!

By the way mmb23, I wrote a report of my recent trip to Oaxaca. including a lot about hotels. I think you will find it if you click on "taconictraveler" or on "Oaxaca"

Thank you!

Wehre did you end up staying? I am looking for a B&B or small hotel near the Zocalo for a 2 week stay.
Thanks